''The Tower and the Hive'' is a 1999 science fiction novel by American writer Anne McCaffrey, the concluding volume of a five-book series also referred to as ''The Tower and Hive'' series.

Premise

Human Talents allied with the

Mrdini The Mrdini are a fictional extraterrestrial species from the ''Rowan''/''Talent'' series by Anne McCaffrey. They first appear in the novel '' Damia''. The Mrdini, or 'Dinis, are described as looking somewhat like bipedal weasels with one eye. The ...

, an alien race who have been under attack by the insectoid Hive species for 200 years, discover a solution to curtail Hivers' explosive population expansions without having to wipe out the species as a whole - a solution which both Alliance species object to. At the same time a similar solution is discovered to help the Mrdini curtail their own birthrate, now that they no longer have to sacrifice huge numbers of soldiers in battle to save their worlds from Hiver attacks. The book was published (U.S.) on May 1, 1999, by Ace/Berkley.

"The Tower and the Hive" series

Beginning with ''

The Rowan ''The Rowan'' (1990) is a science fiction novel by American writer Anne McCaffrey, the first book in ''The Tower and the Hive'' series (also known as ''The Rowan'' series). It is set in the universe of the "Pegasus" trilogy, against a backdrop ...

'', the series follows the lives and careers of the Gwyn-Raven-Lyon dynasty of Talents in the distant future: :1) ''The Rowan'' :2) '' Damia'' :3) ''

Damia's Children ''Damia's Children'' is a 1993 science fiction novel by American writer Anne McCaffrey Anne Inez McCaffrey (1 April 1926 – 21 November 2011) was an American-Irish writer known for the ''Dragonriders of Pern'' science fiction series. ...

'' :4) ''

Lyon's Pride ''Lyon's Pride'' is a 1994 novel by Anne McCaffrey, which continues the storyline begun in ''Damia's Children''. It was published by Ace Books, Ace in the US/Canada, and Bantam Books, Bantam in the UK. Humans and their alien allies the Mrdini s ...

'' :5) ''The Tower and the Hive'' ''

To Ride Pegasus ''To Ride Pegasus'' is a collection of four science fiction stories by American writer Anne McCaffrey, published by Ballantine Books in 1973 and later under its Del Rey imprint. (ISFDB). Retrieved 2011-08-01. "To Ride Pegasus" is also the title ...

'', ''

Pegasus in Flight ''Pegasus in Flight'' (1990) is a science fiction novel by American writer Anne McCaffrey set in her "Talents Universe". It is the sequel to a 1973 collection of short stories, ''To Ride Pegasus'', and its 2000 sequel ''Pegasus in Space'' comple ...

'' and ''

Pegasus in Space ''Pegasus in Space'' (2000) is a science fiction novel by American writer Anne McCaffrey, set in her "Talents Universe". It is the sequel to '' Pegasus in Flight'' and it completed a trilogy initiated in 1969.. Retrieved 2011-11-03. This novel ...

'' also deal with the early development of the Talents.

Reception

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

'' called the series and a novel a "cuddly" family/romance/alien-contact saga with useful ideas, but considered the names of many characters in the series as "silly". '' Publishers Weekly'' said that the novel lacks the profound imagination in SF genre, but it also avoids the kill-the-bugs outlook seen in other SF titles such as ''

Starship Troopers ''Starship Troopers'' is a military science fiction novel by American writer Robert A. Heinlein. Written in a few weeks in reaction to the US suspending nuclear tests, the story was first published as a two-part serial in ''The Magazine of F ...

''. They noted that readers looking for intelligent, heroic adventure will find in this novel, and that ''Rowan'' fans will be pleased with this novel as the satisfying conclusion of a series.

References

External links

* 1999 American novels 1999 science fiction novels Novels by Anne McCaffrey To Ride Pegasus Novels about telepathy Ace Books books {{1990s-sf-novel-stub