The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge

RECOMMENDED (for the scenery)

In a word: Lacking

Plot:  On the world of Tiamat, every aspect of society is split into two clans: Winter and Summer.  Tiamat's twin suns circle a black hole that links her to the Hegemony, the remnants of a galaxy-spanning Empire.  But access to Tiamat is only open for 150 years.  During that time, the Winters rule.  Trade with off-worlds is encouraged and techonology is welcome.  Now the gate to the off-world is closing, the off-worlders are instructed to leave Tiamat, alien technology must be destroyed and rule of Winter will give way to Summer. The Summer rule prohibits alien technology, relying more on ancient rituals and self-reliance.  Arienrhod, the Winter Queen, is determined to keep the technology-phobic Summers from her throne.  She hatches a scheme to clone herself, hoping to put her copy on the throne and keeping the rule of Winter strong.  This clone, Moon Dawntreader, is raised among the Summer people.  She know nothing of her lineage and nothing of Arienrhod's plans for her.  Moon is also a Sibyl, having the ability to answer any question put to her.  Moon's journey eventurally take her off-world, where she learns that the truth about the Sibyls and the Hegemony and how they relate to her homeworld.  When Moon's beloved, Sparks, falls into the clutches of Arienrhod - Moon journeys back to Tiamat to fulfil her destiny and save the man she loves. 

Thoughts:    Almost, but not quite.  The world building in this book is wonderful.  The descriptions of Tiamat, the caste system and it's bipolar rule are very interesting.  I wanted to know more about the hows and the whys of Tiamat's rule.  The idea of a world that has 150 years of interstellar trade, then 150 years of Luddite rule is awesome.  I wanted to know why the Summers were so xenophobic.  Unfortunately, the Summers are all but ignored, with the exception of Moon and Sparks. Which was dissapointing, since I wasn't convinced that the Summer's would accept Moon anymore than they would accept Arienrhod.  Since I don't know what propels their thinking, it's hard to care whether or not they gain power.

Once the concept of the Mers and the Water of Life were introduced, I immediately (and perhaps, unfairly) started comparing this book with the vastly superior Dune.  Whereas Dune is deep and rich with interesting characters,The Snow Queen came off as a bit shallow.  In particular, in the characters themselves.  None of the characters in this book ring true, especially the women.  Moon come off as a love-sick puppy, willing to forgive her beloved Sparks even the most heinous crimes.  Arienrhod starts strong, but ends as yet another power-hungry evil queen, willing to kill her subjects to keep her rule.  Jerusha, an off-world police officer, is boring in her endless "woe is me" whining - I longed for her to just quit her damn job, so I could stop hearing about how awful it was. 

I recommend this book because the world that the story takes place in is very interesting.  I wanted to know more about Tiamat, the Hegemony, the corrupt politics that inevitably spring up when immortality is introduced and the nature of the Sibyls.  It is unfortunate that such shallow characters inhabit such an interesting place.  So much promise, not enough reward.

If you like this, try reading:  Maia by Richard Adams, The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley