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Excerpts from Reviews of Sylvia Engdahl's Books


Cover of Enchantress from the Stars "Between 1970 and 1981 Sylvia Louise Engdahl published six sf novels ostensibly for young adults but more challenging (and better written) than almost all of the material published at the time for the adult market. . . . Yet for some reason the public--aside from a select group of aficionados--largely ignored Engdahl’s work, and it’s only within the past few years that it’s been rediscovered as the treasure trove it is.” --Fantasy Magazine, 2006

On one of her five recent adult novels: "As with all of Engdahl's work, science-fiction fans will recognize the tropes she uses, but it is not just 'for' them, no more than the work of a great artist who happens to work in, say, ceramics is just for adepts of that medium. Engdahl has produced high-quality work over a forty-year period, but this is one of her finest achievements." --Literary critic Nicholas Birns, 2010

From the Reviews of the YA Novels

On Enchantress from the Stars: "Not just a novel for young adults but also one of the finest sf novels ever written--a classic of the genre. The only possible complaint one can make is that, after finishing it, you will likely find yourself disinclined for a while to pick up anything else in the genre for fear it will, as it were, taste of ashes. In sum, it is almost impossible to convey how good this book is. Please just read it." --John Grant, Infinityplus

On The Far Side of Evil: "Fiction doesn't have to be profound, just entertaining. But every once in a long while, a novel comes along that is both... [It] speak[s] to the very place of humanity in the universe, and what we need to do to attain and claim it. In an age in which terrorism has threatened our ways of life in unexpected ways, Engdahl's probing story, and the recommendation it contains, are especially relevant." --Paul Levinson, author of Unburning Alexandria

On Journey Between Worlds: "A beautifully-written, heartwarming, and scientifically plausible novel. What's more, it's quite a lot of fun... The sort of thing that's easy to devour in one sitting, and though short, it will leave you satiated afterward. On the other hand, now that I'm done with it, I want more." --John Joseph Adams, Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show,

On Children of the Star: "Once again, Engdahl creates a believable and thought-provoking piece of sf/fantasy that doesn't fall to the usual ray-guns-or-dragons cliches. The questions raised about freedom in this book kept making me pause in the middle of a page, thinking deeply about what was being shown in the story... For fans of originality/ intelligence: there's plenty." --E. A. Solinas, Amazon.com

From the Reviews of the Adult Novels

On Stewards of the Flame: "A thought provoking novel that may make you question the authority and direction of modern Western medical practices. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading genre fiction with some substance to it." --Anna Creech, Blogcritics

Cover of Promise of the Flame On Promise of the Flame: "It is not necessary to read the first [book] in order to be enthralled by the second... Engdahl's gift is to make her characters seem comfortable and familiar to the reader, even though their circumstances are not. Although clearly a work of science fiction, the ideas and futuristic possibilities are disturbingly real and will remain with the reader long after they've finished the book." --Peggy LaVake, IndieReader Staff Review

On Defender of the Flame: "This book reaches back to the brio and speculation of Engdahl's classic books of the Seventies... The reader will be taken on an exciting and suspenseful ride... With an admirable protagonist and many interesting and well-drawn characters major and minor, Defender is satisfying on multiple levels... I expected to like this book; I was startled that I loved it. A must read!" --Literary critic Nicholas Birns

On Herald of the Flame: "A futuristic ride that has many parallels in today's society. This is a 'thinking man's' science fiction book - the type we need more of today!" --The Feathered Quill

On Envoy of the Flame: "This engrossing book explores the powers of mind (psi), alien contact, and a little romance, all with an optimistic view of humanity's future. A very good read!" --Amazon Vine Voice reviewer

On the Captain of Estel novels "These novels are not so much genre 'Romance' or even just 'Science Fiction' as they are Literature. These are novels about life." --Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Alien Romances: Reviews 14

From the Reviews of The Planet-Girded Suns

"Engdahl has marshalled an impressive and fascinating selection of primary sources... [She] has shown how deep this vein of speculation runs ...`````````````````` and reminded us that our ancestors entertained a view of the universe that was larger and more imaginative than the history books lead us to believe. Challenging and original." --Kirkus Reviews

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