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{{short description|1976 novel by C. J. Cherryh}}
{{Plot|date=September 2009}}

{{Infobox book | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books -->
{{Infobox book | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books -->
| name = Gate of Ivrel
| name = Gate of Ivrel
Line 7: Line 6:
| image = CherryhGateIvrelCover.jpg
| image = CherryhGateIvrelCover.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| image_size = 200px
| caption = First edition
| caption = <small>''Gate of Ivrel'' re-issue with original cover artwork</small>
| author = [[C. J. Cherryh]]
| author = [[C. J. Cherryh]]
| illustrator =
| illustrator =
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| language = English
| language = English
| series = [[The Morgaine Stories]]
| series = [[The Morgaine Stories]]
| genre = [[Science fiction]]
| genre = [[Fantasy literature|Fantasy]]
| publisher = [[DAW Books]]
| publisher = [[DAW Books]]
| release_date = March 1976
| release_date = March 1976
Line 20: Line 19:
| pages =
| pages =
| isbn = 0-88677-257-5
| isbn = 0-88677-257-5
| preceded_by = –
| preceded_by =
| followed_by = [[Well of Shiuan]] {{noitalic|(1978)}}
| followed_by = [[Well of Shiuan]] {{noitalic|(1978)}}
}}
}}
'''''Gate of Ivrel''''' is a 1976 [[science fiction]] novel by American writer [[C. J. Cherryh]], her first published work. It is the first of four books composing [[the Morgaine Stories]], chronicling the deeds of Morgaine, a woman consumed by a mission of the utmost importance, and her chance-met companion, Nhi Vanye i Chya.
'''''Gate of Ivrel''''' is a 1976 novel by American writer [[C. J. Cherryh]], her first published work. It is the first of four books composing [[the Morgaine Stories]], chronicling the deeds of Morgaine, a woman consumed by a mission of the utmost importance, and her chance-met companion, Nhi Vanye i Chya.


Cherryh lists it on her website as a [[Fantasy literature|fantasy novel]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cherryh.com/www/univer.htm |title=The Universes of C.J. Cheryhh........... |website=www.cherryh.com}}</ref> and noted author [[Andre Norton]] agreed with her.<ref name=Norton>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HFGJEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT7 |title=The Complete Morgaine |page=17 |publisher=Astra Publishing House |year=2015 |isbn=9780698410435}}</ref> Others, however, classify it as [[science fiction]]<ref name=Walton>{{cite web |url=https://www.tor.com/2010/03/17/grimmer-than-grim-cj-cherryh-lemgthe-chronicles-of-morgainelemg/ |title=Grimmer than grim: C.J. Cherryh, The Chronicles of Morgaine |last=Walton |first=Jo |author-link=Jo Walton |date=March 17, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.audible.ca/pd/Gate-of-Ivrel-Audiobook/B0725JT98L |title=Gate of Ivrel |publisher=[[Audible (service)|Audible]]}}</ref> or [[science fantasy]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thriftbooks.com/enwiki/w/the-morgaine-saga-morgaine-saga-books-1-2-and-3_cj-cherryh/305075/#edition=1258956&idiq=4241505 |title=The Morgaine Saga: Gate of Ivrel, Well of Shiuan, Fires of Azeroth |publisher=[[ThriftBooks]] |quote=Sword-and-sorcery meets hard sci-fi in C.J. Cherryh 's epic story of a woman's mission across time and space to preserve the integrity of the universe.}}</ref>
It is tenuously set in her [[Union-Alliance universe]], but has little in common with other works in that milieu.


==Plot summary==
==Plot summary==
The backward land of Andur-Kursh is split into many cantons, each with ambitious clans vying for power. The loyalty of a warrior of the nobility is given to one's clan. Vanye is one of them, if only the barely tolerated bastard son of the ruler of one of these cantons, the result of a mere night's amusement by a Nhi lord with a captive from an enemy clan, the Chya.
The pre-technological land of Andur-Kursh is fought over by rival clans, among them the Nhi and the Chya. Vanye is the despised bastard son of a Nhi lord and a Chya captive. One day, he kills one legitimate half-brother and maims the other after being baited.


Exiled for his crimes, Vanye inadvertently frees Morgaine, a beautiful woman whom he recognizes as a legend from the past. Morgaine had been trapped in stasis for a century in one of the many "Gates" (passageways through space and time) which dot the land. By age-old custom, she claims a year of service from him for his acceptance of her food and shelter.
One day, he is brought before his father, after killing one legitimate half-brother and maiming the other with his sword, in a baiting that had gone awry. After turning down honorable suicide, he is made ''ilin'', an exiled, clanless warrior akin to the Japanese [[ronin]].


Morgaine explains that she is on a mission to close the Gates, as the misuse of their powers has destroyed entire civilizations in the past. The rest of her group were betrayed while attempting to attack this planet's master Gate at Ivrel, controlled by Thiye. Only Morgaine and a few soldiers escaped. Pursued, she fled into a lesser Gate.
Hunted by his half-brothers' vengeful maternal clan, Vanye is forced to enter Morgaine's vale, a place anyone less desperate would have shunned. By chance, he releases Morgaine, a beautiful woman of distinctive appearance, from the Gate there. Vanye recognizes her as a legend from the past. It is winter and Vanye is weary, cold and hungry. So when Morgaine provides food and shelter, he accepts them. Only then does he remember that she, alone of all women, has been given lord-right; she can and does claim a year of service from him in return for accepting her hospitality.


⚫
She seeks aid from Clan Leth, but its lord, Kasedre, is half mad. His chief counselor, Liell, warns them to leave, killing a guard to leave them no choice.
Morgaine is determined to complete the mission she and four companions had set out on a century before: to close the master Gate at Ivrel. She explains to Vanye that the Gates that dot the land are passageways through both space and time. One hundred men and women had been sent by the Union Science Bureau on a one-way mission to close all the Gates, lest humanity suffer the fate of another species. The ''qujal'' had found the Gates and tapped their powers to rule an interstellar empire of lesser beings, including humans. But one reckless fool had succumbed to temptation and gone back in time, triggering a cataclysm that had wrecked qujal civilization.


⚫
Morgaine and Vanye become uneasy guests of Roh, Vanye's cousin and lord of the Chya. After questioning, they are let go, only to be attacked by Thiye's men. Morgaine draws her sword, Changeling, which can tap the power of the Gates to send its victims to another place and time. The two escape, but run into Vanye's people. She is set free, though without her sword, while Vanye is forced to remain behind by his half-brother Erij, who wants Vanye to help him rule their land. When persuasion and threats alike prove useless, he draws Changeling, not knowing its powers. Vanye uses the ensuing mayhem to retrieve the dropped sword and rejoin Morgaine.
After many years, the last five Union survivors had reached this world and recruited allies to attack Thiye Thiye's-son, the master of the Gate of Ivrel. But they were betrayed and nearly their entire army was swallowed up by the Gate; only Morgaine and a few soldiers, bringing up the rear, survived. Fleeing before the enemy, she had been forced to seek refuge in a lesser Gate, there to wait in stasis until freed.


⚫
Roh warns him not to trust Liell, whose body is rumored to have been taken over by another. Morgaine confirms this can be done using a Gate. Thiye has extended his life this way, and Morgaine suspects her betrayer has also.
⚫
She seeks aid from Clan Leth, a former staunch ally, but finds it greatly changed and its lord, Kasedre, half mad. His chief counselor, Chya Liell, comes to them late at night and warns them to leave before harm befalls them, killing a guard to give them no choice in the matter. Privately, Liell tries to persuade Vanye to desert Morgaine.


After another clash with Nhi warriors, Morgaine and Vanye are personally escorted by Roh out of his domain. Liell and his men capture all three. Liell takes Vanye to a Gate to switch bodies. Vanye escapes, stealing a horse which is carrying Changeling, but is recaptured by Erij.
⚫
Morgaine and Vanye travel into neighboring Chya lands and find themselves uneasy guests of Chya Roh, Vanye's cousin. After questioning and some rest, they are let go, only to be attacked by Thiye's men. Morgaine is forced to draw her sword, Changeling, which turns out to be more than it seems; it can tap the power of the Gates to send its victims elsewhere. The two manage to escape, but run into a Nhi band. Rather than chance another fight, the wounded Morgaine orders Vanye to bargain for shelter and protection. She is set free, though without her sword, while he is forced to remain behind by his brother Erij, now the lord of Nhi. Erij wants his brother to help him rule, knowing him to be trustworthy and bound to him by blood. When persuasion and threats alike prove useless, he draws Changeling, not knowing its powers. Vanye takes advantage of the ensuing mayhem to retrieve the dropped sword and escape to rejoin Morgaine.


⚫
Erij, emboldened by his possession of Changeling, attacks Ivrel. After driving off Liell's men with the sword, the pair breach Thiye's fortress. Vanye surprises Erij and retakes Morgaine's sword. Inside, they come upon the aged Thiye, but Roh kills him. Roh tells them that Morgaine is loose and that Liell is dead. He then flees.
⚫
Roh had warned him not to trust Liell, whose body (rumor said) had been taken over by another. Morgaine confirms that such a thing can be done using a Gate. She knows that Thiye has prolonged his life by this method and suspects her century-old betrayer also still lives. The aged Liell's attempt to suborn Vanye suddenly takes on a more sinister aspect.


Vanye finds Morgaine and gives her the sword. She tells Vanye that Liell has taken possession of Roh's body in his place. Roh/Liell has set the controls to shut down all the Gates very soon. He hopes to escape to another planet, leaving his enemies trapped here. Morgaine sets off in pursuit. Erij allows Vanye to follow. Together, Morgaine and Vanye pass through the Gate before it closes forever.
After another clash with Nhi warriors, Morgaine is personally escorted by Roh out of his domain. Fearing her intentions, he knocks out a too-trusting Vanye when Morgaine is asleep and ties them both up, but his timing could not have been worse. Liell and his men easily capture all three. He takes Vanye to a Gate, intent on switching bodies. The unease of Liell's men in the unnerving presence of the Gate allows Vanye to escape. By chance, the horse he steals is carrying Changeling. But Vanye's luck still runs bad; he is caught again, this time by his brother Erij.

⚫
Erij, emboldened by his possession of Changeling and for a variety of reasons, allows himself to be persuaded to go to Ivrel. After driving off Liell's men with the deadly sword, they reach Thiye's fortress. They wait for night before Erij uses Changeling to force their way in. Vanye then takes his brother by surprise and retakes Morgaine's sword. In mortal danger, Erij has no choice, but to guard his back. Inside, they come upon the aged Thiye, but before they can react, the old man is killed by Roh. Roh informs them that Morgaine is loose in the fortress and that Liell is dead. He warns them to flee while they still can, then follows his own advice.

Vanye finds Morgaine and surrenders the sword to her, much to Erij's dismay. She confirms Vanye's suspicion; Roh's body now houses Liell's mind. Fearing Morgaine, Roh/Liell had sabotaged the Gate controls so that he could escape to another world, leaving his enemies trapped here. But Morgaine believes that he left too much of a safety margin before the Gates on this world close forever and that she can follow him. She departs in all haste. Erij surprisingly bids his brother to go after her and Vanye gratefully complies. Together, Morgaine and Vanye pass through the Gate.


==Characters==
==Characters==
*Morgaine, a woman burdened and driven by an impossible mission
*Morgaine, a woman driven by an impossible mission
*Nhi Vanye i Chya, an outcast warrior who inadvertently becomes bound up in Morgaine's quest
*Nhi Vanye i Chya, an outcast warrior
*Nhi Erij, Vanye's half-brother
*Nhi Erij, Vanye's half-brother
*Chya Liell, a counselor in Leth
*Chya Liell, a counselor in Leth
*Leth Kasedre, petulant, weak-minded lord of Leth
*Leth Kasedre, lord of Leth
*Chya Roh, lord of Chya, Vanye's cousin
*Chya Roh, lord of Chya
*Thiye Thiye's-son, master of the Gate at Ivrel
*Thiye Thiye's-son

==Reviews==
[[Andre Norton]] praised the novel highly, writing that:
<blockquote>
... never since reading ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' have I been caught up in any tale as I have been in ''Gate of Ivrel''. I do not know the author, but her talent is one I must envy. She has drawn an entirely believable hero on an alien and enchanting world, working in bits of customs, beliefs, and history so cleverly that it now certainly exists-somewhere.<ref name=Norton/>
</blockquote>

Fellow fantasy and science fiction author [[Jo Walton]] found all four books in the series to be "too grim. They're good, but they're unrelievedly dark."<ref name=Walton/>

==Publication history==
⚫
* ''Gate of Ivrel''. DAW Books, 1976. {{ISBN|0-88677-257-5}}.
* ''The Book of Morgaine'' (omnibus). Nelson Doubleday/Science Fiction Book Club, 1979.
:Reissued as:
:* ''The Chronicles of Morgaine''. [[Methuen Publishing]], 1985 and 1987. {{ISBN|0-413-56290-5}}.
:* ''The Chronicles of Morgaine''. Mandarin, 1989 and 1990 {{ISBN|0-7493-0007-8}}.
* ''The Complete Morgaine'' (omnibus). DAW Books, 2015 {{ISBN|978-0-7564-1123-7}}.
<ref>{{Isfdb name|id=16|name=C. J. Cherryh}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
⚫
*C. J. Cherryh. ''Gate of Ivrel''. DAW Books 1976. {{ISBN|0-88677-257-5}}.


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
*{{cite journal |first=C. |last=Brown |title=Review of ''Gate of Ivrel'' |journal=[[Locus (magazine)|Locus]] |date=June 30, 1976}}
*{{cite journal |first=C. |last=Brown |title=Review of ''Gate of Ivrel'' |journal=[[Locus (magazine)|Locus]] |date=June 30, 1976}}
*{{cite journal |first=Algis |last=Budrys |authorlink=Algis Budrys |title=Review of ''Gate of Ivrel'' |journal=[[Fantasy & Science Fiction]] |volume=50| issue=6 |date=June 1976 |pages=44–46}}
*{{cite journal |first=Algis |last=Budrys |author-link=Algis Budrys |title=Review of ''Gate of Ivrel'' |journal=[[Fantasy & Science Fiction]] |volume=50| issue=6 |date=June 1976 |pages=44–46}}
*{{cite journal |first=Lester |last=del Rey |authorlink=Lester del Rey |title=Review of ''Gate of Ivrel'' |journal=[[Analog Science Fiction and Fact]] |volume=96| issue=6 |date=June 1976 |page=170}}
*{{cite journal |first=Lester |last=del Rey |author-link=Lester del Rey |title=Review of ''Gate of Ivrel'' |journal=[[Analog Science Fiction and Fact]] |volume=96| issue=6 |date=June 1976 |page=170}}
*{{cite journal |first= |last= |title=Review of ''Gate of Ivrel'' |journal=[[Publishers Weekly]] |volume=209 |issue=5 |date=February 2, 1976 |page=104}}
*{{cite journal |title=Review of ''Gate of Ivrel'' |journal=[[Publishers Weekly]] |volume=209 |issue=5 |date=February 2, 1976 |page=104}}
*{{cite journal |first=B. |last=Glass |title=Review of ''Gate of Ivrel'' |journal=Delap's F & SF Review |volume=2 |issue=8 |date=August 1976 |pages=24–25}}
*{{cite journal |first=B. |last=Glass |title=Review of ''Gate of Ivrel'' |journal=Delap's F & SF Review |volume=2 |issue=8 |date=August 1976 |pages=24–25}}
*{{cite journal |first1=B. |last1=Meacham |first2=T. |last2=King |title=Review of ''Gate of Ivrel'' |journal=Science Fiction Review Monthly |volume=13 |issue=1 |date=March 1976 |page=15}}
*{{cite journal |first1=B. |last1=Meacham |first2=T. |last2=King |title=Review of ''Gate of Ivrel'' |journal=Science Fiction Review Monthly |volume=13 |issue=1 |date=March 1976 |page=15}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gate Of Ivrel}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gate Of Ivrel}}
[[Category:American science fiction novels]]
[[Category:American fantasy novels]]
[[Category:1976 American novels]]
[[Category:1976 American novels]]
[[Category:1976 science fiction novels]]
[[Category:1976 fantasy novels]]
[[Category:Science fiction novels by C. J. Cherryh]]
[[Category:Fantasy novels by C. J. Cherryh]]
[[Category:Novels set in the future]]
[[Category:Books with cover art by Michael Whelan]]
[[Category:Books with cover art by Michael Whelan]]
[[Category:DAW Books books]]
[[Category:DAW Books books]]
[[Category:Debut science fiction novels]]
[[Category:Debut fantasy novels]]
[[Category:Science fiction by women]]
[[Category:1976 debut novels]]

Latest revision as of 20:18, 12 October 2022

Gate of Ivrel
First edition
AuthorC. J. Cherryh
Cover artistMichael Whelan
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Morgaine Stories
GenreFantasy
PublisherDAW Books
Publication date
March 1976
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (paperback)
ISBN0-88677-257-5
Followed byWell of Shiuan (1978) 

Gate of Ivrel is a 1976 novel by American writer C. J. Cherryh, her first published work. It is the first of four books composing the Morgaine Stories, chronicling the deeds of Morgaine, a woman consumed by a mission of the utmost importance, and her chance-met companion, Nhi Vanye i Chya.

Cherryh lists it on her website as a fantasy novel,[1] and noted author Andre Norton agreed with her.[2] Others, however, classify it as science fiction[3][4] or science fantasy.[5]

Plot summary

[edit]

The pre-technological land of Andur-Kursh is fought over by rival clans, among them the Nhi and the Chya. Vanye is the despised bastard son of a Nhi lord and a Chya captive. One day, he kills one legitimate half-brother and maims the other after being baited.

Exiled for his crimes, Vanye inadvertently frees Morgaine, a beautiful woman whom he recognizes as a legend from the past. Morgaine had been trapped in stasis for a century in one of the many "Gates" (passageways through space and time) which dot the land. By age-old custom, she claims a year of service from him for his acceptance of her food and shelter.

Morgaine explains that she is on a mission to close the Gates, as the misuse of their powers has destroyed entire civilizations in the past. The rest of her group were betrayed while attempting to attack this planet's master Gate at Ivrel, controlled by Thiye. Only Morgaine and a few soldiers escaped. Pursued, she fled into a lesser Gate.

She seeks aid from Clan Leth, but its lord, Kasedre, is half mad. His chief counselor, Liell, warns them to leave, killing a guard to leave them no choice.

Morgaine and Vanye become uneasy guests of Roh, Vanye's cousin and lord of the Chya. After questioning, they are let go, only to be attacked by Thiye's men. Morgaine draws her sword, Changeling, which can tap the power of the Gates to send its victims to another place and time. The two escape, but run into Vanye's people. She is set free, though without her sword, while Vanye is forced to remain behind by his half-brother Erij, who wants Vanye to help him rule their land. When persuasion and threats alike prove useless, he draws Changeling, not knowing its powers. Vanye uses the ensuing mayhem to retrieve the dropped sword and rejoin Morgaine.

Roh warns him not to trust Liell, whose body is rumored to have been taken over by another. Morgaine confirms this can be done using a Gate. Thiye has extended his life this way, and Morgaine suspects her betrayer has also.

After another clash with Nhi warriors, Morgaine and Vanye are personally escorted by Roh out of his domain. Liell and his men capture all three. Liell takes Vanye to a Gate to switch bodies. Vanye escapes, stealing a horse which is carrying Changeling, but is recaptured by Erij.

Erij, emboldened by his possession of Changeling, attacks Ivrel. After driving off Liell's men with the sword, the pair breach Thiye's fortress. Vanye surprises Erij and retakes Morgaine's sword. Inside, they come upon the aged Thiye, but Roh kills him. Roh tells them that Morgaine is loose and that Liell is dead. He then flees.

Vanye finds Morgaine and gives her the sword. She tells Vanye that Liell has taken possession of Roh's body in his place. Roh/Liell has set the controls to shut down all the Gates very soon. He hopes to escape to another planet, leaving his enemies trapped here. Morgaine sets off in pursuit. Erij allows Vanye to follow. Together, Morgaine and Vanye pass through the Gate before it closes forever.

Characters

[edit]
  • Morgaine, a woman driven by an impossible mission
  • Nhi Vanye i Chya, an outcast warrior
  • Nhi Erij, Vanye's half-brother
  • Chya Liell, a counselor in Leth
  • Leth Kasedre, lord of Leth
  • Chya Roh, lord of Chya
  • Thiye Thiye's-son

Reviews

[edit]

Andre Norton praised the novel highly, writing that:

... never since reading The Lord of the Rings have I been caught up in any tale as I have been in Gate of Ivrel. I do not know the author, but her talent is one I must envy. She has drawn an entirely believable hero on an alien and enchanting world, working in bits of customs, beliefs, and history so cleverly that it now certainly exists-somewhere.[2]

Fellow fantasy and science fiction author Jo Walton found all four books in the series to be "too grim. They're good, but they're unrelievedly dark."[3]

Publication history

[edit]
  • Gate of Ivrel. DAW Books, 1976. ISBN 0-88677-257-5.
  • The Book of Morgaine (omnibus). Nelson Doubleday/Science Fiction Book Club, 1979.
Reissued as:

[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Universes of C.J. Cheryhh..." www.cherryh.com.
  2. ^ a b The Complete Morgaine. Astra Publishing House. 2015. p. 17. ISBN 9780698410435.
  3. ^ a b Walton, Jo (March 17, 2010). "Grimmer than grim: C.J. Cherryh, The Chronicles of Morgaine".
  4. ^ "Gate of Ivrel". Audible.
  5. ^ "The Morgaine Saga: Gate of Ivrel, Well of Shiuan, Fires of Azeroth". ThriftBooks. Sword-and-sorcery meets hard sci-fi in C.J. Cherryh 's epic story of a woman's mission across time and space to preserve the integrity of the universe.
  6. ^ C. J. Cherryh at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database

Further reading

[edit]
  • Brown, C. (June 30, 1976). "Review of Gate of Ivrel". Locus.
  • Budrys, Algis (June 1976). "Review of Gate of Ivrel". Fantasy & Science Fiction. 50 (6): 44–46.
  • del Rey, Lester (June 1976). "Review of Gate of Ivrel". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. 96 (6): 170.
  • "Review of Gate of Ivrel". Publishers Weekly. 209 (5): 104. February 2, 1976.
  • Glass, B. (August 1976). "Review of Gate of Ivrel". Delap's F & SF Review. 2 (8): 24–25.
  • Meacham, B.; King, T. (March 1976). "Review of Gate of Ivrel". Science Fiction Review Monthly. 13 (1): 15.
  • Wolansky, T. (September 1979). "Review of Gate of Ivrel". Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Review. 1 (8): 108.
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