The story shows a certain politeness in piracy and interstellar business dealings, rather like a good ole boy's club that offers a wink and a nod to ripping each other off. It appears to be a rite of passage or gamemanship mutually agreed upon to enhance the wealth and power of the reining star lords. The pirates take turns boarding one another's vessel to steal their cargo which is all executed with good humor and jovial camraderie. (after all the insurance carrier will have to pony up for the losses). These acts of piracy are then followed by a blow out party onboard the ship undergoing piracy. For this reader, the analogies to current day politics is quite inescapably clear.
This is the first book that I have read in this space opera series and I am looking forward to the follow up book "A Working of Stars" which promises more of the magic and machinations of this fascinating Mageworld.
I would, however, read these books in the order they were written and not in their story-based chronological order.
The story, while trying not to, seems to depend upon one's previous knowledge of the Mageworlds universe to really be interesting.
I can hardly wait for the sequel to this book!What Came Before The Stars Asunder (1999) is the sixth novel written in the Mageworlds series. At this time, however, it is the first in internal chronological sequence. This series has evoked a mysterious past from the very first volume. While Doyle and MacDonald have filled in some of the backstory in The Gathering Flame, now we are told the story of Arekhon Khreseio sus-Khalgath sus-Peledaen, the Professor, at a time 500 years before The Price of the Stars. The eiran seem to be silvery threads to those with the ability to see them. They are the forces of life and luck and can be manipulated by Mages. Long ago, individual efforts of many short-sighted individuals have caused a Great Sundering of the eiran, leaving The Gap Between separating the survivors and their worlds. In the Mageworlds, circles still manipulate the eiran, but, in the rest of the human worlds, the Adepts consider the eiran as a force of nature and manipulation of the threads is believed to be an abomination. Garrod syn-Aigal is a Void Walker, able to cross even interstellar distances through the Void, and Yuvaen syn-Deriot is his Second. They are determined to perform a Great Working to bridge The Gap Between and make whole the broken eiran threads within the galaxy. They begin by recruiting Mages for a new circle based at Demaizen Old Hall and the eiran brings them from all walks of life. Among the new Mages are Iulan Vai, Narin Iyal, Ty, and Arekhon. Iulan Vai is Agent-Principal of the sus-Radal family, working in the shadows to gather information. Narin is the First of the Amisket Circle, protecting the fishing town and its fleet. Ty is a young nobody's-child from the Port Street Foundling Home, who has to find a means of livelihood. Arekhon, the younger brother of Natelth, the head of the sus-Peledaen family's senior line, is leavimg his family business to become a mage. Each is facing an uncertain future before the eiran brings them together. The Demaizen Circle is the only remaining independent Mage circle that is performing Great Workings. All the others are bound to the noble houses or doing only minor workings. The Demaizen Circle is beholden only to Garrod, who is the last of his family, but their efforts may provoke even the Gods themselves against them. The Mageworlds stories belong to that gray area between science fiction and fantasy, mixing Technology and Talents, much like the interstellar adventures of Andre Norton and Lisanne Norman. Recommended for all Mageworlds fans and anyone who enjoys stories of great magic, political intrigue, and exotic cultures. -Arthur W. Jordin
