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The story of General Dann and Mara's daughter, griot and the snow dog : a novel
Lessing, Doris May
Adult Fiction LESSING
From Publishers' Weekly:
This sequel to Lessing's futuristic novel Mara and Dann continues the saga of Dann, the refugee boy prince of the Mahondi, who searched with his older sister Mara for habitable land on a planet Earth beset by a new ice age. Several characters from that novel reappear, including Griot, a soldier who served under Dann, but Mara has died in childbirth. Grief deafens General Dann to the pleas of those who believe he alone can save civilization from the warring chaos of displaced populations. Lessing's long literary career includes much science fiction (the Canopus in Argos series), but this dystopia, underscored by its reluctant hero's existential dilemma-why go on just to go on?-resembles a classical myth, albeit one with no gods to intervene. As Dann disastrously tries to assuage his grief with opium, loyal Griot raises an army and finds a repository of books that preserves the wisdom of lost civilizations. Less of an adventure story than its predecessor, this sequel requires patience through several repetitive passages devoted to Dann's refusal to act. But that is a small price to pay for Lessing's acute observations. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
From Library Journal:
In this sequel to Lessing's Mara and Dann, Dann is now a grown man instead of the four-year-old boy of royalty that readers met in the first saga. His initial exploits had him and older sister Mara looking for a place to exist on Earth after a major ice age has covered the planet. The continent where they reside is now known as Yerrup, and Dann has become a general commanding much respect and attention and has positioned himself as a leader in this futuristic world. Sadly, Mara has died in childbirth. As the world descends into chaos, Dann launches on a new adventure with a snow dog who instinctively pulls him back from the desolation and misery of his loss. Readers will be familiar with the many repeat characters appearing in this sequel, including Dann's loyal subordinate, Griot, who is busy rallying the troops. The battalion ultimately goes on to uncover a hidden library that may possess the secrets and wisdoms of lost worlds and long-gone civilizations. Unfortunately, this work is not as fully fleshed out as its predecessor. While its construct is steeped in the oral storytelling tradition, the language is often repetitive. Fans of Lessing will read this title, but many reader may be confused by the meandering passages. For urban public libraries only.-Christopher Korenowsky, New Albany Lib., Columbus Metropolitan Lib. Syst., OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Lessing, Doris May
Adult Fiction LESSING
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From Publishers' Weekly:
This sequel to Lessing's futuristic novel Mara and Dann continues the saga of Dann, the refugee boy prince of the Mahondi, who searched with his older sister Mara for habitable land on a planet Earth beset by a new ice age. Several characters from that novel reappear, including Griot, a soldier who served under Dann, but Mara has died in childbirth. Grief deafens General Dann to the pleas of those who believe he alone can save civilization from the warring chaos of displaced populations. Lessing's long literary career includes much science fiction (the Canopus in Argos series), but this dystopia, underscored by its reluctant hero's existential dilemma-why go on just to go on?-resembles a classical myth, albeit one with no gods to intervene. As Dann disastrously tries to assuage his grief with opium, loyal Griot raises an army and finds a repository of books that preserves the wisdom of lost civilizations. Less of an adventure story than its predecessor, this sequel requires patience through several repetitive passages devoted to Dann's refusal to act. But that is a small price to pay for Lessing's acute observations. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
From Library Journal:
In this sequel to Lessing's Mara and Dann, Dann is now a grown man instead of the four-year-old boy of royalty that readers met in the first saga. His initial exploits had him and older sister Mara looking for a place to exist on Earth after a major ice age has covered the planet. The continent where they reside is now known as Yerrup, and Dann has become a general commanding much respect and attention and has positioned himself as a leader in this futuristic world. Sadly, Mara has died in childbirth. As the world descends into chaos, Dann launches on a new adventure with a snow dog who instinctively pulls him back from the desolation and misery of his loss. Readers will be familiar with the many repeat characters appearing in this sequel, including Dann's loyal subordinate, Griot, who is busy rallying the troops. The battalion ultimately goes on to uncover a hidden library that may possess the secrets and wisdoms of lost worlds and long-gone civilizations. Unfortunately, this work is not as fully fleshed out as its predecessor. While its construct is steeped in the oral storytelling tradition, the language is often repetitive. Fans of Lessing will read this title, but many reader may be confused by the meandering passages. For urban public libraries only.-Christopher Korenowsky, New Albany Lib., Columbus Metropolitan Lib. Syst., OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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