Ring-rise, Ring-set

Ring Rise, Ring Set (1982) Monica Hughes, Heinemann New Windmills
ISBN: 0 435 12305

This is another book aimed at teenagers that has a message within it. It deals with the issue of science verses nature, of western cultures dismissing older native cultures, and the sacrifice of the few to benefit the many. All of these issues are seen and weighed by a teenage girl named Liza.

The book is set after a natural disaster, and the world is at imminent risk of the next ice age. Scientists have less than five years to prevent the ice sheet overrunning the last human outposts. This disaster happened when a comet skimmed earth’s atmosphere, leaving some of its debris behind. This debris has coalesced into a cloud of dust and tektites (glass particles) that has settled around the equator. This ring blocks out 80% of the sun’s rays in winter, creating severe freezing temperatures. This time is called ring set. When the earth has rotated enough for summer, the ring appears to rise, and more of the sun’s rays filter through.

Liza is part of the western science community, who have survived by building an underground complex inside a hill, where they completely shut themselves off during ring set. These people are called Tecks. Liza was born there, and has not known any other way of life, except from educational materials. Men and women live separately, on different floors, and children do not live with their parents. All women do household jobs such as cooking, cleaning, etc, on a massive scale, rotating each month. They work together as a floor group. Men work on machinery, and go out on expeditions for science research. This is meant to be the best way of advancing scientific knowledge and conserving resources etc. Liza barely sees her parents, and doesn’t really know them.

In contrast, those who were not included in the science bunker have found a way to survive by living like the native tribes of Alaska and Canada. These people are called Ekoes by the Tecks. They depend upon the caribou to survive. They live in extended family groups, and all sleep in one central shelter. They spend time with their families, and children grow up knowing their parents well. The Ekoes think that the Tecks are spirit people, and are afraid of them and anything associated with them.

Liza is unhappy with her life in the hill, and she wants to go on an adventure outside in ring set. She thinks it is unfair that only men get to go out during winter, and stows away on an expedition sled. Finding herself alone with spare supplies in the middle of the ice sheet, Liza begins to regret leaving. She is found by an Ekoe named Namoonie, and taken back to his family. They think that she is a long lost daughter, cousin to Namoonie, and take her in. she spends the whole winter with them, and learns about their culture. Liza feels loved, feels like she belongs in a way that the artificial hill settlement cannot provide. Ekoes believe in Paija, a goddess of the earth. They have created myths and stories that explain the ring, and believe that Paija has put it there after she was tricked by a wolf. This is strange to Liza as the Tecks only believe in science.

Things come to a head when the Ekoes discover “black snow” that smells bad, and is killing the caribou. Liza knows that this must have something to do with the Tecks, and asks Namoonie to take her back to “the spirit people”. Once there she tackles the director, and tries to persuade him not to endanger the Ekoes by killing off their supply of food for the winter months. She is disappointed when all the Tecks agree to do is allow the Ekoes to live inside the hill, something that the Ekoes would never do. The black snow is a mould produced by the Tecks to hold back the ice sheet from spreading. The idea is that it may buy them enough time to create a space net that will deflect all of the matter in the ring, putting the planet’s weather back to rights, and saving mankind from extinction. Tecks look down on Ekoes, and think that they are the true custodians of earth’s culture and knowledge. I lover her reply, that summed up my attitude nicely;

“I’m not that thrilled with a civilisation that won’t count people like Namoonie and his family because they don’t wash too often or clip their toenails”

Whilst Liza can be naive, impetuous, and even irresponsible at times, this is often because she is a fifteen-year-old teenager. Liza does show plenty of learning and growing throughout the novel. I like the way that her character is used as a focus for all of the differing viewpoints, and that she challenges established views, and wants everyone to come up with a solution for all. She is unable to accept that Ekoes are the lesser culture just because they don’t know about science, or read and write. She is also unable to reconcile herself to the idea that the Ekoes, the few, should be sacrificed for the many, the Tecks.

The solution is never found before the end of the novel, but it ends with Liza’s final challenge. She refuses to go back to the hill, choosing to live with the Ekoes and marry Namoonie. Liza reminds the Tecks that they can’t forget about Ekoes while she is with them, and that if they cause harm to the Ekoes they will also be arming her, one of their own as well. It is a neat solution even though it is temporary, and leaves the reader still wondering if the ring ever gets deflected.

I think that this novel touches on very worthwhile issues, which are eve more relevant today than when the book was first written. This is especially so for environmental and cultural issues. I really liked the way a book for teenagers looked at other cultures with a positive light, and that equally, it wasn’t afraid of showing weaknesses in modern western societies. The fact that this is all viewed through the lens of a teenager’s eyes helps other teenagers to understand and think about the issues involved. I liked this book a lot, and it was clearly well thought out and planned. I wonder if this author has written any other books? They might well be worth a read!

What I have learned;

· Not to be afraid of highlighting cultural differences.
· Keep the viewpoint of the book to the main character, and remember to adapt it as that character learns and grows.
· Use real life research as a base but alter it slightly to fit your fictional story.