Physical books are available for borrowing at many libraries, and for purchase from most large bookstores, including BetterWorldBooks. E-books are also available for purchase from some large bookstores. There is an audiobook for Enchantress.
What is it, in summary?: The first book, Enchantress from the Stars, is a young adult story that's fantasy from one character's point of view, but science fiction from another's. What if we had knights and dragons and sorceresses, but the magic is just technology from a more advanced civilization, and the sorceress is just a girl from that culture? Elana is a member of a utopian, spacefaring civilization called the Federation, and has accidentally joined a mission to the medieval planet of Andreica. She becomes an "enchantress" to help the Andreicans save their planet from a "magical" threat.
The second book, The Far Side of Evil, features the same main character all grown up, and on a mission to a planet at about the same technological level as Earth in the 20th century. It is considerably more adult, grapples with themes of morality and human nature, and very much a product of the author wrestling with the existential questions of the Cold War.
What do you love about it?: The first book is fun, engaging YA with an interesting premise that it delivers on. The second expands on the worldbuilding, and is a worthy and more complex continuation.
What sort of things are you likely to request for it?: * One of the key elements of both books is the injunction from Elana's culture to never let developing planets know about the existence of more advanced civilizations out there. While this is an integral part of canon, I always wonder what would happen if certain characters from these planets just found out. * Worldbuilding about the less-lawful elements of the Federation. * Post-canon fic about how these planets ended up developing. * Other characters' takes on the events of Enchantress. * What does the Federation file on our planet look like?
Are there sections of canon (rather than the whole canon) that can be consumed by themselves to fulfil your requests, or that showcase particular characters and relationships?: Both books can be read as standalones.
Content warnings: Nothing egregious, but I remember reading The Far Side of Evil and thinking, Ah, its 70s ideals are showing.
Elana Series
Books (YA)
Approx length: First book 308 pages, second book 344 pages.
Where to find it:
Both books are borrowable as e-books from Internet Archive for free upon account creation:
Enchantress from the Stars
The Far Side of Evil
Physical books are available for borrowing at many libraries, and for purchase from most large bookstores, including BetterWorldBooks. E-books are also available for purchase from some large bookstores. There is an audiobook for Enchantress.
What is it, in summary?:
The first book, Enchantress from the Stars, is a young adult story that's fantasy from one character's point of view, but science fiction from another's. What if we had knights and dragons and sorceresses, but the magic is just technology from a more advanced civilization, and the sorceress is just a girl from that culture? Elana is a member of a utopian, spacefaring civilization called the Federation, and has accidentally joined a mission to the medieval planet of Andreica. She becomes an "enchantress" to help the Andreicans save their planet from a "magical" threat.
The second book, The Far Side of Evil, features the same main character all grown up, and on a mission to a planet at about the same technological level as Earth in the 20th century. It is considerably more adult, grapples with themes of morality and human nature, and very much a product of the author wrestling with the existential questions of the Cold War.
What do you love about it?:
The first book is fun, engaging YA with an interesting premise that it delivers on. The second expands on the worldbuilding, and is a worthy and more complex continuation.
What sort of things are you likely to request for it?:
* One of the key elements of both books is the injunction from Elana's culture to never let developing planets know about the existence of more advanced civilizations out there. While this is an integral part of canon, I always wonder what would happen if certain characters from these planets just found out.
* Worldbuilding about the less-lawful elements of the Federation.
* Post-canon fic about how these planets ended up developing.
* Other characters' takes on the events of Enchantress.
* What does the Federation file on our planet look like?
Are there sections of canon (rather than the whole canon) that can be consumed by themselves to fulfil your requests, or that showcase particular characters and relationships?:
Both books can be read as standalones.
Content warnings:
Nothing egregious, but I remember reading The Far Side of Evil and thinking, Ah, its 70s ideals are showing.