Sholan by Lisanne Norman

The Sholan Series (Which so far includes 6 books) are by far some of the best books I have ever read. My mother got me Turning Point from the library a few years back. I read it and loved it. Finishing it within days, it was returned with a sad farewell from me. I immediatly went out to our local Border's Books to buy it. To my surprise, and sheer joy, I found there were more books about Carrie and Kusac! I eagerly bought and read each one, waiting impatiently for the next one to come out. I found to my dismay that I was reading them too quickly, and Lisanne could't keep up with my hungry imagination. I have read through all 6 books three times to keep myself busy and catch any details I might have missed. I have been waiting for a year and a half for Between Darkness and Light, and just found out last month that it will be availible January 1st 2003 (or about that time). I am so excited! I want to know what is going to happen to Carrie, Kusac and Kaid!
The books have some holes, I will admit. Some things don't work out right. I left them at home when I moved away for college last month so I can't cite any specific examples. I just know that I had to read some stuff a few times to try to figure it out. I've also found typos and silly mistakes (being the anal critic I am), like names switched around; something like Konis talking to Rhiad, then all of the sudden he's talking to Raiban, then its Rhiad again later... things like that. The holes I mentioned are just things like plot lines or characters doing or talking about things that dont' follow, feel, or flow right (if that makes any sense). Also, some of the plot developements are a bit hokey or hard to picture anyone actually being THAT upset about; like some of the things the Telepath Guild got in trouble for in Fortunes Wheel and such. Still, I love the books. They are full of adventure,space travel, alien worlds, intrigue, love, drama, comedy and anything else you can throw in to make a good read till your eyes hurt book series. All in all, Lisanne Norman has a wonderful imagination and the talent to put it on paper so my imagination and the imaginations of so many others can run away with us to the world of Shola.

Although I am still not done with the series (currently I am on Book 4) I must comment on the writer's style. The first book, Turning Point, reads like a jumbled mess. An interesting premise, it seemed to me the author hadn't finished thinking out her story line enough to develop her characters. The story raced ahead with minimal descriptions, and left you dissatisfied.

Now, the second book, Fortune's Wheel, was COMPLETELY different. It was as though the author was trying to make up for her dismal job in the beginning. Not only did she provide deep insight into her main characters, but her plotline left you wanting to read the whole book in one sitting.

The third book, Fire Margins, was also similar to the second.

I almost wish she would go back and re-write the first book, seeing how it does not compare to the quality of work she has been working her way up to.

If you are a fan of hard sci-fi, and huge spanning galactic empires, stick with Asimov, Niven, Banks, and Vinge.

If you like bubble gum sci-fi, the likes of which Brian Herbert, Lackey, etc. churns out, this book is a must for you. Decent stories, semi-decent authoring.....

Hey, it's just my 2 cents....

This a excellent sf series.This is saga of two races: Humans from Earth and
the colony world Keiss and feline aliens called Sholans. This is seen thru
the eyes of two telepaths from both races who are lovers. Carrie Hamilton from Keiss and
Kusac: a sholan Telepath. They help forge alliance between the two races to battle thier mutual
enemy-a brutal reptilian race called the Valtegans; who have tried to conquer both races.
These novels has everything:action, romance, intrigue, some humor and unforgettable characters
and in particular Carrie and Kusac who fight prejudices of both races. The novels are so far:

1. The Turning Point
2. Fortune's Wheel
3. Fire Margins
4. Razor's Edge
5. Dark Nadir

Norman's world-building skills put her the same league of David Brin, C.J. Cherryh, and Ursula Le guin in desciptions of alien civilizations and worlds.