The Stars Asunder [Hardcover]

Debra Doyle (Author), James D. MacDonald (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mageworlds | Publication Date: June 1999

The star systems of the Mages are linked by magic. Only when trained Mages have found a Way to a new planet can the great colonizing and trading starships follow. But beyond the furthest worlds is the great gap, beyond which, hint the legends, lie vast, rich human worlds long lost to the Mages' trade.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you like science fiction fantasy on the scale of The Phantom Menace, discover the Mageworlds series by Doyle and MacDonald. The Stars Asunder is Book 6, but readers can start here; it's set 500 years before the others (next is The Gathering Flame, then The Price of the Stars, Starpilot's Grave, By Honor Betray'd, and The Long Hunt). It's grand space opera--interstellar war, swashbuckling heroes, an embattled queen, and mystics on both sides using supernatural power--but in this installment the authors focus on the Mageworlds, enemies of the protagonists in the previous books. For series fans, The Stars Asunder adds a new dimension to the conflict between the Republic and the Mageworlds.

The Mageworlds are separated from the rest of the galaxy by a huge, interstellar gap. Arekhon sus-Khalgath sus-Peledaen ('Rekhe), son of a noble trading family, joins Garrod syn-Aigal and his Demaizen Circle of Mages. Their goal: to reunite the galaxy, blazing a trail through the Void of hyperspace and setting a beacon to guide Mageworld ships. Discontent at home and tragic errors when they meet the technologically advanced but warlike people on the other side combine to set the scene for many years of conflict. 'Rekhe inherits Garrod's position and his mission, to reweave the pattern uniting the worlds.

So settle back with a cool drink and some stylish, escapist fun in a galaxy far, far away. --Nona Vero

From Publishers Weekly

Set 500 years before the five other Mageworld books (The Price of the Stars, etc.), this prequel explains the origins of the Magewars and the apprenticeship and growth of Arekhon Khreseio sus-Khalgath sus-Peledaenm, aka 'Rekhe, a Mage and major series character. Combining magic, space opera and time travel, the plot offers some surprises, though less suspense and action than expected. The universe is literally split, and a Mage, Garrod, believes that other planets lie beyond the Void, so he brings together a Circle to transport him magically into the unknown, then to follow by starship. 'Rekhe becomes leader of the Circle, balances two love affairs and rescues the mission from disasterAfor now. The wars on both sides of the Void, cultural differences, imbalances of power and actions of the Mages on first contact (including stealing a ship) all foreshadow further war. Easily read apart from the preceding volumes, this novel offers added foreboding for the series reader. Where can the series go from here? (June)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 351 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312864108
• ISBN-13: 978-0312864101
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,129,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fine Space Opera with real Mages, June 30, 2000

By 

Richard R. Horton (Webster Groves, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Stars Asunder: A New Novel of the Mageworlds (Mass Market Paperback)

This is an exciting and colourful adventure story, set in a universe where high technologies such as spaceships and robots interact seamlessly with what appear to be magical powers. As such it could be regarded as a book on the diffuse borderline between SF and Fantasy, though the rigorous approach to the use of the magical system, as well as, to be sure, the space-going setting, gives the book a feel that is distinctly SF.

Debra Doyle and James D. Macdonald have been publishing their Mageworlds series of unabashed Space Opera since 1992. The books feature a conflict between the Republic and the Mageworlds, both loose associations of solar systems, separated by a large starless gap. The first five books have all been from the point of view of the Republic. This book is set some 500 years prior to the preceding books, and it is set mostly in the Mageworlds, prior to their contact with the worlds of the Republic. While the Mageworlds appear to be the "bad guys" in the other books, in this book we see the action through their eyes, and their motivations are a usual human mixture of noble and venal.

The story follows several threads: one involving 'Rekhe, a young man of the eus-Peledaen family, who becomes a mage; another involving his mentor, Garrod, who plans to cross the ancient gap caused by the "Sundering of the Galaxy"; another involving 'Rekhe's lover's fleet career; and a complicated thread involving political machinations concerning the domination of the star fleet families over Mageworlds trade.

The story takes a while to get going, because there are many threads to initiate. But eventually Garrod makes his exhausting quasi-magical trip across the gap, and 'Rekhe persuades his family to sponsor a trip to the world Garrod finds. But the technological situation across the "sundering" is rather different from what the Mageworlds are used to, and it isn't at all clear if this contact will be a good thing. At the same time, the various plots coming to a head back home threaten to disturb the settled, somewhat peaceful, order of the Mageworlds. The conclusion is exciting and satisfying. The plots turn out to be more convoluted than expected, and in a sensible way. The authors manage to make the people of the Mageworlds believable and basically good, while at the same time setting them up to be the villains they become in future books. The various characters are also believable, and mostly likeable, even when they act in questionable ways.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Worldbuilding, July 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Stars Asunder: A New Novel of the Mageworlds (Mass Market Paperback)

Readers who like thoughtful, complex, exciting, unpredictable space opera ought to be reaching for the Mageworlds books.

THE STARS ASUNDER is different from the other Mageworlds books, as indeed it ought to be: now, for the first time, we see this universe from the point of view of the "villains". The Republic is the Other in this story, and the Mages' way of seeing life and the universe is the main focus. We come to understand them in this book, which in turn makes rereading the previous Mageworlds books take on new meaning.

The pacing and language is different, which I think is a plus. Convoluted, yes. Complex, yes. Unexpected, yes. And wouldn't you like, for once, not to know exactly where a story is going? If you like Lois McMaster Bujold, and Jack Vance's better work, and Vernor Vinge, then you really ought to give this book a try. It's a keeper.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What Came Before, December 31, 2002

By 

Arthur W. Jordin (Smyrna, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Stars Asunder (Hardcover)

The Stars Asunder (1999) is the sixth novel written in the Mageworlds series. At this time, however, it is the first in internal chronological sequence. This series has evoked a mysterious past from the very first volume. While Doyle and MacDonald have filled in some of the backstory in The Gathering Flame, now we are told the story of Arekhon Khreseio sus-Khalgath sus-Peledaen, the Professor, at a time 500 years before The Price of the Stars.

The eiran seem to be silvery threads to those with the ability to see them. They are the forces of life and luck and can be manipulated by Mages. Long ago, individual efforts of many short-sighted individuals have caused a Great Sundering of the eiran, leaving The Gap Between separating the survivors and their worlds. In the Mageworlds, circles still manipulate the eiran, but, in the rest of the human worlds, the Adepts consider the eiran as a force of nature and manipulation of the threads is believed to be an abomination.

Garrod syn-Aigal is a Void Walker, able to cross even interstellar distances through the Void, and Yuvaen syn-Deriot is his Second. They are determined to perform a Great Working to bridge The Gap Between and make whole the broken eiran threads within the galaxy. They begin by recruiting Mages for a new circle based at Demaizen Old Hall and the eiran brings them from all walks of life.

Among the new Mages are Iulan Vai, Narin Iyal, Ty, and Arekhon. Iulan Vai is Agent-Principal of the sus-Radal family, working in the shadows to gather information. Narin is the First of the Amisket Circle, protecting the fishing town and its fleet. Ty is a young nobody's-child from the Port Street Foundling Home, who has to find a means of livelihood. Arekhon, the younger brother of Natelth, the head of the sus-Peledaen family's senior line, is leavimg his family business to become a mage. Each is facing an uncertain future before the eiran brings them together.

The Demaizen Circle is the only remaining independent Mage circle that is performing Great Workings. All the others are bound to the noble houses or doing only minor workings. The Demaizen Circle is beholden only to Garrod, who is the last of his family, but their efforts may provoke even the Gods themselves against them.

The Mageworlds stories belong to that gray area between science fiction and fantasy, mixing Technology and Talents, much like the interstellar adventures of Andre Norton and Lisanne Norman. Recommended for all Mageworlds fans and anyone who enjoys stories of great magic, political intrigue, and exotic cultures.

-Arthur W. Jordin