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Windhaven Audiobook
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(3.00) - 1,480 listener ratings
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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.
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"This was an okay book to read. Not the best I've gotten my hands on this year, but not the worst either. I loved the world that Martin created, it was a fascinating idea of how a society could work. His descriptions were great, too and there was some suspense in it that kept me reading. The only thing I didn't like is that the story felt interrupted. It consisted of three parts and at times, I had trouble finding out where the author was taking me and if this current part was even relevant to the whole story. Also, I sometimes felt that the author didn't describe the characters well enough. Sure, at most times, he did awesome and I suffered and laughed with them, but then there were those moments that were lacking and that stood out even more because the rest of the book was so good."
— Ilona (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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A powerful flight of the imagination ... wrought by a pair of writers noted for excellence.
— Roger Zelazny -
Told with a true storyteller's voice: clear, singing, persuasive, and wonderfully moving. They have made a mythic land and peopled it with unforgettable characters. It is a book for adults and children who have dreamed of flying with their own wings, and for story listeners of all ages for whom dreams are as potent as realities. A truly wonderful book.
— Jane Yolen -
It's a romance. It's science fantasy. It's beautiful.
— A.E. van Vogt -
The pace never slackens, shifting easily from moments of almost unbearable tension to others of sheer poetry and exhilaration. Martin and Tuttle make wonderful professional music together.
— Fort Worth Star-Telegram -
For George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones:
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Grabs hold and won't let go. It's brilliant.
— Robert Jordan -
A grand feast and pageant: George R. R. Martin has unveiled for us an intensely realized, romantic but realistic world.
— Chicago Sun-TimesA Clash of Kings: -
Destined to be one of the best fantasy series ever written.
— The Denver Post -
Rivals T. H. White's The Once and Future King.
— The Des Moines Register -
For Lisa Tuttle's The Pillow Friend:
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A disturbing novel about dreams and wishes, a nightmarish distaff monkey's paw of a book that it's impossible to forget. Lisa Tuttle remains our preeminent chronicler of family madness and desire.
— Neil Gaiman -
Stunning. This novel shows us that what we hide from ourselves, and what we make up, may be more real than reality itself.
— Library Journal -
Lost Futures:
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Lisa Tuttle's best fiction is like a slow settling of vast planes of thought and emotion -- luminous, quiet, wry and often bitter. The edges almost always admit other worlds, sometimes horrific, whose full import may be revealed, fully and skillfully, in a single, telling line.
— Kathleen Ann Goonan, The New York Review of Science Fiction -
A powerful flight of the imagination . . . wrought by a pair of writers noted for excellence.
— Roger Zelazny -
Told with a true storyteller's voice: clear, singing, persuasive, and wonderfully moving. They have made a mythic land and peopled it with unforgettable characters. It is a book for adults and children who have dreamed of flying with their own wings, and for story listeners of all ages for whom dreams are as potent as realities. A truly wonderful book.
— Jane Yolen -
It’s a romance. It’s science fantasy. It’s beautiful.
— A.E. van Vogt -
The pace never slackens, shifting easily from moments of almost unbearable tension to others of sheer poetry and exhilaration. Martin and Tuttle make wonderful professional music together.
— Fort Worth Star-Telegram -
For George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones
-
Grabs hold and won’t let go. It’s brilliant.
— Robert Jordan -
A grand feast and pageant: George R. R. Martin has unveiled for us an intensely realized, romantic but realistic world.
— Chicago Sun-TimesA Clash of Kings -
Destined to be one of the best fantasy series ever written.
— The Denver Post -
Rivals T. H. White’s The Once and Future King.
— The Des Moines Register -
For Lisa Tuttle’s The Pillow Friend
-
Stunning. This novel shows us that what we hide from ourselves, and what we make up, may be more real than reality itself.
— Library Journal -
Lost Futures
-
Lisa Tuttle’s best fiction is like a slow settling of vast planes of thought and emotion—luminous, quiet, wry and often bitter. The edges almost always admit other worlds, sometimes horrific, whose full import may be revealed, fully and skillfully, in a single, telling line.
— Kathleen Ann Goonan, The New York Review of Science Fiction
Windhaven Listener Reviews
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" This is the first book I ever bought. I think I was ten years old. If you like sci-fi it's a must read. "
— celtic, 2/20/2014 -
" A collaboration with George RR Martin and Lisa Tuttle. Interesting Fantasy/Sci Fi story for the most part. I see the hand of George Martin in the story and its creativity. However, it went on too long and focused more on the romantic episodes, and thus became a bit boring. I understand Mr. Martin took a 10 year break from the Game of Thrones books to collaborate on this one. "
— Colleen, 2/19/2014 -
" The early writings of a great writer (G.R.R.Martin). "
— Adon, 1/27/2014 -
" Needed a George R.R. fix while waiting for Song of Ice & Fire update. Really GREAT. "
— Travis, 1/17/2014 -
" had high hopes for this book but it was just okay. the characters were no where near as engaging as the characters in game of thrones. "
— Marykatedavin, 1/10/2014 -
" Almost a young adult book, and really more of a set of short stories than anything. Only made it a third of the way and decided to move on. "
— Raman, 1/7/2014 -
" This book was pretty good, it was an interesting story. Unfortunately I don't have much more to say about it, I felt a lot more could have been done with such an original world and characters. "
— Angela, 11/17/2013 -
" Diverse forzature ma non male. "
— Kalef, 11/14/2013 -
" A classic from the 70s, memorable for its wonderful depiction of the joys of flying, I mean with wings, like an eagle. The written version of the flight training segment of the movie Avatar. 30+ years after, the memories are fading but overall it was a good read. "
— Ric, 10/21/2013 -
" Eh. Characters needed more depth. "
— Casey, 9/12/2013 -
" This took a little while to get going; honestly it took me until 1/2 way through it to really get into it, but then I really enjoyed it. "
— Keren, 9/2/2013 -
" Good read, finished it in one sitting this evening. Good storyline, was hoping the characters would draw me in a bit more. "
— Mike, 8/6/2013 -
" Not finished reading yet, but this book is excellent so far. "
— Liane, 6/28/2013 -
" Disapointing. I am a big fan of George r.r. Martin but this one seem pedestrian to me. "
— Nora, 4/24/2013 -
" This is probably George R. R. Martin's softest book. It spans many decades and follows the life and love of only one or two characters, making it feel incredibly intimate compared to his other works. In the end it was mildly entertaining, but I wouldn't read it again. "
— Brendan, 3/10/2013 -
" good story but wordy and convoluted. Could have told the story in about half as many pages and it would have held my interest better. I actually skimmed through some of the story. "
— Nicole, 12/17/2012 -
" Very recommendable light read, despite the mediocre grading "
— Marija, 11/18/2012
About the Authors
George R. R. Martin sold his first story in 1971 and has been writing professionally ever since. He spent ten years in Hollywood as a writer-producer, working on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and television pilots that were never made. In the mid ’90s he returned to prose, his first love, and began work on his epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire. He has been in the Seven Kingdoms ever since. Whenever he’s allowed to leave, he returns to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he lives with the lovely Parris, a big white dog called Mischa, and two cats named Augustus and Caligula, who think they run the place.
Lisa Tuttle taught a science fiction course at the City Lit College, part of London University, and has tutored on the Arvon courses. She was residential tutor at the Clarion West SF writing workshop in Seattle. She has published six novels and two short story collections. Many of her books have been translated into French and German editions.
About Harriet Walter
Harriet Walter was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1989 for Best Actress in a Revival for her performances in Twelfth Night, A Question Of, and Three Sisters. In 1999 she was named a Commander of the Order of British Empire by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.