A lot more philosophical/political than Enchantress from the Stars - in the afterword, Engdahl writes that she could just have easily made it with a completely separate heroine because of the books' differences. At any rate, I didn't like it as much as the first "Elana" book because I felt there was more attention on explaining the ideas of the importance of space colonization than there was on world-buliding, with only very generic explanations of why things were the way they were. Furthermore, everything works out a little too well for Elana, and the way she repeatedly expounds on how perfect Federation society is gets a bit grating, in the same way that her effective immunity to pain and manipulation is pretty far-fetched and even the parts where she is finally *affected* by something that happens consequently don't seem very believable. It was interesting at times though, and I'll still give it three stars for "I liked it."

Considerably more mature than Enchantress, this novel follows Alana on another mission-- this time to observe a planet at a critical point in it's development. This planet is filled with warring factions and the ability to harness nuclear energy to destroy civilzation or to channel it in a new direction that would enable space travel and exploration. Makes you wonder what EARTH will decide.

I read this book long ago as a teenager and loved it, so I don't know that I'm the most unbiased reader; but, re-reading it, I still really appreciate its moral complexity and the depth of the questions it asks. Also it's a great story. I'm not sure I agree with all the author's premises, but that didn't really detract from my enjoyment of the book.

I really wish I still had this book; one of my friends "borrowed" it. It's really descriptive and shows conflicts well.

I liked the main idea of the novel: that a human civilization can get beyond the nuclear threat once they strive for colonization of space. This makes sense to me. And I'm often been frustrated over the years that we of Earth do not seek more solutions to our resource problems in space.

This book was written in 1979; and it's dated for sure. But it holds up well.

I've read the most recent edition of this book, and can't say I notice substantial differences from the older edition in my library. If I have a serious quarrel with the arguments in this book, it's with the assertion that we all believe that the end justifies the means. 'We all' don't, because I'm part of 'we all', and I don't.

A very different book from Enchantress from the Stars. The premise is fascinating, but the author's commentary at the end kind of ruined it for me. I just don't buy in to her assertion that space colonies are a resource-gaining option, even if they were as close as Mars. Come on, Matt Damon almost died!

This is a slow-moving, deeply philosophical book. Not nearly as much fun as Enchantress.

This is a follow up to The Enchantress from the Stars, which I read a few months back. It has the same main character, but the story is very different. There is no quest like in the first one, instead this story is more political--a civilization is on the brink of nuclear war, and Elana and other agents are sent to observe and learn. Things end up getting complicated due to an agent going rogue (for reasons he sees as good). The first half was kind of slow, but then things really picked up. I cared about the characters and their choices. I recommend it, but not necessarily for the same crowd that would have really liked the first one.

I discovered in the afterword that the idea the Federation presents that cultures who begin to colonize space make it through this critical phase is one personally held by the author. In the book she was espousing personal views, which helped it feel more solid. It was helpful that they weren't particularly conservative or liberal, just that it is important for us to colonize space.

Rating: PG-13, for intense situations.

This is the updated edition of a novel I first published in 1971. Though the action of the story hasn't changed, the updating is important, as the wording of the original edition did not take into account the slowness of our progress in space since the Apollo era, a time when we assumed that once we started going into space we would continue making a major effort toward expansion beyond a single world.

Although this book has the same heroine as n  Enchantress from the Starsn it shouldn't be called a sequel, as the two books are completely independent and can be read in either order. Also, this one is unsuitable for readers as young as many children who enjoy Enchantress.

Was reminded of this book by The Geeks' Guide to the Galaxy. Haven't read it for decades but the moral conflict between observation and salvation still haunts me. Those darn irreplaceable bread pills...

One thing I loved about this how Elana learns that 'Younglings' are not primitive or childlike. The Prime Directive is analyzed very carefully, and characters are made to understand that the more 'advanced' races are *not* made up of superior beings.

I also liked one of the other themes, one that is similar to that expressed in A Wrinkle in Time. "[E]vil, even victorious evil, was not the most powerful force in the universe."

Intelligent and thoughtful, perfect for the quiet & questing teen. Also wonderful for many of the rest of us.

I also recommend the author's website. And I will look for more of her books.