...
Series: Vampire Dark Ages Clan Novel Series
Title: Assamite (Book 2)
Author(s): Stefan Petrucha
ISBN: 1-58846-818-6
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 276
Overall Concept 8
Execution 7
This book is a fictional component of a game system that I’ve tried my best to explain below, as some of this is necessary to understand the premise of the book. Please bear with the fact that the below explanation is a repeat from my review of the 1st book of the series (Nosferatu).
Simply put, the game, Vampire: The Masquerade, depicts that vampires are the children of Caine, using its own reworking of the Biblical story of Cain, and that vampirism is the curse that was laid upon him by God. All modern vampires are the direct ‘blood to blood’ descendants of the 13 members of the third ‘generation’ of vampires. From each of these vampires come the thirteen original clans of Vampire: Assamites, Brujah, Cappadocian, Followers of Set, Gangrel, Lasombra, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Ravnos, Salubri, Toreador, Tzimisce & Ventrue. Each clan has specific powers and weaknesses and typically culls humans with similar traits. As an example Nosferatu have great powers of obfuscation, are very adept at gathering information, are culled from the outcasts of society, and are cursed with being hideously ugly making them unable to intermingle with humans easily, whereas Ventrue are charismatic, able to influence the minds of others, are culled from royalty or aristocrats and can only drink blood from specific types of humans or under specific circumstances, which can often lead them to inappropriate times of weakness.After the initial success of the modern era Vampire: The Masquerade, the publisher tried taking the game into a new direction with Vampire: The Dark Ages. This takes the same 13 Clans and places them in Europe during the Dark Ages. This enabled the players to take on the roles of vampires in an era where they didn’t have to hide their existence from humans, and actually had the ability to sway the people more openly and effectively. Also it allowed for players of more fantasy based games to readily adapt to the tropes of this new game system.
And now on to the review proper……
This is the second book in the thirteen book series that begins with the sacking of Constantinople in the spring of 1204. Each book of the series uses a member of each of the thirteen clans, hence the thirteen books, as its protagonist. The first book dealt with a Nosferatu living in Constantinople and this, the second novel, deals with an Assamite (vampires who are adept as stealth and assassination) from Egypt, who happens to be a devout Muslim, who has been tasked with preventing the remaining crusaders from continuing into the Muslim territories.
The story revolves around Amala, the Assamite of the title, and her interactions with a Ventrue (charismatic vampire), Sir Hugh of Clairvaux, who is a devout follower of Christ and a member of the Knights Templar. Sir Hugh is having visions of the Blessed Queen (Virgin Mary) that is counseling him to take his retinue, and what ever other followers he can enlist, and continue this Crusade by taking Egypt. With Egypt taken, then it should follow that the Holy Land will fall easily as it will be cut off from a major supplier and shipping route. This is the reason why Amala has been sent by her elders, all follwers of the Muslim faith, to determine and act on the best method of preventing this incursion into their territory.
As with the first novel, this book is rather surprising in its religious overtones and content. And to further ‘spice the pot’ the author has thrown in the Muslim faith. I am impressed that the author, who I know not if he is Muslim himself, did an admirable job of representing the Muslim faith in a sincere, realistic and non-offensive manner. Atypical of the current North American world view of Muslims as radical terrorist extremists, the author has presented them as no or less violent or hostile than the Crusaders in the novel. If the author has presented the Muslim faith accurately, this book has been very enlightening into explaining various aspects of that faith.
One of the key concepts of this book seems to be that of religious truth and opposing dogmas. For there is a key scene in the book where a puppet master of the events is revealing the ‘truth’ by espousing quotes from various religious texts (Qu’ran, Siddhartha Gautama, Talmud, Bhagavad Gita) with the intent of showing that all are worthless when contrasted against each other. This concept if furthered in the book with various moments of the main and lesser characters having ‘crises of faith’.
Another literary technique applied in this book is that of the framing sequence. The book starts in the present day with an Assamite vampire trying to convince a human woman to perform some task that will prove both her worthy and desiring to be embraced (made a vampire herself). This happens as a conversation in the back of a University classroom in Turkey, where the professor is leading a detailed lecture on the Fourth Crusade. This sequence makes a few appearances throughout the book and again as its end. This is a neat idea as I think it being used to show that even though 800 years of time has passed, the questions, concerns, beliefs and actions of the people then are really the same as they are today. Which is one of the key fallacies of man, that because we have more knowledge and technology, that we are somehow more civilized and superior to our historical predecessors?
All in all a worthwhile read that can easily be recommended to either a reader of horror who is interested in history or to a player of Vampire who is interested in a fictional tale along the lines of the game. However, I must again caution that because the protagonists are vampires, it in no way de-vilifies them and as such this isn’t a book for those looking for heroes without morale ambiguity.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
...
Series: Vampire Dark Ages Clan Novel Series
Title: Nosferatu (Book 1)
Author(s): Gherbod Fleming
ISBN: 1-58846-817-8
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 264
Overall Concept 8
Execution 8
Round about 1991 I was living in St. Catharines, ON and going to Brock University. I would often frequent the local gaming and comic stores, and one day I found this pamphlet for this new Role Playing Game called Vampire: The Masquerade (which being the classic hoarder I still own). It was half short story and half advertising, depicting this game of modern horror where the main characters were Vampires. It mentioned how the game would be more about story telling and less about game mechanics. I was instantly hooked. Partially because I’d been a lover of all things vampiric since I had purchased a Scholatic book on vampires when I was 10 or so. And, partially because I was greatly intrigued by the concept of a game based around a storytelling concept. I bought the 1st edition rules as soon as they came out, and a few modules and source books. However, my attempts at playing the game were met with frustration on two avenues; 1) the few mechanics the game did have were not well balanced and allowed some players to take control of the entire party against their will and 2) I found that the majority of players in this game tended to be of the ‘Goth’ sub-culture, one I was not comfortable inserting myself into. Hence, years rolled by and though I’ve never played the game since I’ve been very interested in the concepts of the game.
Simply put, the game depicts that vampires are the children of Caine, using its own reworking of the Biblical story of Cain, and that vampirism is the curse that was laid upon him by God. All modern vampires are the direct ‘blood to blood’ descendants of the 13 members of the third ‘generation’ of vampires. From each of these vampires come the thirteen original clans of Vampire: Assamites, Brujah, Cappadocian, Followers of Set, Gangrel, Lasombra, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Ravnos, Salubri, Toreador, Tzimisce & Ventrue. Each clan has specific powers and weaknesses and typically culls humans with similar traits. As an example Nosferatu have great powers of obfuscation, are very adept at gathering information, are culled from the outcasts of society, and are cursed with being hideously ugly making them unable to intermingle with humans easily, whereas Ventrue are charismatic, able to influence the minds of others, are culled from royalty or aristocrats and can only drink blood from specific types of humans or under specific circumstances, which can often lead them to inappropriate times of weakness.
After the initial success of the modern era Vampire: The Masquerade, the publisher tried taking the game into a new direction with Vampire: The Dark Ages. This takes the same 13 Clans and places them in Europe during the Dark Ages. This enabled the players to take on the roles of vampires in an era where they didn’t have to hide their existence from humans, and actually had the ability to sway the people more openly and effectively. Also it allowed for players of more fantasy based games to readily adapt to the tropes of this new game system.
And now that I’ve given the entire ‘necessary’ back story, here’s my review……
This novel is the first of 13 (one for each clan) that tells of a specific series of events during the Dark Ages era of the Vampire role playing world. It is based upon real world events, yet intersperses vampires as key movers and shakers of those events. Each novel has, as the protagonist, a different vampire from each of the 13 clans.
This first novel has as its protagonist a Nosferatu vampire, hence the title, and revolves around the events of the sacking of Constantinople during the fourth crusade.
This first thing I noticed about this book is that the word count is significantly higher than the Left Behind series. Whereas Left Behind was an oversized paperback with 1” margins, 12 point font and 1.5 line spacing this is a regular paperback with small margins, 8 point font and single line spacing. So even though this book is only 264 pages, I’d say it easily stacks up in total word count with the 424 page Soul Harvest book from the Left Behind series.
The second thing I noticed was that, for a book that caters to a sub-culture that is typically associated with Wiccan or New Age philosophies, it was full of Catholic/Christian concepts and dogma. And surprisingly several of the vampire characters of this book were devout followers of this faith. Despite my initial surprise I found this quite refreshing to see as many other ‘fantasy’ books that are based on this period in history try to downplay the role of the church in daily life, yet here is a book that is doing quite the opposite. Few people realize just how powerful the Catholic Church and faith was during this era of European history, and that by removing it you are furthering yourself drastically from the era you are trying to represent. It would be like trying to tell a modern day piece of fiction and totally disregarding the existence of North America and all of its impact on modern cultures, politics and society.
As I read this novel I found myself frequently going to Google/Wikipedia to help with my understanding of the world of that era. From this I was greatly rewarded with knowledge of the fourth crusade, the schism of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, Cappadocia and the surrounding environs and the sacking of Constantinople. I find it quite interesting that a fiction book about vampires brought me to learn more about the history of the world and a clearer understanding about world religion.
As for the story itself, the main character, Malachite, is torn apart by the destruction of the ‘greatest city for Christendom that has ever existed’. We learn that Malachite’s mentor, Micheal, was a vampire who was one of three that were manipulating the rulers of Constantinople with the intent of making Constantinople a perfect city wherein vampires and humans could coexist in peace. This concept is constantly referred to as ‘the Dream’. With the sacking of Constantinople, Malachite is put on the path of saving what remnants of the Dream still exist. To this end he enlists the aid of his Nosferatu brothers, herein referred to as the leper Knights of St Ladre, a Gangrel (vampire able to assume the shape of a wolf) ‘scout’, and a Cappadocian (vampire necromantic mage) lady. They travel to several places both within Constantinople and without, and at the books end you get the general concept that will most likely trace its way through the 13 novels of the series.
I found that the author did an excellent job of keeping the mood of the book dark and disturbing without overstating it, of playing within the facts of history without creating anachronisms, and representing the concepts of the Vampire role playing game world and its clans with obvious understanding of what he was writing about.
This was an excellent beginning to the series and easily makes me want to continue reading to see how the authors will weave the main story concept while incorporating the other clans and their unique goals.
As for recommending this book, I would suggest that this would be a book that would be best offered to a reader of horror who is interested in history or to a player of Vampire who is interested in a fictional tale along the lines of the game. And if the series plays properly along the themes of the game, this will be a series enjoyed by lovers of Machiavellian politics. I would warn that with the main protagonists being vampires who often feed on people and treat them as chattel, I don’t think anyone looking for a positive hero will be rewarded and should thusly avoid this book and series.
All in all a very good read that helps to satiate my desire for the Vampire game world without my having to uncomfortably interact with a group of all black wearing malcontents.
Series: Vampire Dark Ages Clan Novel Series
Title: Nosferatu (Book 1)
Author(s): Gherbod Fleming
ISBN: 1-58846-817-8
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 264
Overall Concept 8
Execution 8
Round about 1991 I was living in St. Catharines, ON and going to Brock University. I would often frequent the local gaming and comic stores, and one day I found this pamphlet for this new Role Playing Game called Vampire: The Masquerade (which being the classic hoarder I still own). It was half short story and half advertising, depicting this game of modern horror where the main characters were Vampires. It mentioned how the game would be more about story telling and less about game mechanics. I was instantly hooked. Partially because I’d been a lover of all things vampiric since I had purchased a Scholatic book on vampires when I was 10 or so. And, partially because I was greatly intrigued by the concept of a game based around a storytelling concept. I bought the 1st edition rules as soon as they came out, and a few modules and source books. However, my attempts at playing the game were met with frustration on two avenues; 1) the few mechanics the game did have were not well balanced and allowed some players to take control of the entire party against their will and 2) I found that the majority of players in this game tended to be of the ‘Goth’ sub-culture, one I was not comfortable inserting myself into. Hence, years rolled by and though I’ve never played the game since I’ve been very interested in the concepts of the game.
Simply put, the game depicts that vampires are the children of Caine, using its own reworking of the Biblical story of Cain, and that vampirism is the curse that was laid upon him by God. All modern vampires are the direct ‘blood to blood’ descendants of the 13 members of the third ‘generation’ of vampires. From each of these vampires come the thirteen original clans of Vampire: Assamites, Brujah, Cappadocian, Followers of Set, Gangrel, Lasombra, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Ravnos, Salubri, Toreador, Tzimisce & Ventrue. Each clan has specific powers and weaknesses and typically culls humans with similar traits. As an example Nosferatu have great powers of obfuscation, are very adept at gathering information, are culled from the outcasts of society, and are cursed with being hideously ugly making them unable to intermingle with humans easily, whereas Ventrue are charismatic, able to influence the minds of others, are culled from royalty or aristocrats and can only drink blood from specific types of humans or under specific circumstances, which can often lead them to inappropriate times of weakness.
After the initial success of the modern era Vampire: The Masquerade, the publisher tried taking the game into a new direction with Vampire: The Dark Ages. This takes the same 13 Clans and places them in Europe during the Dark Ages. This enabled the players to take on the roles of vampires in an era where they didn’t have to hide their existence from humans, and actually had the ability to sway the people more openly and effectively. Also it allowed for players of more fantasy based games to readily adapt to the tropes of this new game system.
And now that I’ve given the entire ‘necessary’ back story, here’s my review……
This novel is the first of 13 (one for each clan) that tells of a specific series of events during the Dark Ages era of the Vampire role playing world. It is based upon real world events, yet intersperses vampires as key movers and shakers of those events. Each novel has, as the protagonist, a different vampire from each of the 13 clans.
This first novel has as its protagonist a Nosferatu vampire, hence the title, and revolves around the events of the sacking of Constantinople during the fourth crusade.
This first thing I noticed about this book is that the word count is significantly higher than the Left Behind series. Whereas Left Behind was an oversized paperback with 1” margins, 12 point font and 1.5 line spacing this is a regular paperback with small margins, 8 point font and single line spacing. So even though this book is only 264 pages, I’d say it easily stacks up in total word count with the 424 page Soul Harvest book from the Left Behind series.
The second thing I noticed was that, for a book that caters to a sub-culture that is typically associated with Wiccan or New Age philosophies, it was full of Catholic/Christian concepts and dogma. And surprisingly several of the vampire characters of this book were devout followers of this faith. Despite my initial surprise I found this quite refreshing to see as many other ‘fantasy’ books that are based on this period in history try to downplay the role of the church in daily life, yet here is a book that is doing quite the opposite. Few people realize just how powerful the Catholic Church and faith was during this era of European history, and that by removing it you are furthering yourself drastically from the era you are trying to represent. It would be like trying to tell a modern day piece of fiction and totally disregarding the existence of North America and all of its impact on modern cultures, politics and society.
As I read this novel I found myself frequently going to Google/Wikipedia to help with my understanding of the world of that era. From this I was greatly rewarded with knowledge of the fourth crusade, the schism of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, Cappadocia and the surrounding environs and the sacking of Constantinople. I find it quite interesting that a fiction book about vampires brought me to learn more about the history of the world and a clearer understanding about world religion.
As for the story itself, the main character, Malachite, is torn apart by the destruction of the ‘greatest city for Christendom that has ever existed’. We learn that Malachite’s mentor, Micheal, was a vampire who was one of three that were manipulating the rulers of Constantinople with the intent of making Constantinople a perfect city wherein vampires and humans could coexist in peace. This concept is constantly referred to as ‘the Dream’. With the sacking of Constantinople, Malachite is put on the path of saving what remnants of the Dream still exist. To this end he enlists the aid of his Nosferatu brothers, herein referred to as the leper Knights of St Ladre, a Gangrel (vampire able to assume the shape of a wolf) ‘scout’, and a Cappadocian (vampire necromantic mage) lady. They travel to several places both within Constantinople and without, and at the books end you get the general concept that will most likely trace its way through the 13 novels of the series.
I found that the author did an excellent job of keeping the mood of the book dark and disturbing without overstating it, of playing within the facts of history without creating anachronisms, and representing the concepts of the Vampire role playing game world and its clans with obvious understanding of what he was writing about.
This was an excellent beginning to the series and easily makes me want to continue reading to see how the authors will weave the main story concept while incorporating the other clans and their unique goals.
As for recommending this book, I would suggest that this would be a book that would be best offered to a reader of horror who is interested in history or to a player of Vampire who is interested in a fictional tale along the lines of the game. And if the series plays properly along the themes of the game, this will be a series enjoyed by lovers of Machiavellian politics. I would warn that with the main protagonists being vampires who often feed on people and treat them as chattel, I don’t think anyone looking for a positive hero will be rewarded and should thusly avoid this book and series.
All in all a very good read that helps to satiate my desire for the Vampire game world without my having to uncomfortably interact with a group of all black wearing malcontents.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
...
Series: Left Behind
Title: Soul Harvest (Book 4)
Author(s): Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins
ISBN: 0-8423-2929-0
Format: Oversized Paperback
Page Count: 424
Overall Concept 7
Execution 6
This novel is the fourth in the series of twelve that deal with a modern day depiction of The Rapture, the Biblical Prophesy that describes the 'end of days' as described in the last book of the New Testament, Revelation.
When we left the last book, the Earth had just suffered a large cataclysm and the fates of two of our protagonists are in question. Well the fate of one of them isn't revealed until 2/3 of the way through the book and the other isn't resolved until the last chapter.
I found that this book can most easily be described as the outline for a typical made for TV movie. The actions of the heroes are just this side of preposterous and the characters are overly dramatic. And is typical of the genre, the right person always presents themselves to the protagonists at just the right moment. The only thing is that no current major network would have the temerity to create and air a show that was this heavily Christian, as that would go against 'political correctness', or what I like to think of as 'we can't seem to be offending anyone so therefore we can have no real opinion of our own'.
My greatest annoyance with this novel was the fact that a LARGE portion of it is spent on determining the fate of, or rescuing, two of the main characters and one of the characters that is being foreshadowed to be a main character in the forthcoming novels. Yet, two further cataclysms are to quickly summarized in the last chapter. This further irks me as one of the strengths of the previous novels was how they took time to represent the worlds and characters reactions to these events, but now they are almost seen as 'common'.
I'm almost glad I don't have the rest of the books in the series, as I think it might be good for me to have a break from these novels. This will allow me to have a fresh take on them when I start reading them again.
I do like this series and find the concept quite intriguing, I just think this was the weakest novel in the series thus far and doesn't create the same desire in me to read the next novel as the previous two have.
Again I would recommend this book, with the caveat that it is 'mental bubblegum', to anyone who is intrigued by the premise of a modern day Rapture, or Biblical Prophecy in the modern era.
Now I think I'll go read me some Horror..........
Series: Left Behind
Title: Soul Harvest (Book 4)
Author(s): Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins
ISBN: 0-8423-2929-0
Format: Oversized Paperback
Page Count: 424
Overall Concept 7
Execution 6
This novel is the fourth in the series of twelve that deal with a modern day depiction of The Rapture, the Biblical Prophesy that describes the 'end of days' as described in the last book of the New Testament, Revelation.
When we left the last book, the Earth had just suffered a large cataclysm and the fates of two of our protagonists are in question. Well the fate of one of them isn't revealed until 2/3 of the way through the book and the other isn't resolved until the last chapter.
I found that this book can most easily be described as the outline for a typical made for TV movie. The actions of the heroes are just this side of preposterous and the characters are overly dramatic. And is typical of the genre, the right person always presents themselves to the protagonists at just the right moment. The only thing is that no current major network would have the temerity to create and air a show that was this heavily Christian, as that would go against 'political correctness', or what I like to think of as 'we can't seem to be offending anyone so therefore we can have no real opinion of our own'.
My greatest annoyance with this novel was the fact that a LARGE portion of it is spent on determining the fate of, or rescuing, two of the main characters and one of the characters that is being foreshadowed to be a main character in the forthcoming novels. Yet, two further cataclysms are to quickly summarized in the last chapter. This further irks me as one of the strengths of the previous novels was how they took time to represent the worlds and characters reactions to these events, but now they are almost seen as 'common'.
I'm almost glad I don't have the rest of the books in the series, as I think it might be good for me to have a break from these novels. This will allow me to have a fresh take on them when I start reading them again.
I do like this series and find the concept quite intriguing, I just think this was the weakest novel in the series thus far and doesn't create the same desire in me to read the next novel as the previous two have.
Again I would recommend this book, with the caveat that it is 'mental bubblegum', to anyone who is intrigued by the premise of a modern day Rapture, or Biblical Prophecy in the modern era.
Now I think I'll go read me some Horror..........
Friday, April 04, 2008
...
Series: Left Behind
Title: Nicolae (Book 3)
Author(s): Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins
ISBN: 0-8423-2924-2
Format: Oversized Paperback
Page Count: 415
Overall Concept 7
Execution 8
This is the third book in the Left Behind series, which examines what would happen if the Rapture as outlined in the Bible were to happen in the modern era.
This book picks right up after the last, with the main characters realizing and having to accept a death of one of their own.
This book is a much faster paced book, with lots of action and suspense, very much unlike its two predecesors.
Due to the faster pace, this book seemed a much quicker read, but not less enjoyable. Actually the story didn't seem as dumbed down as the other two and therefore it became more enjoyable.
I still stand by my opinion that this series is best described as 'mental bubble gum', but it is very 'flavourful' and enjoyable none the less.
The end of this book is an even larger cliff hanger than the last, as we are left wondering the fates of two of the main cast, and the world is in even greater shambles than after book 2.
My peeves with this book, as with the last, is the way that the Catholic and Jewish faiths are overtly downplayed. The Pope in this novel is unrealistically dismissive of the tenants of the faith and is shown as a patsy for the anti-christ. And the Jewish are shown as seemingly spineless in how quickly they are willing to convert to the Chrisitian faith after the presentation of a simple arguement of the validity of Jesus as their prophesied saviour.
Also, there is portions of overly long explanation of what has gone on in some of the previous books. This I can explain off as the authors attempts to offset the time between the novels, and the readers perhaps forgetting some of the details. However, these 'flashbacks' are still too long and too detailed for the purposes of a 'recap'.
However, in light of todays seeming intolerance of faith or its positive expression (i.e. Muslims are shown in the media as zealots and terrorists, and the only time that religion comes into play in a movie or TV show is as a representation of its corruptive influence), this series is a refreshing example of how faith can be shown to be powerful, useful and necessary to the positive continuation of the human spirit. And since the reader is well aware that this book is aimed with goals of prostelyzation, so they can't be offending at its obvious attempts to do such.
All in all, I would recommend this book and series to anyone who 1) has an interest in Biblical Prophecy, 2) Christian based fiction or 3) is looking for a quick modern supernatural suspence read.
Series: Left Behind
Title: Nicolae (Book 3)
Author(s): Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins
ISBN: 0-8423-2924-2
Format: Oversized Paperback
Page Count: 415
Overall Concept 7
Execution 8
This is the third book in the Left Behind series, which examines what would happen if the Rapture as outlined in the Bible were to happen in the modern era.
This book picks right up after the last, with the main characters realizing and having to accept a death of one of their own.
This book is a much faster paced book, with lots of action and suspense, very much unlike its two predecesors.
Due to the faster pace, this book seemed a much quicker read, but not less enjoyable. Actually the story didn't seem as dumbed down as the other two and therefore it became more enjoyable.
I still stand by my opinion that this series is best described as 'mental bubble gum', but it is very 'flavourful' and enjoyable none the less.
The end of this book is an even larger cliff hanger than the last, as we are left wondering the fates of two of the main cast, and the world is in even greater shambles than after book 2.
My peeves with this book, as with the last, is the way that the Catholic and Jewish faiths are overtly downplayed. The Pope in this novel is unrealistically dismissive of the tenants of the faith and is shown as a patsy for the anti-christ. And the Jewish are shown as seemingly spineless in how quickly they are willing to convert to the Chrisitian faith after the presentation of a simple arguement of the validity of Jesus as their prophesied saviour.
Also, there is portions of overly long explanation of what has gone on in some of the previous books. This I can explain off as the authors attempts to offset the time between the novels, and the readers perhaps forgetting some of the details. However, these 'flashbacks' are still too long and too detailed for the purposes of a 'recap'.
However, in light of todays seeming intolerance of faith or its positive expression (i.e. Muslims are shown in the media as zealots and terrorists, and the only time that religion comes into play in a movie or TV show is as a representation of its corruptive influence), this series is a refreshing example of how faith can be shown to be powerful, useful and necessary to the positive continuation of the human spirit. And since the reader is well aware that this book is aimed with goals of prostelyzation, so they can't be offending at its obvious attempts to do such.
All in all, I would recommend this book and series to anyone who 1) has an interest in Biblical Prophecy, 2) Christian based fiction or 3) is looking for a quick modern supernatural suspence read.
Monday, March 17, 2008
...
Series: Left Behind
Title: Tribulation Force (Book 2)
Author(s): Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins
ISBN: 0-8423-2921-8
Format: Oversized Paperback
Page Count: 449
Overall Concept 8
Execution 7
This is the second book of the Left Behind series that is a fictional telling of what might occur if the Rapture (as described in the Bible and Biblical prophesy) were to occur in the current era.
At the close of the last book, the primary characters had found the truth of the Word of God and have all become 'born again'. They had identified who was the anti-christ and had decided to become the Tribulation Force (the force for Christ who would battle the anti-christ during this time of Tribulation).
This book begins almost immediately where the last book leaves off, and continues the characters faith journeys. There are many points in this book where the journeys of faith the characters are experiencing, despite being fictional and 'contrived', resonate in the world of today. Essentially, "How do I try to do the will of God and be Christ like when the world is seemingly dismissive of this concept and even holds some contempt of those who attempt it?".
The story in this book depicts the first 18 month period of the Tribulation, whereby all is seemingly peaceful and the anti-christ is hard at work in developing a one government, one currency, one religion, one media world, and how this impacts the major characters of this story.
Unlike the first book, which was very much the setup of the concept, this book is more a setup of the changes to the modern world, and it ends with the death of a main character and mass destruction of some major cities of the world. The Tribulation is now in full force and the reader can't help but see where book 3, and the rest, ends up taking this.
I wouldn't say that this book is heady in how it lays things out, nor is it a difficult read. Honestly, I imagine it is written with the common person in mind, as it is obviously trying to not only tell the story of the End Days but also to evangelize the Christian faith. Neither of these are truly off putting, but rather it gives the book a very 'penny dreadful' feel.
My two issues with the events that occur in this book are that 1) they too easily dismiss the faith of the Judaic people of today and 2) they seemingly vilify the Catholic church and its clergy. I take this both with a grain of salt (albeit sometimes a large chunk, due to my recently being a convert to the Catholic faith), as I just see this as a further example of the fact that this is a fictional account of the Rapture, as told from a evangelical Protestant perspective.
I would suggest this book to Christians as a good example of books that can set appropriate examples of 'living the faith', and to non-Christians as an entertaining yarn with a religious overtone, not dissimilar to some horror stories, albeit this is more of a novel of intrigue not horror.
Series: Left Behind
Title: Tribulation Force (Book 2)
Author(s): Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins
ISBN: 0-8423-2921-8
Format: Oversized Paperback
Page Count: 449
Overall Concept 8
Execution 7
This is the second book of the Left Behind series that is a fictional telling of what might occur if the Rapture (as described in the Bible and Biblical prophesy) were to occur in the current era.
At the close of the last book, the primary characters had found the truth of the Word of God and have all become 'born again'. They had identified who was the anti-christ and had decided to become the Tribulation Force (the force for Christ who would battle the anti-christ during this time of Tribulation).
This book begins almost immediately where the last book leaves off, and continues the characters faith journeys. There are many points in this book where the journeys of faith the characters are experiencing, despite being fictional and 'contrived', resonate in the world of today. Essentially, "How do I try to do the will of God and be Christ like when the world is seemingly dismissive of this concept and even holds some contempt of those who attempt it?".
The story in this book depicts the first 18 month period of the Tribulation, whereby all is seemingly peaceful and the anti-christ is hard at work in developing a one government, one currency, one religion, one media world, and how this impacts the major characters of this story.
Unlike the first book, which was very much the setup of the concept, this book is more a setup of the changes to the modern world, and it ends with the death of a main character and mass destruction of some major cities of the world. The Tribulation is now in full force and the reader can't help but see where book 3, and the rest, ends up taking this.
I wouldn't say that this book is heady in how it lays things out, nor is it a difficult read. Honestly, I imagine it is written with the common person in mind, as it is obviously trying to not only tell the story of the End Days but also to evangelize the Christian faith. Neither of these are truly off putting, but rather it gives the book a very 'penny dreadful' feel.
My two issues with the events that occur in this book are that 1) they too easily dismiss the faith of the Judaic people of today and 2) they seemingly vilify the Catholic church and its clergy. I take this both with a grain of salt (albeit sometimes a large chunk, due to my recently being a convert to the Catholic faith), as I just see this as a further example of the fact that this is a fictional account of the Rapture, as told from a evangelical Protestant perspective.
I would suggest this book to Christians as a good example of books that can set appropriate examples of 'living the faith', and to non-Christians as an entertaining yarn with a religious overtone, not dissimilar to some horror stories, albeit this is more of a novel of intrigue not horror.
...
Title: X-Men: Messiah Complex
Author(s): Ed Brubaker, Mike Carey, Craig Kyle, Chris Yost, Peter David
Artist(s): Marc Silvestri, Billy Tan, Chris Bachalo, Humberto Ramos, Scot Eaton
ISBN: 0785128999
Format: Hard Cover
Page Count: 352
Overall Concept 9
Execution 9
Art 6
This was the story that brought me back to the X-men and I'm quite glad it did.
Essentially, the story of Messiah Complex is that very recently the mutants of the Marvel Universe had a serious setback, they went from being perhaps millions strong to being only several hundred. Also, it has been assumed that no more mutant births could or would happen. This story begins with this theory being proven wrong. The first mutant birth occurs, and unlike all previous mutants, that don't show their powers until the onset of puberty, this mutant is born fully 'active' and strong enough to fry Cerebro (the computer that is capable of detecting mutants anywhere in the world) and knock all telepaths on their butts for a few hours.
The story goes on to tell the tale of the various forces that are trying to locate this baby; The Purifiers, a racist quasi-religious zealot group, who lay the baby's birthplace to waste trying to destroy it, the Marauders, the evil version of the X-men, who want to corrupt the baby to evil, the X-men who wish to protect it from those that mean it harm, the genetic beast who wants to literally consume the child, Cable the time travelling lone mutant who is willing to do most anything to keep it out of all harms way and the traitor in the midst of the X-men who will do what they need to in order to see the baby dead.
The story has lots of great elements; treachery, betrayal, compassion, time travel, and intrigue. The part that makes this all so great is that despite being told by five different authors and across the five different X-titles, the story comes across with one voice and no major glitches seem to occur (something being told out of sequence).
The same cannot be said for the art, as the five artists are all very unique in their styles and this can be rather jarring for the storyline. The end of one book shows the characters as drawn one way and the beginning of the next is very, very different. And as I stated much earlier in this post, I'm very much not a fan of Chris Bachalo or Humberto Ramos, who each drew two issues in this 13 issue series.
All in all, this is an excellent series as it touches on all the major, and several minor, mutant characters and in ways that will have great impact on the future events of the mutants of the Marvel Universe. The story is very self contained, but has many elements that can be continued in the various X-titles in the years to come.
I would heartily recommend this 13 issue series to not only X-fans or comics fans, but also to anyone, as this is a great jumping on point for the X-titles of the Marvel Universe. And with it representing each of the 5 titles, it lets a reader choose which of those series they will decide to continue reading, should they decide to.
Title: X-Men: Messiah Complex
Author(s): Ed Brubaker, Mike Carey, Craig Kyle, Chris Yost, Peter David
Artist(s): Marc Silvestri, Billy Tan, Chris Bachalo, Humberto Ramos, Scot Eaton
ISBN: 0785128999
Format: Hard Cover
Page Count: 352
Overall Concept 9
Execution 9
Art 6
This was the story that brought me back to the X-men and I'm quite glad it did.
Essentially, the story of Messiah Complex is that very recently the mutants of the Marvel Universe had a serious setback, they went from being perhaps millions strong to being only several hundred. Also, it has been assumed that no more mutant births could or would happen. This story begins with this theory being proven wrong. The first mutant birth occurs, and unlike all previous mutants, that don't show their powers until the onset of puberty, this mutant is born fully 'active' and strong enough to fry Cerebro (the computer that is capable of detecting mutants anywhere in the world) and knock all telepaths on their butts for a few hours.
The story goes on to tell the tale of the various forces that are trying to locate this baby; The Purifiers, a racist quasi-religious zealot group, who lay the baby's birthplace to waste trying to destroy it, the Marauders, the evil version of the X-men, who want to corrupt the baby to evil, the X-men who wish to protect it from those that mean it harm, the genetic beast who wants to literally consume the child, Cable the time travelling lone mutant who is willing to do most anything to keep it out of all harms way and the traitor in the midst of the X-men who will do what they need to in order to see the baby dead.
The story has lots of great elements; treachery, betrayal, compassion, time travel, and intrigue. The part that makes this all so great is that despite being told by five different authors and across the five different X-titles, the story comes across with one voice and no major glitches seem to occur (something being told out of sequence).
The same cannot be said for the art, as the five artists are all very unique in their styles and this can be rather jarring for the storyline. The end of one book shows the characters as drawn one way and the beginning of the next is very, very different. And as I stated much earlier in this post, I'm very much not a fan of Chris Bachalo or Humberto Ramos, who each drew two issues in this 13 issue series.
All in all, this is an excellent series as it touches on all the major, and several minor, mutant characters and in ways that will have great impact on the future events of the mutants of the Marvel Universe. The story is very self contained, but has many elements that can be continued in the various X-titles in the years to come.
I would heartily recommend this 13 issue series to not only X-fans or comics fans, but also to anyone, as this is a great jumping on point for the X-titles of the Marvel Universe. And with it representing each of the 5 titles, it lets a reader choose which of those series they will decide to continue reading, should they decide to.
...
Title: Uncanny X-Men: The Extremists
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Salvador Larroca
ISBN: 0785119825
Format: Trade Paperback
Page Count: 120
Overall Concept 6
Execution 6
Art 6
This is the 5 issues of the X-men that take the story from the events of the Shi'ar story line to the Messiah Complex story line.
The overall concept of this story is that a rogue element of the Morlocks (the mutant community that live below the sewers of New York City) are on a quasi-religious quest to put into motion the series of events as they are written in a book by one of their former members, who not only has precognitive powers but is also now dead, seemingly a martyr to these people.
This is very obviously some filler story that is intended to setup the people and places for the next big story arc, The Messiah Complex.
Mr. Brubaker tells a passable story of these events, but they aren't necessary to the reading of the previous or following story arcs.
A lot of people very much like Salvador Larocca as an artist, but I am not one of them. I just don't like his style. Not so much that it turns me away from the books he pencils, but enough that I don't go out of my way to buy them unless they are well written.
I would only recommend this trade paperback to the X-men completist, as this story is not very integral to the overall X-men events going on, except perhaps for the 'big reveal' at is conclusion. That reveal though doesn't justify the price of this book, especially since it is mentioned in other books as it is needed to be known.
Title: Uncanny X-Men: The Extremists
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Salvador Larroca
ISBN: 0785119825
Format: Trade Paperback
Page Count: 120
Overall Concept 6
Execution 6
Art 6
This is the 5 issues of the X-men that take the story from the events of the Shi'ar story line to the Messiah Complex story line.
The overall concept of this story is that a rogue element of the Morlocks (the mutant community that live below the sewers of New York City) are on a quasi-religious quest to put into motion the series of events as they are written in a book by one of their former members, who not only has precognitive powers but is also now dead, seemingly a martyr to these people.
This is very obviously some filler story that is intended to setup the people and places for the next big story arc, The Messiah Complex.
Mr. Brubaker tells a passable story of these events, but they aren't necessary to the reading of the previous or following story arcs.
A lot of people very much like Salvador Larocca as an artist, but I am not one of them. I just don't like his style. Not so much that it turns me away from the books he pencils, but enough that I don't go out of my way to buy them unless they are well written.
I would only recommend this trade paperback to the X-men completist, as this story is not very integral to the overall X-men events going on, except perhaps for the 'big reveal' at is conclusion. That reveal though doesn't justify the price of this book, especially since it is mentioned in other books as it is needed to be known.
...
Title: X-Men: Emperor Vulcan
Writer: Christopher Yost
Artist: Paco Diaz
ISBN: 0785125515
Format: Trade Paperback
Page Count: 120
Overall Concept 7
Execution 8
Art 7
This 5 issue limited comic series picks up immediately after the events at the end of the Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire (see previous post). The story follows the exploits of the heroes (Havoc, who has become the leader of the Starjammers due to events in the aforementioned story line, the Starjammers, the disposed Shi'ar Emperess, her military advisor, and the X-men who stayed behind with Havoc) as they try to fight against and take down Vulcan and what he has become. And this is all while a previously unknown threat to the Shi'ar arrives to eradicate them.
Christopher Yost does an excellent job of picking up where Ed Brubaker left off, and does such without the reader knowing the distinction. The story flows very naturally from the Shi'ar events. Mr. Yost has done a very good job of maintaining the feel of the story and keeping the 'voice' of the characters both the same to what Mr. Brubaker setup and to what us X-fans expect of these characters.
The art of Paco Diaz is not disparate enough from Billy Tan disjoint the story from the previous arc, and is enjoyable of itself.
The story does a great job of wrapping up elements left from the Shi'ar arc, yet also make new ones that can, at some future date, be appropriately addressed.
If as the old adage goes, "Always leave them wanting more", then Mr Yost and Mr Diaz have succeeded. I'm nearly chomping at the bit to find out what happens next with our heroes and the state they are left in at the end of the story.
I would recommend this story only to those X-fans who have already read the Deadly Genesis and Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire stories, and only if they, as I do, like the characters in question in this series. I say this as this story is isolated from the rest of the Marvel universe and as such is not required reading.
Title: X-Men: Emperor Vulcan
Writer: Christopher Yost
Artist: Paco Diaz
ISBN: 0785125515
Format: Trade Paperback
Page Count: 120
Overall Concept 7
Execution 8
Art 7
This 5 issue limited comic series picks up immediately after the events at the end of the Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire (see previous post). The story follows the exploits of the heroes (Havoc, who has become the leader of the Starjammers due to events in the aforementioned story line, the Starjammers, the disposed Shi'ar Emperess, her military advisor, and the X-men who stayed behind with Havoc) as they try to fight against and take down Vulcan and what he has become. And this is all while a previously unknown threat to the Shi'ar arrives to eradicate them.
Christopher Yost does an excellent job of picking up where Ed Brubaker left off, and does such without the reader knowing the distinction. The story flows very naturally from the Shi'ar events. Mr. Yost has done a very good job of maintaining the feel of the story and keeping the 'voice' of the characters both the same to what Mr. Brubaker setup and to what us X-fans expect of these characters.
The art of Paco Diaz is not disparate enough from Billy Tan disjoint the story from the previous arc, and is enjoyable of itself.
The story does a great job of wrapping up elements left from the Shi'ar arc, yet also make new ones that can, at some future date, be appropriately addressed.
If as the old adage goes, "Always leave them wanting more", then Mr Yost and Mr Diaz have succeeded. I'm nearly chomping at the bit to find out what happens next with our heroes and the state they are left in at the end of the story.
I would recommend this story only to those X-fans who have already read the Deadly Genesis and Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire stories, and only if they, as I do, like the characters in question in this series. I say this as this story is isolated from the rest of the Marvel universe and as such is not required reading.
...
Title: Uncanny X-Men - Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Billy Tan
ISBN: 0785118004
Format: Trade Paperback
Page Count: 312
Overall Concept 7
Execution 8
Art 8
This is the trade paperback collection of the 12 issues of Uncanny X-Men that occur immediately after the events of Deadly Genesis, which was a stand alone mini-series event.
As soon as I had finished Deadly Genesis, I felt not only comfortable reading this X-men series but was very interested in doing so.
And I was not disappointed with the results. This story is very much a space opera with the X-men in the very midst of it all. It has to do with large galactic empires that are crumbling, a single individual bent on the destruction of a king, a man who wishes to help the one he loves despite her having exiled him from her land, and a few rag tag fighters that help everyone along their way.
Mr. Brubaker has done an excellent job in making the events of this story very, very entertaining while being both fresh for the long time fan and the 'newbie'.
Billy Tan, who did most of the art on the series, has a very nice look to his drawings and pays all these characters great homage with his skills.
This series not only kept me interested and entertained, but demanded that I find out what happens next, as at the stories end the initial groups have split into two, one that returns to Earth and the other that stays behind to deal with the galactic menace Vulcan becomes.
Again, to any fan of comics, and especially to those X-men fans who may have been away for a while, I would easily recommend this book. And to those non-comic fans, there might just be a tad too much expectation on behalf of the reader knowing the finer details of who's who for this to be truly enjoyable. Though the writing can easily show a non-comic fan why there are comic fans.
Title: Uncanny X-Men - Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Billy Tan
ISBN: 0785118004
Format: Trade Paperback
Page Count: 312
Overall Concept 7
Execution 8
Art 8
This is the trade paperback collection of the 12 issues of Uncanny X-Men that occur immediately after the events of Deadly Genesis, which was a stand alone mini-series event.
As soon as I had finished Deadly Genesis, I felt not only comfortable reading this X-men series but was very interested in doing so.
And I was not disappointed with the results. This story is very much a space opera with the X-men in the very midst of it all. It has to do with large galactic empires that are crumbling, a single individual bent on the destruction of a king, a man who wishes to help the one he loves despite her having exiled him from her land, and a few rag tag fighters that help everyone along their way.
Mr. Brubaker has done an excellent job in making the events of this story very, very entertaining while being both fresh for the long time fan and the 'newbie'.
Billy Tan, who did most of the art on the series, has a very nice look to his drawings and pays all these characters great homage with his skills.
This series not only kept me interested and entertained, but demanded that I find out what happens next, as at the stories end the initial groups have split into two, one that returns to Earth and the other that stays behind to deal with the galactic menace Vulcan becomes.
Again, to any fan of comics, and especially to those X-men fans who may have been away for a while, I would easily recommend this book. And to those non-comic fans, there might just be a tad too much expectation on behalf of the reader knowing the finer details of who's who for this to be truly enjoyable. Though the writing can easily show a non-comic fan why there are comic fans.
...
Title: X-Men Deadly Genesis
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Trevor Harsine
ISBN: 0785118306
Format: Trade Paperback
Page Count: 200
Overall Concept 6
Execution 8
Art 7
I must admit I was a HUGE X-Men fan from issue #199 of the Uncanny X-Men all the way to the Age of Apocalypse debacle from 1995 (that series was the point when I stopped buying comics all together). I bought Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, X-Force, X-Men and all the crossovers throughout those years.
Recently, I got back into comics, in 2002 with the 9 cent issue #489 of the Fantastic Four, and I shied away from the X-Men series for 2 reasons; 1) X-titles were notorious for being very continuity driven, so I was dearthly afraid of being completely lost after a 7+ year absence and 2) I wasn't very fond of the art being produced by Ramos, Young and Pachelo.
What brought me back was the very recent 13 issue Messiah Complex, which I will review later on when I receive the Trade Paperback. I was reading this series and wanted to understand the back story more (specifically who the heck was Vulcan, how come they refer to Prof X having lost /regained his powers, and why was there so much vitriol between Charles and Scott) and started researching the previous issues.
Well, it seems that Ed Brubaker's run on the X-Men begins with this limited series, which happens to also tell the story of Vulcan, the missing Summers brother.
I read this series over the coarse of 2 days and found it to be a very entertaining read. I was initially concerned that this series would be a huge 'retcon' (retroactive continuity - a popular writing device in comics whereby something that is told in the present is either a retelling of the past events or a previously unknown past event which causes a total restructure or very different viewpoint on the present story lines) as this was the story that brought this new powerful 'villain' to the X-titles, and he happens to be the long lost Summer brother.
My fears, fortunately, were very unfounded as the tale is not only well told but well worth reading. The concept is very much a comic book concept ("I was ripped from the womb of my murdered mother, raised in a tank and made a slave of the murderer of my mother"), yet isn't terribly unrealistic or simple, despite my oversimplification.
The art was pleasant and did a very fine job of representing the characters, I know so well, appropriately and accurately.
The interesting 'gimmick' to this series was the use of back-up stories that initially seem to have nothing to do with the main tale. They are not only good stories of themselves but also mesh seamlessly with the overall story before it is all over. And, without them the overall story would be diminished significantly.
I must thank and damn Mr. Brubaker all in the same breath, as he's writing the X-men in a way that makes me both interested and care for them again yet this now means that I'm spending even more money on comics..........
As I said on a blog posting, this series, and the rest of the Brubaker story line, are like finding an old comfortable pair of slippers you had lost in the back of the closet, they are old and comfortable and yet new at the same time.
To any fan of comics, and especially to those X-men fans who may have been away for a while, I would easily recommend this book. And to those non-comic fans, there might just be a tad too much expectation on behalf of the reader knowing the finer details of who's who for this to be truly enjoyable. Though the writing can easily show a non-comic fan why there are comic fans.
Title: X-Men Deadly Genesis
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Trevor Harsine
ISBN: 0785118306
Format: Trade Paperback
Page Count: 200
Overall Concept 6
Execution 8
Art 7
I must admit I was a HUGE X-Men fan from issue #199 of the Uncanny X-Men all the way to the Age of Apocalypse debacle from 1995 (that series was the point when I stopped buying comics all together). I bought Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, X-Force, X-Men and all the crossovers throughout those years.
Recently, I got back into comics, in 2002 with the 9 cent issue #489 of the Fantastic Four, and I shied away from the X-Men series for 2 reasons; 1) X-titles were notorious for being very continuity driven, so I was dearthly afraid of being completely lost after a 7+ year absence and 2) I wasn't very fond of the art being produced by Ramos, Young and Pachelo.
What brought me back was the very recent 13 issue Messiah Complex, which I will review later on when I receive the Trade Paperback. I was reading this series and wanted to understand the back story more (specifically who the heck was Vulcan, how come they refer to Prof X having lost /regained his powers, and why was there so much vitriol between Charles and Scott) and started researching the previous issues.
Well, it seems that Ed Brubaker's run on the X-Men begins with this limited series, which happens to also tell the story of Vulcan, the missing Summers brother.
I read this series over the coarse of 2 days and found it to be a very entertaining read. I was initially concerned that this series would be a huge 'retcon' (retroactive continuity - a popular writing device in comics whereby something that is told in the present is either a retelling of the past events or a previously unknown past event which causes a total restructure or very different viewpoint on the present story lines) as this was the story that brought this new powerful 'villain' to the X-titles, and he happens to be the long lost Summer brother.
My fears, fortunately, were very unfounded as the tale is not only well told but well worth reading. The concept is very much a comic book concept ("I was ripped from the womb of my murdered mother, raised in a tank and made a slave of the murderer of my mother"), yet isn't terribly unrealistic or simple, despite my oversimplification.
The art was pleasant and did a very fine job of representing the characters, I know so well, appropriately and accurately.
The interesting 'gimmick' to this series was the use of back-up stories that initially seem to have nothing to do with the main tale. They are not only good stories of themselves but also mesh seamlessly with the overall story before it is all over. And, without them the overall story would be diminished significantly.
I must thank and damn Mr. Brubaker all in the same breath, as he's writing the X-men in a way that makes me both interested and care for them again yet this now means that I'm spending even more money on comics..........
As I said on a blog posting, this series, and the rest of the Brubaker story line, are like finding an old comfortable pair of slippers you had lost in the back of the closet, they are old and comfortable and yet new at the same time.
To any fan of comics, and especially to those X-men fans who may have been away for a while, I would easily recommend this book. And to those non-comic fans, there might just be a tad too much expectation on behalf of the reader knowing the finer details of who's who for this to be truly enjoyable. Though the writing can easily show a non-comic fan why there are comic fans.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
...
Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Author: J.K. Rowling
ISBN: 978-1551929767
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 608
Overall Concept 7
Execution 9
And so it comes to a close, the Harry Potter novels that started with a small adolescent novel over a decade ago.
After the previous two novels in this series (Order of the Phoenix and Half Blood Prince) were quite differing in my enjoyment of them. Order being not a very good book and Half Blood Prince making me pine for the last novel. And with the fact that several major plot points are left off at the end of the penultimate book, it was with much trepedation that I read this book. Mostly because I was terribly afraid that J.K. might take the easier path with regards to wrapping up those plot points.
Most fortunately my fears were ungrounded and this book was both well written and an excellent finish to the series. I will easily say that this book was the best of the Harry Potter novels and J.K. Rowling deserves her place as a world renowned author.
Unlike the Order of the Phoenix, where Harry was a self indulgent and whiny teen, in Deathly Hallows, Harry proves his worth as wizard and becomes the man of prophecy he was meant to be.
Again, as I have said for all the novels previously, this novel is best appreciated by someone either of the age of the protaganist or someone who can remember that pinnacle time when we transition from teen to adult. I wouldn't say this book was any grittier than the preceeding one, but rather grander of scope with regards to the implications of cause and effect. Which is a lesson we, and Harry, learn about the world being much larger than what we have seen, what we can immediately effect and that it is full of lots of people who we should have compassion and understanding for. Also, I think one of the key points of this book is that eventually we all come to realize that our parents/mentors are not without faults of their own, and this shouldn't make us love or respect them less. In some cases it should aid us to respect them more. And the final lesson this series has made apparent is, to quote It's a Wonderful Life, "no man is poor who has friends". Harry could have gotten to the places he needed to be to do the things he needed to do if it wasn't for his friends. As much as Sam Gamgee is a hero for aiding Frodo in his quest in the Lord of the Rings, Hermione, the Weasley family, Luna, and Neville (as well as some others I'm probably forgetting right now) are important heroes to the Harry Potter series.
All in all, this was an excellent finish to a series that took a young boy out of his place in the world and into a world that was quite foreign to him. Not only that, but he is a boy of prophecy that has the weight of the world on his shoulders for the entirety of this seven year period. J.K. did a fine job of showing the boy in all stages of pre-teen, teen, young adult and finally adult.
My only 'complaint' about this book, is that in the epilogue that makes mention of what the various characters are doing sometime in the future, the author seems to have failed mentioning Luna. Considering that she is just as major a character as Neville (who is mentioned) and more major than some others who are mentioned, it seems an oversight on behalf of the author.
In closing, I must thank whomever it was who passed me a 'copy' of the first Harry Potter movie, as I might have missed exposure to a wonderful series, that is made all the sweeter as I can enjoy it with my children as they grow to watch the movies and read the books.
Hats off to Ms. Rowling!
Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Author: J.K. Rowling
ISBN: 978-1551929767
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 608
Overall Concept 7
Execution 9
And so it comes to a close, the Harry Potter novels that started with a small adolescent novel over a decade ago.
After the previous two novels in this series (Order of the Phoenix and Half Blood Prince) were quite differing in my enjoyment of them. Order being not a very good book and Half Blood Prince making me pine for the last novel. And with the fact that several major plot points are left off at the end of the penultimate book, it was with much trepedation that I read this book. Mostly because I was terribly afraid that J.K. might take the easier path with regards to wrapping up those plot points.
Most fortunately my fears were ungrounded and this book was both well written and an excellent finish to the series. I will easily say that this book was the best of the Harry Potter novels and J.K. Rowling deserves her place as a world renowned author.
Unlike the Order of the Phoenix, where Harry was a self indulgent and whiny teen, in Deathly Hallows, Harry proves his worth as wizard and becomes the man of prophecy he was meant to be.
Again, as I have said for all the novels previously, this novel is best appreciated by someone either of the age of the protaganist or someone who can remember that pinnacle time when we transition from teen to adult. I wouldn't say this book was any grittier than the preceeding one, but rather grander of scope with regards to the implications of cause and effect. Which is a lesson we, and Harry, learn about the world being much larger than what we have seen, what we can immediately effect and that it is full of lots of people who we should have compassion and understanding for. Also, I think one of the key points of this book is that eventually we all come to realize that our parents/mentors are not without faults of their own, and this shouldn't make us love or respect them less. In some cases it should aid us to respect them more. And the final lesson this series has made apparent is, to quote It's a Wonderful Life, "no man is poor who has friends". Harry could have gotten to the places he needed to be to do the things he needed to do if it wasn't for his friends. As much as Sam Gamgee is a hero for aiding Frodo in his quest in the Lord of the Rings, Hermione, the Weasley family, Luna, and Neville (as well as some others I'm probably forgetting right now) are important heroes to the Harry Potter series.
All in all, this was an excellent finish to a series that took a young boy out of his place in the world and into a world that was quite foreign to him. Not only that, but he is a boy of prophecy that has the weight of the world on his shoulders for the entirety of this seven year period. J.K. did a fine job of showing the boy in all stages of pre-teen, teen, young adult and finally adult.
My only 'complaint' about this book, is that in the epilogue that makes mention of what the various characters are doing sometime in the future, the author seems to have failed mentioning Luna. Considering that she is just as major a character as Neville (who is mentioned) and more major than some others who are mentioned, it seems an oversight on behalf of the author.
In closing, I must thank whomever it was who passed me a 'copy' of the first Harry Potter movie, as I might have missed exposure to a wonderful series, that is made all the sweeter as I can enjoy it with my children as they grow to watch the movies and read the books.
Hats off to Ms. Rowling!
Sunday, February 04, 2007
...
Series: The Rogues
Title: The Alabaster Staff (Book 1)
Author: Edward Bolme
ISBN: 0-7869-2962-6
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 309
Overall Concept 7
Execution 8
As most of you may have gleaned by now, I am an avid Fantasy reader as well as a 'gamer'. The Forgotten Realms novels, by Wizards of the Coast, are a great amalgam of these two interests of mine.
This book, The Alabaster Staff, is one of the large number of Forgotten Realms novels that have been published thus far.
This book is the kick off book in the concept series that WotC have started releasing, each series of four books focusing on one of the four archetypal classes from the DnD roleplaying game; rogue, cleric, fighter and wizard. Though each of these books are complete stand alone novels, the theme of the archetypal class is what ties them together. Essentially each book shows a different facet of the same class, so as to represent the robustness and variation that can exist amongst said classes.
This novel deals with the world of rogues, thieves and scoundrels and does so in the Forgotten Realms city of Messemprar, a large coastal city in the disputed territory of Unther in South Eastern Faerun.
The prologue of the novel gives a quick yet detailed overview of the slaying of the God king Gilgeam of Unther and its subsequent occupation by the nation of Mulhorandi. This gives us a fair understanding of the turmoil of the region and the general attitudes of its peoples.
During the coarse of the novel the author does a fair impression of letting the reader know that the closest Earth analogy to Unther would be Babylon, which he does by explaining its attire, laws, and overall geographical features. This is most important, as it helps us to understand the harsh militant rule that hangs over the land and the risks that those who thieve take should they ever get caught. There also several mentions of the Untheric quality of stoic acceptance of hardship or pain.
The main protagonist of the story is a young native of Unther who grew up under the despotic rule of the God king and his priests, and is now maturing in a world that is constantly on the edge of war or invasion. She is not a rogue in the truest sense, yet she has many of the qualities of a good rogue; quick wit and even faster hands, lithe, dexterous and ingenuity and cunning.
The story starts with her plying her trade of sleight of hand in a public courtyard, trying to gain a few coppers with which to feed her hungry belly and find her a roof for the night. Due to a series of unfortunate events, and the actions of a cruel member of the thieves’ guild, she is coerced into stealing an item of magic from a local merchant.
The story goes on from there as one event leads to several more and the protagonist gets ever more and more entwined in the large scale politics and powers of this land on the verge of war.
Mr. Bolme has done a very good job of reflecting the ideas that rogues are as much con artists and opportunists as they are simple thieves. He has also admirably set up the various cast members with their own personal ambitions and very often people are not at all what they initially seem to be. Additionally he has done a great job of blurring the lines between good and evil and altruistic and selfish, as again, people aren't what they seem to be.
All in all this is an excellent book and I would heartily recommend it to anyone who either likes fantasy or is a fan of the Forgotten Realms.
Series: The Rogues
Title: The Alabaster Staff (Book 1)
Author: Edward Bolme
ISBN: 0-7869-2962-6
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 309
Overall Concept 7
Execution 8
As most of you may have gleaned by now, I am an avid Fantasy reader as well as a 'gamer'. The Forgotten Realms novels, by Wizards of the Coast, are a great amalgam of these two interests of mine.
This book, The Alabaster Staff, is one of the large number of Forgotten Realms novels that have been published thus far.
This book is the kick off book in the concept series that WotC have started releasing, each series of four books focusing on one of the four archetypal classes from the DnD roleplaying game; rogue, cleric, fighter and wizard. Though each of these books are complete stand alone novels, the theme of the archetypal class is what ties them together. Essentially each book shows a different facet of the same class, so as to represent the robustness and variation that can exist amongst said classes.
This novel deals with the world of rogues, thieves and scoundrels and does so in the Forgotten Realms city of Messemprar, a large coastal city in the disputed territory of Unther in South Eastern Faerun.
The prologue of the novel gives a quick yet detailed overview of the slaying of the God king Gilgeam of Unther and its subsequent occupation by the nation of Mulhorandi. This gives us a fair understanding of the turmoil of the region and the general attitudes of its peoples.
During the coarse of the novel the author does a fair impression of letting the reader know that the closest Earth analogy to Unther would be Babylon, which he does by explaining its attire, laws, and overall geographical features. This is most important, as it helps us to understand the harsh militant rule that hangs over the land and the risks that those who thieve take should they ever get caught. There also several mentions of the Untheric quality of stoic acceptance of hardship or pain.
The main protagonist of the story is a young native of Unther who grew up under the despotic rule of the God king and his priests, and is now maturing in a world that is constantly on the edge of war or invasion. She is not a rogue in the truest sense, yet she has many of the qualities of a good rogue; quick wit and even faster hands, lithe, dexterous and ingenuity and cunning.
The story starts with her plying her trade of sleight of hand in a public courtyard, trying to gain a few coppers with which to feed her hungry belly and find her a roof for the night. Due to a series of unfortunate events, and the actions of a cruel member of the thieves’ guild, she is coerced into stealing an item of magic from a local merchant.
The story goes on from there as one event leads to several more and the protagonist gets ever more and more entwined in the large scale politics and powers of this land on the verge of war.
Mr. Bolme has done a very good job of reflecting the ideas that rogues are as much con artists and opportunists as they are simple thieves. He has also admirably set up the various cast members with their own personal ambitions and very often people are not at all what they initially seem to be. Additionally he has done a great job of blurring the lines between good and evil and altruistic and selfish, as again, people aren't what they seem to be.
All in all this is an excellent book and I would heartily recommend it to anyone who either likes fantasy or is a fan of the Forgotten Realms.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)