According to Cecilia at KCLS, this book is like Star Trek before Star Trek.

Very overrated book. There is not enough character building to make you sympathize or relate to any of the characters. The story drags on with little to no climax, you could honestly just read the summary on the back of the book and be done with it- literally, theres not much else to it. Those who gave this book 5 stars must have been confused with some other book. The one good thing I will say is that the cover art is amazing, but thats about it. ( )

Enchantress From the Stars (1970) is the first of two novels about Elana and the Anthropological Service of the Federation (the second book being The Far Side of Evil).

The Federation is extensive and powerful, but also so advanced as to have overcome problems like social injustice and warfare among its own peoples. It takes non-intervention in other cultures very seriously, and it hides its very existence from 'less developed' worlds, including the newer star-faring powers. Protecting pre-industrial worlds like Andrecia from colonialists is therefore not an easy thing to achieve.

Young Elana's father is a seasoned and high-ranking agent in the Federation, and his principal work is to protect 'Youngling' worlds from exploitation, even though this must be done behind the scenes and in an entirely unobtrusive manner. Elana illegally sneaks aboard the Federation vessel transporting her father and his two colleagues down to the planet Andrecia, even though she has hardly any training and knows that experienced Anthropology Service Agents sometimes die in the field. In her inexperience, Elana is allured by the thrilling prospects of exploration and adventure.

When one of the authorized members is killed by imperial colonists, the Anthropology Service team is missing a field agent. Elana’s father thus has little choice but to involve his daughter in the effort to save the native people of Andrecia from colonization by the Empire.

Since the local residents have no experience of high technology, they interpret the work of the huge land-clearing machine at the colonists' camp as a dragon establishing its lair and intending to take over their land. The king sends out his bravest men to kill the dragon, but everyone who embarks on the venture vanishes.

Bound by the strict rules of the Federation forbidding the use of any sort of violence, Elana's father is forced to concoct an unlikely scheme to frighten the imperialists away from Andrecia. If the representatives of the Empire can be led to believe that paranormal powers are a natural possession of the indigenous people, they might just abandon their annexation of Andrecia.

The woodcutter Georyn is the fortunate (or unfortunate) Andrecian selected for training. If he proves successful, he stands to save his world. If he fails, he will die and his people will be enslaved. The success of the plan largely depends on Elana who, playing the role of a sorceress in possession of supernatural powers, must guide Georyn to his ultimate goal of defeating the 'dragon'.

Arthur C. Clarke famously stated that any sufficiently developed technology is indistinguishable from magic in the eyes of those who are unfamiliar with it. Enchantress from the Stars is a classic example of this principle expressed through a science fiction story.

The author employs three points of view to present the convergence of three cultures, and these three interweaved story threads represent the best traditions of epic fantasy, space opera heroics, and coming-of-age romance. The only point I found perhaps a little unconvincing was that all three viewpoints are supposed to be written by the protagonist who is relating her experiences to a relative after the adventure is over. I am still not sure how she could write about events which she was not present to witness in such detail, although, to be fair, the author does touch briefly on this matter in the prologue.

Overall, I think that this well-structured and engrossing story has clearly stood the test of time, since it continues to provide thought-provoking material concerning the natural course of societal development and related ethical considerations, the power of belief, and the value of allowing both cultures and individuals to find their own paths. Also significant is the fact that probably the most intuitive and intelligent character is a member of the least developed society. Indeed, the only real advantage that the Federation has over the two other cultures is the amount of time it has been in existence and the proportionally greater opportunity it has had to progress.

There are many memorable and inspiring quotes in this classic work of young adult science fiction. Here are some of them:

"The human mind is incredible. It can do nothing without belief, yet practically anything with it."

"No one ever has all the facts. All a person can do is to choose a goal that seems worthwhile and commit to it."

"We live as anyone does: by hope; for what other way is there?"

"But it is ever true that what looks like a paradox is merely a thing that cannot be understood by means of our present knowledge."

"Elana! Don’t be afraid! Underneath, things aren’t as terrible as we make them."

"There is nothing that teaches you the value of life for its own sake faster than the prospect of having to give it up."

"I do believe the age of disenchantment must be the hardest. To see so much, by methods you think are scientific, that you’ve no faith in there being anything you don’t see—it must be awful."

"When you’re convinced that you’ll soon be dead, you are free in a way that you can never be at any other time—free in the sense that anything can happen to you and you will not mind, because you have already faced the most frightening thing there is to face. So if what happens is something good, something so good as suddenly knowing that you are going to live after all, why, that in itself is pretty tremendous."

"For it is better to know of what exists than not to know. I would rather be helpless than blind; and if in seeking wisdom as my reward I got more than I had need for, well, that is not your fault but mine."

"We act in the light of the knowledge we have. Do you suppose I see the whole picture? Do you suppose anyone does?” ( )

I read this in the 7th grade originally and I was really taken by the description of soda pop as a drink to be describe in a medival sort of society! That is what kick started it for me learning to really describe things in my writing. ( )

I first read this book when I was in the sixth grade, and it changed my life. Not only was this the first science fiction story I'd ever read, it was my introduction to the idea that where you come from shapes how you see and interpret the world.

The story is presented as an intersection of fairy tale and sci-fi adventure, with the medieval residents of the planet Andrecia interpreting the high tech tools of an advanced civilization as a "dragon".

Elana, the story's heroine, is a somewhat rash but deeply principled young woman who accepts the consequences for all her actions and who faces the conflicts between heart and duty with a clear vision. The two other two p.o.v. characters share her idealistic qualities, each expressing them through the lense of his own unique background. ( )