WINDHAVEN ( BOOK REVIEW) AND JELSA OUTFITS
Hello, dear readers! In this post, I shall share three outfits and a book review. The stunning location for the photographs is Jelsa on island Hvar. Now, about the reading recommendations of the day. I'll be reviewing Windhaven, a science fiction novel by George R.R. Martin and Lisa Turtle. I've read this novel years ago, but I still haven't reviewed it on this blog. Better late than never, right?
The outfits I'm sharing are a few transitional looks I wore in the past weeks in Jelsa. The weather has been so changeable, sometimes I wanted (and needed) to wear something cozy, and sometimes a summer dress was enough. Let's get started, shall we?
“For as long as this song is sung they'll know about you - the girl who wanted wings so much she changed the world.”
Windhaven
I read Windhaven years ago, yet it continued to capture my imagination. I found myself thinking about this lovely science fiction novels on a many windy day. When the strong wind blows, I sometimes think of Maris, the novel's protagonist, and I imagine she might enjoy flying on that kind of day. Windhaven is a novel that described a windy dark paradise so vividly, I can still see it with my mind's eye after all of these years. Those of you that are regular readers of my other blog might remember that I mentioned this novel a couple of times. I also reviewed Windhaven on goodreads years ago, but it's been long since I stopped being active on that platform, so I'm not sure if there are some interesting discussion being held about it still.
All those years, I feel like I have only read Windhaven yesterday. Talk about the power of the vivid writing! Everything I
think about this novel, I feel that way. It stayed with me, became a part of me
somehow, and it probably always will be. Now, that is the best recommendation I can give to any novel!
THE CASTE SYSTEM- THE WING OWNERS
Where is this novel set on? As the title would indicate, on Windhaven, an imaginary planet where winds blow fiercely. I really appreciated the descriptions of the planet itself, and its exotic and raw beauty. The culture of the planet was fascinating as well. The novel does not go into great lengths when it comes to the backstory of the inhabitants dwelling on this planet. Who are the people of Windhaven? Basically, they are as human as you and me, descendants of long crashed space travellers. I do not remember how long after the crash the novel takes place, but it does not matter perhaps. A few hundred years or a bit more, the inhabitants of Windhaven are their own people now, with their own culture and a caste system of sorts.
Windhaven is a planet of many islands and like Earth it's a blue planet. More blue than earth presumably, as there are many islands but no continents. The original settlers (humans that had crashed on this planet) have been living on the many scattered islands.
How do they communicate between the islands? How to they keep in touch over the vast and turbulent seas? The answer is the wings. I found the description of these wings fascinating. They are basically simple gliding rigs. The mechanics of the wings are not complex as they were made from spaceship remains.
What makes these gliding rigs capable of flight is the weather on Windhaven. This planet is in a state of almost constant stormy weather, dominated by strong winds. I love how it is the wind that makes the flight possible. This also adds an element of interest because the question is who are the flyers? The flyers have to be not just skilled but also brave.
Reading about the flyers made me think of early aviation heroes and enthusiast, such as Amelia Earhart. I wonder if she was not perhaps the inspiration for the protagonist Maris. Anyway, the flyers or the gliders if you will are essential to the society of Windhaven. They are respected and valued, becoming a caste of their own.
Flying rigs are passed on from parents to their oldest child. Essentially "the wings" are being kept within flying families.
ONTO THE SCENE COMES MARIS, OUR BRAVE FEMALE PROTAGONIST
In the prologue, we meet Maris as a small girl living with her mother (Maris' father died), and the two scavenges shells for a living and what they can find left after the violent storms that are a normality on Windhaven. During one of the searches Maris meets a flyer named Russ who treats her kindly. Maris dreams of being a flyer some day!
So, years go by and Maris is basically adopted by Russ. Her dream of becoming a flyer actually came true, but she might have to renounce her wings? What is going on exactly?
Russ, not having any children of her own, had trained Maris to fly. Being adopted into the family enabled Maris to fly and to gain her wings. We learn that Russ sustained an injury that prevents him from flying. Maris had started flying and fell in love with it. However, Russ' wife gives birth to a boy named Coll. This happens not long after Maris gets her wings, and by law the wings should go to the boy when he turns old enough to fly.
The boy receives the same flying training as Maris, but he does not fall in love with it. In fact, Maris realizes that Coll is actually afraid of flying. It does not come naturally to him the way it does to Maris. Understandably, Maris' feelings are torn. She loves Coll as a brother, and worries for him. It is not her selfishness that makes her want to clung onto her wings, nor the status that wings bring. Maris is simply a natural flyer, and her brother is not. However, the law is the law. The caste system of the island is rigid. Maris sees it as extremely unjust. Here we have a clash of generations, with the newer generation rejecting the traditions of the older ones. A tale as old as time perhaps. How will the story unfold?
As we watch Maris cope with her unrest, it is easy to feel and root for her. Maris wants the wings, and she if she feels somewhat guilty for it at times, she still believes she is right. Her reasons as valid, she sees that Coll is never going to become a good flyer. Yes, her brother would get the respect with the wings, but he could also lose his life. Moreover, her brother Coll has no desire to fly and wants to be a traveling singer.
Maris has not only been a sister to Coll, but since his mother died giving birth to him Maris has also been a sort of mother figure to him. Coll is as much Maris' son as he is her little brother. She has a duty to him. However, Maris also has a duty to Russ who saved her from a life of poverty and enabled her to achieve her dream of flying. The flyer code is rigid, and Russ is a part of a caste in a way Maris is not. Being born outside of the flying family actually gives Maris objectivity.
Anyhow, the day comes for Coll to claim his wings, and on this official day he lands badly in front of everyone (Maris, Russ and the VIP people), revealing his shortcomings as a pilot. Coll does not want to claim the wings for himself, refuses them and tells Russ of his plans to become a musician.
Russ is not happy to say the least, and he disowns both Maris and Coll. If neither of them get the wings, who will? The wings are confiscated by one of flyers, Corm who intents to give them to some other flyer, saying that Maris had never a real claim.
Maris is not giving up without a fight. She knows in her heart that her reasons are just, and she wants to fight for her wring to wear the wings, not just for herself but for others as well. Her logic is without a flaw. Every years flyer lives are lost. How many flyers were never talented in the first place? How many of them really wanted to be flyers or had what it takes? Just because someone was born into a family of flyers does not mean that they will be good flyers. Maris steals the wings and with help of another flyers calls a flyer council.
Maris might not be aware that she is starting a revolution. She is defying tradition and the caste system. Maris argues her case with extreme passion and eloquence. However, will it be enough? Will the flyers become divided? Will the revolution eat its own children? Will there be blood and warm?
MARIS IS AN AMAZINGLY WRITTEN CHARACTER
Maris has got to be one of the most amazing female protagonists in the history of this genre. Maris is compassionate, but she is also determined and ready to fight for what she considers right. She isn't afraid to make hard choices. She is certainly what I think about when I think about a strong female lead.
Her personal development during the course of this novel is nothing short of pure perfection. It honestly makes the novel for me. She undergoes so many changes in her life, and has to adapt over and over again. It is fantastic that the narrative kept following her into her more mature years. We first meet her as a child, then as a young girl and finally as a mature woman.
I mean Maris is an awe-inspiring woman and yet she feels very real during every step of the way. She is wonderfully written and as a result very convincing. She starts off as a young lady that is determined to change the world she lives in (and what a world it is!) and she actually does it. However, everything in life comes at a price. I like how this novel keeps things realistic. Maris is determined and driven, but she still questions herself and has her moments of doubt.
I really want to avoid spoilers, so I cannot go into detail over her character development. Without revealing what happens next (and next and next) and what kind of person she becomes, I’m just going to say that the way she is written is outstanding. It is one of the novel's strong point, if not the strongest one. I would describe it as flawless characterization that feels absolutely convincing during all stages of her life.
“Maris and Bari worked with him and did what they could. But Maris wasn't always focused on her work. Once, Evan sent her into the forest to pick some sweetsong, an herb he used to prepare thesis; but Maris found herself thinking about the council as she wandered through the damp, cool woods. It had begun now, she thought, and she seemed to hear Val, Corm, and the others talking, and she considered their arguments, and wondered how it would end, and who they had chosen to preside. When she finally returned, the basket was full of lying grass, which resembles sweetsong but has no medicinal properties. Evan picked up the basket and sighed, shaking his head. "Maris, Maris," he murmured, "what should I do?" He turned to Bari. "Little one, go get me some sweetsong before it gets dark. Your aunt isn't feeling well.”
Windhaven
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A MULTIFACED FANTASY STORY SET IN A FASCINATING SETTING AND POPULATED BY MULTIDIMENSIONAL CHARACTERS.....
If you want to read a novel with a strong female lead, this is a story for you. If you are looking for a novel
that examines the very soul of its protagonist, look no further. Windhaven shows us Maris' soul and not just hers. If you want to
read about an imaginary world that is endlessly fascinating once you dig under
its simple surface, get this book. If you are interested in reading an exciting
story filled with multidimensional characters, what are you waiting for? If you
also happen to like fantasy, well you just hit jackpot!
WINDHAVEN IS A MASTERFULLY CRAFTED WORLD OF BRUTAL BEUATY
Fantasy lovers open your heart for another jewel, for Windhaven is a beautifully crafted world. Can I call it poetic? Would that be too much? It is not a world of ice and fire, but a world of sea and wind. What if I told you that while you are reading it you can smell the sea in the air and sense the wind on your face? Not just any sea or any wind…but the wind and the sea of this magical place. If you’re imagining Hawaii, think again.
Windhaven is no paradise, or rather a dark sort of paradise. A place of both beauty and pain. I cannot imagine it any way than extremely beautiful, even if the nature described is harsh. Windhaven consists of islands that would be in a state of total isolation if there
weren’t for fliers. Fliers are only able to fly thanks to two facts: and one of
them is that this world is in a state of permanent storm. Extremely windy. It
is not a paradise, but a hard planet (and place) to live on. Yet I had this
feeling of being able to sense its brutal beauty in my bones. It is so well
described, the ecology of the planet and the way it influenced the human
society living there. That's one of the things I loved about this novel, the world building is spectacular.
FLYERS ARE ALMOST MYTHICAL CREATURES, BUT THEIR WINGS ARE LIMITED AND THEY ARE LOST WITH EVERY LIFE LOST
Isolation makes fliers almost
mythical creatures. Their wings are made from materials saved from the mother
ship (the only sf element in the novel) and they exist in limited numbers.
Moreover, with every accident, with every flier who is lost, there is one less
pair of wings. Can you imagine why having a pair of wings would be something
that is to be desired, not only for its social significance?
“It was the
feel of it, the love of it, not the thought: it was instinct and reflex and
knowing the wind, and Maris was the wind.”
The joy of flying! Was there
ever a novel that describes so well the sheer join of flying! It is present in every part of the back, from the start of this novel. We primarily learn about flying from our lovely protagonist. Maris is a natural born
flier. She is marvellously talented at it and she knows it. All that Maris
wants to do is fly. She was adopted and raised by a flier and he taught her all
she needs to know about flying. However, there is a catch. Her father meant for
her to inherit his wings, but in the meantime he had a son and now legally
speaking, his son must inherit his wings. The problem? The boy is terrified of
flying. What is left to our Maris but to challenge the system? What happens when she challenges the system? Will she win others to her cause?
WINDHAVEN IS A COMPLEX NOVEL THAT DISCUSSES POLITICS, POWER AND GOVERMENT
As captivating as Maris story is, there is more to this novel than that. For this novel is much more than just a
story of growing up in some (how well developed it may be) fantasy world. The
society is not just some background for our protagonist to shine in, nor are
the conflicts only there for the action aspect of the story (which is pretty
good but that’s beside the point now). This novel is also about politics, power
and government. This is a novel that shows us how complex life is. Every action Maris takes has a consequence. The plot is well written and the action that takes place in Windhaven is exciting. Nevertheless, even we look beyond the plot and characters, there is a lot of food for the thought in this novel.
HUMAN NATURE IS EXAMINED IN THE GAMES FOR POWER
I think we can draw parallels
between the society in Windhaven and our own despite the fact that the society
described there lacks any technology and is basically medieval. For are not the
games of power something that is in its essence timeless? Speaking of humans
and our need to organize ourselves in groups, our need to fight for power over
one another is something that is explored well in this novel. Castes are present in all societies, and are something we can always talk about.
"Barrion thought the world of you, Maris, but he also thought you were naive. You can't change one note in the middle of a song, he told me. Once you make the first change, others have to follow, until you've redone the whole song. Everything relates, you see.”
A WELL ROUNDED EPIC STORY
Windhaven has a lesson or two to
teach. For example, how revolutions often eat their own children or how we must
always pay the price for the decisions we make. It is actually a well-rounded
epic story. A whole lot happens in this novel. It is not terribly long, but at times it is simply packed with events and action sequences. It is an entertaining read for sure, but also so much
more. It is an intelligent novel that really makes one think and ask question.
TO WHOM WOULD I RECOMMED WINDHAVEN?
I would recommend this novel to:
- anyone who has read and liked
Machiavelli’s The Prince (because among other things this novel is about power
and government)
- fans of Lisa and fans of
Martin (because they wrote it, though!)
-pilots (because they would
understand why life without flying is not worth much)
- mountaineers and outdoorsy
types (because they will appreciate the amazing nature descriptions)
-fantasy lovers (because it is a
fantasy worth reading)
- literature lovers (because
this is real literature and do not let anyone tell you that SF is not)
- just about anyone (because it
is an awesome read any way you take it)
WINDHAVEN IS A WORLD OF ITS OWN, DIFFERNT FROM A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE.
I praised our protagonist, but she is hardly the only memorable character. There are many others. Still, not as many as in Martin's epic A Song of Ice and Fire series.
I know that many fans of Martin will wonder if this is something that can be compared with his legendary series. It is a number of ways. Firstly, both world question human nature and depict games for power. Both worlds are basically set in a medieval society of sorts. While Windhaven is set in the future, the world it describes is medieval. The wings are mechanically simple, and the people have lost most of the technology. Thirdly, strong female characters are another thing Windhaven has in common with A Song of Ice and Fire. Finally, Martin has not delievered a planned sequel for this one, and we all know that we are still waiting for the final book of A Song of Ice and Fire series.
However, don’t read this expecting another A Song of Ice and Fire / GOT sequel for Windhaven is a world of its own. It feels different. The atmosphere is not the same, and the writing style is quite different. Afterall, Windhaven was written by two writers, not just Martin.
Windhaven is written by Lisa as well and that can be felt. I personally loved that! I think these two worked really well together. I liked the focus on one protagonist and I happen to think it was a good decision for this novel. One thing I did notice that seems to be typical of A Song of Ice and Fire (known as Game of Thrones in the screen adaptation) is the depth of characterization. As a reader, you really have a feeling of getting inside of a character’s head, of exploring their psychological states. Martin’s talent for creating credible characters certainly shines through.
However, I'm sure that much of Maris' characterisation is done by Lisa. Indeed, there was something uniquely touching about Maris, especially when she got older, something that felt personal, something that made her special. In that sense that is focused merely this novel is different from A Song of Ice and Fire (GOT). I must also add: the descriptions of Windhaven are something I sign off to Lisa. I may be wrong, I cannot say who wrote which part, but I can say that I sensed both of them, not in the sense that you can feel divisions in the text (far from it) but more in a sense there was that something that wasn’t there when I was reading only Martin. And I read a lot of George R.R. Martin! Does that make sense? I haven’t read any of Lisa’s works but I can sense her there and I have a feeling this world is a product of her imagination.
TO CONCULDE- WINDHAVEN IS A MUST READ SF NOVEL!
This story takes many twists and turns, develops in many different ways and it goes on to explore the world of politics, the conflict between the individual and the society, the dimensions of good and evil, the price we may for our decisions, the negative sides of any revolution etc.
It is an amazing story on its own but the fact that the characters are masterfully portrayed is what makes it is very special. Did I mention that it also contains some interesting debates and moral dilemmas i.e. plenty of food for the thought? To conclude, this is a great fantasy novel. If I had to sum it up in one sentence, it would go something like this: incredibly convincing, outlandishly brave and uncannily wise portrayal of an amazing life of one phenomenal woman!
BOOK DESCRIPTION CITED FROM GEORGE R.R. MARTIN'S OFFICIAL SITE
I have written my own description of Windhaven in my review, but if you prefer an official description, here it is.
Written by George R. R. Martin and Lisa Tuttle.
George R. R. Martin has thrilled a generation of readers with his epic works of the imagination, most recently the critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling saga told in the novels A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, and A Storm of Swords. Lisa Tuttle has won acclaim from fans of science fiction, horror, and fantasy alike— most recently for her haunting novel The Pillow Friend. Now together they gift readers with this classic tale of a brilliantly rendered world of ironbound tradition, where a rebellious soul seeks to prove the power of a dream.
The planet of Windhaven was not originally a home to humans, but it became one following the crash of a colony starship. It is a world of small islands, harsh weather, and monster-infested seas. Communication among the scattered settlements was virtually impossible until the discovery that, thanks to light gravity and a dense atmosphere, humans were able to fly with the aid of metal wings made of bits of the cannibalized spaceship.
Many generations later, among the scattered islands that make up the water world of Windhaven, no one holds more prestige than the silver-winged flyers, who bring news, gossip, songs, and stories. They are romantic figures crossing treacherous oceans, braving shifting winds and sudden storms that could easily dash them from the sky to instant death. They are also members of an increasingly elite caste, for the wings—always in limited quantity—are growing gradually rarer as their bearers perish.
With such elitism comes arrogance and a rigid adherence to hidebound tradition. And for the flyers, allowing just anyone to join their cadre is an idea that borders on heresy. Wings are meant only for the offspring of flyers—now the new nobility of Windhaven. Except that sometimes life is not quite so neat.
Maris of Amberly, a fisherman’s daughter, was raised by a flyer and wants nothing more than to soar on the currents high above Windhaven. By tradition, however, the wings must go to her stepbrother, Coll, the flyer’s legitimate son. But Coll wants only to be a singer, traveling the world by sea. So Maris challenges tradition, demanding that flyers be chosen on the basis of merit rather than inheritance. And when she wins that bitter battle, she discovers that her troubles are only beginning.
For not all flyers are willing to accept the world’s new structure, and as Maris battles to teach those who yearn to fly, she finds herself likewise fighting to preserve the integrity of a society she so longed to join—not to mention the very fabric that holds her culture together.
The third novella, The Fall, was written specifically for inclusion in the expanded novel, along with a prologue and epilogue. Two more books were planned, with Painted Wings as the intended title of the second, but Martin and Tuttle never found the right time for additional collaboration, and as they grew older, their writing styles became more distinct, making cooperation more difficult."
So, I guess we might never see the sequel to Windhaven!
Still, I'm happy for the existing version!
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| If a cat photobombing you is not a perfect motive to make a gif, I don't know what is! |
Now, finally for an evening look.
MORE POSTS ABOUT JELSA AND ISLAND HVAR
Lindos atuendos. Gracias por la reseña. Te mando un beso.
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