Wheel of the Winds [Paperback]

M. J. Engh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1999

"This unusual, enjoyable second novel by Engh ( Arslan ) is a charming picaresque adventure set on another planet. To this unnamed planet comes the odd-looking man known as the Exile. The Warden, Lethgro, has captured the Exile after his escape from Sollet Castle, and now holds him prisoner on the small sailing ship Mouse. But when an inspector of the Council of Beng is about to board the Mouse , Captain Repnomar, seeing that her friend the Warden does not wish to surrender the Exile to the Council, cuts and runs. And so begins for Lethgro, Repnomar and the Exile (who we have begun to suspect is an Earthman) an around-the-world journey over sea and land, through strange places previously unseen by civilized eye. Engh tells the story in a 19th century prose style: (``For, as he said, they did not know when they would come to water again; and Repnomar thought this so prudent that she filled the little bailer that dangled always at her belt.''). This device is appropriate to the level of civilization on this planet, which resembles life here a century ago." -Publisher's Weekly

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This unusual, enjoyable second novel by Engh ( Arslan ) is a charming picaresque adventure set on another planet. To this unnamed planet comes the odd-looking man known as the Exile. The Warden, Lethgro, has captured the Exile after his escape from Sollet Castle, and now holds him prisoner on the small sailing ship Mouse. But when an inspector of the Council of Beng is about to board the Mouse , Captain Repnomar, seeing that her friend the Warden does not wish to surrender the Exile to the Council, cuts and runs. And so begins for Lethgro, Repnomar and the Exile (who we have begun to suspect is an Earthman) an around-the-world journey over sea and land, through strange places previously unseen by civilized eye. Engh tells the story in a 19th century prose style: ("For, as he said, they did not know when they would come to water again; and Repnomar thought this so prudent that she filled the little bailer that dangled always at her belt."). This device is appropriate to the level of civilization on this planet, which resembles life here a century ago.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: e-reads.com (December 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0759233004
• ISBN-13: 978-0759233003
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,195,364 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful and Thought Provoking, September 23, 2008

By 

Klem (Pullman, WA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wheel of the Winds (Paperback)

I read M.J. Engh's "Wheel of the Winds" when it first came out, and I just reread it several weeks ago. Let me tell you, I don't waste my time rereading "stinkers." I found it even better the second time around.

Both the prose style and the story are delightful. Picture "Around the World in Eighty Days" set on a planet that does not rotate; hence the different peoples and creatures that inhabit it have all evolved and adapted to their environments in unique and fascinating ways. The world through which the Captain, the Warden, and the Exile journey is familiar enough to be imagined vividly by the reader, but different enough to be thought provoking. The Exile's origins are intriguing, and the Captain is an admirably strong female lead character. Her culture is one where gender equality is the norm (imagine!), where men and women can be good friends without being lovers, and where animals - especially a wonderful dog named Broz - play vital and respected roles.

I like this book so much I bought my son (a History and English teacher) a copy, and he loved it, too!

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Stinker, May 27, 2004

By 

not4prophet (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wheel of the Winds (Hardcover)

"Wheel of the Winds" follows three characters, known as "The Captain", "The Warden", and "The Exile" as they flee from somebody and take a journey around the world. They see a lot of landscapes and havea couple encounters with poorly described little furry creatures. And that's about it. Yes, the central problem with this book is that it lacks purpose. Although billed as a story about self-discovery, none of the main characters really catch your attention. As far as imagination goes, this book is seriously lacking. It's just too long and boring to justify reading it, despite one decent action sequence.

I might say that Engh's dialogue is wooden, but I don't want to insult wood. The writing is just awful most of the time, with the characters simply pouring forththeir emotions and thought processes. It doesn't ever sound the slightest bit like real dialogue. Avoid this one, folks, cause there's nothing to see here.