Yonder Comes Other (Daw Collectors Book, No 663)

Rating:
Summary: This is a sequel to the Ozark Trilogy
Review: Just a point of reference, contrary to another reviewer's assumption, this book comes after all three of the Ozark Trilogy books (Twelve Fair Kingdoms, The Grand Jubilee, And Then There'll Be Fireworks). To the best of my knowledge, there was no follow-up to this book, so the plotlines remain dangling.

Rating:
Summary: Well-written and engaging, but unsatisfying by itself.
Review: The story of the planet Ozark (managed by magic) at the time of its discovery by the TriGalactic Federation (kept in communication by telepaths) is good enough to overcome the fact that its protagonist is not particularly attractive. Understandably frustrated, he pouts, sulks, and has tantrums. Ozark declines membership in the Federation, but at the end of the book many questions and plot threads are unresolved: will Ozark be overtaken by the musical Phonans? what is the nature of (sisters?) Responsible and Troublesome? will the young people of Ozark eventually force Federation membership on the older generation? is "magic" really some modification of psi powers? Presumably, some or all of these are answered in _The Grand Jubilee_ and _And Then There'll Be Fireworks_, listed at Amazon as Ozark books 2 and 3; and perhaps also in _Twelve Fair Kingdoms_, whose synopsis suggests it's a prequel.