Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
New Eng. Lib. (1982), Paperback, 320 pages
Description
A classic tale of a brilliantly rendered world of ironbound tradition, where a rebellious soul seeks to prove the power of a dream. The planet of Windhaven was not originally a home to humans, but it became one following the crash of a colony starship. It is a world of small islands, harsh weather, and monster-infested seas. Communication among the scattered settlements was virtually impossible until the discovery that, thanks to light gravity and a dense atmosphere, humans were able to fly with the aid of metal wings made of bits of the cannibalized spaceship. Many generations later, among the scattered islands that make up the water world of Windhaven, no one holds more prestige than the silver-winged flyers, who bring news, gossip, songs, and stories. They are romantic figures crossing treacherous oceans, braving shifting winds and sudden storms that could easily dash them from the sky to instant death. They are also members of an increasingly elite caste, for the wings--always in limited quantity-- are growing gradually rarer as their bearers perish. With such elitism comes arrogance and a rigid adherence to hidebound tradition. And for the flyers, allowing just anyone to join their cadre is an idea that borders on heresy. Wings are meant only for the offspring of flyers--now the new nobility of Windhaven. Except that sometimes life is not quite so neat. Maris of Amberly, a fisherman's daughter, was raised by a flyer and wants nothing more than to soar on the currents high above Windhaven. By tradition, however, the wings must go to her stepbrother, Coll, the flyer's legitimate son. But Coll wants only to be a singer, traveling the world by sea. So Maris challenges tradition, demanding that flyers be chosen on the basis of merit rather than inheritance. And when she wins that bitter battle, she discovers that her troubles are only beginning. For not all flyers are willing to accept the world's new structure, and as Maris battles to teach those who yearn to fly, she finds herself likewise fighting to preserve the integrity of a society she so longed to join--not to mention the very fabric that holds her culture together.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member robinamelia
I would really only recommend this book for historical interest, in noting where two of Rowling's main themes (the battle between people born into magic families and those of mixed ancestry, and magic academies) had precedent. The book follows the life of Maris, a fisherman's daughter, on this
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world where humans had long ago been stranded, leaving behind only this fabric which allowed those who wore them as wings to fly. That is handy, since the planet is mainly water, with scattered islands and they don't seem to have developed any other means of communication. Maris's fight to become a flyer succeeds, but ends up changing the social order more drastically than she had realized. Show Less
LibraryThing member silentq
I picked this on up for the first author, I'm trying to fill out my read list on him (just read the Storm of Ice and Fire a novella from the same world). A young woman wants to stay a flying messenger on a water based world, they're the only quick connection between the remote islands as the seas
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are infested with dangerous predators that make sailing a risky proposition. The messengers fly on wings made from the original settler's space ship, and they're handed down through the families. She wants to break the tradition, make it merit based, and the book covers her life trying to force the world to change. Lots of stuff gets crammed into the novel, it could have been extended into two, maybe, but it's enjoyable in a light sci-fi sort of way. Plus the authors don't shy away from hurting the characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member taylorh
A nice treat / departure for Martin & Tuttle fans
Sep 2006
This book doesn't have quite the same plot complexity that I have known Martin for. I don't know if that is Tuttle's influence, or simply a recognition that such would complicate an otherwise graceful story. I am happy for their focus on the
Sep 2006
This book doesn't have quite the same plot complexity that I have known Martin for. I don't know if that is Tuttle's influence, or simply a recognition that such would complicate an otherwise graceful story. I am happy for their focus on the
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flying itself rather than the political struggles of the inter-island governments. There is also less oration than expected in a Martin (except in a few key circumstances) for which I am appreciative. We get to know Maris through her hopes, struggles, wishes, and flight. Rejoice with her in the sun sparkled heights, and hold tight in the dizzying shrieking storms. /Almost/ makes me want to go hang-gliding. Show Less
LibraryThing member paganpaul
A very nice and intriguing read, this book. The story is well-written and easy to follow, despite the jumps in time that happen in some places.
I really like Windhaven, even when there are many painful and sad moments in it.
I really like Windhaven, even when there are many painful and sad moments in it.
LibraryThing member nesum
I thought this was a basically enjoyable book, but little more. I picked it up because I've generally liked other George R. R. Martin titles, but this one lacked the fullness of his other work, especially in the characters. The people who inhabit this world, even the main characters, are very
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two-dimensional, and I found it very difficult to really care about any of them. As I said, it's an okay read, but it's not one I'd really recommend you run out and buy. Show Less
LibraryThing member ricaustria
A classic from the 70s, memorable for its wonderful depiction of the joys of flying, I mean with wings, like an eagle. The written version of the flight training segment of the movie Avatar. 30 years after, the memories are fading but overall it was a good read.
LibraryThing member atreic
I love this book. It is the story of Maris, adopted by a Flyer of Windhaven, but sidelined when he has a biological child of his own. Being a fantasy story, the heir doesn't want wings, he wants to be a singer, and Maris wants to fly with a burning passion that she would change the world for... and
A lot of books would have stopped there. But this is the story of all of Maris's life, and the traditional Young Adult fight-against-the-odds-to-achieve-your-dream is only the start. The majority of the book is Maris growing up, and having to deal with the changes her naïve actions cause. I think one of the things I love most about this book is Val One Wing. He is written as a very ambiguous, but very dislikable character. Maris, who is talented and loving and so easy to identify with, spends a lot of the book reaching out to him and making an effort, only to find him being what feels like gratuitously cruel to her. He wants to fly, but not to be a flyer - he despises the aristocrats who lord it over the rest of Windhaven. He flaunts their tradition wherever he can. And he is ruthlessly driven - he wins his wings by challenging a women who is distraught weeks after her brother's death, and never shows any remorse for his actions. But he has watertight motivations, and a sympathetic backstory, and leaves me a tangled mix of hating him and loving him every time.
In the third part of the book, Maris loses her ability to fly through a terrible accident, and the story talks of grief, of healing, of how we define ourselves, and how we heal and reinvent ourselves.
There are so many things I love about this book. But it captures so truly the feeling of soaring and spiraling high above the sea, sun glinting on silver wings, the joy and glory of it.
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so she steals the wings, is tried by the Council, and eventually persuades them that a new way is needed.A lot of books would have stopped there. But this is the story of all of Maris's life, and the traditional Young Adult fight-against-the-odds-to-achieve-your-dream is only the start. The majority of the book is Maris growing up, and having to deal with the changes her naïve actions cause. I think one of the things I love most about this book is Val One Wing. He is written as a very ambiguous, but very dislikable character. Maris, who is talented and loving and so easy to identify with, spends a lot of the book reaching out to him and making an effort, only to find him being what feels like gratuitously cruel to her. He wants to fly, but not to be a flyer - he despises the aristocrats who lord it over the rest of Windhaven. He flaunts their tradition wherever he can. And he is ruthlessly driven - he wins his wings by challenging a women who is distraught weeks after her brother's death, and never shows any remorse for his actions. But he has watertight motivations, and a sympathetic backstory, and leaves me a tangled mix of hating him and loving him every time.
In the third part of the book, Maris loses her ability to fly through a terrible accident, and the story talks of grief, of healing, of how we define ourselves, and how we heal and reinvent ourselves.
There are so many things I love about this book. But it captures so truly the feeling of soaring and spiraling high above the sea, sun glinting on silver wings, the joy and glory of it.
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LibraryThing member dimi777
Windhaven planet was not originally inhabited by humans, but colonized after the crash of a terrestrial asterisk. It is a world that consists of numerous small islands, a world of extreme weather and sea monsters. Communication between the scattered settlements was impossible until the discovery
Maris from Amberley, a fisherman's daughter, was adopted by a windmill, and all she wants in her life is to fly into the ethers. However, tradition forces the wings to pass to her adoptive brother, Coll, the legal son of the windmill. All that Kool wants is to become a barbarian and travel to the world by the sea. For this reason, Marius revolts and throws himself into a difficult struggle against elitism, arrogance, and the undisturbed traditions of the windmill society.
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that thanks to the small gravity and the dense atmosphere, humans could fly with the help of metal wings made from the debris of the Earth's spacecraft. Many generations later, among the scattered islands that make up the Withering Waters, no one is more prestigious than the windmills, who with their silver feathers carry news, gossip, songs and stories. Romantic forms that cross dangerous oceans and defy unsettled winds and unpredictable storms that could drop them at any time from the sky and kill them. They are also members of an increasingly select caste, as feathers - everywhere - are becoming scarcer as the people who wear them are lost.Maris from Amberley, a fisherman's daughter, was adopted by a windmill, and all she wants in her life is to fly into the ethers. However, tradition forces the wings to pass to her adoptive brother, Coll, the legal son of the windmill. All that Kool wants is to become a barbarian and travel to the world by the sea. For this reason, Marius revolts and throws himself into a difficult struggle against elitism, arrogance, and the undisturbed traditions of the windmill society.
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LibraryThing member LyndaInOregon
Martin and Tuttle have created an alien but recognizably human world where the descendants of stranded spacefarers have cannibalized the solar sails of their ancestors' ships to create wings allowing a few, specially-trained men and women to fly on the planet's unceasing winds.
That's all
Well worth reading. And, since I have an utter aversion to series books, it's good to see a stand-alone fantasy novel that doesn't require the reader to make a career out of wading through 27 volumes of high fantasy set in a pseudo-medieval world of magic and myth.
That's all
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backstory, though, as the story centers around a young woman whose desire to fly leads her to batter down barriers that have stood for generations. The average run-of-the-mill fantasy offering might stop there. In fact, the first section of the book does end on that note, and would have been a fine (if somewhat short) YA novel. This one, however, is a book for grown-ups, and it goes far beyond the Brave Young Heroine Challenging Tradition to take a look at what happens to the song when you change a single note.Well worth reading. And, since I have an utter aversion to series books, it's good to see a stand-alone fantasy novel that doesn't require the reader to make a career out of wading through 27 volumes of high fantasy set in a pseudo-medieval world of magic and myth.
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LibraryThing member Lucky-Loki
As I understand it, this book is basically three short stories sewed together, with an added prologue and epilogue. Together, these five snippets of the character follows her from cradle to grave. It alls takes place on a archipelago world where spacewrecked humans in the distant past have given
The first short story is OK, but didn't really grab me. The second was a lot more interesting and engrossed me thoroughly, and the third -- possibly because of the pathos of seeing the woman who was 'just' a young girl reaching the final stages of her life -- was actually rather moving. All in all, thus, this made for a very good and memorable read, but the buy-in of the first third of the book was perhaps a bit steep. Also be warned that due to the low-tech nature of this society, the book might feel more like a no-magic fantasy world than it does a science fiction one -- a boon to my tastes, but possibly not to everyone.
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rise to a pre-industrial society whose main reliable means of speedy communication is the oral messages delivered between islands by "fliers" -- Icharus-esque users of wings built from the remnants of the spacefaring technology. These wings are inherited, causing a class of people separate from the rest of society, with no mobiity into it for outsiders. Enter the protagonist, who so desperately wishes to fly, she might just change the world to do so...The first short story is OK, but didn't really grab me. The second was a lot more interesting and engrossed me thoroughly, and the third -- possibly because of the pathos of seeing the woman who was 'just' a young girl reaching the final stages of her life -- was actually rather moving. All in all, thus, this made for a very good and memorable read, but the buy-in of the first third of the book was perhaps a bit steep. Also be warned that due to the low-tech nature of this society, the book might feel more like a no-magic fantasy world than it does a science fiction one -- a boon to my tastes, but possibly not to everyone.
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LibraryThing member zjakkelien
This was nice. It has quite an interesting setting, and I like that there is no misogyny. Women are not lesser fliers than men, and the main character is a woman. She is quite strong-willed but is also willing to change her opinion and to work with people she doesn't like when she feels it is the
I might have given this 1 star more, but for some reason, I kept seeing the hand of the authors in this. Maybe it's because of the way the book is divided in sections, or because of the numerous discussions that are inherent to a change in society, but it was like I could see the storyline laid out before me while I was reading. That kept me from fully immersing myself into this book.
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right thing to do. I might have given this 1 star more, but for some reason, I kept seeing the hand of the authors in this. Maybe it's because of the way the book is divided in sections, or because of the numerous discussions that are inherent to a change in society, but it was like I could see the storyline laid out before me while I was reading. That kept me from fully immersing myself into this book.
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Language
Original publication date
1981-04
Physical description
320 p.
ISBN
0450046664 / 9780450046667
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF Martin |