The Divided

Though it deals with war and soldiers, Waitman's second novel (after The Merro Tree) differs greatly from the military SF of Pournelle and Drake. Concentrating more on character development than on battles, it explores alternatives to war, even in a world where racial/national conflict has become the basis of culture, family tradition and religion. Sekm , the heroine, is a convincingly lethal and all-surviving soldier but one who never sinks into the usual stereotype of hard-bitten killing machine. Waitman builds a world of unconventional gender roles that are neither egalitarian models nor simple reversals of our own. Traumatized by the results of a devastating attack she led against the enemy, Sekm finally questions her culture's mandate that life be based on constant war. During an undercover mission, she makes friends among the enemy Tel-mari and learns that, far from being born an evil, separate race, the Tel-mari may have once been part of her own people. Strong secondary characters include Sekm 's brother, the blind poet Set; Merkus, a scholar turned guerrilla for the Tel-mari; and Wepanu, a seer who can communicate with invisible spirits known as the jo. Though some fans of military adventure may find Waitman too tame, those in search of complex characters and vivid language will be entranced by the unfolding mysteries of her book. (Feb.)