This book may be of special interest to homeschoolers since the main character Jessica is homeschooled (as was the author).

Part of Jessica's story is about her having her faith challenged by a skeptical friend and then trying to figure out why she does indeed believe in God. The author cleverly weaves Jessica's struggle into the story so that it flows naturally rather than dominates the book. In an afterword the author presents some classical arguments to prove God's existence, as well as some discussion questions. I thought this was an interesting and thought-provoking addition to a youngster's novel.

This is the kind of story that I would definitely recommend to young girls between 7th and 11th grades. The story was very well-written and entertaining, and it kept my interest the whole time. It is extremely appropriate for and applicable to teenagers because they need to have real answers regarding the origin of the world and their faith, and this is a fun story that solidifies the answers to the questions we all ask sometimes. It is a great story of discovery and soul-searching, but it does not come across as an over-simplified religious doctrinal statement...rather an honest search for truth that ends in a young girl's confidence in her Maker. Anne is a masterful storyteller who weaves the events of the story into three arguments for the existence of God in an understandable and memorable way. The characters and places she creates from her own experiences come alive to her readers. The readers can relate to the struggles Jessica faces, even if the remote surroundings and unusual events are far from familiar to them. The importance of the issues Anne tackles cannot be underestimated, and she brilliantly explains from different Scriptures and experiences how a person can know that there is a God and what that God is like.

The Winter clan's century and a half reign over Tiamat is ended and now its Summer's time to rule with Moon as the leader. Moon, vowing a different economic path through technology, has ended the harvesting of the Mers whose blood was the cash crop sellable commodity, providing off world longevity to clients. The Hegemony also has left the planet.

Moon's former lover, Gundhalinu, attempts to save the Hegemony by trying to gain control over stardrive plasma spilled from a wrecked Old Empire ship. If he succeeds, faster-than-light travel will become available as it once was and Tiamat will no longer suffer periods of isolation. However, the Brotherhood seeks the immortality elixir allegedly found only on Tiamat while Moon clashes with opponents over the fate of the Mers, as these intelligent beings are the source of the elixir. She also must keep safe the ancient computer hidden under the planet's prime city that links the galaxy's clairvoyants. If the Hegemony obtain either the people of Tiamat will face endless winter, but if the Hegemony gain both the people of the galaxy will face eternal winter.

Surprisingly the sequel to THE SNOW QUEEN is a tighter, albeit still very complicated, planetary thriller. The story line is loaded with many concepts though some get shortchanged because of the abundance. The key charcaters are fully developed (critical in this novel) so that the audience appreciates Moon's troubles and her former lover's endeavor. Joan D. Vinge provides readers with a strong galaxy tale that shows why she was nominated for a Hugo for this work (and won with the first story).

Harriet Klausner

Although Summer Queen lacks the mythic structure which lent such power to Vinge's Snow Queen, it is an expertly written "social science fiction" exploration of colonialism, as well as an appealing story about characters worth caring about.

The characters who were young and simple in Snow Queen have grown up, and grown more complex in their view of the world. Vinge also develops the political situation on Tiamaat in more complexity. The world she develops is believable. Her best characters struggle heroically to do the right thing, but are often hampered by the need to compromise with more powerful military, cultural, or economic forces--just like real revolutionaries, visionaries, and leaders. I'm impressed by the depth of political consciousness Vinge brings to this story.

Joan Vinge developes characters like none other, by the end of the book you are left with a "leaving camp" feeling...like you just spent a week at camp making new friends and now it's time to go. Sure other books develope one or two, but Joan has nearly a dozen going by the end that are all wonderfully done.

Which has it's drawbacks, you get the feeling thoughout the read that Arienrhod is constantly being dwelled upon, and much of the 600+ pages are spent backtracking on character developments. This detracts from what could have been one of the better storylines in sci-fi, I wanted to hear more about the Sibyl net and the mers. I feel perhaps a character could have been cut, or a development cut to make way for this.

At any rate, if you liked the Snow Queen then you need to be reading this, however don't expect to finish with a pleasent feeling. There are some slow parts in the beggining and middle, but once you hit the home stretch it can't be put down :)