Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Ballantine Books (1969), Edition: First Thus
Description
In the February 1953 Galaxy, Groff Conklin praised the novel as "an immensely effective piece of mannered pseudo-historical writing . . . full of color, sex, and wonderful robust characters." The novel is set in a parallel world in which the existence of psychic powers has permitted the development of witchcraft into a science; in contrast, the physical sciences have languished, resulting in a modern culture reminiscent of our eighteenth century. Witchcraft is hereditary but the ability to use it can be held by only one member of a family line at a time, being passed from mother to daughter at the daughter's loss of virginity. The daughter's lover then gains possession of her magical talisman, a jewel known as a "blue star", which enables him to read the mind of anyone he looks in the eye. The catch is that he retains access to this power only so long as he keeps faith with his witch lover.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member selfnoise
Immaculately realized secondary world that goes beyond swords and sorcery. Something of the vivid details of Vance but with a less mannered tone. The central conceit of the novel, the Blue Star's magical properties, is a good one, though the characters are somewhat slight.
LibraryThing member schteve
A fantasy novel that doesn't use a medieval European base for its setting, Pratt conjures up a magical variant of the 17th century Austrian empire in 'The Blue Star'.
The plot device of magic in conflict with the Church would be used by other writers, notably Katherine Kurtz in the Deryni series,
This was the first book published under the Unicorn's Head colophon of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series edited by Lin Carter. Certainly a great beginning to a series that over 5 years rarely flagged.
The plot device of magic in conflict with the Church would be used by other writers, notably Katherine Kurtz in the Deryni series,
Show More
but Pratt's attention to detail and logic has few peers in the fantasy/sci-fi genre. This was the first book published under the Unicorn's Head colophon of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series edited by Lin Carter. Certainly a great beginning to a series that over 5 years rarely flagged.
Show Less
LibraryThing member antiquary
Although it is not my favorite Pratt --not up to The Well of the Unicorn, say --it is still well above average for a solidly thought-out fantasy universe. In its day, it was very unusual in that its universe was roughly 18th century (shades of the French Revolution) instead of ancient/medieval.
LibraryThing member shawjonathan
The Blue Star predates The Lord of the Rings: it’s fantasy from an earlier era – no dwarfs, elves or Celtic myths, and what magic there is is only slightly less abstract than the sex. Actually, the 1969 edition is labelled adult fantasy, and one of the unexpected pleasures of the book is
A prologue promises an alternative universe where magic occupies the place that science occupies in ours. If that promise creates an expectation of something like Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, then the book will disappoint. In fact, the practitioners of magic are a tiny, proscribed minority. Our young hero starts out as an idealistic member of a revolutionary group in a land ruled by a queen (who remains an abstraction) and a repressive social order. Following orders from the Central Committee he seduces a young witch and promises fidelity in order to gain control of her Blue Star, an amulet that gives its wearer telepathic powers. There’s a love story, then, and a political story: will the seduction lead to true love? can a revolutionary movement with such a utilitarian attitude to young love really lead to freedom? The playing out of these questions is diverting enough, and the subversively anti-romantic politics are engaging, especially the section about the Amorosans, who talk the talk of everything being done in love, but are just as repressive as their enemies across the water. On the whole, though, the book didn't overwhelm me. If you can imagine a Lord of the Rings where Bilbo decides that there are more important things than destroying the ring and that the Return of the King and the defeat of Sauron, for good or bad, will happen (or not) without his help, you have some idea of the impact.
A word of warning: skip Lin Carter’s spoilerish introduction, or at least save it for after you’ve read the rest of the book. You might also want to skip the prologue, which seems to be there to justify the fantasy mode, and doesn’t do it very well.
Show More
discovering just how chaste adult fantasy could be back then.A prologue promises an alternative universe where magic occupies the place that science occupies in ours. If that promise creates an expectation of something like Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, then the book will disappoint. In fact, the practitioners of magic are a tiny, proscribed minority. Our young hero starts out as an idealistic member of a revolutionary group in a land ruled by a queen (who remains an abstraction) and a repressive social order. Following orders from the Central Committee he seduces a young witch and promises fidelity in order to gain control of her Blue Star, an amulet that gives its wearer telepathic powers. There’s a love story, then, and a political story: will the seduction lead to true love? can a revolutionary movement with such a utilitarian attitude to young love really lead to freedom? The playing out of these questions is diverting enough, and the subversively anti-romantic politics are engaging, especially the section about the Amorosans, who talk the talk of everything being done in love, but are just as repressive as their enemies across the water. On the whole, though, the book didn't overwhelm me. If you can imagine a Lord of the Rings where Bilbo decides that there are more important things than destroying the ring and that the Return of the King and the defeat of Sauron, for good or bad, will happen (or not) without his help, you have some idea of the impact.
A word of warning: skip Lin Carter’s spoilerish introduction, or at least save it for after you’ve read the rest of the book. You might also want to skip the prologue, which seems to be there to justify the fantasy mode, and doesn’t do it very well.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mimiphantomofliberty
ya maybe i'd like it if i was down for like rape apology and general messy revealing misogyny. but i'm not really down for that. like at all.
LibraryThing member dbsovereign
Parallel universe fantasy with a seductive quest where a couple try to subvert each other's bid for power. Worth a read if you can find it. Surprised no one has made a historical fantasy film out of this one.
LibraryThing member grahzny
I've only ever read this author in collaboration with L. Sprauge deCamp. But he's got an excellent, detailed, inventive style and can world-build as well as anyone. I found myself wondering how he'd put so much into such a slim novel, and how he expected to complete it properly. In the end, he
Show More
succeeded by making the ending turn on how all the various larger parts pushed and pulled a small but central part of the story. Satisfying, although I wish he'd written more. Show Less
Language
Original publication date
1952
Physical description
7 inches