With Frère Elthor Pierre Bordage has brought to a close the superb saga that he started with Frère Ewen, Soeur Ynolde, Frère Kalkin and Soeur Onden (all five volumes published by Atalante), under the collective title of La Fraternité du Panca. He has taken us with him across the Galaxy in a magnificent journey -both a quest of humankind and a quest of faith and the way they can transcend adversity. To sum up the general theme briefly: in a future time humanity has multiplied throughout the Milky Way and has split up into an infinity of cultures, often profoundly different in their core values. The planets have joined forces to protect one another in a kind of federation...

Pierre Bordage celebrates the "little man». The stars in this huge epic are characters from the working class. He brings to the fore individuals of modest origin who find themselves, with few resources, having to go on a quest whose outcome is overwhelming: "There existed the same uncertainties and the same discouragement in the memories of his brothers and sisters. The feeling of not being up to the task. Having been chosen by mistake." Yet they are able to overcome all this to finish their mission. He shows, through these characters, not only all the variety and complexity of human nature but also its wealth and resourcefulness that it is capable of. He also shows, on the way, that it...

Pierre Bordage, through his novels, even in the most desperate ones, always reconciles me to humanity. After the first voyage in an almost infinite timescale with Frère Ewen, I was longing for the follow up. Here I am, after reading Soeur Ynolde, in exactly the same state. Pierre hasn’t written a schmaltzy novel, far from it. He strikes home through his words when humanity self harms by its lack of respect for others. He strikes and then he soothes. Pierre Bordage is a humanist enchanter. A good read for escaping the gloom that surrounds us. http://archivedupeutetre.blogspot.com/, January 2009   Your name has to be Pierre Bordage to dare so intrepidly to get down to the...

This first volume is rich in dramatic episodes and sentimental intrigue. Bordage again succeeds in getting the feeling of adventure running through his pages.                                                                                                                                                     ...