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Alan Dean Foster
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Maori Paperback – February 6, 2006

by Alan Dean Dean Foster (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 580 ratings
One man . . . on the journey of a lifetime. Ship captain and adventurer, his name was Robert Coffin. The native Maori called him Iron Hair. His women called him by other names. In the raw wilderness of New Zealand he had come to forge a nation at the end of the known world . . . only to encounter triumph and tragedy beyond his wildest dreams . . .
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  1. Print length
    504 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Wildside Press
  4. Publication date
    February 6, 2006
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.12 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0809556588
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0809556588
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wildside Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 6, 2006
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 504 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0809556588
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0809556588
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.5 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.12 x 9 inches
  • Best Sellers Rank: #3,943,290 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 580 ratings

About the author

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Alan Dean Foster

Alan Dean Foster

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Alan Dean Foster's work to date includes excursions into hard science-fiction, fantasy, horror, detective, western, historical, and contemporary fiction. He has also written numerous non-fiction articles on film, science, and scuba diving, as well as having produced the novel versions of many films, including such well-known productions as "Star Wars", the first three "Alien" films, "Alien Nation", and "The Chronicles of Riddick". Other works include scripts for talking records, radio, computer games, and the story for the first "Star Trek" movie. His novel "Shadowkeep" was the first ever book adapation of an original computer game. In addition to publication in English his work has been translated into more than fifty languages and has won awards in Spain and Russia. His novel "Cyber Way" won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990, the first work of science-fiction ever to do so.

Foster's sometimes humorous, occasionally poignant, but always entertaining short fiction has appeared in all the major SF magazines as well as in original anthologies and several "Best of the Year" compendiums. His published oeuvre includes more than 100 books.

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
580 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find this historical novel engaging with a gripping storyline and fascinating history of early New Zealand. The book is well-written and educational, with one customer noting how it grasps both Maori and Pakeha attitudes fairly well. The character development receives mixed reactions from customers.

Select to learn more

Story qualityHistoryEnjoymentEnlightenedWriting qualityEducationAccuracyCharacter development
29 customers mention "Story quality"25 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the story of this historical novel, describing it as a gripping tale with intrigue.

"Good read" Read more

"...his mastery over pretty much any subject matter with another gripping story. Well done, sir!" Read more

"Good story; good history." Read more

"An engaging story that didn't leave me whether I was reading it or not. I love reading a well-written book, especially a longer one...." Read more

23 customers mention "History"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's historical content fascinating and engaging, particularly about early New Zealand, with one customer noting its excellent research.

"...A real page turner, loaded with strong characters and history." Read more

"Great historical fiction. But too many typos. Didnt they proofread in '88? I learned a lot reading this and truly enjoyed it." Read more

"enjoyed this fictional history of mainly British settlers and the very interesting Maori" Read more

"...An intriguing history, however much fictional, written with depth and adventure. I loved every word." Read more

19 customers mention "Enjoyment"18 positive1 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, with some describing it as the best they have ever read. One customer specifically mentions it as a great historical read about the settling of New Zealand.

"Pro active, informative, engaging history of early New Zealand. Loved this book. Twists one never expects!" Read more

"interesting book." Read more

"...Great read." Read more

"I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I wanted to read it because my husband used to live in New Zealand and I wanted to know more about it." Read more

12 customers mention "Enlightened"11 positive1 negative

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining, with one customer describing it as an action-packed adventure.

"Readable and interesting. The story is more plausible if you have toured North Island. I didn’t find a sequel describing changes." Read more

"...realm of sci-fi it was one incredibly reasearched, indepth and exciting read. Highly recommend the book and seller." Read more

"Great book, one of the best I have ever read. This one is action packed, hard to put down, well written. Loved it." Read more

"...intriguing history, however much fictional, written with depth and adventure. I loved every word." Read more

10 customers mention "Writing quality"10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book.

"...This one is action packed, hard to put down, well written. Loved it." Read more

"...I love reading a well-written book, especially a longer one...." Read more

"...An intriguing history, however much fictional, written with depth and adventure. I loved every word." Read more

"New author for me. Very well written. Just the right amount of everything...." Read more

9 customers mention "Education"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book educational, with one mentioning it provides a greater understanding of New Zealand, while another notes it grasps both Maori and Pakeha attitudes fairly well.

"Excellent historical novel. Fun to read and educational." Read more

"...always pleasurable realm of sci-fi it was one incredibly reasearched, indepth and exciting read. Highly recommend the book and seller." Read more

"Pro active, informative, engaging history of early New Zealand. Loved this book. Twists one never expects!" Read more

"A beautifully told story with love, drama and history. It gave meaning and understanding of the Māori people of the past and respect for their..." Read more

8 customers mention "Accuracy"6 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the accuracy of the book, with one review noting how it captures the harsh reality of its subject matter.

"...excellent, the interpretation of what probably could have been was true to life, first peoples were respected...." Read more

"...I'm not an expert on New Zealand history,but this story rings true in every way...." Read more

"...While perhaps not factually accurate, the story well addresses many social issues: whaling, gold and economic dependence on non-renewable resources..." Read more

"...Having read other books on the Maori people, I found this book to be realistic and entertaining...." Read more

6 customers mention "Character development"4 positive2 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book.

"Very good story line, good character development. Balanced between native and colonists. Would recommend this book...." Read more

"...This was meh. And it wasn't the subject matter. Very little characterization, and what there was, was bland...." Read more

"...Characters well drawn. Events actually occurred." Read more

"...The characters are all good but flawed, so you won't find yourself clinging to anyone as if it were you...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Gary Topper
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great story
    Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A beautifully told story with love, drama and history. It gave meaning and understanding of the Māori people of the past and respect for their spirit of today
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  • Chillout
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great inter-generational novel
    Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    These types of novels include most anything by James Michener and books like Sarum, London, and Fatal Shore. Maori does not cover quite as much time and that makes it a little more endurable. It is easy to love a Michener book but easy to grow weary.

    This book seems to hit all the right notes for being long enough but not too long and weaving history with fiction. I learned a lot about New Zealand's development and tenuous relationship with the Maori. This is not a preachy book about how mistreated the Maori were. Rather it is a fair and honest telling of a period of time in which New Zealand became a civilized country with a prosperous economy. (In fact, as a student of business and economics,, I particularly enjoyed that aspect of the story.). The characters are all good but flawed, so you won't find yourself clinging to anyone as if it were you.

    I thought the ending, one of the most important events in New Zealand natural history, dragged on a bit too long and didn't accomplish a whole lot, but that is a minor nit. The epilogue also documents one of the most important social events in new Zealand history.

    If you want to know this story, read Maori.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • readsalot
    5.0 out of 5 stars Anyone should enjoy this well written book.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A dramatic view of New Zealand history. The research is excellent, the interpretation of what probably could have been was true to life, first peoples were respected. It wasn't until about halfway through the book that the impact introduced diseases was mentioned, this impact was undoubtedly greater than implied. The introduction of weed and domestic species was not talked about, these were big changes in New Zealand.
    Helpful
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  • Cheryl
    3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting interpretation of Māori/NZ history
    Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I'll state up front: I've loved reading Alan Dean Foster for ages. Star Wars, Star Trek, his original works, and my two favorites -- "Quozl" and "Glory Lane". (I really wish Glory Lane was available on Kindle! *hint*, Amazon!) So I had high hopes for this book, especially after having recently re-visited New Zealand and long being in love with that country.

    Foster plays a little loose with New Zealand's history, but if you don't care about that or you're not nitpicky about history vs interpretation, then that won't make much difference to your enjoyment. (I won't get into listing those details here, but if you're interested in a more in-depth investigation of the Māori-colonizer interactions, check out "Come on Shore and We Will Kill and Eat You All: A New Zealand Story".)

    All that being said.... "Māori" is a decent novel, although it is told mainly from the white colonizers' point of view. I would've enjoyed more of the Māori viewpoints and sense of their history, because they are an utterly fascinating people.

    The story centers around Robert Coffin, an English merchant who has found success on the shores of the colony of New Zealand in Kororareka (now known as Russell, in the Bay of Islands). He has a mistress who has given him two children, and his English wife and first-born son seem far away. And then one day, his wife - who he has not seen in three years - shows up unannounced, son in tow, and announces to him that she is here to stay. His mistress doesn't take to this very well, and this will haunt him for the rest of his life, as he helps the colony grow and expand.

    There are a couple characters in the book I would've liked to have seen developed better; it would have rounded out the story more. But overall, it's a good tale, and I read it through to its intense finish.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars MAORI: A very good and interesting book.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2016
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is a very interesting story about the people living and working in New Zealand in the middle 1800's. Having read other books on the Maori people, I found this book to be realistic and entertaining. The personal relationship between the Maori and the Europeans is very well presented. The characters and their dialog is realistic and well done.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • kino
    5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent tale in the vein of historical fiction.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A story of the life of a fictional fellow living during the founding of British New Zealand. While perhaps not factually accurate, the story well addresses many social issues: whaling, gold and economic dependence on non-renewable resources, problems created by religious indoctrination of native peoples, how conservative classism takes hold in aging people who socially succeed and a peek into the subject of cultural relativity.

    The book is easy to read and written in the simple, clean style for which Mr. Foster is well known. It reminds me of Neil Shute's writing style- focusing on dialogue and action to develop character rather than on internal monologue or physical description.

    Not a fan of historical fiction, I enjoyed the book immensely. While I would recommend this book to anyone, I'd especially recommend it to parents with teenagers because of Mr. Foster's outstanding use of vocabulary and his observations of important social issues without taking the soap box. That said, there are some brief and rather subdued sexual scenes in the book.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Deberra Engelke
    5.0 out of 5 stars Packed with history
    Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    An engaging story that didn't leave me whether I was reading it or not. I love reading a well-written book, especially a longer one. I'm so looking forward to reading more of his work, and to think I did not know of him once I found how much he's authored over the years. I feel like I hit the jackpot.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • June
    5.0 out of 5 stars excellent
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 12, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Not the most historically accurate account of Maori/Pakeha history, but a really good read. The characters were very well constructed and I couldn't put it down
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  • Ben P
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent New Zealand historical novel
    Reviewed in Canada on April 21, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I know little of New Zealand history, so honestly don't know if the author did much 'bending' of historical fact to fit the story, but I thoroughly enjoyed this family saga.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    2.0 out of 5 stars Didn’t finish this one.
    Reviewed in Canada on April 12, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The story started well but got really bogged down about half way through. Didn’t finish
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  • A J Graves
    4.0 out of 5 stars good Historical fiction
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 11, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    The only reason this book gets 4 stars instead of 5 is my initial disappointment when I realised that this is NOT Fosters more normal SciFi, but instead an account of the settlement of New Zealand, based around the fictional life of Robert Coffin. If you are still interested, read it - it blends fast paced action with historical fact very well.
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 3, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A very different style for AD F
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