Sylvia Engdahl

Noren knew that his world was not as it should be -- it was wrong that only the Scholars, and their representatives the Technicians, could use metal tools and Machines. It was wrong that only they had access to the mysterious City, which even as a child he had longed to enter. Above all, it was wrong for the Scholars to have sole power over the distribution of knowledge. The High Law imposed these restrictions and many others, though the Prophecy declared that someday knowledge and Machines would be available to everyone. Noren, convicted in youth of heresy, had only recently come to believe in the Prophecy's fulfillment. And the more he learned of the grim truth about his people's deprivations, the less possible it seemed that their world could ever be changed. It would take more drastic steps than anyone had imagined to restore their rightful heritage.

This is the third novel in the Children of the Star trilogy. It is preceded by This Star Shall Abide (issued in the UK under the title Heritage of the Star) and Beyond the Tomorrow Mountains, also available as e-books. The three are independently readable, but reading them out of order will spoil the suspense of the earlier ones.

This book was originally published in hardcover by Atheneum as Young Adult fiction, although unlike This Star Shall Abide it is rarely of interest to readers below high school age. In 2000 the entire trilogy was republished as adult science fiction in one volume, in both hardcover and softcover editions, by Meisha Merlin.

“Although it is the third book of a trilogy, The Doors of the Universe stands powerfully by itself as a quest for survival on a planet that is basically alien. . . . This is a contemplative book, but one never gets bored with the story and it haunts the reader long after it is finished.” —Journal of Reading

“This Star Shall Abide and Beyond the Tomorrow Mountains serve as solid foundation for this powerful culminating volume that treats in far greater depth the philosophical/ethical/religious issues raised in the earlier books. . . . Almost as much a character study (albeit of a very special individual) as science fiction, Engdahl’s latest story is certain to appeal to the thoughtful good reader.” —Booklist

“More than stands on its own as an exquisite story of the lonely quest for knowledge and the burden of unsought leadership. Noren is . . . the ultimate ‘different drummer.’” —Voice of Youth Advocates

“Engdahl again proves herself a master storyteller in this third book of her sci-fi trilogy. As a converted sci-fi hater, I am again impressed with the depth of ideas that she explores. . . . The constant twists and expansions of plot keep the reader’s attention from lagging.” —Provident Book Finder, Scottsdale, Pennsylvania

“The last few chapters become compelling, showing a power and mythic ‘rightness.’” —Locus

“[The novels were first] marketed as young adult books, but there is nothing juvenile about them. . . . Engdahl tells an important and pertinent story. . . . The writing is plain and direct, the only lyricism in the stunning liturgical language she invents.” —San Jose Mercury News