First published 1993
Luterin Shokerandit watches his world transform as Helliconia enters its centuries-long Great Winter. The planet's twin suns grow distant, ice advances across continents, and entire civilizations must adapt or perish. Shokerandit navigates political upheaval in Kharnabhar as traditional powers crumble under the weight of climatic catastrophe. Ancient knowledge becomes vital for survival while new alliances form between unlikely allies. The phagors, once enemies, now share the burden of endurance through the killing cold. Shokerandit must choose between preserving the old ways and embracing radical change as his people face extinction. The story explores how individuals and societies respond when their fundamental assumptions about life dissolve in the face of inexorable natural forces.
Genres: science-fiction, dystopia, fantasy, climate-change
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-allies, societal-collapse
Setting: Helliconia, Kharnabhar
Period: Great Winter
281 pages · Paperback · Collier Books