When I’m working hard on my own writing, I really enjoy re-reading old favourites. One benefit is that because  I already know what’s going to happen, I’m not tempted to read into the wee small hours until the book is finished—I am happy to restrict myself to small bites. It’s also fun to reacquaint myself with a tale I’ve loved in the past and figure out whether it still spins my wheels as a reader.

A few weeks back  I mentioned that I was re-reading Restoree by Anne McCaffrey, which I first read while at High School, so I thought I should let you know how I found it.

Just to give a quick plot summary for those who are not familiar with the story, the heroine, Sarah, is kidnapped by aliens (no, seriously) and remembers nothing more until she wakes up on a strange planet with a new outward appearance. She finds herself working in a menial capacity in what appears to be a psychiatric asylum and gradually realises that the patients are drugged political prisoners. Her particular charge turns out to be the former Regent of the quasi-medieval, but space-level-technology world, whom Sarah subsequently helps escape. In so doing she finds herself pitchforked into the middle of planetary level politics and an interplanetary war against the Mil, a technologically superior race that preys on other species. The latter scenario provides a credible explanation for the quasi-medieval political structure and space age technology of the planet, Lothar, because the Lotharians (he-he) have  first captured a ship—by as much luck as good management—and then piggy-backed off the Mil’s technology.

First published in 1967, several aspects of the story are somewhat dated, particularly the “Aw shucks” dialogue. I also couldn’t help noting that although the story has a proactive heroine, Sarah is the only proactive—or, in fact, active—female character in the book. All the other “active” characters in terms of the plot action and figures in authority are all male.

On the positive side, Sarah is initially a very active heroine, working out what’s going on in the asylum and playing an instrumental role in the Regent, Harlan’s, escape. Later she is less active (in a taking action sense) but still plays a crucial role as a dues ex machina in Lotharian political affairs and in facilitating communication between Lothar and their established allies when seeking to include Earth in an alliance against the Mil.

The story itself is space opera, pure and simple, i.e. do not expect heavy-duty, “hard” science here. But it is a reasonably engaging adventure story nonetheless, with plenty of action, political maneuverings, and reasonable worldbuilding. I think the way Lotharian society has developed as a result of Mil predation is plausible, as is their socio-psychological response to the Mil themselves. And there are space ships and a critical space battle—and although I am a leetle uncertain of some of the technology involved, being space opera, so long as there is a conveniently placed wormhole, or the like, it would be churlish to delve to deeply.

Ah, I hear you ask, but what about the romantic elements? Well, what about them? I suspect that one of the reasons I enjoyed Restoree so much as a mid-teen was precisely because of the romance between Sarah and Harlan, juxtaposed with the space-adventure story. (I suspect Restoree may have been my Twilight. 😉 ) The romance does have Mills and Boons-ish overtones in places, but Sarah maintains her agency throughout and the romance develops into an actual relationship grounded in the “real”, such as when Harlan has to get Sarah to i.d. other Earth victims of the Mil. Also, since romance is an integral part of life, I’m not sure why I should object to romantic elements in my SF reading—a point I made in relation to NK Jemison’s The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms in 2011.

Overall, therefore, I feel that Restoree, despite some dated aspects, still stands the test of time as a fun, adventurous tale with some more serious aspects—and romantic-elements goodness to boot—but which should not be embarked on too seriously as a reading adventure.