Previous SFF Author: Russell Kirkpatrick
(1953- )
Rosemary Kirstein was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, the first US-born child of German immigrants, and grew up in Connecticut, where she studied music education at Central Connecticut University for a while before dropping out to work as a musician and songwriter. In the ’80s she moved to Greenwich Village and worked as a folk singer, holding various odd jobs, then became a computer programmer. She has supported herself with a variety of information technology jobs, including programming, technical writing, tech support, and user training.
The Steerswoman by Rosemary Kirstein
Originally published in 1989, The Steerswoman, by Rosemary Kirstein, was reissued by the author in 2013, along with the rest of the four existing books in the STEERSWOMAN series. This first book introduces the world of steerswoman Rowan, and the order of steerswomen (and some men), who travel the world gathering and sharing information and knowledge. There is only one kind of knowledge steerswomen don’t have — magic.
When the book opens,
Marion Deeds´s rating: 3.5 | Rosemary Kirstein | SFF Reviews | 1 comment |
The Outskirter’s Secret by Rosemary Kirstein
The Outskirter’s Secret, Book Two in the STEERSWOMAN series by Rosemary Kirstein, was originally published in 1992. It was reissued, along with the other two books in the series, in 2014. This review may contain spoilers for The Steerswoman.
At the end of The Steerswoman, Steerswoman Rowan had made an intuitive leap about the nature of the Guidestars, celestial objects that fill the night sky in her world and are a point of amazing stability.
Marion Deeds´s rating: 3 | Rosemary Kirstein | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The Lost Steersman by Rosemary Kirstein
In the third book of Rosemary Kirstein’s STEERSWOMAN series, steerswoman Rowan steps off the edge of her known world and risks her life in the process. Originally published in 2003, this book has been reissued. My review may contain spoilers for The Steerswoman and The Outskirter’s Secret.
The Lost Steersman begins with a prologue, a letter from Rowan to the Prime of the Steerswomen,
Marion Deeds´s rating: 3 | Rosemary Kirstein | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The Language of Power by Rosemary Kirstein
2014’s The Language of Power is the fourth and final complete book in Rosemary Kirstein’s THE STEERSWOMAN series. Kirstein is hardly the worst offender in the ranks of writers who stopped writing before a series was finished. Still, the sense of urgency that develops in the final few pages of the book left me hanging, almost literally. Since this is the fourth book in the series, this review might contain spoilers for the previous books.
Marion Deeds´s rating: 2.5 | Rosemary Kirstein | SFF Reviews | 5 comments |
Previous SFF Author: Russell Kirkpatrick
We’re in total agreement David!
I felt just the same. The prose and character work was excellent. The larger story was unsatisfying, especially compared to…
Hmmm. I think I'll pass.
COMMENT Was I hinting that? I wasn't aware of it. But now that you mention it.... 🤔
So it sounds like you're hinting Fox may have had three or so different incomplete stories that he stitched together,…