[3MI]⋙ PDF Gratis A Gift Upon the Shore M K Wren 9780595143412 Books

A Gift Upon the Shore M K Wren 9780595143412 Books

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A Gift Upon the Shore M K Wren 9780595143412 Books

I have read half a dozen post apocalyptic novels in the past few months: 1984, Earth Abides, Cat's Cardle, Ape & Essence, The Chrysalids and A Gift Upon The Shore. It is truly fascinating to experience - in such a short span of time - how differently each author envisions and experiences the future after the fall. What does each author value as most precious? What do they fear losing? What do they hope survives the unsurvivable?

M.K. Wren's "A Gift Upon The Shore" is the the most subtle, grounded and intimate of the novels listed above. "Earth Abides" is a close second, for those of you who loved this novel and are looking for something similar. No mutants, no aliens, no mystical revelations. Even the description of the End of the world is handled with such restraint. I found myself itching for an "omniscient narrator" to appear so that I could get a global experience of nuclear war. But Ms. Wren is correct. For those living far enough away to survive, the world will end in a whimper, not a bang. Or rather, a permanent power failure in the form of an EMP that makes all modern devices useless.

The love of literature and art infuses every page. And the ingenious manner in which Rachel Morrow and Mary Hope leave their lasting legacy for future generations is fitting and beautiful. I part of me wishes the story had an epilogue - centuries later - of future survivors finding the gift left for them. But again, that is me looking or my Hollywood ending. This novel definitely teaches the reader patience, moderation, and discipline, the same way that living in a post-apocalyptic world.

Her handling of religion is understandably controversial, but easy to over exaggerate. Some reviewers say she treats all Christians as simple-minded fanatics. I do not believe that Ms. Wren comes close to holding these beliefs. That said, all the Christians IN THIS STORY are simple-minded fanatics. But again, would you expect any less after the end of the world? In this novel, there are only a tiny handful of survivors. The novel envisions a global pandemic that leads to nuclear war, killing 99.999% of humanity. Furthermore, the novel clearly states that the Ark originated as a doomsday sect that prepared for the End Times - and just happened to be right about their timing (unlike every other doomsday cult that ever formed.) Furthermore, although the extreme means taken by members of the Ark may not be in line with orthodox fundamentalist teachings, the ideas, conclusions and beliefs they hold are 100% accurate. Ms. Wren captures the arrogance of fundamentalism perfectly.

I highly recommend this novel for all fans of post apocalyptic fiction who have read the classics and are still hungry for others literary visions of our darkest future.


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A Gift Upon the Shore M K Wren 9780595143412 Books Reviews

With her Phoenix Legacy, M. K. Wren did for science fiction romance what Mary Stewart did for fantasy - except that fewer people noticed. That's a shame, because the Phoenix trilogy is terrific.

Despite that, I didn't pick up A Gift Upon the Shore for many years, mostly because I'm not much of a post-apocalyptarian. But with its recent reissue, and Wren's confounding failure to write any other books (This is her only other SF novel, though she also wrote a series of mystery stories.), I decided to buy it.

The story deals with a writer who comes to live with an artist on the Oregon coast, just before nuclear war. (Coincidentally, Wren lived with an artist, on the Oregon coast...) The story explores the women's struggle to survive, and the different ways they approach their legacies. Key issues include knowledge (a trove of books), reproduction (as an imperative in a depopulated world), and religion (for good or evil).

Some people have disliked the way religion is treated, and I agree that it's not placed in a very flattering light. If you're an easily-offended Christian, this may not be the book for you. For others, the book poses some interesting questions about how we would prioritize our values if push came to shove.

Wren makes what I assume was a deliberate choice to put Mary, the writer, between two more extreme views. So far, so good. Unfortunately, many of the choices Mary makes are simply not credible - at least, not in the person Wren has shown to us. While we understand her to be balancing difficult choices, she in fact is extremely malleable, and is apparently driven by desires that manifest only vaguely in her own mind and emotions.

The book alternates flashbacks as a young woman and a present as an old woman. The present scenes are more consistent, but even foolish youth doesn't adequately explain the past Mary's choices.

All in all, and interesting story, but substantially weakened by a protagonist that simply doesn't ring true. Worth picking up for a story about how to balance imperatives, but without the impact of the far better Phoenix Legacy.
This is a extremely well written narrative. Lots of ups and downs considering it is after we pretty much blow up our world. Well thought out in how things might happen. Deeply etched characters with a lot of thought going into their relationships between each other and the remaining humans left spaced out along the west coast of a world we used to know that is now totally differnet with California gone with the fault line breaking apart. Then the world wide spread of a virus that kills all and quickly exterminating what must be 90% of the population.
The wisdom of the two main characters, both women is how things should be but they have to fight a lot of gathering groups that are either very bad and dangerous or singletons comming to tryn to steal what they have created along the ocean shore line for themselves. After saving a life, it becomes one of those, "no good deed goes unpunished' things. I hope a lot of people like this as much as I do. This is a keeper and a loaner. Don't think you will be disappointed in it.
I did like the lyrical style of writing here and found it very descriptive. The fact that pretty much every disaster of biblical (and modern) proportions occurred here and it seemed a bit unrealistic. I did like the religion vs learning component but am not sure that after only 10 years, people would not remember science and non-religious philosophy. I also liked that the tale was told both from the memories of the much older main character and also by her younger self.
I have read half a dozen post apocalyptic novels in the past few months 1984, Earth Abides, Cat's Cardle, Ape & Essence, The Chrysalids and A Gift Upon The Shore. It is truly fascinating to experience - in such a short span of time - how differently each author envisions and experiences the future after the fall. What does each author value as most precious? What do they fear losing? What do they hope survives the unsurvivable?

M.K. Wren's "A Gift Upon The Shore" is the the most subtle, grounded and intimate of the novels listed above. "Earth Abides" is a close second, for those of you who loved this novel and are looking for something similar. No mutants, no aliens, no mystical revelations. Even the description of the End of the world is handled with such restraint. I found myself itching for an "omniscient narrator" to appear so that I could get a global experience of nuclear war. But Ms. Wren is correct. For those living far enough away to survive, the world will end in a whimper, not a bang. Or rather, a permanent power failure in the form of an EMP that makes all modern devices useless.

The love of literature and art infuses every page. And the ingenious manner in which Rachel Morrow and Mary Hope leave their lasting legacy for future generations is fitting and beautiful. I part of me wishes the story had an epilogue - centuries later - of future survivors finding the gift left for them. But again, that is me looking or my Hollywood ending. This novel definitely teaches the reader patience, moderation, and discipline, the same way that living in a post-apocalyptic world.

Her handling of religion is understandably controversial, but easy to over exaggerate. Some reviewers say she treats all Christians as simple-minded fanatics. I do not believe that Ms. Wren comes close to holding these beliefs. That said, all the Christians IN THIS STORY are simple-minded fanatics. But again, would you expect any less after the end of the world? In this novel, there are only a tiny handful of survivors. The novel envisions a global pandemic that leads to nuclear war, killing 99.999% of humanity. Furthermore, the novel clearly states that the Ark originated as a doomsday sect that prepared for the End Times - and just happened to be right about their timing (unlike every other doomsday cult that ever formed.) Furthermore, although the extreme means taken by members of the Ark may not be in line with orthodox fundamentalist teachings, the ideas, conclusions and beliefs they hold are 100% accurate. Ms. Wren captures the arrogance of fundamentalism perfectly.

I highly recommend this novel for all fans of post apocalyptic fiction who have read the classics and are still hungry for others literary visions of our darkest future.