Rating: 
Summary: Colorful and exciting time travel novel
Review: "The Sterkarm Handshake" is based on an intriguing science-fiction/fantasy concept--time travel to the 16th century--that actually takes a backseat to the examination of cultural differences and a surprisingly effective and subtle love story between a twenty-first century researcher and a sixteenth-century warrior. Has researcher Andrea "gone native" in the stronghold of the warrior clan Sterkarms, or will she stand by her 21st century corporation when war threatens to break out between then and her 16th century friends--and her love, the tender but strong-willed Per? The great strength in Susan Price's writing is that, like Andrea, we can see no easy answers in the choice between the two worlds: yes, the 21st-century corporation is ruthless and intends to exploit the natural resources of the 16th, but at the same time the 16th century warriors are every bit as merciless in their constant raiding. The love story is handled subtlely and effectively, and Andrea's confusion over which world to stand by is believable and involving.Price is excellent at the details of portraying the world of the sixteenth century: the strong smells, the muted colors, the brotherhood of the warriors and the affection with which they hold each other. Even Per's faithful dogs are well-rounded and intriguing characters. With any novel with this much going on, however, there's a few plot holes that nagged at me: most notably the introduction of Joe, a twenty-first century homeless man who just *happens* to be the descendant of the Sterkarms, just *happens* to run into Andrea and Per, just *happens* to be wearing a t-shirt that says Sterkarm, and just *happens* to be able to understand some of Per's archaic speech. Such a wild string of coincidences weakens the effectiveness of Joe's character, who's essential to contrast Andrea's reticence to choose one world over another. Another character, the head of the 21st century corporation, is almost too cartoonish: an evil corporate raider determined to strip-mine the 16th century, leaving no one alive to stand in his way. By the time he's prancing about in military garb with a swagger stick, he's gone from two-dimensional to a caricature. Still, it's an amazing and involving read, with great characterization, intriguing cultural examination, fanciful concept, and exciting battle sequences in both centuries. Susan Price has written over thirty books, but she's still not yet a big name in the US. This book could catapult her into the big league.
Rating:
Summary: The Sterkarm Handshake
Review: I enjoyed this book a lot. However, I don't see why it's considered a young adult (or even less a *children's*) book. This is a dark picture of the world, with graphic violence, moral ambiguity, plenty of sexuality (though not graphic), and no childhood or young adult characters (unless you count Per, who may be supposed to be in his late teens or early twenties). This doesn't mean I think it's inappropriate for young adults, but I'm a little surprised to see it marketed as intended for them. The diction occasionally slips into overly simplistic phrasing, but that's the only childlike thing I see here. A basically exploitative corporation has invented a tube leading through into the 16th century Debated Lands on the Scottish-English border -- though this 16th century is in a slightly different dimension. On the 16th side are the Sterkarms, people reminiscent of some of PF Chisholm's wonderful Border characters. They're a fairly well drawn society, though the author sometimes overemphasizes their filth and violence in an apparent effort to sway readers' emotions. Caught up in the power struggle between the corporation and the local people are the young anthropologist Andrea and the heir to the clan lordship, Per. Characterization is generally vivid, although Andrea spends way too much crying and whimpering, "Oh, Per!". The plot is fast-moving and believable, and ends on a bittersweet romantic note. Our sympathies swing from the 16th to the 21st century characters and back, ending in a pleasant ambiguity. I recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: "Elves Bless with One Hand, Blight with the Other..."
Review: In the 21st century an invention has finally been perfected: The Time Tube, which allows contemporary scientists, researches and corporate money-makers to travel back into the 16th century and mingle with the locals there. Think of the possibilities! Plentiful supplies of oil, gold and coal, an extraordinary opportunity to study ancient life, and a pollution-free resort for those wealthy enough to make the trip. The corporation FUP has already purchased the troublesome borderlands between 16th century Scotland and England in order to begin development. But there's just one problem: the Sterkarms. This warrior tribe are those that lay claim to the land, and have a reputation that has gained themselves the saying: "Never shake hands with a Sterkarm." Since all the Sterkarms are left-handed, it is easy for them to conceal a dagger in their right hands whilst shaking with their left, and as such are utterly untrustworthy. They consider the 21st century people to be the "Elves" from their folklore, yet despite negotiations and bribes of the Elves "wee white pills" (that is, aspirin), the Sterkarms have no real interest in giving up their lands and way of life in order for the Elves to move in - in fact their raids upon survey teams have begun to be a nuisance to the 21st-siders. Andrea Mitchell is a young field-researcher, caught directly between the two sides. On the one hand is the needs/wants of her own world, and the demands of her superior Windsor who holds her career in the palm of her hand. On the other is the Sterkarms who have welcomed her into their lives like a guest and whom she has come to greatly respect and admire. On top of this she has developed feelings for the chieftain's son Per, and he for her, which makes her mediating role a *lot* more complicated. Susan Price presents a wonderfully thought-provoking novel that deals with the inevitable discord between two opposing cultures when one wants something from the other. She is (thankfully) very gifted in presenting a case for both sides of the argument and paints rather a lot of grey within the situation. The Sterkarms are not presented as tree-hugging, circle-dancing New-Agers like many books that deal with such people do, but instead as warm, affectionate *loving* people that nevertheless engage in warfare, torture, bloodlust and selective memory whenever it suits them. On the other end of the scale is Windsor, who looks upon Sterkarms as "overgrown, rather dim and naughty children". This is to his own detriment considering the Sterkarms are more than capable of beheading him and displaying his head should it ever suit them. Both sides are so vividly portrayed that I felt myself switching alliances whenever the narrative moved: when the 21st century thugs were called in to exterminate the Sterkarms I hoped the Sterkarms would give them what was coming to them, but when the self-same men attempted an escape in the night, I was terrified for them that the Sterkarms would discover them. As the story begins, the Sterkarms ride out to retrieve stolen sheep from an enemy tribe rather than allow the 21st-siders to take care of it, and end up returning with a severely injured Per. A distraught Andrea and a conniving Windsor take him through the Tube and into the future, with Windsor plotting to use the beloved son as a hostage for the chieftain Toorkild's good behaviour. From there the crisis escalates as the two sides declare war on each other, with both sides severely underestimating the other, and Andrea caught once more in the middle: should she help the men that the Sterkarms hold captive, knowing that they had come into the past to slaughter them all? Or should she side with the Sterkarms knowing that their way of life might be obliterated with the greed of Windsor and his corporation? And finally comes the ultimate decision: to stay with her love Per in a world of drudgery and peril, or to give him up and stay in the drab and somewhat meaningless world of the 21st century. "The Sterkarm Handshake" is a dense, immensely complicated book in its themes of intolerance, misunderstanding and inability to communicate: perhaps the main causes of all bloodshed in invasions and colonisation in our history books. Ultimately of course, the conclusion is somewhat melancholy; given that no real solution exists either in the book or in the real world to reconcile such different groups that live in such radically different ways. Price brings these differences to light wonderfully, what with Per's experiences in "Elfland" and Windsor's growing realisation that the Sterkarms cannot be controlled so easily. Furthermore, the use of the 21st century people as "Elves" is great to read if you are familiar with the folklore surrounding such beings, and the Sterkarm's interpretation of Andrea and the other's behaviour in terms of their limited knowledge. In fact, all of the Sterkarm's way of life is meticulously presented and realistic. "The Sterkarm Handshake" is a heavy read, but a rewarding one, and suitable for either gender above the age of ten, with enough ambiguity to keep one thinking for a very long time. Time travelling stories usually leave me cross-eyed, but since the Time Tube actually takes our contemporaries to another dimension, as well as another time, then there are no difficulties in trying to puzzle out the ramifications of such a visitation - ie, Andrea doesn't end up being her own great-great-something-grandmother, or other such confusing elements.
Rating:
Summary: Good
Review: In the 21st century, a time traveling machine, called the Tube, has been invented. Travellers are transported to another dimension, another time: 16th century Scotland/England border. There, a savage people called the Sterkarms are fiercely protective of "their" land. People say never shake hands with a Sterkarm because they shake hands with their right hand but keep their left (dominant) hand on their daggers, ensuring that these people will not keep their promises. The travellers are called Elves by the Sterkarms, and these people greatly value the "little white pills" (aspirin) of the Elves.
Meanwhile, a plump lady named Andrea has been sent to learn the ways of the Sterkarms. She falls in love with a beautiful young warrior named Per. Everything seems to be happy, but the corporation FUP wants to go into the 16th century side and start taking the resources of the Sterkarms. In a skirmish, Per receives a grave wound, and Andrea riskily takes Per to the 21st century for treatment. This action spurs the beginning of great animosity between the Elves and the Sterkarms. In the end, she must decide whether her love for Per is enough to make her stay in the 16th century.
Wow. This is a really good time-traveling novel. The transitions between 16th and 21st are smooth. The chapters are labeled either 16 or 21, so the reader has no trouble knowing his/her place. Each side is as interesting as the other, but the majority of the book takes place in the 16th side.
This novel has everything: action, suspense, drama, romance. There are always skirmishes happening, and it is very easy to envision scenes in the mind. There is dramatic irony in the pages: the Sterkarms are quite primitive, and they often do not know of the "evil" plots of the destructive Elves. Near the end, the plot grows suspenseful because it shows Andrea's dangerous mingling between the Elves and the Sterkarms--which side should she be on? And of course, the romance--Per and Andrea, despite differences in age and body size, hit it off really well as they constantly embrace each other. There are other characters that add flavor to the novel like the many relatives of Per and a homeless bum named Joe who actually becomes a Sterkarm.
The rest of the book is awesome, but I have complaints with the ending. The end gets really confusing, with all the clashing and whatnot between almost all the major characters in the book. After all of it was over, it felt like a tornado came by and left nothing but confusion, hence the 4 stars. Despite the craziness, the book leaves us on a romantically bittersweet note with Per and Andrea. I really enjoyed this rare gem of a book.
Rating: 
Summary: Exceptionally well-written, well-drawn characters
Review: Science fiction yes, but with a light touch; it is the complete contrast between the two centuries that is so well-drawn. The chief protagonist from the sixteenth century, Per, is brought to the 21st Century for medical treatment, and the author's description of his bafflement at modern items - soon to change to growing comprehension - is masterly. She also describes the sights, smells and tastes of the sixteenth century very well. A tad too violent for young teens, but an exceptionally well-written and exciting story for older teens and adults. You just *never* know who you are supporting - both sides are a mix of good and bad. Stirring stuff!
Rating:
Summary: A ROLLICKING ADVENTURE!
Review: Susan Price has written an engrossing and rollicking adventure story...one which not only egages the readers intelligence, but their imagination as well. Taking place in the 16th and 21st centuries simultaneously, this novel of the effects of modern man pillaging the past for his own gain rings true as any...and teaches a lot about integrity and morals along the way. In the 21st century, a mega-corporation has secretly done what the world has been striving for in the whole of history...create time travel. They've done this by marrying modern technology with old-school methodology, and though not completely accurate, have managed to land in 16th century Europe. A team of researchers are the first to arrive, and effectively convince the natives of that land that they are "Elves", capable of unlimited marvel and magick. The locals, a family by the name of Sterkarm, are afraid and easily manipulated by these strange beings who appear before them as if from nowhere. The Sterkarms, the fiercest clan in the land, are not as easily led as they lead others to believe. The researchers largely underestimate the Sterkarms cunning and treachery...hence the title of the book. Never, ever, shake hands with a Sterkarm. Hug them, kiss them...but don't rely on their word or their handshake. This is the mistake the researchers from the 21st side make. They rely on the natives' gullibility, which proves to be the downfall of the whole time-travel project...not to mention the violent death of many of its team. The team of researchers are there for only one reason. They recognize the pristine resources of unlimited capacity that the 16th century holds...and with virtually no one to stop them, they plot to make millions of dollars by raping the land of all of its splendor...minerals and ores that have long since become extinct, thanks to the mindless squandering by modern man. The Sterkarms, though, are not so easily decieved. The resulting adventure spans time and culture, aptly portraying the cause and effect nature of our every action, not only on ourselves, but others as well. LIke the classic tales of good vs. evil, "The Sterkarm Handshake" is an adventure on a grand scale, with a storyline that will make even the staunchest skeptic take pause! Graphic in it's violence and plot, this isn't for everyone...but is recommended for those who dare! Also recommended: "Exit to Reality"--Edith Forbes "The Child Garden"--Geoff Ryman
Rating:
Summary: A rare 5-star wonder.
Review: The Sterkarms ~ Armstrongs ~ are a Sixteenth Century family of border marauders who lie in a no-man's land between England and Scotland. To shake hands with a Sterkarm would be to invite betrayal and a broken agreement: Left-handed, for the most part, they can shake and back-stab at the same moment. Despite their aggression and untrustworthiness, they have entered into some kind of an agreement with elves from Elven-land, by which an elf-woman will live with them and translate their culture and language for the others. The elves are, in fact, Twentyfirst Century people who have developed a time portal and are planning on using it to exploit other times and places, starting, of course, with the Sixteenth Century border country. Neither side is in the least pleasant, though both have pleasant people; neither is trustworthy, though both try to make agreements; neither belongs in the others' time, though both make the passage. The two primary characters, the translator from the Twentyfirst, and the head Sterkarm's son, manage to fall for each other and the main tension of the book is the working out of the results of a cross-time love affair. In the end, neither is willing to sacrifice for the other, and both end up unhappy. Though it sounds generally unpleasant, this is in fact an excellent book by a superb story-teller .
Rating:
Summary: A rare 5-star wonder.
Review: The Sterkarms ~ Armstrongs ~ are a Sixteenth Century family of border marauders who lie in a no-man's land between England and Scotland. To shake hands with a Sterkarm would be to invite betrayal and a broken agreement: Left-handed, for the most part, they can shake and back-stab at the same moment. Despite their aggression and untrustworthiness, they have entered into some kind of an agreement with elves from Elven-land, by which an elf-woman will live with them and translate their culture and language for the others. The elves are, in fact, Twentyfirst Century people who have developed a time portal and are planning on using it to exploit other times and places, starting, of course, with the Sixteenth Century border country. Neither side is in the least pleasant, though both have pleasant people; neither is trustworthy, though both try to make agreements; neither belongs in the others' time, though both make the passage. The two primary characters, the translator from the Twentyfirst, and the head Sterkarm's son, manage to fall for each other and the main tension of the book is the working out of the results of a cross-time love affair. In the end, neither is willing to sacrifice for the other, and both end up unhappy. Though it sounds generally unpleasant, this is in fact an excellent book by a superb story-teller .
Rating:
Summary: The Sterkham Handshake
Review: The Sterkham Handshake is a interesting book.As well as being awarded a prize for the childrens fiction it is rated highly all over the world.I think this book has lived up to its potential greatly and that is why I rated this book four stars. I recommend this book to all that read this review and I hope that you will take my advice on this wonderful,sensational book.
Rating:
Summary: The Sterkarm Handshake
Review: This book is excellent. The only thing I didn't like was that it seemed to end- I had to read The Sterkarm Kiss right away. And that one just ended, really no finality. Ms. Price- where's the next one??
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