Star Ascendant [Hardcover]

Louise Cooper (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1995

to the acclaimed Time Master trilogy returns to the Time Master universe to recount an epic battle before time, when Chaos reigned supreme over Order and madness and evil ravaged the earth.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Like L.E. Modesitt in the Recluce series, Cooper in her Time Master trilogy (The Master) has contrasted the forces of Order and Chaos. But Cooper's characters, unlike Modesitt's, are never blatantly good or evil; this author suggests that Chaos and Order "are two faces of the same coin." This prequel to the Time Master series begins with the ascent of Vordegh to the position of First Magus. Although Vordegh is unremittingly evil, the antipathy of the Lords of Chaos to him mitigates his influence. Much of the remaining narrative follows Iselia Darrow, a disciple of the Lords of Order, who is captured by Chaos Riders on the night of her marriage to Kaldar Alvaray. Iselia is saved from being sacrificed by Savrinor, the court historian. As she realizes her growing influence over both Savrinor and Benetan Liss (who was betrothed to her years before), though, Iselia's Machiavellian manipulations rival those of any character working for Chaos. Meanwhile, Kaldar travels south in hopes of unleashing the Lords of Order and, not incidentally, being able to rescue Iselia. While readers familiar with the trilogy will know the ultimate outcome of all this drama, it's to Cooper's immense credit that the writing skills she evinces here should keep them, as well as most fantasy readers, enthralled.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

While under the rule of the gods of Chaos, the mages of the Star Peninsula hold absolute sway over a fearful populace. Yet there are those who question the tyranny of Chaos, both outside its influence and within its ranks. Because of their courage, the seeds of rebellion begins to blossom. By returning to the world of her "Time Master" trilogy, Cooper crafts a tale of fidelity and subterfuge, heroism and quiet determination. This series opener is highly recommended.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 349 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (November 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031285871X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312858711
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,980,081 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing prequel to 'The time master' trilogy, November 2, 1997

By 

Teresa Romano - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Ascendant (Paperback)

This book is the first volume to the 'Star shadow' trilogy which is a prequel to 'The time master' trilogy. I think the second and the third volume in the trilogy aren't yet available in the U.S.A. but I have the English edition and they are entitled: Eclipse (the second volume) and Moonset (the third volume). I give 10 to the entire trilogy because this volumes are also awesome. I think it's really interesting to read this trilogy before 'The time master' trilogy because you already have a background to the story and understand much better a lot of things. I think the story is very well structured and original and the characters aren't stereotyped. Chaos is ruling the world through the magi and the gods of order are exiled and can't reach the world, but there are people still loyal to the gods of order whom the magi call heretics. When the first magus dies, magus Vordegh becames first magus, but though he's a poweful sorcerer he's evil and insane and starts to take measures to erradicate the heretics that doesn't meet with a consensus among the magi... Iselia Darrow is loyal to the gods of order and was recently married to a man who's also loyal to her gods. She's captured by the chaos riders during a warp,(they don't know she's an heretic) and taken to the castle. Benetan Liss is the Captain of the chaos riders, he was captured when he was 12 and was betrothed to Iselia. When he discovers she's in the castle, feelings he didn't remember come back and he becomes divided between love and duty.... Louise Cooper's view of the eternal war between chaos and order is very interesting, and you get the idea that if the equilibrium of the world is to be maintained neither can rule forever!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The beginning of the end of Chaos' reign..., May 28, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Star Ascendant (Hardcover)

I made the unfortunate mistake of thinking this book was a stand-alone; it isn't. This is the start of another series (likely a trilogy). Regardless, the book is very good in its own right and well worth the cost for a true Cooper fan.

Cooper sets up a very interesting set of characters, taking her usual cross-purposed individuals to new heights. Benetan Liss is the captain of the stormtroopers of Chaos' legions, yet he has numerous moral misgivings to the things he must do. Iselia, Benetan's one-time lover and now married to another man, is a staunch proponent of the now-demonized forces of Order, must hide her forbidden allegiance to those powers while she serves the historian Savrinor. Savrinor is the ultimate pragmatist -- to the extent that he keeps a near-literal "slate" of who owes him and who he owes. And of course, there are the extreme characters Cooper uses to polarize her undecided characters: Kaldar, Iselia's husband and mage of Order, and Vordegh, High Magus of Chaos, sadist, and murderously
insane ruler of the mortal world.

At this stage, the Lords of Chaos and Order put in only minor appearances, unsurprisingly. Even though this is before the time period of The Time Master, Tarod seems to have a better-than-average grasp of the mind-set of humanity. The book is a very good lead-in to another series, one which should explain a good deal of the pre-Time Master mysteries. But unless you like waiting on a cliffhanger, you may want to wait until the rest of the series is in print.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read, well worth the time., January 4, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Star Ascendant (Paperback)

As usual Ms. Cooper has outdone herself, stepping
back into the artfully created world of her 'Time
Master' trilogy. Going back into the recesses of
history, she unveils some of the myth and legend
of the time before the Lords of Chaos were displaced
from their rulership. Good plot twists, excellent
character development. If you found either of her
previous Time Master trilogies interesting, this
will be a must have series as well.