This book evidently started out as a short story. Arguably, it should've remained a short story. The second part is effectively unrelated. It might as well have had different characters.The ghosts in this story are products of a terrible accident. Their disquietude is as irrational as the attitudes of the peoples who are descended from survivors helplessly involved in the original accident, either as perpetrators or victims.Ghosts might reasonably be expected to be unable to learn new ways (though one might hope that, once they got over the original shock, they might also be able to heal and learn wisdom). Survivors and their descendants should be more flexible. Why has it taken so long for them to sit down and talk? Come to that, where is the Empire from which the ship came? Why weren't they on call to deal with the damaged ship BEFORE its disastrous downfall? Why was there no rescue mission?After about p70 (in this edition), the rest is just another 'We have this terrible, depersoned enemy, which we have to join forces to destroy'. But even before that, there are indications of depersonalization, mostly affecting the Raski. The Yurth, despite the 'Upper sense', are detached: not asocial, but not given to strong or close bonds. This is (sort of) explained by the burden of inherited guilt they all bear as adults--but they let it keep them from any hopes or aspirations--as if they shrug and pass on any possible future other than eternal penance. After all, the RASKI aren't barred from future spacefaring.As for the Raski, Norton seems to accept the idea she apparently held to lifelong--that there could be people who had no real intelligence. The Raski have a quasi-feudal society--but they are represented as being unimaginative, never planning for any future, and certainly not a different one. Only Stans of the House of Philbur is represented as a critic--and he argues that he is 'different' because his clan have remembered the past (and were once royal). It's not argued that such a malaise is unlikely to have lasted for more than a generation (if that), or that even shocked survivors of a disaster often recover to the point that they can make at least SOME effort to provide a better life for their offspring. Such an argument doesn't seem to have ocurred to Norton, so how could it occur to her characters? The upshot of this is that Elossa and Stans have very little hope of initiating any real change, since only Yurth, with few if any Raski, will come to whatever new community is established overmountain, unless or until the Raski themselves begin to aspire to more than sterile revenge (for reasons very few Raski even know about) and halfhearted agronomy. Not a particularly hopeful end, even if the story hadn't gone astray in the second half of the book.
Whenever I sit down to read one of Andre Norton's novels, it is an expectant feeling which I know will later be satisfied when I finish it, and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I have the same feeling when I read C.J. Cherryh, another of my favorite writers. Unlike Cherryh's work, I don't have all of Norton's so I'm always pleased when I find an original copy. With DAW books also, I collect original covers plus the varied ones which may be changed in later editions. The descriptions are rich, (they always all) yet still conveyed a sense of starkness and pragmatism which reflected the world and the main character's personality. A latter day people of sorts, she goes on a traditional journey usually young people make to the mountains when the "call" comes to them. They are telepathic people, feared for it by others, but peaceful, doing no harm to others though their abilities of mental projection could certainly do so. The young woman's journey takes her into her people's past and what could again be their future. Telling anything more would be a spoiler.If you're looking for a moderately paced and well written tale with elements both of fantasy and science fiction, Yurth Burden very good choice.
What do You think about Yurth Burden (1978)?
Not a very good book. Norton has a lot better work, this one is a predictable buddy adventure about two people, different sexes, different races, and how they bond to overcome the challenge. Blah Blah blah...... but it was one of those classic books I got on a bargain table...worth the 10 cents I paid for it.I wrote that earlier and it may be a bit harsh, since I like a lot of her other work. This is a light read compared to some of her material. Good for the historical feel of how a writer develops.
—James Hurley
