Winged Isis

Rating:
Summary: Pure Feminist Sci-Fi
Review: A long time ago I gave up on feminist science fiction because the political correctness far outweighed its visionary aspects. The last such novel I enjoyed was book 3 of the Isis series. I didn't know I'd have to wait 5 years for book 4.

I found this installment walking the fine line of feminist philosophy and good action/plotting. The women aren't either warriors or politicians, but a mix of both, and they aren't perfect. Their crisis is so intense that no one can just sit back and offer their input while others do the work -- it's put up or shut up time.

Wonderfully, it's very clear from the ending that book 5 will be written soon. Kali needs Whit back. The love stories that interweaves the action is intense and the erotic content an extension of character development.

Fans of the Isis series will like this one. Anyone hungry for a story about a community of women struggling, loving and surviving will like this one.

Rating:
Summary: Fast pace--compelling characters--marvelous storytelling
Review: From 1992 to 1995, Jean Stewart published three speculative adventure/romance books about the women of Isis (Return to Isis, Isis Rising, and Warriors of Isis). Upon completion of that trilogy, it seemed that the story of the Isis society and the two main characters, Whit and Kali, was completed. Not so. Stewart surprises and delights with a new trilogy beginning with Winged Isis.

The women of Isis live in Freeland, a democratic city-colony on one half of the U.S., which is protected by an invisible Border. On the other side is Elysium where religious fanatics, corrupt men, and the regulators, a Gestapo-type of police force live violent, miserable lives. The highly technological and deadly Elysium men want nothing more than to destroy Isis and take their resources, and only the Border shield powered from the satellites is stopping them. They have been kept out for over eight decades, but now the Border shows signs of decay and breakdown.

Tomyris �Whit� Whitaker and her psychologically adept partner, Kali Tyler, are leaders in Isis who want to prevent disaster before the Border breaks down. The satellites which power the invisible shield must be repaired. But there is dissension in the ranks as well as treachery and sabotage. Can the satellites be repaired? And what sacrifices will be made? Kali is pregnant with their child. Will they manage to maintain a society that is safe for their unborn daughter and for all children? Or will they fall prey to the violent, fundamentalist Elysians?

Jean Stewart has created a fascinating society that is especially interesting because harmony is not necessarily the state of affairs in Isis. Unlike many Utopias, the women of Isis disagree and fight about things, and power struggles are typical. The secondary characters are strong and fully fleshed out, and provide a worthy counterpoint to Kali and Whit�s struggles on behalf of Isis.

Stewart�s writing style is crisp and clear. She gives enough back story to thoroughly ground this new trilogy in the facts of the previous books without overwhelming the reader, and then she moves quickly into the meat of the conflict. Unlike many sci-fi/fantasy stories, the author doesn�t resort to magic and highly fantastical tricks. The women in Isis are scientifically and psychologically gifted, and they use those talents as much as possible, but their society is not a world of sorcery and magicians. This places Stewart�s work in its own special category: a hybrid of science fiction, adventure, and romance in a uniquely lesbian framework.

Winged Isis has a complex plot, a fast pace, compelling characters, and a surprise ending that will leave the reader excited and ready for the next book in the series, which, one can only hope, will be published soon. Winged Isis is marvelous storytelling, and I give Stewart sincere kudos for bringing the women of Isis back to life again.
~Lori L. Lake, Midwest Book Review

Rating:
Summary: Fast pace--compelling characters--marvelous storytelling
Review: From 1992 to 1995, Jean Stewart published three speculative adventure/romance books about the women of Isis (Return to Isis, Isis Rising, and Warriors of Isis). Upon completion of that trilogy, it seemed that the story of the Isis society and the two main characters, Whit and Kali, was completed. Not so. Stewart surprises and delights with a new trilogy beginning with Winged Isis.

The women of Isis live in Freeland, a democratic city-colony on one half of the U.S., which is protected by an invisible Border. On the other side is Elysium where religious fanatics, corrupt men, and the regulators, a Gestapo-type of police force live violent, miserable lives. The highly technological and deadly Elysium men want nothing more than to destroy Isis and take their resources, and only the Border shield powered from the satellites is stopping them. They have been kept out for over eight decades, but now the Border shows signs of decay and breakdown.

Tomyris 'Whit' Whitaker and her psychologically adept partner, Kali Tyler, are leaders in Isis who want to prevent disaster before the Border breaks down. The satellites which power the invisible shield must be repaired. But there is dissension in the ranks as well as treachery and sabotage. Can the satellites be repaired? And what sacrifices will be made? Kali is pregnant with their child. Will they manage to maintain a society that is safe for their unborn daughter and for all children? Or will they fall prey to the violent, fundamentalist Elysians?

Jean Stewart has created a fascinating society that is especially interesting because harmony is not necessarily the state of affairs in Isis. Unlike many Utopias, the women of Isis disagree and fight about things, and power struggles are typical. The secondary characters are strong and fully fleshed out, and provide a worthy counterpoint to Kali and Whit's struggles on behalf of Isis.

Stewart's writing style is crisp and clear. She gives enough back story to thoroughly ground this new trilogy in the facts of the previous books without overwhelming the reader, and then she moves quickly into the meat of the conflict. Unlike many sci-fi/fantasy stories, the author doesn't resort to magic and highly fantastical tricks. The women in Isis are scientifically and psychologically gifted, and they use those talents as much as possible, but their society is not a world of sorcery and magicians. This places Stewart's work in its own special category: a hybrid of science fiction, adventure, and romance in a uniquely lesbian framework.

Winged Isis has a complex plot, a fast pace, compelling characters, and a surprise ending that will leave the reader excited and ready for the next book in the series, which, one can only hope, will be published soon. Winged Isis is marvelous storytelling, and I give Stewart sincere kudos for bringing the women of Isis back to life again.
~Lori L. Lake, Midwest Book Review

Rating:
Summary: Worth waiting for
Review: I'm glad Ms. Stewart took her time writing this fourth Isis-book, because it is as well balanced as the first one. Good attention to characters, a nice love-story, the relationship between Whit and Kali still going stronger and a very believable story-line with lots of action gives this book for me a very good second place in the Isis-series [Return To Isis will allways be my favourite]. Hopefully the next book in the series will be as good as this one is.

Rating:
Summary: Serve & protect
Review: Whit and her partner Kali lead their city of Isis and the women of Freeland in endeavors to repair the electromagnetic border which separates them from the feudal and zealous Elysium. When a rival military leader bids for control of the project, Whit and her project leader Loy get involved in a political chess game which ultimately distracts them from their objective and proves fatal. Loy and the woman who's confusing her heart and mind rocket to space to repair the satellites to fix the border. Meanwhile, the city of Isis is the next target of Elysium, and Whit and her attack force are determined to keep their home safe at any cost. Stewart's captivating tale presents an exciting world where men are nearly nonexistent, but humanity is still struggling to make it all work. I haven't read the other Isis books yet, but I certainly want to now!

Rating:
Summary: Fast paced & exciting reading
Review: Winged Isis is a fast-paced, action story with a cliffhanger ending. Beginning six months after the close of Warriors of Isis, it follows Tomyris Whitaker -- Whit to her friends -- and her partner Kali Tyler as they struggle to protect their country from invasion.

The satellite generated electro-magnetic shield between Freeland and Elysium has begun to fail. Thus the women of Freeland set about replacing the satellites. It is a race for time, as they also prepare to defend their young, prospering country from the Elysians. This is the story of Winged Isis.

The post-pandemic world that Stewart has created is a lesbian feminist cross between King's The Stand and Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. Freeland, perhaps the most interesting presentation of a feminist democratic culture, is not a utopia. Views of how to implement their country's political goals vary greatly among the citizens. Power struggles are frustrating to Whit (and perhaps to the reader) as she is drawn into the complexities of governing. However, they have a ring of reality that echoes the struggles of many feminist, democratic organizations.

Stewart is also unabashed in depicting Freeland's need for a military defense. Her exploration of how this woman centric society might go about creating and implementing this amazon military is thought provoking and insightful.

Stewart's characters are complex and realistic. In their struggles to rebuild the colony of Isis and survive the threats of the Elysians, many of these woman find love and hope for a happy future. These characters grow and change over the course of the series. Winged Isis appears to be a pivotal, transition story within the series. For example: the shy, brillant Danu finds confidence and skill as a Warrior; Kali and Tor both explore their mystical strengths; while Kali and Whit anticipate the changes that their first daughter will bring to their lives.

One might wish to read the first three Isis titles before Winged Isis, (... they are still available). The series as a whole is unique and enjoyable reading. However, it is not absolutely necessary to read them in order. Stewart provides enough context within Winged Isis to enjoy it alone. And there is a helpful glossary and character summary at the end of the book. Winged Isis is an exciting summer read. The series overall is thought provoking and lingers in this reader's mind.

It's been five years since the third Isis story was released. Given the ending of Winged Isis, one hopes it will not be so long before the fifth novel comes our way.