Acorna's World (Hardcover)

by Anne Mccaffrey (Author), Elizabeth A. Scarborough (Author), Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (Author) "Roughly six weeks after she had joined the crew of the Condor, flagship of Becker Interplanetary Recycling and Salvage Enterprises, Ltd., Acorna sat on "salvage..." (more)
Key Phrases: sap shells, sacred temple cat, vine world, Captain Becker, House Harakamian, Moon of Opportunity (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Gentle Unicorn Girl Acorna makes her fourth appearance in this galaxy-spanning successor to Acorna's Quest. Her shy, empathetic race, the pacific Linyaari, are still menaced by the horrid insectoid Khleevi, whose cannibalistic Young feast on their own elders as well as on other races they torture and destroy. Acorna, aboard the Condor, a spacegoing salvage ship captained by her friend Jonas Becker and accompanied by the vile-tempered Makahomian Temple Cat Road Kill and her Linyaari friend, Aari, who was previously maimed by the Khleevi, answers a distress call that leads her to a planet of sticky-veined sentient vines holding the secret to sapping the Khleevi and saving the Linyaari from extermination. Along the way, Acorna and Aari fall in love, a giant new Moon of Opportunity marketing venture (MOO) opens up for Acorna's adopted neo-Bedouin Uncle Hafiz, and the former slave children Acorna rescued earlier enjoy suitable education, gainful employment and a future of endless Happy Meals. Predictably strong on sweetness and light, noble self-sacrifice and plenty of teeny-bopper growing-up pangsAthough correspondingly superficial in characterizations and future scientific wondersAthis latest chapter in Acorna's adventures also offers (especially toward its close) some wry social commentary on capitalistic machinations and elder-eating younger generations: harmless good spacefaring fun. The novel includes a glossary of terms and proper names and "Brief Notes on the Linyaari Language." (Aug.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Returning to deep space after coming to terms with her lost heritage, the unicorn-like woman known as Acorna answers a distress signal that leads her to a new planet threatened by an old and vicious enemy. The fourth installment in this popular adventure series (Acorna, Acorna's People) demonstrates the storytelling expertise of coauthors McCaffrey and Scarborough. Old and new characters, exotic alien races, and unique methods of problem-solving make this a good choice for sf collections.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Eos; 1st edition (July 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061050954
• ISBN-13: 978-0061050954
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,455,403 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 4 in The Acorna Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great entry in this terrific series, August 29, 2000

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

On board the space traveling Condor, Acorna The Unicorn Girl feels safe from the insect race the Khleevi who dine on their own geriatrics and delight in eating other races. The Khleevi remain a major threat to Acorna's people, the Linyaari because the insect race has no qualms about genocide, as other species are fodder to them.

Accompanying Acorna on the salvage ship is Captain Becker, first mate Road Kill, and Khleevi escapee Aari. When they receive an SOS from a nearby planet, the foursome feel impelled to help. There they discover the Khleevi has caused another massacre that leaves Acorna and her companions fighting to save two races before further slaughter leaves them extinct.

The fourth Acorna tale is an entertaining young adult science fiction tale. The story line is filled with action and a growing attraction between Acorna and Aari. Late into the tale, Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough provide an entertaining, cleverly designed critique on how the young devour the elderly in free market society. Erudite fans will dine on Margaret Ball's linguistic interpretation that intelligently spoofs the plot's action-packed space opera with a small but serious thesis. Though lacking depth to any of the key players except in an overall generalization of the traits of the various races, ACORNA'S WORLD is a fun to read work of science fiction.

Harriet Klausner

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Anne's fans will not be disappointed, July 9, 2001

By	Diane Catanzaro (Arlington, TX USA) - See all my reviews

We finally get to see Acorna grown up and dealing with her own people, in a culture that she has little understanding of. As often happens, others try to govern her life and actions based upon what they are used to. She manages to retain some control of herself and her own choices.

I'll read anything Anne McCaffrey writes, and this book was certainly up to her usual excellent standards.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Acorna's World, August 20, 2000

By	"cmar7" (Lawrenceville, GA USA) - See all my reviews

Acorna's World leads you into areas unexplored about the whole system Ms. McCaffrey has set Acorna in in the first place. It was very fascinating to this avid S.F. & F. reader. As Acorna learns about her real world and people, we are treated to analogies that pertain to our own real world, and how we treat people, that are not really noticed until after you read it. As usual, the characters were realistic, the background/scenery descriptions were captivating. All in all, a fun jaunt through Acorna's world, with some twists to keep the reader intrigued.