adversaria
12) Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
I sought a book that was different. I was tired of traditional fantasy, of traditional characters, of traditional roles and faces. I wanted something fresh, and by Domi, I found it in here. :D
ELANTRIS was beautiful, once. It was called the city of the gods: a place of power, radiance, and magic. Visitors say that the very stones glowed with an inner light, and that the city contained wondrous arcane marvels. At night, Elantris shone like a great silvery fire, visible from a great distance.
Yet, as magnificent as Elantris had been, its inhabitants had been more so. Their hair a brilliant white, their skin an almost metallic silver, the Elantrians seemed to shine like the city itself. legend claimed that they were immortal, or at least nearly so. Their bodies healed quickly, and they were blessed with great strength, insight, and speed. They could perform magics with a bare wave of the hand; men visited Elantris from all across Opelon to receive Elantrian healings, food, or wisdom.
They were divinities.
And anyone could become one.
The Shaod, it was called. The Transformation. It struck randomly - usually at night, during the mysterious hours wen life slowed to rest. The Shaod could take beggar, craftsman, nobleman, or warrior. When it came, the fortunate person's life ended and began anew; he would discard his old, mundane existence and move to Elantris. Elantris, where he could live in bliss, rule in wisdom, and be worshiped for eternity.
Eternity ended ten years ago.
I was first drawn by the cover, hopeful that this book will present me something different than normal fantasy fare. (Yes, I know I should never judge books by their covers... but the tantalizing prospect of a futuristic looking city masked in a book demarked fantasy gave a delightful lurch in my heart. I thought, maybe this will be some meld of science fiction and fantasy - just as I like it!) Opening the cover, Sanderson's dedication to his mother, in short claiming that his mother wished a doctor and ended up with a writer placed the final clinch in me. I thought of my own position, en route to medical school, yet I still feverishly devote time to my dear Abaeran and his worlds both in drawings and in words. Yes, I would read this book.
My few resisting thoughts that had persisted in my mind disappeared as I began reading. I wanted a book with characters who have motivations and reasons. I truly believe that everyone is human, no matter what side of the battlefield he comes from (and my philosophy extends to both fictional characters and real people). There is some root to reason (or unreason) - and this is precisely what the author did. He eventually explains (or at least hint) all character motivations.
The magic is vaguely familiar, like a sort of alchemy with glowing symbols, yet rich and different enough that I would call the magical system fresh. In addition, I liked the involvement and characterization of the city Elantris as a character herself, adding a dynamic that I have sought in books, but have never found. Again, this struck a chord with my own writings and personal imaginings of Abaeran's world, since I consider my cities as alive or at least like a greater organism built from the dynamic human beings living within (like cells in a body).
The characters themselves are thoroughly enjoyable. They are fully fleshed and real; their personalities lasting past the final pages of this book. (I only wish the character Hrathen had more time in the timeline of the novel...) I fell into the pace of the book satisfyingly. The pages disappeared, and I was part of a world that is rich and real. The variety of cultures are fantastic, and I definitely enjoyed learning of the distinctions of each.
I tend to gravitate towards authors like, but not limited to, Barbara Hambly and Gene Wolfe who add obscure words (enormously obscure words in Wolfe's case :D) to intensify their writings. Sanderson did not quite do this, but I found it (to my surprise) completely fine. His words flow easily and clearly - and cleanly. (I say quite because he did have plenty of words from native speakers of different lands' languages spread within the conversations. I had fun picking up and interpreting words, like kayana - all the more fun when I translated correctly! :P)
Plot wise - the complexity was utterly thrilling and satisfying! There were a number of threads to follow and in the end they tied together fantastically. It is not only a story of a kingdom, and a princess and a prince - generic faces of a familiar throne. No, instead factors like political unrest, religious tension and so many others fed upon each other, weaving here, there every where. Simply awesome. :D (Besides, the pacing in the end was brilliantly swift and I strive to provide that sort of speed for what I have in store of the conclusion of my writings.) I do hope for another book continuing in the wonderfully rich world of Opelon (and I sensed perhaps there could be? There were small frays of story threads that I feel can continue... *a hopeful grin*).
The glossary at the end sent shivers through my spine, because I had studied each symbol at the head of each chapter in search of meaning. There, at the end, the meanings and the ties with character and place names were clear.
My thoughts spin in a thousand different directions regarding this book. I did not expect much, and therefore was astounded to find myself thoroughly satisfied by this book. I give my full recommendation for all seeking a fantasy novel that stands well above the crowd of mundane stereotypical fodder (that have so thoroughly upset my literary stomach *grimaces*).
(I still have a foot stuck in the novel's world - so I beg pardon for any jumpiness here. Please understand my helter-skelter attempt to convey my excitement for having found such a rare gem, Kolo?) :D
-Lila
I sought a book that was different. I was tired of traditional fantasy, of traditional characters, of traditional roles and faces. I wanted something fresh, and by Domi, I found it in here. :D
ELANTRIS was beautiful, once. It was called the city of the gods: a place of power, radiance, and magic. Visitors say that the very stones glowed with an inner light, and that the city contained wondrous arcane marvels. At night, Elantris shone like a great silvery fire, visible from a great distance.
Yet, as magnificent as Elantris had been, its inhabitants had been more so. Their hair a brilliant white, their skin an almost metallic silver, the Elantrians seemed to shine like the city itself. legend claimed that they were immortal, or at least nearly so. Their bodies healed quickly, and they were blessed with great strength, insight, and speed. They could perform magics with a bare wave of the hand; men visited Elantris from all across Opelon to receive Elantrian healings, food, or wisdom.
They were divinities.
And anyone could become one.
The Shaod, it was called. The Transformation. It struck randomly - usually at night, during the mysterious hours wen life slowed to rest. The Shaod could take beggar, craftsman, nobleman, or warrior. When it came, the fortunate person's life ended and began anew; he would discard his old, mundane existence and move to Elantris. Elantris, where he could live in bliss, rule in wisdom, and be worshiped for eternity.
Eternity ended ten years ago.
I was first drawn by the cover, hopeful that this book will present me something different than normal fantasy fare. (Yes, I know I should never judge books by their covers... but the tantalizing prospect of a futuristic looking city masked in a book demarked fantasy gave a delightful lurch in my heart. I thought, maybe this will be some meld of science fiction and fantasy - just as I like it!) Opening the cover, Sanderson's dedication to his mother, in short claiming that his mother wished a doctor and ended up with a writer placed the final clinch in me. I thought of my own position, en route to medical school, yet I still feverishly devote time to my dear Abaeran and his worlds both in drawings and in words. Yes, I would read this book.
My few resisting thoughts that had persisted in my mind disappeared as I began reading. I wanted a book with characters who have motivations and reasons. I truly believe that everyone is human, no matter what side of the battlefield he comes from (and my philosophy extends to both fictional characters and real people). There is some root to reason (or unreason) - and this is precisely what the author did. He eventually explains (or at least hint) all character motivations.
The magic is vaguely familiar, like a sort of alchemy with glowing symbols, yet rich and different enough that I would call the magical system fresh. In addition, I liked the involvement and characterization of the city Elantris as a character herself, adding a dynamic that I have sought in books, but have never found. Again, this struck a chord with my own writings and personal imaginings of Abaeran's world, since I consider my cities as alive or at least like a greater organism built from the dynamic human beings living within (like cells in a body).
The characters themselves are thoroughly enjoyable. They are fully fleshed and real; their personalities lasting past the final pages of this book. (I only wish the character Hrathen had more time in the timeline of the novel...) I fell into the pace of the book satisfyingly. The pages disappeared, and I was part of a world that is rich and real. The variety of cultures are fantastic, and I definitely enjoyed learning of the distinctions of each.
I tend to gravitate towards authors like, but not limited to, Barbara Hambly and Gene Wolfe who add obscure words (enormously obscure words in Wolfe's case :D) to intensify their writings. Sanderson did not quite do this, but I found it (to my surprise) completely fine. His words flow easily and clearly - and cleanly. (I say quite because he did have plenty of words from native speakers of different lands' languages spread within the conversations. I had fun picking up and interpreting words, like kayana - all the more fun when I translated correctly! :P)
Plot wise - the complexity was utterly thrilling and satisfying! There were a number of threads to follow and in the end they tied together fantastically. It is not only a story of a kingdom, and a princess and a prince - generic faces of a familiar throne. No, instead factors like political unrest, religious tension and so many others fed upon each other, weaving here, there every where. Simply awesome. :D (Besides, the pacing in the end was brilliantly swift and I strive to provide that sort of speed for what I have in store of the conclusion of my writings.) I do hope for another book continuing in the wonderfully rich world of Opelon (and I sensed perhaps there could be? There were small frays of story threads that I feel can continue... *a hopeful grin*).
The glossary at the end sent shivers through my spine, because I had studied each symbol at the head of each chapter in search of meaning. There, at the end, the meanings and the ties with character and place names were clear.
My thoughts spin in a thousand different directions regarding this book. I did not expect much, and therefore was astounded to find myself thoroughly satisfied by this book. I give my full recommendation for all seeking a fantasy novel that stands well above the crowd of mundane stereotypical fodder (that have so thoroughly upset my literary stomach *grimaces*).
(I still have a foot stuck in the novel's world - so I beg pardon for any jumpiness here. Please understand my helter-skelter attempt to convey my excitement for having found such a rare gem, Kolo?) :D
-Lila