heb's Full Review: George R.R. Martin and Lisa Tuttle - Windhaven
Sometimes it happens that you find great things in life, when you aren't even looking. This is how I stumbled upon the novel Windhaven. I found it in all places, at a dollar store, where it cost, yes, that's right, a dollar! This was a hardcover book too, not just a mass marketed paperback.
It's funny, I'm not even a huge fan of Science fiction. I'm strictly a horror novel type. If it has vampires in it or ghosts, or is written by Stephen King, then it's a pretty much guarantee that I will buy it. But science fiction, no. So, I must admit, the only reason I got this book was because of the cover. Yes, I judged a book by it's cover and I made a good choice. The cover has people flying, and I though, hmm, a book about flying might not be too bad. So I picked it up and much to my surprise, I loved it.
Windhaven is set on a planet called Windhaven, hence the name! Several centuries before the story is set, people came from Earth in a spaceship. The space ship crashed and what was saved, was a super light material that when used in the atmosphere of Windhaven, and made into wings, would allow people to fly. Windhaven is a land without technology, and the only way of passing communication quickly is through the flyers. The flyers are chosen based on a caste system. Much like royalty. The first born child recieves the wings and must become a flyer, whether they are good at flying or not.
But one young girl, born into a poor family, Maris, wants nothing more in life, than to become a flyer. She decides to challenge the system. She wants everyone to become equal. All should have the chance to fly if they have the skills. We follow the story of Maris, living her life and seeing how one person can make a difference, if they try hard enough. But sometimes, changing things, does not always make it better. Sometimes it only makes it harder.
This book goes through three separate times in Maris's life. Each part, is at a different age; it goes from Maris being a young girl, to a middle aged wiser Maris, to an old Maris, who has lived her life. We follow along with her and when the story is over we don't want it to end.
I only wish the book was longer, or went more into detail in the periods in between in Maris's life. I would recommend this book to anyone; especially science fiction fans, but I think anyone who enjoys a good story would appreciate this book. It isn't really about flying at all. It's about living.
I've learned an important lesson with this book; not all good books are found at book stores. You never know where you'll come across a good book. But if you're lucky, you'll find one and you'll enjoy it as much as I enjoyed Windhaven.
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