The Cult of Loving Kindness (Starbridge Chronicles, No 3)

The Cult of Loving Kindness (Starbridge Chronicles, No 3)
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The Cult of Loving Kindness

The Cult of Loving Kindness (Starbridge Chronicles, No 3)
Paul Park
Manufacturer: Avon Books (Mm)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Park, Paul | ( P ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Sugar Rain

Soldiers of Paradise

Celestis

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Sugar Festival, The

ASIN: 0380718197

Book Description

In the third and final book of the Starbridge Chronicles, THE CULT OF LOVING KINDNESS, more than two generations have passed since the events of SUGAR RAIN, and barren tundra has given way to fecund, steamy jungle at the height of summer. Deep in the forest, a twin boy and girl grow up among a strange race of philosophers, oblivious to the outside world where the secular regime is now as fanatical and orthodox as the old religious one. When their home is invaded, the pair take flight. Among the new faith called The Cult of Loving Kindness, they awaken to their mythic heritage, becoming the catalyst of another revolution and the re-ascendance of the Starbridges.

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In the third and final book of the Starbridge Chronicles, more than two generations have passed since the events of SUGAR RAIN, and barren tundra has given way to fecund, steamy jungle at the height of summer. Deep in the forest, a twin boy and girl grow up among a strange race of philosophers, oblivious to the outside world, where the secular regime is now as fanatical and orthodox as the old religious one. When their home is invaded, the pair take flight. Among the new faith called The Cult of Loving Kindness, they awaken to their mythic heritage, becoming the catalyst of another revolution and the re-ascendance of the Starbridges.

Customer Reviews:

The Cult of Loving Kindness.......1999-05-06

It is a pity that this work, like the previous two installments of the Starbridge Chronicles (Soldiers of Paradise and Sugar Rain), is now out of print, because it is certainly one of the most interesting fantasy experiments to be published in the past several years. Set in the distant future, in a time where environmental degradation has caused seasons to last for years, a phenomenon which has caused the fabric of society to disintigrate, the story synchronizes elements of mysticism, magic and prophecy. At the same time, the trilogy offers startling psychological insight into such areas as mass hysteria, human sexuality, addiction, and religious longings. Park in the Starbridge Chronicles has created a vivid, horrific world that, for all of its Boschian strangeness, convincingly portrays the landscape of the unbridled unconscious. I highly recommend these works to anyone, but in particular to readers of Gene Wolfe, Jack Vance, Frank Herbert, and Fritz Leiber.

Average customer rating:

Creative and Enjoyable
If you like science fiction you will love this book.

Starbridge
A. C. Crispin
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Shadow World (Starbridge, Book 3)
Serpent's Gift (Starbridge, 4)
Silent Songs (Starbridge, Book 5)

ASIN: 0441783295

Book Description

The crew of the Desiree was unprepared. The Simiu were unexpected...

Earth's first contact with an alien race turns to disaster when a friendly encounter erupts into inexplicable violence and the threat of interstellar war.

But two ordinary individuals--Mahree Burroughs, an ordinary woman with a gift for friendship, and Dhurrrkk', a male Simiu with boundless curiosity--have forged a bond of understanding that bridges their many differences.

Along with a reluctant Robert Gable, brilliant young ship's physician, they make an astounding journey across the stars, to seek a way to save the future of both species!

Customer Reviews:

Creative and Enjoyable.......2007-01-19

This is a truly great science fiction book.It has some original plot elements that are refreshing, for example, not all aliens in this book(unlike Star Trek) merely look humans in a fake suit. Also, the romance aspect of this book is well done and quite enjoyable. Definitely the best of the series.Recommend for all science fiction fans.One more note-its nice to read science fiction that does not have to be grotesquely violent or lewd to be entertaining.

If you like science fiction you will love this book........1998-08-15

The book is very entertaining and very informative of how humans would react to meeting 11 new aliens, even though we have advanced hundreds of years into the future. You have great human and non-human characters that you relate to. I would recommend this to beginning readers of science fiction.

Average customer rating:

A depart from the normal starbridge stories

Serpent's Gift (Starbridge, 4)
A. C. Crispin , and Deborah A. Marshall
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Shadow World (Starbridge, Book 3)
Silent Songs (Starbridge, Book 5)
Starbridge

ASIN: 0441783317

Book Description

His career as an instructor at StarBridge Academy was a second chance for Serge LaRoche, a gifted musician. Until a freak accident took away his hands.

For young Heather Farley, brilliant but undisciplined, StarBridge was a first chance at the security and stability she had been without all her life.

But now an incredible archeological find beneath the cold surface of the school's asteroid base threatens their dreams for the future--and the future of StarBridge itself.

StarBridge - Training ground of the future.

Customer Reviews:

A depart from the normal starbridge stories.......1998-10-20

A story centering around starbridge itself and its teachers/students.

You are introduced to some new characters, and it DOES set the stage for the 6th book.

Book Description

Where the seasons last for generations, hard winter makes for hard religion. The worlds of the solar system are the hells through which all souls must incarnate on their journey to Paradise; all, that is, but the Starbridges, nobles who serve to enforce the "divine will." In the lowest slums of the city-state of Charn, a Starbridge doctor and a drunken prince defy the law to bring medicine to the poor and hear the story-music of the refugee Antinomials, a wild people who shun words, infidels pressed to the edge of extinction. As a decades-long pitched battle approaches the city and the Bishop of Charn herself is condemned for impurity, the doctor and the prince will follow their compassion into the heart of a revolution, just on the eve of spring, with its strange and treacherous sugar rain.

This is the first book of the Starbridge Chronicles, and is followed by SUGAR RAIN and THE CULT OF LOVING KINDNESS.

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Customer Reviews:

Cirminally Underrated.......2003-01-06

I happened upon this book because I was starving for something to read on one very cold winter night. Wanting instant gratification, I found Soldiers of Paradise on Amazon's e-books, and bought it simply because it had interesting cover art. I read the first few pages, stopped, went back to Amazon and immediately bought the rest of the trilogy.

Soldiers of Paradise is the first book of the Starbridge Chronicles trilogy, a tale that starts in late winter and ends in the second half of summer of the same year. During the months in between, wars are waged and empires fall. And not because the change is so quick, but because the year is that long; longer than many years of our own time and Earth. The Author never tells us how this came to be. It could be that the Earth of the Starbridge Chronicles is our own cast into the future, or that she is a refuge that our race has sought after her original namesake fell into ruin.

And this is just the beginning. The journey through Paul Park's earth is a torturously delicious striptease. He never tells, he just shows. And he never shows too much, just enough to set the reader's imagination aflame, puzzling over the possibilities, the explanation, and the meaning of it all. In the end, each reader will come out with his or her own version of the Earth of the Startbridge Chronicles.

Another aspect that is strongly present, and one that I find to be very relevant to our current times, is that of religion. The inhabitants of Paul Park's Earth all follow a single religion for the most part, the symbol of which is the profit Angkhdt. As the seasons change, the people's perception of Angkhdt changes as well. In winter, the time of hardship, he becomes the dog-headed Angkhdt, the prophet of obedience and war. In summer, he becomes the well-endowed Angkhdt, the prophet of love and harvest.

So we too change our perception of religion in accordance to circumstance. To some, religion preaches peace and tolerance. To others, it demands blood and sacrifice. Perhaps then no religion is above corruption once it falls into human hands.

Soldiers of paradise.......2001-11-27

The book I read for free reading was Soldiers of paradise and it made the most of my time. It was wrtten by Paul Park which is also a very intresting man and his past life will amaze anyone. the book is like a fantasy in the distant future but alot of war and illeagel drugs is involved.This book was a great choice because there were always surprises that poped up from evey cornor when you least expected it. This book was like no other because none the action never stops, theres always something intresting going on. A qoute from Thankar explains how much he hates alot of people in his world because everyone has to be a real hard case to survive and he dosent want to be one " I know him and I always hated him. we'll hang him higher than any bird can fly". That explains how Thanker doesnt like anyone because he knows that his friends can even stab him in the back just to survive. The future is so bleak with war and drugs its explained as med-evil times because castles, tourture and death is just business in the world he has to suffer in. in conclusion the book was great and the ending is what you least suspect.

Beautiful written,.......2001-02-06

This was a beautiful way of telling a story. Musical. I think the whole book should of been spoken the way the storyteller had spoken it. It may be hard to understand once you start reading it, but once you dove into it, it's hard to put down. I havn't finished it yet, but close to it, and so far it's beautiful, that 's all I can say. If you need a book just to pick up and read, try this one. Magical, ~Isirah~Weasel~

Come Read the Best!.......2000-04-01

An aging star begins to swell toward red giant stage. The "humans" of many worlds, all likely descendants of a common ancestor, the hypnogogic ape, ride from hot doom to the outermost world of the system, soon the only one habitable. The spaceship that rescues them over the millennia continues to fly its programmed rounds empty, while the "Starbridge" crew becomes top caste on a planet of centuries-long years and winters. The unique thing about this background to the Starbridge Chronicles is that you'll never discover it by reading the books -- and I say this to Paul Park's credit. He constructs a story so deep that it has roots you'll never know, whereas lesser authors like myself go around flashing our explanations for everything.

Park creates a rich fictional "charnal house" filled with all manner of mystery, decadence, death and rebirth. Meanwhile the great wheel of time rolls on, incapable of caring. But the reader has the pleasure and pain of caring very much what happens to many very imperfect people. (Who gives a damn about the perfect ones?)

Paul Park is a revolutionary. When he shows you that the great systems of the universe are heartless and wrong, he's also condemning the great systems we all live under. Some writers advance the revolution by envisioning better ways, but somehow the truths of human nature get in the way of utopia. Perverted utopias, perverted good deeds, and perverted religions are also part of Park's universe. As of ours.

Some cool ideas, but no coehesion.......2000-03-02

Definitely dark and a bit surrealistic. The setting is very harsh (and I like that) but it seemed to me more like a string of events with no characters - all extras. I didn't care about the characters and they didn't care about themselves. There was no interaction. These ideas put together by someone like Iain Banks would be absolutely fabulous, but by himself it needs work.

Average customer rating:

Intricate, moody, and fascinating
A brilliantly morbid, decedant fantasy

Sugar rain (The Starbridge chronicles)
Paul Park
Manufacturer: Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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The Cult of Loving Kindness (Starbridge Chronicles, No 3)
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ASIN: 1557100292

Book Description

The second book in the Starbridge Chronicles, SUGAR RAIN relates the stories of Thanakar and Charity Starbridge during the revolution that ended the first book in the series, SOLDIERS OF PARADISE. The generations-long winter has drawn to a close, and with it the power of the tyrannical Starbridge theocracy that maintained order during the years of hunger. But a cruelly pragmatic priest has set the stage for a new faith, and even those who defy him seem fated to play out roles that will inevitably bring it to pass. As Thanakar struggles in exile to find safe harbor for his adopted family, Charity Starbridge undertakes a mythic journey to join him, passing through various underworlds to defy a tragic destiny.

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The sequel to Soldiers of Paradise, nominated for the Locus Reader Poll Award.

Customer Reviews:

Intricate, moody, and fascinating.......1999-03-16

I managed to collect and read all three books in the series a few years ago, and when I saw only one review, I had to jump in if only to encourage others. As an avid Sci-fi reader, after a while, all apocalyptic societies can run together. Not this collection. This is a brooding, complex world full of rich detail and lots of thought - both by the author and as a result of the reading. You'll be amazed by the callousness that exists in this world where science and magic and delirium and art are on equal footing, jumbled together in a well paced, conceptually terrifying, and just downright amazing series.

A brilliantly morbid, decedant fantasy.......1999-02-26

I stumbled on Paul Park's three book in the "Starbridge trilogy" at my local public library, and since have read and re-read them a few times. They chronicle revolutionary times in a planetary culture ruled by decade-long seasons. The atmosphere is exotic and lush, yet shot through with extravagent morbid decedance.

The planet was apparently settled by a single human astronaut, but again that's not at all clear; you find that out only in bits and scraps. The most fascinating quality of the books is that they present a moment in the life of a culture, where you catch glimpses of distorted bits of the culture's origins. There is a certain amount of humor in this palimpsest -- a very dour, draconian state religion arises from misinterpretation of the human astronaut's psychotically erotic poetry.

While the book has obviously been inspired by the author's travels in India, the real India is but a starting point for Park's delightfully diseased imagination.

Customer Reviews:

Fairly Decent.......2001-08-25

If I could I would actually give this book 3 1/2 stars, but it doesn't quite rate four. I love cats and love Starbridge novels, so in many ways this should be right up my alley. I did in fact think it was a decent read, and after a few false starts (the Starbridge novel before this one really disappointed me, so I was slow getting into this one) it managed to hold my attention well. I appreciated the various issues brought up because of the romantic interest between the two lead characters. I have no idea what would happen in real life if two alien species became attracted to each other, but in some ways at least this seemed to do a decent job of considering that. Some of the story did seem a bit too... predictable, maybe? However, the end still held some surprises, which I appreciated. This isn't the best book I've ever read, but (particularly for Starbridge fans) it's not bad.

Alien Scarlet Pimpernel fights prejudice and finds romance!.......1998-08-10

The latest addition to the StarBridge universe is a tale of a young human translator sifting through complex undercurrents in an alien culture where lying is a political art form. Caught in a cultural crossfire of numerous factions fiercely protecting their own interests, Magdalena Perez has only her friendship with Khyriz, a member of the royal Arrekhi family, and her sixth sense about people lying to her, to help her ride out a civil war. For the Arrekhis have an old secret--the oppression and degradation of the Asha, a race visually different, yet as sentient as their own. Well-written, forbidden romances point up differences and similarities between sentients as Magdalena and Khyriz fight for the lives and freedom of a literally silenced race. Good alien culture, and the StarBridge frame supports rather than interferes with the space adventure. One of the best StarBridges yet.

Interesting Idea!.......1998-03-04

This book brought many great ideas to light... not all the problems that we face today, have been stopped in the future... there are still cults, and there are still problems medicine can not erase. The characters were very well done, and the descriptions allowed me to visualize the scenes. I think Magdalena Perez was a very believeable character, and that having her overcome such problems, brought more dimension to her character.

Good idea but it just doesn't live up to expectation.......1998-02-20

The plot behind this book looked so good when I bought this book. Unfortunately the actual execution of the plot was less than satisfactory. I found the main characters, Magdalena Perez and Khyriz, to be weak one dimensional characters. Perez is the abused as a child heroine and Khyriz is the underestimated younger son of the emperor. Perez has some type of empathic powers which are mentioned in the beginning but pretty much ignored throught the rest of the book. Khyriz is "surprisingly" the only one of the royals who was able to recognize the danger to their panet and attempt to do something.

Now Crispin and Emerson do have some very good characters in this book, Zhik and An-Lieye, but they are woefully underused. Too many of the conflicts should have been seen by the characters and avoided and so make this story that much more unbelievable.

Silent Songs (Starbridge, Book 5)
Average customer rating:

A truly thought provoking novel

Great sequel to Silent Dances

Silent Songs (Starbridge, Book 5)
A. C. Crispin , and Kathleen O'Malley
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Crispin, A.C. | ( C ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0441000614

Book Description

The men and women of StarBridge found intelligent life -- and new friends -- across the galaxy...

In the skies of Trinity, the birdlike Grus welcomed the deaf human ambassador, Tesa.

In the seas of Trinity, the aquatic Singers communicated with the young telepath, Jib.

But on the surface of Trinity, a different kind of life form has landed. They are amphibious beings from a distant world. And they are definitely -not- friendly...

Customer Reviews:

A truly thought provoking novel.......2000-03-03

This fifth novel in the Starbridge series was one I had eagerly anticipated... and it disappointed me the first time I read it. Because I had rejoiced in the "IDIC" like atmosphere of the other books and the idea of bringing war and bloodshed into this universe distressed me. But, I read it again. And again. And I've come to respect and admire the idea that even the most peaceful of people may someday have to fight to preserve their peace and their way of life. I admired also the idea that nothing comes without price, and when one makes the hard choices, one has to live with the consequences of those choices. I recommend reading it with an open mind, and someone to discuss it over with afterwards:)

Great sequel to Silent Dances.......1998-08-30

If you liked Starbridge: #2 Silent Dances, then you'll love this.

I can't say much more, go look at the review for silent dances :)

Ancestor's World: A Novel of Starbridge (Crispin, a. C. Starbridge.)
Average customer rating:

Not Starbridge's Best

Another Great Starbridge Novel!

Ancestor's World: A Novel of Starbridge (Crispin, a. C. Starbridge.)
A. C. Crispin , and T. Jackson King
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Crispin, A.C. | ( C ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Silent Songs (Starbridge, Book 5)

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Starbridge

ASIN: 0441003516

Book Description

On the planet Na-Dina, in Ancestor's Valley, the tombs of forty-one dynasties have lain undisturbed for six thousand years.

But with the visitors from the stars has come progress, threatening the Valley and its treasures.

The human archeologist Gordon Mitchell and his team from StarBridge labor to salvage whatever possible from the burial sites. Some of the Na-Dina welcome them. Some rersent their presence and the delay they represent. Still, Mitchell intends to fully explore the wonders of the Valley.

The one of the team is brutally murdered. To investigate his death, Cooperative League of Systems Ambassador-at-Large Mahree Burroughs arrives, determined to find the killer at whatever cost.

What she finds during her search will change her life, the lives of the Na-Dina, and the lives of every being in the CLS forever...

Customer Reviews:

Not Starbridge's Best.......2001-08-25

I had read all of the Starbridge novels before this one, and was excited to find this one by accident in a local bookstore. However, when I actually read it I was disappointed. The Starbridge universe has always seemed to me to be creative and different, both in the various species that are found and the various ways that they interact. This book had too many rote characteristics of a novel written solely to sell. It felt like the author(s) decided, "People like reading about violence, so we have to include some fights... And they like reading about sex, so we'll throw in an affair [which worked out much too neatly, by the way; in a real relationship, Mahree's sexual fling with someone else would have had some negative affects. I know that some authors write about all sorts of unrealistic relationships, but I liked these particular characters enough to be annoyed by having someone mess with them like this] ... And let's throw in some generic traits that have been in the other Starbridge novels. Hmm; which shall we choose?...." instead of actually having a good, workable idea for a new story and a new people group. As I have mentioned, I greatly enjoyed the first several Starbridge novels, and I was also fond of the one after "Ancestor's World", so I'm guessing it was the co-author.

Another Great Starbridge Novel!.......2000-04-22

I discovered the Starbridge series last summer and have loved every book in the series! A.C. Crispin brings interesting *female* characters to the science fiction genre, which I, as a teenage girl, am thankful for. Instead of focusing on the goings on at Starbridge with it's students, Ancestor's World focuses more on what is happening with Mahree as she investigates the murder of a member of an archeological team on the planet Na-Dina, a nice change from previous books.

Average customer rating:

Nicely woven intertwining of culture and challenges.
A great first contact book, from a silent perspective.

Silent Dances (Starbridge, No 2)
A. C. Crispin , and Kathleen O'Malley
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Shadow World (Starbridge, Book 3)
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Starbridge

ASIN: 0441783309

Book Description

Deaf since birth, Tesa is the perfect ambassador to the alien Grus, whose sonic cries can shatter human ears.

But her mission is harder than it looks. The Grus are not alone on their world.

They have deadly enemies, both natural and otherwise. And if Tesa is to save all life on the planet, she will have to make peace with not one alien species... but -two-.

Customer Reviews:

Nicely woven intertwining of culture and challenges........1999-06-03

While the first in the StarBridge series seemed a bit confrontational about a female lead character, this second work appears to have found a very comfortable place for the main character (Tesa) to exist.

It's a scenario that seems to have been created perfectly for the main character, yet doesn't come off as being contrived. A.C. Crispin then wastes no space drawing you into an environment where Tesa fits beautifully.

Her Indian heritage being played off of the avian aliens is fascinating. The ping-ponging of traditional imagery against these new alien species is really well done. It is obvious that quite a bit of research was put into this area, and it certainly shines through.

This facet would have been enough for me in and of itself. Yet the fact that one of the avian species has a voice that shatters human eardrums, making the deaf Tesa a perfect candidate for diplomacy, adds another richly meaningful layer to an already terrific story.

There seems to be a more feminine approach to the storytelling. It appeared more focused on the characters, emotions, and goals than "traditional" SciFi. It took me a bit of getting used to, but once that transition was made, it had a refreshingly different (and deeper) impact on my involvement with the story.

i (obviously) highly recommend this book. While the approach may take a little getting used to, it's definitely worth it in the end.

A great first contact book, from a silent perspective........1998-08-24

"Deaf since birth, Tesa is the perfect ambassador to the alien Grus-whose sonic cries can shatter human ears..."

A young starbridge interruptor is brought into the middle of a first contact, that has gone horribly wrong. Between the planet's 2 inhabitants trying to kill each other, and her own people waiting to betray her, Tesa must prove the intelligence of the crane like Grus, or watch them be destoryed.

I'd say it compares with Janet Kagans work (which is quite a compliment!)

Shadow World (Starbridge, Book 3)
Average customer rating:

Another good starbridge book

Shadow World (Starbridge, Book 3)
A. C. Crispin , and Jannean Elliott
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Crispin, A.C. | ( C ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Series | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Serpent's Gift (Starbridge, 4)

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Starbridge

ASIN: 0441783325

Book Description

For the golden-eyed Elspind, membership in the Cooperative League of Systems could bring many benefits... including a drug that would greatly increase their brief life spans.

Mark Kenner, on the brink of abandoning his StarBridge career, is forced into one last assignment -- to speak on Elseemar for the CLS.

But some of the Elspind are opposed to any such alliance. -Violently- opposed. They call themselves Wospind. And they are waiting for Mark and his companions...

Customer Reviews:

Another good starbridge book.......1998-10-08

This book really pushed the edge of the starbridge series with a more adult story.

There is a constant them of 'el' and 'wo' (life and death) that will bring ying and yang to mind. You are shown that living a short life is preferable to just existing in a long one.

I would say it was a mix of janet kagan's 'UHURA'S SONG' with some Buddhism thrown in.

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