The Stars Asunder: A New Novel of the Mageworlds

The Stars Asunder (1999) is the sixth novel written in the Mageworlds series. At this time, however, it is the first in internal chronological sequence. This series has evoked a mysterious past from the very first volume. While Doyle and MacDonald have filled in some of the backstory in The Gathering Flame, now we are told the story of Arekhon Khreseio sus-Khalgath sus-Peledaen, the Professor, at a time 500 years before The Price of the Stars. The eiran seem to be silvery threads to those with the ability to see them. They are the forces of life and luck and can be manipulated by Mages. Long ago, individual efforts of many short-sighted individuals have caused a Great Sundering of the eiran, leaving The Gap Between separating the survivors and their worlds. In the Mageworlds, circles still manipulate the eiran, but, in the rest of the human worlds, the Adepts consider the eiran as a force of nature and manipulation of the threads is believed to be an abomination. Garrod syn-Aigal is a Void Walker, able to cross even interstellar distances through the Void, and Yuvaen syn-Deriot is his Second. They are determined to perform a Great Working to bridge The Gap Between and make whole the broken eiran threads within the galaxy. They begin by recruiting Mages for a new circle based at Demaizen Old Hall and the eiran brings them from all walks of life. Among the new Mages are Iulan Vai, Narin Iyal, Ty, and Arekhon. Iulan Vai is Agent-Principal of the sus-Radal family, working in the shadows to gather information. Narin is the First of the Amisket Circle, protecting the fishing town and its fleet. Ty is a young nobody's-child from the Port Street Foundling Home, who has to find a means of livelihood. Arekhon, the younger brother of Natelth, the head of the sus-Peledaen family's senior line, is leavimg his family business to become a mage. Each is facing an uncertain future before the eiran brings them together. The Demaizen Circle is the only remaining independent Mage circle that is performing Great Workings. All the others are bound to the noble houses or doing only minor workings. The Demaizen Circle is beholden only to Garrod, who is the last of his family, but their efforts may provoke even the Gods themselves against them. The Mageworlds stories belong to that gray area between science fiction and fantasy, mixing Technology and Talents, much like the interstellar adventures of Andre Norton and Lisanne Norman. Recommended for all Mageworlds fans and anyone who enjoys stories of great magic, political intrigue, and exotic cultures. -Arthur W. Jordin

I really enjoyed this book. I had already read the trilogy and prequel of the mageworlds books and i found it really interesting to learn more about the mages themselves. If you've read the trilogy or even just the prequel and liked it you definately want to read this book, especially if you liked the Professor. There are a few things left unexplained at the end, but i guess that just means i'll have to read the sequel!

Readers who like thoughtful, complex, exciting, unpredictable space opera ought to be reaching for the Mageworlds books.THE STARS ASUNDER is different from the other Mageworlds books, as indeed it ought to be: now, for the first time, we see this universe from the point of view of the "villains". The Republic is the Other in this story, and the Mages' way of seeing life and the universe is the main focus. We come to understand them in this book, which in turn makes rereading the previous Mageworlds books take on new meaning.The pacing and language is different, which I think is a plus. Convoluted, yes. Complex, yes. Unexpected, yes. And wouldn't you like, for once, not to know exactly where a story is going? If you like Lois McMaster Bujold, and Jack Vance's better work, and Vernor Vinge, then you really ought to give this book a try. It's a keeper.

The absolute best thing about this new book that's chock-full of bests is that we finally get to see so much more of the Adepts (though still not enough of the whole Mageworlds culture: more books please!), who have a delightfully magickal worldview. This is a great adventure full of battle murder and sudden death: a most excellent place to start the series (it's a prequel) and a welcome return for those who are already fans.

It's kind of odd that the first five books were called "Mageworlds" when actually the Mages were more or less the enemy, and the stories took place on the other side of the galaxy. But this time, we really see this universe from the point of view of the "bad guys"--who aren't necessarily bad.Doyle and Macdonald are never predictable, or easy; if you like tricky plotting and subtle characterizations and zippy pacing, this is the book for you. Add in the realistic detail on how military people think and work, and you've got great action as well. But that's not to say the story is one-dimensional shoot'em'up; there are insightful glimpses into human interaction, and traces of mysticism.Well worth the hardback price, because this is a keeper for years of rereading. I hope there's going to be more about the real Mageworlds!