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Sylvia Engdahl
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This Star Shall Abide: aka Heritage of the Star (Children of the Star Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Sylvia Engdahl (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 36 ratings
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(This book is known in the UK as Heritage of the Star)

Noren can see that his world is not as it should be--it is wrong that only the Scholars, and their representatives the Technicians, can use metal tools and Machines. It's wrong that only they have access to the impenetrable City, which he has always longed to enter. Above all, it is wrong for the Scholars to have sole power over the distribution of knowledge. Unable to believe in the Prophecy that promises these restrictions will someday end, he declares it to be a fraud and defies the High Lew under which they are enforced. His family and the girl to whom he is betrothed reject him. Yet he cannot turn back from the path that leads him to the mysterious fate awaiting heretics.

This classic science fiction novel is enjoyed by readers age 12 and up as well as by older teens and adults who go on to read the other two books in the Children of the Star trilogy. Originally published in hardcover by Atheneum in the US, and by Gollancz in the UK under the title Heritage of the Star, it was the winner of a Christopher Award given for "affirmation of the highest values of the human spirit.". For more reader reviews, be sure to see those for the omnibus edition of the trilogy under the title Children of the Star.
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  1. Reading age
    12 - 18 years
  2. Book 1 of 3
    Children of the Star
  3. Print length
    254 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Publication date
    November 12, 2013
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0615348346
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Tension-filled, beautiful and haunting." --Commonweal

"Both logically and consistently suspenseful.... This Star Will Abide a good deal longer than most here today, gone tomorrow sci-fi." --Kirkus Reviews

"An excellent plot and remarkable character development make this tale of the future highly satisfying and thought-provoking." --American Library Association, Top of the News

"This is not the electronic-light-flashing-exterminate-him-thing from outer space type of science fiction. It is an allegory which poses one of the most heart-searching dilemmas of the human race, perhaps in the C. S. Lewis tradition. I mean Perelandra rather than Narnia.... This is a thought-provoking book distantly related to Lord of the Rings and The Glassbead Game, and may appeal to a similar readership." --The Junior Bookshelf, London

"The story is noteworthy for its dramatization of the crucial meeting of man, science and the universe." --Horn Book

"Superior future fiction concerning the fate of an idealistic misfit, Noren, who rebels against his highly repressive society.... The attention of mature sci-fi readers will be held by the skillful writing and excellent plot and character development." --School Library Journal

"This is more than an exceptionally fine book about outer space. It is a wonderful book, perhaps telling the subtle story of many faiths. Watch for this for awards." --Fresno Bee

From the Author

The text of this 2008 edition is the same as in the 2000 Meisha Merlin omnibus edition of the trilogy. The cover of the ebook was changed in 2015 and again in 2016 without any change to the interior. There is a detailed FAQ about the story at my website, but it contains spoilers so shouldn't be read until you've read all three books in the trilogy.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004I1KQFQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ad Stellae Books (November 12, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 12, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1333 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 254 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 36 ratings

About the author

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Sylvia Engdahl

Sylvia Engdahl

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Sylvia Engdahl is the author of eleven science fiction novels, six of which are Young Adult novels that are also enjoyed by adults. Although she is best known for her Newbery Honor book "Enchantress from the Stars," her other YA novels are for older teen readers and her five latest novels are adult SF. She has also published a nonfiction book and three collections of essays. In addition she has worked as a freelance editor of nonfiction anthologies for high schools (most of the nonfiction books that appear in Amazon's catalog under her name are those edited by her in this capacity). She is a strong advocate of space colonization, and besides a widely-read space section of her website she created the site www.spacequotes.com (now at www.sylviaengdahl.com/spacequotes/), which contains quotations about why humankind must expand into space. She welcomes visitors to her website at www.sylviaengdahl.com.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
36 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jan Wolter
5.0 out of 5 stars A Forgotten Gem of Intelligent Science Fiction
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2012
Verified Purchase
This trilogy is one of Science Fiction's lost gems. It offers engaging characters in a world thoughtfully constructed to raise deep issues of faith and ethics. Though all were originally published as young adult novels, only the first fits that category to any degree, with a story that endorses youthful rebellion absolutely, while acknowledging that youthful rebels are likely to be wrong about nearly everything. It's a curiously utopian book, considering the awful circumstances in which it is set.

The central story of the second book rotates around the relationship of faith and reason, with side trips into love and despair. It tackles a lot of basic religious questions in the context of an imaginary religion. This is kind of what science fiction is for - exploring real issues of our lives in an allegorical context, free of the burdens of history.

The final book, written much later and not part of the original plan, is, in my opinion the best of the lot, and a perfect cap for the series. More about grief, faith and hope, and finally, after a two books in which the world was an unsolvable problem and all progress was internal, a chance to change the world and new questions about the morality of that.

Sorry for not referencing the three books by title here, but the titles may be one of the reasons these books are forgotten - I just finished reading them and I can't remember a single one of them. I'll remember the books for a long time though.
5 people found this helpful
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Jill A. Alters
5.0 out of 5 stars A Sci Fi Classic
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2014
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I first read this book over 30 years ago, and it has stayed with me ever since. Such deep storytelling and themes, and yet not a difficult read for a young teen. It made me think and never bored me. The sequels are just as interesting, although the third book does head in a bit of a different direction that makes it all the more interesting. I'm very happy the book is available again, especially in e-book. It deserves to be read by many.
2 people found this helpful
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Todd Warnke
5.0 out of 5 stars beautifully constructed, simply told
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2013
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My 12 year old needed something to push him, so I picked this up and read it along with him. I'm glad I did. Fantastic, though provoking work, by an author previously unknown to me. Starts simply, and I thought it would fail to engage me, but it did. Fully. It raises lifelong questions in a direct and accessible way. Highly recommended.
One person found this helpful
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Colin Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars This Star Shall Abide
Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2011
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This page turner transcends the usual. More than most fantasy fiction, the story focuses on character development and promotes thoughtful consideration about our place in the universe. The parallels and contrasts between cultures raised profound possibilities for me.
3 people found this helpful
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TeensReadToo
4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2010
The future is never written in stone, or so the saying goes. The sands of time may fall, but what stops someone from building a dam?

In the future, knowledge, and therefore thought, is totally controlled. Noren is one of the few who decides that thought and knowledge are important, and that everyone should be able to exhibit both freely. He knows the difference from what is right and completely unfair, even when his world tells him differently.

The only problem is, can he stop the Scholars, who are the only ones who can give the power of knowledge, on his own, or will he fail in the worst way? Running from the law, Noren is almost helpless, but the Scholars and Technicians can't take away his one power - hope.

Sylvia Engdahl weaves her story in a beautiful way. Not only does she create a totally different world from the one we live in, but also changes the roles of humankind. Her characters are both ones seen on the street and ones locked behind steel doors. Readers will be changed by the abrupt outlook on this amazing world and the surprises the plot presents as a whole.

THIS STAR SHALL ABIDE is a thoroughly enjoyable science fiction novel.

Reviewed by: AdrienneBe
2 people found this helpful
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Elizabeth Almann
5.0 out of 5 stars LOVED this thought-provoking story
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2015
A thought-provoking story with an intelligent hero. I read this book as a young adult and loved it. The main character, Noren, is inquisitive and rebellious - challenging the status quo. This book taught me to question what I thought I knew... and that sometimes the reasons why things seem wrong or unfair are more complex than you ever imagined. Years later, I read the book again - along with the other two books in the trilogy combined in "Children of the Star" - and found more things to like about it. I'm glad to see this first book of the trilogy reprinted as a separate volume for the simple reason that new readers may find it and open it... and have to keep reading until they find out the truth.
One person found this helpful
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Anthony Pacheco
5.0 out of 5 stars A Classical Science Fiction Gateway Drug
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2014
As you can tell from reading other reviews, this book sticks with you. It is emotionally powerful and classic science fiction. I read it when I was a teen, recommended to me by a librarian who loved science fiction.

The author updated this series to account for advances in computers, but the difference between the original version and the newer versions are slight, a testament to her visionary mind.

Back to the story, Noren is a deeply sympathetic main character and is fostered with a yearning right at home in this setting. The world he lives in just doesn't make sense, and his come-of-age quest to make it so is simultaneously wondrous and heartbreaking.

This book series was my gateway drug to science fiction. I have never forgotten these three books, and the signed collectors hardcover omnibus in hardback is my literal favorite book of all time.

Highly Recommended.
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Crow
5.0 out of 5 stars The book I buy extra copies of, whenever I find them, so I can share ;)
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2014
A friend recently had a milestone birthday, and the only gift allowed was 'a copy of your favorite book, and an inscription explaining why'. This was my gift. The inscription filled the entire blank page at the front, and could have gone on longer. There is simply no way to convey the depth of my belief that everyone should read this book. Truth. Belief. Convictions. Honesty. Knowledge.
An incredible book by a great storyteller.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Stephen T Cahill
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in Canada on February 1, 2016
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Excellent
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A Parent and Teacher
5.0 out of 5 stars I bought this kindle book because I had so enjoyed reading the paperback version as a child
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 19, 2015
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I bought this kindle book because I had so enjoyed reading the paperback version as a child. It made me think in a way nothing I had previously read ever had. Suddenly, good and bad were not so clear cut. Decisions were not so completely right or wrong. The plot was gripping too. I just couldn't put it down. If only I had known that there were sequels I could have read too. It is still a good book many years later.
3 people found this helpful
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r.boreham@natcen.ac.uk
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 6, 2013
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I first read this book when it first came out when I was 8 and it made a massive impression on me, partly because even at that age I was a bit of a rebel who questioned authority. Reading it again nearly 40 years later, I'm surprised by how unlike a lot of science fiction it hasn't dated. If you empathise with Noren the main character then you are taken on a journey with him as he challenges the authority of the ruling scholars and your own views on right and wrong are challenged.
3 people found this helpful
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