Day of the Starwind

Infobox Book |
name = Day of the Starwind


author = Douglas Hill
country = UK
language = English
series = Last Legionary
genre = Science Fiction
publisher = Gollancz
pub_date = 9 Oct 1980 (1st edition)
media_type = Print (Hardcover)
pages = 128 Hardcover
isbn = ISBN 9780575029170 Hardcover
preceded_by = Deathwing Over Veynaa
followed_by = Planet of the Warlord

"Day of the Starwind" is a young adult science fiction novel by Douglas Hill first published in 1980. It is the third book in the Last Legionary series which has been described as a simplified version of E. E. Smith's Lensman series. [cite book
last = Sullivan
first = C.W.
title = Young Adult Science Fiction (Contributions to the Study of Science Fiction and Fantasy)
publisher = Greenwood Press
date = 1999-03-30
location =
pages = 44
isbn = 978-0313289408]

Plot summary

Keill Randor is sent to investigate a planet by the Overseers. There have been rumors of a strike team operating from there. Men who display incredible martial prowess, and uniforms which resemble the Legions. The planet is periodically orbited by a moon, and the close proximity of the moon causes a massive wind, called the Starwind. It typically flattens everything on the planet. But on the planet, is a large tower structure. Keill quickly encounters a group, and is surprised that he recognizes the members of the strike team. They are famous Legionaries from decades ago. It quickly becomes apparent that they are clones. The group is led by Altern, an altered human clothed in a flexible gold-like metal exoskeleton. The strike team are eager to try their skills against a real Legionary, but when given the chance, Keill defeats them. As the Starwind begins, Glr is finding it harder and harder to fly and avoid the patrols who are looking for her. When Keill loses contact with her, he assumes she has been shot and killed. Finally, getting a chance to face Altern in single combat, Altern reveals that he is "The One", the Warlords right-hand man. Keill shoots him with a laser, apparently killing him.

As Keill tries to get to the roof of the tower to get to an escape craft, the starwind is ever increasing in strength. As Keill gets to the roof, he sees that Altern has survived, but is now without his exoskeleton. The fleshy body, with tentacles instead of legs, crawls into the escape craft, and takes off. Keill, thinks he is about to die, but Glr arrives at the last second in their ship, to rescue him.

Keill is determined to find Altern again.

Literary significance and reception

Mary I. Purucker in the School Library Journal said that "Day of the Starwind" was "full of action, cave-dwelling monsters and violence, this moves along at a good clip and leaves readers breathlessly waiting for the next in the series". [Citation
last =Purucker
first =Mary I
publication-date =November 1981
title =Day of the Starwind (Book)
periodical =School Library Journal
volume =Vol. 28
issue =Issue 3
pages =p104
issn =03628930
accessdate =2008-05-04]

Publication history

* 1980, UK, Gollancz ISBN 9780575029170, Pub date 1980, Hardcover
* 1982, UK, Macmillan ISBN 978-0330266529, Pub date 8 April 1982, Paperback
* 1981, US, Atheneum ISBN 978-0689502057, Pub date August 1981, Hardcover
* 1987, US, Laurel Leaf ISBN 9780440917625, Pub date 1 April 1987, Paperback
* 1998, UK, Soundings ISBN 978-1860425660, Pub date April 1999, Audio Cassette

Notes