The Far Side of Evil
Sylvia Engdahl
One of my favorite books of all time is "Enchantress from the Stars". Anyone who's ever asked me for a recommendation knows this. My love of the book is such that the idea of reading it's sequel/companion novel made me nervous. What if the book didn't live up to my expectations? What if it somehow altered my perception of the book I already love?
Thankfully, this book lived up to my expectations. It maintains the same well-worded wisdom that I loved. To find a book that is entertaining is good, but to find one both entertaining and profound is a treasure. I will be adding this to my list of books to reread.
While "Enchantress" would still be interesting and accessible to younger audiences, "The Far Side of Evil" leans towards an older audience in its themes. There's nothing bad, it's just a little more complicated.
The story centers around Elana again and it is similarly written is a report / letter form (speaking to the audience). She is on a mission this time to a world in danger of nuclear self-destruction if nothing is done. This is a normal process in Youngling worlds called the Critical Stage - a desperate moment when either a civilization destroys itself or turns their new power towards space exploration, after which total self-destruction is no longer possible. Only the mission has already gone wrong and Elana must do all she can to save the planet.
Due to the plot line, and perhaps because of the main topics at hand, the story may not be as interesting to high-school kids depending on their maturity level. I loved deep thinking sci-fi books even in high-school, but I'll admit I get more out of them now. Even so, there is a strong emotional pull towards Elana and the other main characters. As one person put it, it relies more on human interaction than on action. Many YA books today try to be deep, but they don't scratch the surface compared to these novels. Few books have altered my way of thinking or presented to me such unforgettable ideas as have been presented to me by "Enchantress" and "The Far Side of Evil." Sylvia Engahl is good at creating compelling characters and interesting stories against the backdrop of much grander ideas.
I ate it up, but perhaps its not for everyone. If you haven't read either "Enchantress from the Stars" or "The Far Side of Evil," I'd recommend you read first the former ("Enchantress") and then the latter. That being said, although they both feature Elana and other related elements, in truth a knowledge of one is not required for an understanding of the other. But if you love the one and you enjoy thinking about things, then this book is a must for you. I recommend them both regardless.
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P.S. If you do get this book, get the updated version. It was originally written in 1971, but since then the author updated some things to make it more timeless. (2003 or 2005 edition will work)
