Moonstar

By: David Gerrold

Narrated by: Coleen Marlo

Length: 6 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

She was born in the moonstar’s shadow when the storms of Satlik raged their worst. Because of this, Jobe was different. The family never spoke of it, but everyone knew Jobe was special. So Jobe came to know of it, too. She had a destiny beyond that of Choice, beyond that moment when she would finally have to decide for Reethe, Mother of the World, or for Dakka, Father, Son, and Lover. For the others it was easy, but not for her, not for Jobe. So she was sent to Option, the island of learning, to make her choice and become who she must be. And slowly, ever so slowly, Jobe retreated from the world, from the time of decision. Then the ultimate cataclysm wracked the planet, threatening all her people had struggled to create, and Jobe came forth at last to fulfill her destiny and begin the quest that the moonstar had set for her so many years ago…

Nebula award nominee for best novel of the year (1977). Originally published as Moonstar Oddessy.

©1977, 2014 David Gerrold (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Juvenile homeric tale on a distant planet

David Gerrold's Moonstar (aka Moonstar Odyssey) takes place on a distant planet that has been terraformed in order to support life. Although distinctly human, the population is of indeterminant sex at birth and goes through a series of 'blushes' where they decide to align themselves with one of two 'gods' in their religion and sexually mature according that alignment. Prepubertally, feminine pronouns are used. A young girl who is having difficultly deciding on her future state is sent to the island of Option, but the destruction of screens in orbit sets in motion her journey of personal discovery and growth.

Gerrold was reflecting the gender fluidity developing in the 70's. There are examples of family pressures to go in one or the other direction. Unfortunately, the story suffers from what appears to be a futuristic period with obvious interstellar travel and terraforming capability, but there's no explanation for why the effort was ever initiated. In addition, how this biological divergence was achieved and why in a technologically advanced society, the religious aspects remained so dominant is never flashed out. Finally, the story structure is awkward as the terraforming aspects are just plucked down in the middle almost as an interlude, but without connection except for the later space mishap.

The narration is reasonable, although there is limited character distinction.

Not my style

I enjoy David Gerrold, but this story was not to my liking. Nit feels like an attempt to write a greek myth for an adolescent audience.

The performance was fine. However it was a book read and not a performance. Nowadays that caps out at a 3 star rating.

Not an easy book to finish

The book is more about discovering of self, sexuality, and sexual identity then telling a story.

I like some of the ideas but the book spends to much time on them.