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Calypso (Caly) Sadou is a Ringer. She lives in Chawla Station, a space colony in Saturn’s rings. She is in the Sadou family, overachievers who pioneered space in the early days and helped found Chawla Station.
Ringer, a science fiction novel by Joelle Presby, tells 12-year-old Caly’s story.
The Sadous remain the colony’s leaders, descendants of the First Crew that brought Chawla Station to Saturn. Her father is the current head of the Chawla Council. Her grandparents are venerated members of the community.
Her parents must travel to Daphnis, another colony, to straighten out problems with First Crew embryo babies. Their adoptive parents died in a recent accident. These children are Chawla Station shareholders. Distant relatives see them as potentially wealthy prizes.
Her parents have no say in Chawla affairs when they are off colony. Normally they would take Caly, but they are worried about her grandparents. They are going sunsetter – senile. Caly stays behind to mind her grandparents, although they are her legal guardians.
The Sadous have enemies, including Mr. Petrie-Xi, her father’s deputy and political rival. Caly is a First Crew embryo gestated by her mother. Caly cannot exercise her citizenship rights until she passes the Maturity Test. Whomever is her guardian controls Caly and her potential fortune.
The Sadous' rivals act to declare her grandparents as sunsetters. If so, the grandparents lose their votes and cannot serve as guardians. Someone else will be appointed Caly’s guardian. The leading candidates are focused on their own financial gain, not Caly’s – or her family’s – best interests.
There is only one way for Caly to prevent this. At age 12 she must pass the Maturity Test and be declared an adult. Those seeking to bring down her family will try to prevent it, but Caly is going to try.
This is not a girl-boss story. Caly is no Mary Sue. She sees herself as inadequate, measuring herself against two siblings more capable than she believes herself to be. She makes mistakes typical of a 12-year-old girl. Never in charge of the situation, she is barely able to stay ahead of the many crises that unfold.
That is what makes the book fun. Watching Caly refusing to yield to circumstances and trying to live up to what she views as the Sadou reputation. Ringer is a fun read, not just for young adults, but for all ages. Joelle Presby has written a winner.
Mark Lardas, an engineer, freelance writer, historian, and model-maker, lives in League City. His website is marklardas.com.
“Ringer,” by Joelle Presby, Baen Books, November 2025, 304 pages, $17.99 (paperback), $8.99 (E-book)
This review was written by Mark Lardas, who writes at Ricochet as Seawriter. Mark Lardas, an engineer, freelance writer, historian, and model-maker, lives in League City, TX. His website is marklardas.com.
Discussion (10)
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Joelle Presby wrote a female character with a character arc? Is that even allowed?
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With Presby? Often. Presby defies convention.
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It's a irritated reaction to much of what has passed for writing, particularly screenwriting. Female characters start at "awesome" and never deviate. Once upon a time, this was known as a Mary Sue character. The Disney Star Wars movies (otherwise known as The Rae Palpatine Saga) are an example.
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It does sound like a good read.
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Would it be considered a juvenile?
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