Green Sky Trilogy
Encyclopedia
The Green Sky Trilogy is a series of fantasy novels by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
, originally published between 1975 and 1978 by Atheneum. The books feature illustrations by Alton Raible.
The story takes place on an alien world called Green-sky (although the trilogy as a whole is referred to as the Green Sky Trilogy).
The 1984 game Below the Root is a continuation of the trilogy’s plot. Unusual for a video game, its story is written by the author and is considered canon
.
The Kindar are forbidden from walking on or even looking at the forest floor, and are terrified of doing so from stories of the Pash-shan, monsters trapped beneath a web of vines at ground level. Young children who have fallen from the trees before learning to use a shuba have supposedly been captured by the Pash-shan, never to be seen again. In truth, the Pash-shan are the descendants of imprisoned Kindar who refer to themselves as Erdlings.
The Kindar live in a utopian society, free of violence and virtually devoid of negative emotions such as anger or unhappiness. Even a frown shown in public is seen as a breach in decorum. Their lives are highly ritualized, filled with chants and songs that they derive pleasure from, helping to moderate their emotions. They are led politically and spiritually by an elite group known as the Ol-zhaan who live in a private temple and are mostly seen leading rituals or in procession throughout Green-sky. The Ol-zhaan decide each Kindar's occupation when they reach the age of 13, including two "Chosen" who will join their ranks.
Kindar children possess psychic powers known as spirit-force, although their abilities tend to fade between the ages of 5 and 10. Generally the Ol-zhaan are the only ones capable of using spirit-force into adulthood, and a young Kindar showing promising ability may become Chosen. The spirit-powers include:
Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Zilpha Keatley Snyder is an acclaimed author of books for children and young adults. Snyder was awarded three Newbery Honor Book awards for The Egypt Game, The Headless Cupid and The Witches of Worm. Since 1964, Snyder has completed 43 books...
, originally published between 1975 and 1978 by Atheneum. The books feature illustrations by Alton Raible.
The story takes place on an alien world called Green-sky (although the trilogy as a whole is referred to as the Green Sky Trilogy).
The 1984 game Below the Root is a continuation of the trilogy’s plot. Unusual for a video game, its story is written by the author and is considered canon
Canon (fiction)
In the context of a work of fiction, the term canon denotes the material accepted as "official" in a fictional universe's fan base. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction, which are not considered canonical...
.
The World of Green-sky
The planet Green-sky contains Orbora, a city built in giant trees and inhabited by humanoids known as the Kindar. They have built their homes among the branches, and can harvest food from vines and orchards found on the trees. The Kindar walk between trees where the branches overlap or connect using vines woven together like ladders. Low gravity also allows Kindar to fall great distances without being hurt and hang-glide through the air using their shuba, a silk cape-like garment that attaches at hands and feet.The Kindar are forbidden from walking on or even looking at the forest floor, and are terrified of doing so from stories of the Pash-shan, monsters trapped beneath a web of vines at ground level. Young children who have fallen from the trees before learning to use a shuba have supposedly been captured by the Pash-shan, never to be seen again. In truth, the Pash-shan are the descendants of imprisoned Kindar who refer to themselves as Erdlings.
The Kindar live in a utopian society, free of violence and virtually devoid of negative emotions such as anger or unhappiness. Even a frown shown in public is seen as a breach in decorum. Their lives are highly ritualized, filled with chants and songs that they derive pleasure from, helping to moderate their emotions. They are led politically and spiritually by an elite group known as the Ol-zhaan who live in a private temple and are mostly seen leading rituals or in procession throughout Green-sky. The Ol-zhaan decide each Kindar's occupation when they reach the age of 13, including two "Chosen" who will join their ranks.
Kindar children possess psychic powers known as spirit-force, although their abilities tend to fade between the ages of 5 and 10. Generally the Ol-zhaan are the only ones capable of using spirit-force into adulthood, and a young Kindar showing promising ability may become Chosen. The spirit-powers include:
- Pensing - Mind reading. Those with little Spirit-force can get a general sense of another's emotions and intentions, while stronger users can divine actual thoughts and sentences. Kindar with strong Spirit-force can send messages to one another, mind-link when they touch, as well as mind-block to prevent others from pensing them.
- Kiniporting - Telekinesis, active within a short range and on light objects, depending on the strength of the person's Spirit-force.
- Grunspreking - Causing plants to move and grow in different directions, potentially using them to build structures.
- Foretelling - Having visions of future events.
Characters
- Raamo D'ok – A 13–year–old boy with unusually strong Spirit–force, who is Chosen to join the Ol–zhaan.
- Pomma D'ok – Raamo's 7–year–old sister.
- Genaa D'anhk – A 13–year old girl, the other Chosen along with Raamo.
- Hiro D'anhk – Genaa's father, a highly regarded Kindar, imprisoned in the Erdling world.
- Teera Eld – Erdling child escaped to Green–sky.
- D'ol Neric – A young Ol–zhaan who enlists Raamo to discover the secret truth behind Green Sky.
- D'ol Falla – The oldest, most senior member of the Ol–zhaan. High priestess of the vine.
See also
- Trilogy
- Below the RootBelow the Root (novel)Below the Root is a science fiction/fantasy novel by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, the first book in the Green Sky Trilogy.- Plot summary :Raamo D’ok, a 13-year old Kindar boy, has just learned that he has been Chosen, meaning he will be joining the ranks of the Ol-zhaan, Green-sky’s elite ruling class...
- And All BetweenAnd All BetweenAnd All Between is a science fiction/fantasy novel by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, the second book in the Green Sky Trilogy.The book's title comes from one of the Green-sky chants, containing the phrase "And all between becomes among, / And they are we and old is young, / And earth is sky, / And all is...
- Until the CelebrationUntil the CelebrationUntil the Celebration is a fantasy novel by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, the third book in the Green Sky Trilogy.- Plot summary :Now that the inner circle of Ol-zhann, known as the Geets-kel, have decided to reveal their secrets and integrate Erdlings with Kindar, there is much concern over how to do it...
- Below the Root, the video game