10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
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Origins of the Plague, June 20, 2008
Third Watch (2007) is the third SF novel in the Acorna's Children series, following
Second Wave. In the previous volume, Coco the pirate chieftain was disappointed at the lack of treasure on the Estrella Blanca, but accepted Mikaaye onboard the Black Mariah as a healer and pirate trainee. Khorii and Ariin returned to Vhiliinyar to visit their parents and friends within the quarantine pastures.
In this novel, the twins and Khiindi the cat travel back in time to the wardrobe of Akasa, Ariin's former mistress among the Friends. Of course, the Friends know Ariin as Narhii, the name they bestowed upon her at birth. Since they look alike, Ariin wants Khorii to replace her so that she can go investigate something without the Friends noticing her absence. Khorii acts differently than Narhii, but the Friends would never notice.
First the twins travel back even further in the past to drop off Khiindi with the Ancestors. He should be safe among the unicorns while Ariin does whatever she intends. Since this latest time is prior to the birth of the twins, Khiindi once more becomes the shapeshifting Grimalkin and makes friends -- as a unicorn -- with the female Ancestor Halili.
Returning to the closet, the twins separate. Ariin hides while Khorii distracts Akasa. Khorii -- pretending to be Narhii -- asks the Friend to show her the way home as a ploy to get the Friend out of the house. Then Ariin sneaks out and goes her own way.
Once outside, Khorii notices that the front door is shaped and colored as an eye. In fact, the whole front of the house looks like the upper half of Akasa's face. Akasa is pleased with the effect, but Khorii wonders at the degree of vanity that it indicates.
In this story, Ariin gossips with the Friend technicians while Khorii wanders among the Friend hoity-toity. Ariin learns some interesting things, but Khorii meets the Friend Odus and learns that he is odious.
Ariin travels through time to join the Friend Pircifir in his historic voyage of discovery. Pircifir is a venturer, traveling through time and space looking for items that might interest the Friends. Grimalkin -- as Khiindi -- returns to get Khorii and they too join Pircifir on his voyage.
Eventually, the group finds a planet that contains snakes and tubes. The tubes are able to change their shape. When brought back to Vhiliinyar and properly trained, these tubes become the mutable houses of the Friends.
This tale leads Khorii, Ariin and Khiindi to the source of the plague and finally to a way to eliminate it. The tale also suggests an origin for the Linyarri. This volume probably concludes the immediate series, but Acorna's children will almost certainly return for further adventures. Enjoy!
Highly recommended for McCaffrey fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of the Linyaari, time travel, and mysterious plagues.
-Arthur W. Jordin
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
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Acorna Children Third Watch, September 17, 2007
I am a avid reader of Anne McCaffrey, as such when one of her books comes along I read it. As always I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I can recommend it to any sci-fi reader, and if they havent read any of her books before, maybe this one will tempt them to read her others. I am happy to add it to my collection, and look forward to the next book.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
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Third Watch: Acorna's Children, April 17, 2010
Ann McCaffrey does it again. Acorna is the Unicorn girl who was rescued in deep space by a group of miners. They became so attached
to her that they decided to raise her. Eventually the miners stumbled upon Acorna's home planet and a joyous reunion ensued.
Acorna grew up and married a very nice male of her species. They had children.
This series of books carry the story of their children. They also have great adventures and hair-raising encounters. I read all of Ann McCaffrey's books. They are fun for adults as well as children.This is a well-written adventure by the Grand Dame of fantasy. I highly recommend this book.
Sara Howard. Author of "Something Funny Happened on The Way to The Moon" and "The Biggest Explosions in The Universe".
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