Sunwaifs [Paperback]

Sydney J. Van Scyoc (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1981

Spine crease and a little edge wear. Number stamp on inside front page. Age discoloring. No other marks than stated, clean and tight. Ships very quickly and packaged carefully!

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Berkley; First Edition edition (October 1, 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425046451
• ISBN-13: 978-0425046456
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,079,650 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sunwaifs, November 12, 2009

By 

Alexandra Cenni "Poisoned Rationality" (hamilton, nj USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sunwaifs (Paperback)

The one thing you have to understand about Scyoc's books is that they tend to involve very little aggressive conflicts. More often then not the conflicts arise from a miscommunication of beliefs/lifestyles or lack of harmony. From the four books I've read of hers previously the most violence I've come across has been in Darkchild (Book 1 in the Darkchild Trilogy) and again that was because the people that Darkchild was sent from were a people of conquerors invading a relatively more passive race.

Sunwaifs begins at the end, sort of. Nadd is our first narrator and he begins by telling us about how he worries for the new generation. He recounts the hardships the original colonists had to endure their first years on Destiny--a planet that had seemed at first so perfect, but quickly proved itself to be anything but. His intentions is to leave a logbook for the next generations so that they may be able to avert the disaster he sees brewing. To this end he asks an...aquiantence of his for help in writing the log book. I hesitate to call them friends, or companions, because in truth the six original 'Sunwaifs' aren't really.

Each original Sunwaif has an extraordinary gift, bestowed upon them while in the womb by the radiation of Destiny's sun. This both saved them and cursed them, marking them as different in a world of dogmatic people who had given up hope and nutured their bitter, hard lives.

As the story unfolds we meet the other four Sunwaifs--Feliss, Trebble, Ronna and Herrol--and watch as each matures and wants different things. But always are they connected, by a bond they can't break no matter what.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I'm glad I'm reading it now, since I think the pacing and narrative style would have irritated me when I was younger and first bought it. My tastes have matured and I appreciate novels that build a world so intricately and expand about characters so deeply. The chapters alternate between Nadd and Corrie as they discuss important events and happenings during a year or stretch of years. While both have a similar yearning undertone to their 'voices' in all other mannerisms they are different. Nadd has a faintly pessimistic quality to his narrative, as if he's resigned to the failure of the plan, but will persist anyway. Corrie is more pragmatic--believing in the force of their wills and strength of their bond to make a difference. In no way is she optimistic--even she thinks things may have been left too long.

While we don't 'hear' things from the other four's first person voice, their feelings and personalities are saturated in the narrative. Trebble who disappears now and again, Ronna who heals others, Feliss who is mischievous and inquisitive and Herrol who is steadfast and sure. You can feel the affection each feels for the others, but also the irritation that the bond forces onto them.

Definitely a book to read whether you are a teen or an adult--also a good way to begin your journey into Sydney J. Van Scyoc's worlds!

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ABSOLUTE FAN, December 17, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Sunwaifs (Paperback)

When I picked up my first Sydney j book I was hooked....once I came across Sunwaifs she became the type of author where I had to find and read every book she had written. The story is great..I enjoy the characters...even the cover picture is cool...she is so imaginative.....there is so much to say...I recommend every book she has written. Hurry though...her books are becoming harder and harder to come across.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MUST READ!!!, June 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sunwaifs (Paperback)

Sydney is a little known master that deserves recognition. Not only is this book a great sci-fi experience but it is also a study in personality types. please read thi book.