The Best One of All
I've read nearly everything Anne MacCaffrey has ever written, and most of it is excellent, but this -- her very first book -- is, in my humble opinion, the best she's ever written. The story line is compelling; the characters are richly drawn, and the world on which our heroine finds herself is believeably complex. One thing that sometimes annoys me about the later books by MacCaffrey is that they all seem to involve some sort of telepathic communication, of which this book is mercifully free. At the time this was written, no one would have been able to do it justice if translated to the movie genre; I would love to see someone from Hollywood pick up the movie rights now! "Restoree" would be a guaranteed smash at the box office!
Good book
This is a good book, well written. It is just a little hard to stay in the book.
Her first published novel...
Anne McCaffrey is legendary in the field of Science Fiction and Fantasy. This novel, which she wrote in rebellion to all the insipid female characters she read in Sci-Fi at the time, is excellent. So, I ask, why has it never been released in hardcover in the US?
All Laurell K. Hamilton's early books are being re-released in hardcover first editions. Even McCaffrey's "To Ride Pegasus" got the hardcover treatment years after it was initially released in paperback. This pivotal work deserves better!
Sara gets it all
"Restoree" is no literary masterpiece, but it's still great fun to read. It's the kind of book to curl up with when you want something relatively mindless but comforting and not too trashy. It's not McCaffery's strongest, but it's my favorite. The SF elements are a bit dated in concept and the characters are not too deep, but it all work wells in combination with the romance. The ugly duckling-to-swan motif is one that rings a lot of bells. The thought of waking up as a better version of yourself, saving the day, and in the process snagging the hero always has appeal.
Fans of Pern should enjoy this book.
Fans of Pern should be interested to read this early McCaffrey, published in 1967.
This book features the strong-minded heroine Sara, who finds herself suddenly on another planet with a new body and a big problem. Sara becomes involved in the politics and intrigues of her new environment. Her better nature and her fear for her new love overcome the risk that she faces as an illegal and dreaded Restoree.
The book stands up well after all this time. McCaffrey is a talented writer and the book does not read as either dated or stilted. It may not be for everyone (I preferred Pern myself) but if you like the genre, it could well turn into a McCaffrey favorite. It should appeal to McCaffrey fans, fans of Science Fiction romance, and romance readers in general. Although there are some mild sexual situations, it is safe and probably very enjoyable reading for younger readers.
(32 reviews)
