Exiles Of The Stars

Andre Norton published four books in her Moon Singer series: "Moon of Three Rings (1966); "Exiles of the Stars (1971); Flight in Yiktor (1986); and "Dare to Go A-Hunting (1989). "Exiles of the Stars" combines Norton's SF Free Trader and Forerunner themes, with some magic mixed in to add weird undertones. These aren't the stodgy (but wonderful) free traders of her 'Solar Queen' series. The crewmates of the starship 'Lydis' are edgy, shape-shifted mutants with extra-sensory powers. Krip Vorlund, one of the first-person narrators was once human, but got relocated into an alien Thassa body in "Moon of Three Rings." He couldn't go home again, so to speak, because his original body was spaced. The second narrator, the Moon Singer herself (who switched Krip then got switched herself) inhabits a sort of large-clawed, dog-shaped form in 'Exiles,' but retains her intelligence and at least some of her esper powers. The Forerunner theme weaves into the mix when the 'Lydis' sets down on the planet, Thoth in the Amen-Re system, which happens to be particularly rich in Forerunner artifacts. 'Lydis's officers seal a bargain with Thothian priests to transport some of the alien treasure to the planet Ptah for safekeeping (Thoth is in the midst of a nasty civil war). So far so good. But shortly after lift-off from Thoth, the 'Lydis' has to make an emergency landing on the uninhabited planet, Sekhmet. Almost as soon as she touches down, the 'Lydis' comes under attack. Krip Vorlund and the former Moon Singer, Maelen set out on a rescue mission through the ancient, underground ways of Sekhmet, where they encounter jackers (space pirates), Patrolmen, ghosts from their own past, and yet more Forerunner super-technology. The Moon Singer books are not my favorite Nortons. They are a thematic hodge-podge, and it's hard to love a hero and heroine who inhabit non-cuddly alien bodies with super-human powers. However, if you are already a Norton fan and are particularly fond of her Forerunner novels (I think the very first one was the 'Solar Queen' adventure, "Sargasso of Space"), read "Exiles of the Stars"--but only after you've finished "Moon of Three Rings."

Andre Norton published four books in her Moon Singer series: "Moon of Three Rings (1966); "Exiles of the Stars (1971); Flight in Yiktor (1986); and "Dare to Go A-Hunting (1989). "Exiles of the Stars" combines Norton's SF Free Trader and Forerunner themes, with some magic mixed in to add weird undertones. These aren't the stodgy (but wonderful) free traders of her 'Solar Queen' series. The crewmates of the starship 'Lydis' are edgy, shape-shifted mutants with extra-sensory powers. Krip Vorlund, one of the first-person narrators was once human, but got relocated into an alien Thassa body in "Moon of Three Rings." He couldn't go home again, so to speak, because his original body was spaced. The second narrator, the Moon Singer herself (who switched Krip then got switched herself) inhabits a sort of large-clawed, dog-shaped form in 'Exiles,' but retains her intelligence and at least some of her esper powers. The Forerunner theme weaves into the mix when the 'Lydis' sets down on the planet, Thoth in the Amen-Re system, which happens to be particularly rich in Forerunner artifacts. 'Lydis's officers seal a bargain with Thothian priests to transport some of the alien treasure to the planet Ptah for safekeeping (Thoth is in the midst of a nasty civil war). So far so good. But shortly after lift-off from Thoth, the 'Lydis' has to make an emergency landing on the uninhabited planet, Sekhmet. Almost as soon as she touches down, the 'Lydis' comes under attack. Krip Vorlund and the former Moon Singer, Maelen set out on a rescue mission through the ancient, underground ways of Sekhmet, where they encounter jackers (space pirates), Patrolmen, ghosts from their own past, and yet more Forerunner super-technology. The Moon Singer books are not my favorite Nortons. They are a thematic hodge-podge, and it's hard to love a hero and heroine who inhabit non-cuddly alien bodies with super-human powers. However, if you are already a Norton fan and are particularly fond of her Forerunner novels (I think the very first one was the 'Solar Queen' adventure, "Sargasso of Space"), read "Exiles of the Stars"--but only after you've finished "Moon of Three Rings."

Exiles of the Stars (1971) is the second novel in the Moonsinger series, following Moon of Three Rings. In the previous volume, Krip Vorlund, a minor esper and Free Trader crewmember, was entangled in a conspiracy by offworld powers and kidnapped from the fairgrounds by a young native lord. Maelen, a Moonsinger of the Thassa, facilitated his escape from prison and then exchanged his body with that of a mindless barsk just before the searchers caught up with them. Maelen was later mortally injured and exchanged bodies with the faithful Vors, one of her "little people". Thereafter, the Thassa assembly condemned Maelen for the misuse of her powers and took away her Moonsinger wand. She was also rejected from Thassa society for an unspecified period. In this novel, Krip and Maelen are aboard the Free Trader ship Lydis as crewmembers. Krip is now wearing the body of a Thassa and Maelen is still encased in the body of Vors. Krip retains his position as assistant cargomaster and Maelen is valued for her powerful esper talents. The ship has brought a cargo of pulmn to the priesthood on Thoth, only to find that the church and state are threatened by a religious insurrection. A new prophet has arisen in the mountain country east of Kartum after a virulent plague had spread from a new Forerunner cache. This prophet preachs that all Forerunner artifacts collected by the church are evil and should be destroyed. The priests are very frightened and are negotiating a new contract with the Lydis crew to take at least one load of precious Forerunner relics to safety on Ptah, another planet in the system. After the contract is confirmed, the Lydis crew dumps the worthless pulmn and takes on the first load of Forerunner treasures. The loading is opposed by rebel sympathizers, but government troops clear them off the landing pad. The shipment of these relics offplanet is also opposed by some within the temple hierarchy. A fanatic priest from a lesser temple comes to the landing pad with his entourage to curse the ship. He vows to stay there until the treasures are returned. Another priest brings the take-off authorization and remains aboard to escort the relics to Ptah. However, this priest uses a strange device within one of the artifacts to sabotage the ship engines, throwing it off-course. The Lydis crew manages to land safely, but not on Ptah. Instead, they are grounded on Sekhmet, an uninhabited planet in the same system. Maelen soon discovers that they are being watched. Krip warns the Lydis crew, but Maelen doesn't have any certain information on the watchers. The crew establishes communications with a passing Patrol ship, which lands and surveys the situation. The patrolmen decide to take the captain and engineer of the Lydis back to their base to obtain necessary repair parts for the ship engines. Three patrolmen are left behind to help discover some missing crewmembers. Krip and Maelen go with the patrolmen on the search. The

This follow up to "Moon of Three Rings" is one of my favorite Andre Norton books. If you liked "Moon of Three Rings", you should certainly read this book which brings a sense of completion to the story of Krip and Maelen. The next book "Flight in Yiktor" is completely different and essentially abandons these characters. I didn't care for it, as I believe it is an indication that she no longer writes her books.