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Dreams of Dawn by Marti Steussy ➤ A Del Ray Book 1988 Book Club Edition
Dreams of Dawn by Marti Steussy A Del Ray Book 1988 Book Club Edition
Title: Dreams of Dawn
Author: Marti Steussy
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: A Del Ray Book 1988
Edition: Book Club Edition
Size: 5.5 x 8.5 * 245 pages
Synopsis: From the jacket: It was not their world, but they were sworn to protect its native inhabitants. Or die.
Groundlings, elders and dreamers.
Three distinct phases of Kargan life... three very different aspects of a race of gentle, intelligent beings-considered aliens on their own world by the humans who'd settled there. "Crabs," the Frilandena colonists called them, without ever venturing into the caves, without ever attempting to communicate, beyond training the curious, versatile groundlings to perform menial tasks.
The colonists' xenophobia was incomprehensible to 15-year-old Disa Nygren, who'd grown up in mixed company. Her parents belonged to Circle Dawn, one of First-In's multi-species teams of explorer- diplomats, and she had spent many hours in the artificial cave that was home to the Circle's own Kargan members. The groundling Enki was her best friend. From Risky, an elder, she'd learned much about the incredibly old subterranean civilization of Karg. Indeed, she spoke and understood the language of the caves better than anyone else in Circle Dawn, except for Calypso, their brilliant Sheppie biogeneticist.
But then, the colonists' hostility was merely one more unpleasant surprise after the urgent transmission which had brought First-In back to Karg: "Groundlings dying. Caused by human-gods. Please help.'
Circle Dawn members had negotiated the original settlement treaty 20 years earlier. If the humans were violating that agreement, it was the Circle's responsibility to set matters right again... or see that the colony left Karg altogether. For Disa's mother, Kelda, the current situation was especially touchy. A Frilandena who'd left home to join First-In-a betrayal in the eyes of her father and older brother- Kelda well understood how hard it would be to uproot the settlement just as it was beginning to enjoy some success. Still, her sympathies were hardly aroused by the attitude of the colony's leader. Not only did he deny any knowledge of the groundlings' deaths, he also made it plain that his people had no intention of abandoning all they'd worked so hard for.
What was happening to the groundlings?
According to the local elders, an alarming number of young Kargans became gigg as they underwent the metamorphosis into elders; that is, Disa translated, they became painfully, fatally malformed. It didn't take long for the First-In team to figure out why: the groundlings had developed an insatiable fondness for human food, and something in that food-something alien to Karg-was prematurely triggering not a normal second-stage metamorphosis, but a change to dreamer stage.
That discovery raised an even more disturbing question, however. If the substance which turned elders into dreamers was inimical to Kargan life, how had the species evolved? What role did the dreamers play in their civilization?
But such speculation was a luxury Kelda, Calypso and the rest could scarcely afford. Circle Dawn had to find a means to keep the groundlings away from the deadly snacks they craved, yet time was running out. Because the colonists-frightened and angry- were gearing up to fight for their home, even if it meant murdering First-Inners and Kargans alike.
Overall Condition: Very good: The book does not look new and has been read but is in excellent condition. There is no obvious damage to the cover the dust jacket (with minor wear and tear) is included. There are no missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, and no underlining/highlighting of text or writing in the margins. It may have very minimal identifying marks on the inside cover as well as very minimal wear and tear. See images.
Secure shipping bubble-wrapped in a new box.
2026--U.S. shipping for this (Two Pounds Media Mail) is $5.13 with tracking.
Multiple items will be combined for the lowest shipping price.
International Shipping cost is based on the destination so inquire before buying. Mobile users must scroll to the bottom and click on 'use desktop site' to bring up the Ask a Question link which sends me an email.
(PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT FROM OUTSIDE THE U.S.)
==========================================================================================================================
Just about all the books are USED books. Some have been used more gently than others. Some have been in libraries and have typical library extras. Some are so old and/or interesting that they are being offered for the sake of preservation regardless of the condition they are in. If the condition of the book is very important to you, please feel free to click the 'Ask seller a question' link and I will tell you more.
=========================================================================================
Title: Dreams of Dawn
Author: Marti Steussy
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: A Del Ray Book 1988
Edition: Book Club Edition
Size: 5.5 x 8.5 * 245 pages
Synopsis: From the jacket: It was not their world, but they were sworn to protect its native inhabitants. Or die.
Groundlings, elders and dreamers.
Three distinct phases of Kargan life... three very different aspects of a race of gentle, intelligent beings-considered aliens on their own world by the humans who'd settled there. "Crabs," the Frilandena colonists called them, without ever venturing into the caves, without ever attempting to communicate, beyond training the curious, versatile groundlings to perform menial tasks.
The colonists' xenophobia was incomprehensible to 15-year-old Disa Nygren, who'd grown up in mixed company. Her parents belonged to Circle Dawn, one of First-In's multi-species teams of explorer- diplomats, and she had spent many hours in the artificial cave that was home to the Circle's own Kargan members. The groundling Enki was her best friend. From Risky, an elder, she'd learned much about the incredibly old subterranean civilization of Karg. Indeed, she spoke and understood the language of the caves better than anyone else in Circle Dawn, except for Calypso, their brilliant Sheppie biogeneticist.
But then, the colonists' hostility was merely one more unpleasant surprise after the urgent transmission which had brought First-In back to Karg: "Groundlings dying. Caused by human-gods. Please help.'
Circle Dawn members had negotiated the original settlement treaty 20 years earlier. If the humans were violating that agreement, it was the Circle's responsibility to set matters right again... or see that the colony left Karg altogether. For Disa's mother, Kelda, the current situation was especially touchy. A Frilandena who'd left home to join First-In-a betrayal in the eyes of her father and older brother- Kelda well understood how hard it would be to uproot the settlement just as it was beginning to enjoy some success. Still, her sympathies were hardly aroused by the attitude of the colony's leader. Not only did he deny any knowledge of the groundlings' deaths, he also made it plain that his people had no intention of abandoning all they'd worked so hard for.
What was happening to the groundlings?
According to the local elders, an alarming number of young Kargans became gigg as they underwent the metamorphosis into elders; that is, Disa translated, they became painfully, fatally malformed. It didn't take long for the First-In team to figure out why: the groundlings had developed an insatiable fondness for human food, and something in that food-something alien to Karg-was prematurely triggering not a normal second-stage metamorphosis, but a change to dreamer stage.
That discovery raised an even more disturbing question, however. If the substance which turned elders into dreamers was inimical to Kargan life, how had the species evolved? What role did the dreamers play in their civilization?
But such speculation was a luxury Kelda, Calypso and the rest could scarcely afford. Circle Dawn had to find a means to keep the groundlings away from the deadly snacks they craved, yet time was running out. Because the colonists-frightened and angry- were gearing up to fight for their home, even if it meant murdering First-Inners and Kargans alike.
Overall Condition: Very good: The book does not look new and has been read but is in excellent condition. There is no obvious damage to the cover the dust jacket (with minor wear and tear) is included. There are no missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, and no underlining/highlighting of text or writing in the margins. It may have very minimal identifying marks on the inside cover as well as very minimal wear and tear. See images.
Secure shipping bubble-wrapped in a new box.
2026--U.S. shipping for this (Two Pounds Media Mail) is $5.13 with tracking.
Multiple items will be combined for the lowest shipping price.
International Shipping cost is based on the destination so inquire before buying. Mobile users must scroll to the bottom and click on 'use desktop site' to bring up the Ask a Question link which sends me an email.
(PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE MAKING ANY PAYMENT FROM OUTSIDE THE U.S.)
==========================================================================================================================
Just about all the books are USED books. Some have been used more gently than others. Some have been in libraries and have typical library extras. Some are so old and/or interesting that they are being offered for the sake of preservation regardless of the condition they are in. If the condition of the book is very important to you, please feel free to click the 'Ask seller a question' link and I will tell you more.
=========================================================================================
