Warriors of Dawn [Mass Market Paperback]

M. A. Foster (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: DAW; First Edition edition (October 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879975733
• ISBN-13: 978-0879975739
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,314,395 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Whatever happened to M. A. Foster?, May 5, 2002

By 

Andy Petty (Huntington Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Warriors of Dawn (Mass Market Paperback)

From "The Warriors of Dawn" in 1975 through "Owl Time" in 1985, M. A. Foster gave the world some very very special stories. I still have the eight DAW paperbacks and reread them often. I've been checking the bookstores (and now the web) for a new M. A. Foster book, ever since - no luck. Whatever happened to take this fabulous author away from us? And why no awards? If you've never read a Foster story, you've really missed something.

The Ler novels ("The Gameplayers of Zan", Warriors, "The Day of the Klesh") are rich in character development and mystery, set in a future galaxy where humans interact with other intelligent species, one of which (the Ler) humans genetically engineered from human stock. The Ler, generally benevolent but different from humans, escape from Earth. Downstream and out in space, some deviant Ler groups create "breeds" of humans, the Klesh.

"The Morphodite", "Transformer", and "Preserver" deal with conflicts between interworld political intrigue and human values, brought about by the creation of a person with special perceptions and abilities - including changing gender and becoming younger by 20 years - the perfect assassin, but also the victim of biological and emotional manipulation.

"Waves" deals with a mystery at a remote experiment station, leading to discoveries about information structure, sentience, and time. "Owl Time" is a collection of novellas that explore unusual dimensions of human meaning, in which Foster celebrates and emulates several older authors.

Hint to publishers: These stories are timeless and precious. They explore issues that we struggle with today. A reprint (maybe in omnibus hardbacks) would certainly ease the pain of old fans and attract new ones too.

Hint to Foster: 17 years is a long time to wait, but I'm patient.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Possibly the best science fiction novel ever written, March 28, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Warriors of Dawn (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a novel of the far future, in which mankind is divided into two species: homo sapiens and an artificially mutated species called "ler". The descriptions and characters are staggering in their depth, beauty and intensity. I've read this book at least half a dozen times, and it never fails to amaze me again

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, lusty, expansive yarn!, April 7, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Warriors of Dawn (Mass Market Paperback)

I really miss this book. I just recently found out that it is one of a trilogy. I first read it in high school, and I've read it several times since. I am currently looking for a used copy since it seems to be out of print (shame). The gist of the story is this: Man has created a "brother" race of humanoids called the Ler. The Ler have seperated themselves from their makers and struggle to form a society that is pragmatic, functional, and truly their own. Because of their genetic fragility, they mate in a complex social structure called a braid. This helps maintain genetic strength. In this tale, a human male agent is teamed with a Ler female. Apparently, a rogue band of marauding Ler in an aging giant space ship have to be intercepted. The female Ler is in a stage where she is at times in a highly charged sexual state (because of her genetic make up). This leads to both pleasant and complicated moments for the pair. They get captured by the piratic band of Ler and then get stranded on a huge planet. The writing is crisp, and the story is very thoughtful. The Ler society was brilliantly thought up. The various cycles of Ler adolescence, sexual maturity, and aging lead to some sad moments as the male human struggles with certain realities. He is not Ler. I was excited to find out that it is but one of a trilogy. Find this book! Buy it! Read it! Then send it to me!!!!! ;-)