The True Game
Encyclopedia
The True Game is the collective name for a series of three related trilogies
of short novels by Sheri S. Tepper
. The novels explore the Lands of the True Game, a portion of a planet explored by humanity somewhere in the future. (As such, these novels could be classified as science fiction
although this does not become apparent until quite late in the overall story; up to that point, the stories appear to be fantasy
.)
Each of the trilogies focuses on the point of view
of one particular character. The Peter trilogy tells the story from the point of view of Peter, a shape-shifting
youth. The Mavin series tells an earlier portion of the story from the point of view of Mavin Manyshaped
, Peter's shape-shifting mother. The Jinian series overlaps with and extends the Peter series and tells the story from the point of view of Jinian, a young wizardly woman.
Within the Lands of the True Game, humans have come to possess "talents".
An additional group of humans known as the immutables has the ability to quench any of these talents while another group of humans, the wizards, has the ability to use magic/technology to produce effective results. Wizardry is learned, rather than appearing in adolescence as a talent does. Having any other talent does not negate wizardry. The so called "thirteenth talent" was confirmed only to be possessed by one person, and was the ability to link with others and utilise or combine their talents.
Other humans are just ordinary humans and are referred to as pawns
.
For the most part, the talented humans live in groups called demesne
s and the demesnes are constantly warring with each other in great games. In the process, as usually occurs with wars, death and destruction and waste occurs, especially among the pawns. The stories examine the morality of the so-called True Game and other related issues.
As time goes on, we are introduced to the earlier history of humans on the planet and even to the creatures who occupied the planet prior to the arrival of the humans (and who are now much-diminished as a result of human colonization). Ultimately, the story deals with the question of whether life on the planet will survive at all.
reported that the series came to "a powerful, illuminating conclusion that lifts this story out of the ranks of grunting blood-and-thunder adventure and into the heady realm of thoughtful, entertaining science fiction."
Trilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
of short novels by Sheri S. Tepper
Sheri S. Tepper
Sheri Stewart Tepper is an American author of science fiction, horror and mystery novels; she is particularly known as a feminist science fiction writer, often with an ecofeminist slant....
. The novels explore the Lands of the True Game, a portion of a planet explored by humanity somewhere in the future. (As such, these novels could be classified as science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
although this does not become apparent until quite late in the overall story; up to that point, the stories appear to be fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
.)
Each of the trilogies focuses on the point of view
Point of view (literature)
The narrative mode is the set of methods the author of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical story uses to convey the plot to the audience. Narration, the process of presenting the narrative, occurs because of the narrative mode...
of one particular character. The Peter trilogy tells the story from the point of view of Peter, a shape-shifting
ShapeShifter
ShapeShifter is an Application Enhancer plugin for Mac OS X developed by Unsanity that allows the user to make system-wide modifications to the appearance of the operating system's graphical interface by applying GUI skins through “injection” into running code and without modifying system files,...
youth. The Mavin series tells an earlier portion of the story from the point of view of Mavin Manyshaped
Mavin Manyshaped
Mavin Manyshaped is a shapeshifter within a series of nine novels written by Sheri S. Tepper that are collectively known as The True Game. The three novels telling the earliest part of the story focus on Mavin and are told principally from her point of view....
, Peter's shape-shifting mother. The Jinian series overlaps with and extends the Peter series and tells the story from the point of view of Jinian, a young wizardly woman.
Books in the series
- The Peter series:
- King's Blood Four (Ace Books, 1983) (first novel)
- Necromancer Nine (Ace Books, 1983)
- Wizard's Eleven (Ace Books, 1984)
- All three stories were subsequently collected into a one-volume edition: The True Game (1985)
- The Mavin Manyshaped seriesMavin ManyshapedMavin Manyshaped is a shapeshifter within a series of nine novels written by Sheri S. Tepper that are collectively known as The True Game. The three novels telling the earliest part of the story focus on Mavin and are told principally from her point of view....
:- The Song of Mavin ManyshapedMavin ManyshapedMavin Manyshaped is a shapeshifter within a series of nine novels written by Sheri S. Tepper that are collectively known as The True Game. The three novels telling the earliest part of the story focus on Mavin and are told principally from her point of view....
(Ace Books, 1985) - The Flight of Mavin ManyshapedMavin ManyshapedMavin Manyshaped is a shapeshifter within a series of nine novels written by Sheri S. Tepper that are collectively known as The True Game. The three novels telling the earliest part of the story focus on Mavin and are told principally from her point of view....
(Ace Books, 1985) - The Search for Mavin ManyshapedMavin ManyshapedMavin Manyshaped is a shapeshifter within a series of nine novels written by Sheri S. Tepper that are collectively known as The True Game. The three novels telling the earliest part of the story focus on Mavin and are told principally from her point of view....
(Ace Books, 1985) - All three stories were subsequently collected into a one-volume edition: The Chronicles of Mavin ManyshapedMavin ManyshapedMavin Manyshaped is a shapeshifter within a series of nine novels written by Sheri S. Tepper that are collectively known as The True Game. The three novels telling the earliest part of the story focus on Mavin and are told principally from her point of view....
(1985)
- The Song of Mavin Manyshaped
- The Jinian series:
- Jinian Footseer (Tor Books, 1985)
- Dervish Daughter (Tor Books, 1986)
- Jinian Star-Eye (Tor Books, 1986)
- All three stories were subsequently collected into a one-volume edition: The End of the Game
Within the Lands of the True Game, humans have come to possess "talents".
- ShapeshiftingShapeShifterShapeShifter is an Application Enhancer plugin for Mac OS X developed by Unsanity that allows the user to make system-wide modifications to the appearance of the operating system's graphical interface by applying GUI skins through “injection” into running code and without modifying system files,...
(shifters) - The ability to see the futureFortune-tellingFortune-telling is the practice of predicting information about a person's life. The scope of fortune-telling is in principle identical with the practice of divination...
(seers) - Telekinesis (tragamors)
- Self-levitation (armigers)
- Self-teleportationTeleportationTeleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
(elators) - The ability to heal the sick or wounded (healers)
- The ability to raise the dead (necromancers)
- TelepathyTelepathyTelepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
(demons) - PyrokinesisPyrokinesisPyrokinesis, derived from the Greek words and , was the name coined by horror novelist Stephen King for the ability to create or to control fire with the mind that he gave to the protagonist Charlie McGee in Firestarter...
(sentinels) - The ability to store power for use by the other talents (sorcerers)
- The ability to beguile others into following them (Rulers)
An additional group of humans known as the immutables has the ability to quench any of these talents while another group of humans, the wizards, has the ability to use magic/technology to produce effective results. Wizardry is learned, rather than appearing in adolescence as a talent does. Having any other talent does not negate wizardry. The so called "thirteenth talent" was confirmed only to be possessed by one person, and was the ability to link with others and utilise or combine their talents.
Other humans are just ordinary humans and are referred to as pawns
Pawn (chess)
The pawn is the most numerous and weakest piece in the game of chess, historically representing infantry, or more particularly armed peasants or pikemen. Each player begins the game with eight pawns, one on each square of the rank immediately in front of the other pieces...
.
For the most part, the talented humans live in groups called demesne
Demesne
In the feudal system the demesne was all the land, not necessarily all contiguous to the manor house, which was retained by a lord of the manor for his own use and support, under his own management, as distinguished from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants...
s and the demesnes are constantly warring with each other in great games. In the process, as usually occurs with wars, death and destruction and waste occurs, especially among the pawns. The stories examine the morality of the so-called True Game and other related issues.
As time goes on, we are introduced to the earlier history of humans on the planet and even to the creatures who occupied the planet prior to the arrival of the humans (and who are now much-diminished as a result of human colonization). Ultimately, the story deals with the question of whether life on the planet will survive at all.
Reception
Orson Scott CardOrson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
reported that the series came to "a powerful, illuminating conclusion that lifts this story out of the ranks of grunting blood-and-thunder adventure and into the heady realm of thoughtful, entertaining science fiction."