Review: Inside the Gathering Hall?
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 21, 2014
Sight by David Bruns is a worthy sequel to its predecessor, Irradiance. In this installment, we are given the impression of the fall from grace as Maribel and Reese find themselves in an untamed land. Reese’s library provides him with his only link to the sophistication of their forsaken homeland Sindra. His daughter Sariah acts as a scout for their colony, and rescues young Jaron from being killed by a bear. The boy is brought back for a medical analysis, and the Sindrans decide there can be a mutually beneficial exchange between natives and settlers. Sariah becomes the emissary of the Sindrans as she accompanies Jaron back to his clan. Only his people are not as receptive as expected, and Bruns’ tale becomes a parable of suspicion, epiphany and acceptance.Lord of the Rings fans will find this far more cerebral than the standard fare available in an oversaturated sci-fi/fantasy genre. As we saw in Irradiance, the author focuses more on character and storyline development than narrative dynamics. We can see how creative thinking is as anathematic to the primitive Clan as it was to the highly advanced community of Sindra. Yet the simplistic trust of children is the key to communication, and Sarian is able to assimilate into the Clan despite the reservations of the Sacred Mother, Nisador. Eventually a showdown between Jaron and Tomac, a pretender to the throne of the Clan, and a final conflict between Sarian and Nisador brings the communities to a new understanding. Not to mention a segue to the next installment.For science fiction fans and fantasy lovers alike, Sight by David Bruns is a worthy addition to your library collection.