Enchantress from the Stars

By: Sylvia Engdahl

Narrated by: Jennifer Ikeda

A Newbery Honor Book and a Book Sense 76 Selection, Enchantress from the Stars is a science-fiction classic. Three alien races meet on the small green world of Andrecia. The Imperial Exploration Corps wants to claim the planet for its own, but the Anthropological Service stands in the way. And when young Elana makes contact with native Georyn, a love story exploring the very depths of human emotion unfolds.©1999 Jennifer Ikeda (P)2006 Recorded Books

Enchanting!

If you could sum up Enchantress from the Stars in three words, what would they be?

Science Fiction Fun!

What did you like best about this story?

I like how the main character is trying to tell the story from her perspective and the perspectives of other characters in the story.

What does Jennifer Ikeda bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her voice is perfect for the young adult female who is the narrator of the story.

Modern Despite it's Age

Although originally published in 1970, Enchantress from the Stars has a surprisingly modern feel to it. Aside for the book cover, it would fit right in with today’s books. Enchantress from the Stars is a unique mix of science fiction meets fantasy. Engdahl seamlessly combines a technologically advanced alien race with a world set in a medieval era while creating a story that is timeless and appealing to all ages.

A destructive alien race called the Imperials have settled on the planet of Andrecia to exploit it’s resources and displace it’s less advanced people. This isn’t the first time this race has invaded other planets and their actions have attracted the attention of another alien race even more advanced than they are. To stop the Imperials, a team of agents from this advanced race is sent to Andrecia to reverse the Imperials’ invasion without harm to all sides. Only the team cannot stop the Imperials themselves, they have to work with the natives to stop save Andrecia. The book alternates perspectives giving you an understanding of all sides; Andrecian, Imperial, and the team of Agents.

The main character and primary narrator is Elana, a current student at the Academy learning about Youngling planets. She naively stows away on a spaceship to be apart of her father’s mission to save the planet of Andrecia. Her lack of training is a problem and against the rules but the team has to make the mission work with Elana. Along with her father and her boyfriend, Evrick, the team works together to find a native or natives suited for the job of stopping the Imperials.

Georwyn, Terwyn, and their brothers are young native men walking through the enchanted forest on a mission to slay the dragon (which is actually an Imperial machine that mines the planet’s resources). They seek the reward that the King offers in return for slaying the dragon. While hunting the dragon, they encounter an old man with magical abilities and an enchantress who offers advice in slaying the dragon. Of all the brothers, Georwyn proves himself to be wise beyond his years and well suited for the challenge of slaying the dragon.

Jeral is a medic for the Imperials and after his coworkers kill and imprison natives, he starts to second guess his mission. He’s been told that the natives of Andrecia are not really human and therefore their actions to take over the planet are justified. As the mission goes on, he sees more in more that the people of this planet are human and he no longer wants anything to do with the mission.

Enchantress from the Stars is a well written, original, and heartwarming story. In addition, the audiobook narrator told this story beautifully. It’s even a won a few awards. With that said, I have to say that I didn’t love it but also I didn’t hate it. It isn’t a book that pulls you in and never lets you go but more so an enjoyable read that you can easily put down and pick up again later. Overall, I really to do recommend others give Enchantress from the Stars a try.

Engdahl went on to write a second book featuring Elana called The Far Side of Evil, which takes places on a completely different planet and has a completely different feel.

YA science fiction/fantasy w fairy tale elements

The story is about a girl from an advanced civilization (the Federation) who helps a young man from a iron age civilization turn back alien invaders. The girl cannot tell the boy who she really is by the laws of her people so she pretends to be an enchantress and the alien invaders are an evil dragon and his minions. As they spend time together training to fight the dragon, she finds herself falling in love with the boy who is willing to risk his life for the sake of his people.

This story works on all levels, as science fiction, as a fantasy, a heroes' journey, a romance and as a YA novel. I loved it.

The narrator is good. She sounds like a teenager and she emoted beautifully.

A wonderful book for young readers

I enjoyed this book. I feel that it was for young readers. It had a simple story line. A good book to listen to as a family.

A Timeless SciFi

I purchased this out of nostalgia (and because I did not finish when I read it as a teen). The story was quite different from what I recall with character depth and writing style that aged well (the original was written in the 70's). Glad I came back to give it another chance. I enjoyed the narration too!