Gom's mother Harga, a wizard, left gom special powers,like talking to animals. When Gom leaves Windy Mountain to find her, he meets many friends and runs into many adventures. Zamul and Katak hope to find Gom, kill him and take a special stone, a rune, which his mother left him. Harga only gives Gom one clue, a riddle, and when he solves it, he meets Harga.

Alone now that his father the elderly Stig has died, Gom of Windy Mouton set's out from that lonely home, leaving all he has known behind him, to find his mother Harga. With nothing more than a black stone (left with him by his mother) a stick carved by his father to resemble the creatures of the forest, and the magical ability to speak with animals. Huddled one night in a cave long forgotten by a bear, he is visited through a creature carved on his staff, by his mother's voice. She gives him a riddle telling young Gom that when he answers it he shall find her. Gom encounter's a multitude of friendly people and creatures, but with every good there is a greater evil which manifest's itself through people and monsters. A Death's Head bird stalk's him for his stone, a village conjurer also for the same item. Leaving Gom to puzzle, just who is his mother? From the creator of the chime's of Alyafalen, and Jason's Magical Midnight Ride Through Time, Grace Chetwin, comes the second book in the tale's of Gom filled with magic, mystery and wonder enough to please even the most hard core fantasy buff. I give this book a 5 and encourage you to read it. (It also doesn't hurt that the writer is EXTREMLY nice and replied to my letter concerning the book unlike a certain Ms. Marion Zimmer Bradly.)

In the year 2047, earth has been ravaged by a limited nuclear war and is now divided between Pan America and the Sino Soviet power bloc.

But in space there is a tyrant with the power to overcome both or shift the balance of power in either direction. On earth there is an ancient anit-war leader with psi vision of a planet linked to ours.

But full scale nuclear war could destroy both before the path to human salvation is found.

A thought provoking book that looks at human politics and human folly that could be our future.

I read this books years ago and I still remember it. If that's not the mark of a really good book, I don't know what is.

The story is easy to follow. An alien android trying to preserve ecosystems is attacked by a reprogrammed duplicate android and has to land on Earth. To prevent crashing into modern-day New York, he travels back in time to the time where only native americans inhabited the area - coinciding with the birth of a young brave of whom the shamen said is going to avert a forthcoming calamity.

Add a young girl from the 20th century who knows martial arts and much time traveling, and you get a really memorable story.

I'd recommend it.

This book is excellent. Has a little Tolkien and lloyd alexander twist. About a boy who has to give his rune back to his mother and must solve a riddle. It has songs and in the back you can play them on the guitar

This is the closing book in a set of four titled, Tales of Gom in the Legends of Ulm. This is an awesome book, and maybe the best of the four. It ends the series gracefully, although it does leave you wishing there was another book. I probably wouldn't read it if I hadn't read the other three though. Peace Out.

First off, I must admit that it has been many years since I last read this book, however I do have a relatively good memory of it.

Basic plot: Gom is a mousy haired boy living with his lumberjack father, Zig (I think) in the mountains, his mother being a wizard who disappeared at his birth and has never been seen since. Most of the book revolves around Gom's everyday life and his strange affinity with the world around him, until near the end of the book he gets drawn into an adventure that will send him off to learn magic and find his mother later in the series.

For a typical imaginative child, if they can get through this book, I think they will very much enjoy the rest of the series, I know that I did.

I only read Riddle and the Rune, the Crystal Stairs and i was sure there was at least one more. These books were great, I have the riddle and the rune but would love for these books to be re-released so i could buy them for my neice to enjoy

Excellent book wonderful for middle schoolers. It gives tem and excellent start on the world of fantasy and adult literature, and for the high schoolers through old men it lets u revisit the "good old days". In my opinion this book and the whole series is better than lord of the rings.

This story has some fabulous ideas for a world in which the very foundations depend upon music. The music is created by the use of the musical spheres that the adults "snag" and the more control and spheres an adult can control, the more powerful he or she is. Thrown into this world are two misunderstood young people--Caidrun, a mercurial girl who has been an outcast since before she was born, and Tamborel, the boy who has steadfastedly remained her best friend.

This book makes for a wonderfully emotional coming of age story of these two protagonists. What the author does best is to create that emotional relationship that exists between Tamborel and Caidrun. The understanding and the value of friendship is appealing--this book will most likely interest sensitive young teens who are exploring facets of emotional interaction and enjoy fantasy settings.

Those who prefer action, or more complex world building may feel this story drags at times, and the story rather simplistic. There are many aspects of this world that are never expanded upon, and the characters other than the story's two protagonists never become fully realized. The adventures of Tamborel, therefore, come across as lackluster. And most of Caidrun's adventures are skipped over entirely. Had the author spent some time on Caidrun's experiences from her POV, it might have made the story stronger.

Still, I very much enjoy this book for what it is. I am glad to have it in my collection.

I really liked this book. I hope there's a sequel soon. I liked the idea of zjarns healing people, making the sun come out, and ripening grain using only heynim and faleyn. This is a great book for anyone, whether you like fantasies or not. (12 years old)

I really liked this book. The whole thing was very creative and entertaining I found it held my interest throughout the story and I enjoyed the fantasy adventure it took me on. (14 yrs old)

It wasn't a shock to find out how wonderful The Crystal Stair is! Grace Chetwin's adventures are magnificent and keep you reading. This book was constructed beautifully and should be a favorite of people who love fantasy. I was so sorry to find it out of print. This third book in the Gom On Windy Mountian series requires nothing but the highest praise!

The beginning of the story is heartwarming with the relationship between Gom and Harga. There is gut wrenching emotion when they are forced to part again. Gom grows up so much during his search for a mentor. There is great imagination about the seven realms and everyones position is defined clearly. Highly recommended.

It wasn't a shock to find out how wonderful this book is! Grace Chetwin's adventures are magnificent and keep you reading. This book was constructed beautifully and should be a favorite of people who love fantasy. I was so sorry to find it out of print. This third book in the Gom On Windy Mountian series requires nothing but the highest praise!

Gom on Windy Mountain was ingenius, really ingenius, and I left it wishing for more. And it was by pure chance that one day I saw The Riddle and the Rune and picked it up. Instantly I realized and then and there checked it and the sequel, The Crystal Stair, out of the library. Both were absolutely fasinating, and after a long wait for the next book, finally I was confronted by The Starstone. Bleck! It started so slow, and so predictable; the ending was stupid and hardly and ending at all. It was the climax of the plot, hello! I now wonder where Chetwin's talent disappeared to. Rarely have I reviewed a book I didn't like and this is no exception. It was great. But the actual writing was poorly done and ruined the effect of it all for the most part. Sorry!

I have read all the books in the Gom series by Grace Chetwin and could not put them down! These books require that you use your imagination...a rare quality in this day and age...and they really make you think about life and it's many stages.

I am a mother of 4 and can heartily recommend this series to other parents looking for something with substance to read to their children!

The Starstone just put a thrill in the word magic. It combines magic with an all out demand for knowledge. The main character is Gom. Gom has a famous mom who is called Harga the Brown and she is a great sorcorer. The book has just an excellent plot, good characters, and a killer descriptiveness on where it takes place. I recommend this book very highly to anyone who loves magic and adventure as much as I do!

It was yet another great book by Grace Chetwin. In this book friends cannot be seperated by time. This book is delightful and should be on fantasy lover's bookshelves. Friendship is a wonderful thing, and imagine being friends with someone before your time (or in the past). Well, your imagination will be satisfied with this great book!