The fragrant, sun-checkered canyon lands of the planet Dinadh seem to be a peaceful backwater of the universe...except for one thing. A century ago, a mysterious force wiped out human life on all surrounding worlds, leaving Dinadh untouched. Every team sent to investigate vanished. Every attempt to contact survivors met with a devastating silence. Now the unknown force is back -- and this time humanity's only hope for survival lies on Dinadh...with a woman who'd give anything not to get involved. Lutha Tallstaff is a brilliant linguist, a devoted mother, and a reluctant emissary to Dinadh. Her mission is to locate the famed adventurer Leelson Famber, who has disappeared, taking with him what may be the only clue to the nature of the deadly threat. But for Lutha, finding Famber, who also happens to be her estranged lover and the father of her child, is the last thing she wants to do. At Lutha's side on this perilous quest is her strange and beautiful young son, a boy whose father denies his humanity but whose bizarre abilities will soon have far-reaching consequences. Reunited on Dinadh, the threesome find themselves traversing a planet dazzling in its cool springs and blossoming fruit trees, dangerous in its fountains of fire and rapacious winged wraiths. Yet only when they approach the planet's holiest place will Lutha discover the truth about her child, about the savage Ularians, and about the future of humankind. For she, her lover, and their son figure in a pattern of cosmic importance that will shake the universe -- and their understanding of life, love, good and evil -- to its very foundations. (publisher's blurb)

This goes back in the TBR stack along with the rest of Tepper's novels to be re-read and enjoyed once more before releasing.

MMPB, slightly kitty-bit on the corners of the front cover.

Although the cover blurb only mentions one of them, Tepper's novel follows the stories of three women: Saluez of Dinadh, Snark the Shadow, and the above-mentioned Lutha Tallstaff. The three disparate women have one thing in common: victimhood.

Saluez is a victim of Dinadh's social structure and religious practices which often have tragic consequences for women. Snark, because of her anti-social tendencies, has been sentenced to a form of behavior control known as Shadowhood, in which she acts as servant to the mighty but is completely unnoticeable by those she serves. And Lutha -- strong, intelligent, capable Lutha -- is victimized by her own longing for Leelson Famber even in the face of utter rejection by both him and his family.

Lutha's mission sets her on a path which ultimately unites these women and brings them to a single destiny. Together their actions will determine their own fates and that of mankind. Along the way, Tepper paints us a vivid landscape of alien worlds and odd beings, strange politics and xenophobic religions, and she shows us the far-reaching consequences of seemingly minor acts.

A well-told, almost poetic novel.

This book is going to the 2005 BookCrossing Convention in Ft. Worth, Texas! Reserved for SandDanz.

Given to SandDanz. It was wonderful to meet you!

Thank you so much Avanta7! It was so awesome meeting you at the convention! :)