Heart of Gold

By Sharon Shinn

Book Overview

From the award-winning author of Wrapt in Crystal and the Samaria trilogy comes a classic Romeo and Juliet romance set in a world far from our own.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0441008216
• ISBN13: 9780441008216
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: Ace Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Great Read!!

Well, I love this book! I must admit Heart of Gold started out a bit slower than I generally like, but as the story unraveled I found myself becoming more and more drawn into it. I read for one day strait to finish the book. I love the ending, 'cause it left me feeling completely satisfied. She wove the love story beautifully, without any unneeded mush. What can I say, Sharon Shinn is an amazing writer!!

the Fantasy equivalent of West Side Story, with a twist

Shinn has a talent for crossing genre lines with her writing, while staying firmly rooted in the realm of fantasy. In Heart of Gold she does not disappoint the fantasy lovers, but also brings her significant romance and suspense talents to bear.At first, it seems that the story will be a bit cliche, focusing on slowly bringing together Kit and Nolan in typical romance novel fashion. You learn about their families and the incompatibility of the cultures in which they grew up - both "indigo" but having wildly different experience, just to simplify. However, you soon discover that there is something more at stake in this story, and a larger theme to address. Shinn paints the cultures of the indigo and the gulden with broad strokes, but you still get the feeling of two very disparate cultures in silent war with one another. As the romance subplot begins to fuel the pace of the larger theme, you can't help but hold your breath until you find out what ends up happening, and Shinn does not disappoint. Nolan's final act is shocking and extreme, but Shinn takes you along his logic in a manner that allows you to see how he came to that action. She does this wonderful compassionate description for all the characters, too: you get very attached to Melina and Chay Zanlan, while still understanding their flaws. As usual, Shinn brings a unique group of people to life, and the world she has created is lush with detail.If you liked Archangel, you will enjoy Heart of Gold.

Sharon Shinn is BRILLIANT!!!!!

In this fabulous fantasy novel, Sharon Shin plays fast & loose with racial AND gender stereotypes, as well as the much over-used and wrong-headed notion that the world would be a much better place if women ran it.Kit, a socially high-placed Blue, was raised by her scientist father among the enemy, the Gulden. She's been burned once already by a love she just can't give up on, and must also fit back into a world where she never really belonged. Nolan, also a high caste Blue, is currently being ALLOWED to persue a career, until his time is up and he goes back to the country to marry and raise a family, his ultimate responsibility. Meanwhile, their society is being torn apart by racial and territorial issues, and Nolan must face himself, and his own ideas to do some terrible things to save a society.The characters are real, in all of their scars and glory, insecurities and pettiness. As quickly as the first page, Shinn sucks you into another brilliantly crafted world, and makes you live the issues our world faces every day.

Thought provoking and spellbinding

It has been a while that I have read a book so captivating that I lost track of time while reading it. That having been said, Heart of Gold relates the story of two people discovering their independence in a world of very strict social hierarchy. Shinn offers interesting insights into the nurture vs. nature debate, and comes down very heavily on the nurture side of the argument. In the worlds of indigo and gulden -- the two main races in Heart of Gold -- your rearing defines your world. Only, both the main characters, as well as others, show how independence and strong characters are maintained even so. Heart of Gold takes a strong look at how society defines individual roles, and how individuals can become iconoclastic despite their society.On another level, Heart of Gold explores biological warfare, and its underlying prejudices. It is a thoughtful indictment of extreme warfare in our post Cold War society -- and offered through the lens of a society that is just entering a political Cold War. Heart of Gold may be science fiction, but the issues it addresses are ones faced in our every day world.On yet another level, this is a story of two people falling into love truly, madly, deeply. This is NOT a romance, but a true look at how emotions become involved, and how hard decisions have to made anyway. The heroes and "lovers" of the story are stronger because they have these emotions despite and including their worlds collapsing around them.All in all, this is one of the best books I have read in years. I recommend it highly to anyone who likes thoughtful, social science fiction. This isn't about computers, robots, elves or dragons (all of which I can enjoy in there own right), but about interesting social interactions -- and how much we tend to take for granted about our own places in society. Read it -- it'll be fun and good for you.

Engaging and thought provoking

Sharon Shinn has produced another first rate, character driven science fiction novel in Heart of Gold. Her carefully constructed races of matriarchal blueskins and macho gulden give her the opportunity to explore prejudice from many angles. But for me, it's the characters that make a story worth reading, and Shinn never disappoints. Kit, with her aristocratic indigo heritage and gulden upbringing, is a rebellious, rather tragic figure, but it is Nolan that really captures the story. A quiet researcher who'd been resigned to his future as a non-essential spouse, he attains true heroism through his compassion and commitment to doing the right thing, no matter what the cost to himself. Shinn makes all of the relationships convincing, and her secondary characters are vivid and contribute greatly to the story. A great read for anyone who likes their science fiction about people and society rather than hardware. (And romance readers might enjoy it also.)