A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham.
This was another book I picked up because it was recommended by my favorite author, George R.R. Martin. Once again, George didn’t steer me wrong.
A Shadow in Summer (aSiS) is book one of The Long Price Quartet. The remaining three novels are forthcoming (great, another series! I think I promised myself after the Robert Jordan fiasco that I wouldn’t start a series again until all the books were out, but that cursed GRRM ruined that pledge now didn’t he?).
Although this is his first novel, he has quite a few published short stories. His experience prepared him well for this endeavor.
As first novels go, this one is a phenomenal accomplishment. To be honest, the prospect of writing out my thoughts and opinions of a work that was so wonderfully crafted leaves me feeling a tad unprepared and reticent to begin. Because I wish to promote this novel as best I can, Ill continue and leave it up to you to see through my awkward style to glean the truth beneath. I’m know myself well enough to know that I have neither the patience or skill to summarize the details of other’s works very well, so what I prefer to write are my impressions and overall feelings.
To begin with, categorizing the novel as “fantasy” is a bit of a disservice to it. I intend absolutely no disrespect to the genre, but aSiS could easily be classified and shelved in the “literature” section of your bookstore. No, I’m not talking about Terry Goodkind’s definition of fantasy and literature either, which is an entire subject in and of itself. Here I am speaking about the crafting of the characters, the realism of the story, the universal nature of the struggles with which the protagonists wrestle, the advanced degree of skill Abraham shows in his prose and the character driven nature of the story.
At its heart, aSiS is about the characters. I find in most “fantasy novels” the story is centered around great wars against evil, creatively crafted worlds and races, unique “magic systems”, or simply the adventures of a band of heroes setting out to travel the world to accomplish some goal ( and usually being chased by something ). There are no evil sorcerers named Darkmore Blackheart, or immortal beings of pure good named Galandifal Silverheart nor much of any of the usual trappings that are typical of the genre. Instead, Abraham has created a unique but realistic world in which his characters wander. There is a magic system in place, and in fact the nature of magic in aSiS is central to the story, but its nature is subtle, complex and to be honest, quite original and beautiful. The characters suffer and struggle because of influences they cannot control and circumstances that arise because of the nature of power and politics in this world, but they do so in a manner so realistic they seem to leap off the page. You can really see the sweat on a character’s brow, the white of clenched knuckles, the light in the eyes from a smile or the pleasant look they get when savoring food or beverage well prepared.
Like GRRM, Abraham’s characters are not beings of pure good or pure evil, they are each different shades of grey. Each carries within him or herself an interpretation of surrounding, ongoing events that is utilized to make decisions that are the best possible for each individual’s goals or ideals. Some are motivated by love, others by duty and a sense of nationalism, while yet another is motivated by self-discovery. There is even an interesting contrast between two characters, one motivated by greed while the other is propelled by a sense of doing what’s “right”. The reader can see each character clearly and each is unique, just like life.
The world is magnificent also. Although the story takes place almost entirely in one city, you get hints and suggestions as to a wide variety of flavors that we might get to sample in later novels. The main city, Saraykhet, is seasoned heavily with elements of an oriental feudal society. As you read, you feel truly transported to another time and place as you share the sensations and experiences of the characters as they go about their lives in this magnificent fantastical capital city. I can still recall the time I spent at the Poet’s house by the pond, drinking late at night with Maati and Itani at a teahouse or in the brothel in which so many of the novel’s most poignant scenes take place. This novel is a truly unique experience for the reader. To be honest, its one you should discover for yourself and not have it spoiled by me or any other reviewer’s summary.
So, do I recommend this book to you? Yes, tentatively. Why such a caveat? Because this novel is not for everyone. You will find no great swordsmen fighting duels here, nor withered necromancers hurling spells from a dark tower. There are no orcs, trollocs, trolls, ogres, goblins or any similar such beings pushed around the story as pawns for some great evil presence. No gods, demi-gods or nigh-immortal beings show up at any point to wreck havoc with the protagonists. No, this is a real story about people, decisions, consequences and emotions. Dragonlance and Steven Erikson fans need not apply. There is simply not enough “action” for most fantasy readers.
Readers that will enjoy this work are those who yearn for something real, yet new, Something written by someone with an amazing talent for prose and whose writing style doesn’t take you “out of the moment” due to awkwardness, inexperience or poor editing.
My final verdict? Overall score: solid A. Recommendation, one thumb up. Hopefully that makes sense to you, its to keep you from coming back and crying to me that it was boring. I’m talking to you Goodkind!
This was another book I picked up because it was recommended by my favorite author, George R.R. Martin. Once again, George didn’t steer me wrong.
A Shadow in Summer (aSiS) is book one of The Long Price Quartet. The remaining three novels are forthcoming (great, another series! I think I promised myself after the Robert Jordan fiasco that I wouldn’t start a series again until all the books were out, but that cursed GRRM ruined that pledge now didn’t he?).
Although this is his first novel, he has quite a few published short stories. His experience prepared him well for this endeavor.
As first novels go, this one is a phenomenal accomplishment. To be honest, the prospect of writing out my thoughts and opinions of a work that was so wonderfully crafted leaves me feeling a tad unprepared and reticent to begin. Because I wish to promote this novel as best I can, Ill continue and leave it up to you to see through my awkward style to glean the truth beneath. I’m know myself well enough to know that I have neither the patience or skill to summarize the details of other’s works very well, so what I prefer to write are my impressions and overall feelings.
To begin with, categorizing the novel as “fantasy” is a bit of a disservice to it. I intend absolutely no disrespect to the genre, but aSiS could easily be classified and shelved in the “literature” section of your bookstore. No, I’m not talking about Terry Goodkind’s definition of fantasy and literature either, which is an entire subject in and of itself. Here I am speaking about the crafting of the characters, the realism of the story, the universal nature of the struggles with which the protagonists wrestle, the advanced degree of skill Abraham shows in his prose and the character driven nature of the story.
At its heart, aSiS is about the characters. I find in most “fantasy novels” the story is centered around great wars against evil, creatively crafted worlds and races, unique “magic systems”, or simply the adventures of a band of heroes setting out to travel the world to accomplish some goal ( and usually being chased by something ). There are no evil sorcerers named Darkmore Blackheart, or immortal beings of pure good named Galandifal Silverheart nor much of any of the usual trappings that are typical of the genre. Instead, Abraham has created a unique but realistic world in which his characters wander. There is a magic system in place, and in fact the nature of magic in aSiS is central to the story, but its nature is subtle, complex and to be honest, quite original and beautiful. The characters suffer and struggle because of influences they cannot control and circumstances that arise because of the nature of power and politics in this world, but they do so in a manner so realistic they seem to leap off the page. You can really see the sweat on a character’s brow, the white of clenched knuckles, the light in the eyes from a smile or the pleasant look they get when savoring food or beverage well prepared.
Like GRRM, Abraham’s characters are not beings of pure good or pure evil, they are each different shades of grey. Each carries within him or herself an interpretation of surrounding, ongoing events that is utilized to make decisions that are the best possible for each individual’s goals or ideals. Some are motivated by love, others by duty and a sense of nationalism, while yet another is motivated by self-discovery. There is even an interesting contrast between two characters, one motivated by greed while the other is propelled by a sense of doing what’s “right”. The reader can see each character clearly and each is unique, just like life.
The world is magnificent also. Although the story takes place almost entirely in one city, you get hints and suggestions as to a wide variety of flavors that we might get to sample in later novels. The main city, Saraykhet, is seasoned heavily with elements of an oriental feudal society. As you read, you feel truly transported to another time and place as you share the sensations and experiences of the characters as they go about their lives in this magnificent fantastical capital city. I can still recall the time I spent at the Poet’s house by the pond, drinking late at night with Maati and Itani at a teahouse or in the brothel in which so many of the novel’s most poignant scenes take place. This novel is a truly unique experience for the reader. To be honest, its one you should discover for yourself and not have it spoiled by me or any other reviewer’s summary.
So, do I recommend this book to you? Yes, tentatively. Why such a caveat? Because this novel is not for everyone. You will find no great swordsmen fighting duels here, nor withered necromancers hurling spells from a dark tower. There are no orcs, trollocs, trolls, ogres, goblins or any similar such beings pushed around the story as pawns for some great evil presence. No gods, demi-gods or nigh-immortal beings show up at any point to wreck havoc with the protagonists. No, this is a real story about people, decisions, consequences and emotions. Dragonlance and Steven Erikson fans need not apply. There is simply not enough “action” for most fantasy readers.
Readers that will enjoy this work are those who yearn for something real, yet new, Something written by someone with an amazing talent for prose and whose writing style doesn’t take you “out of the moment” due to awkwardness, inexperience or poor editing.
My final verdict? Overall score: solid A. Recommendation, one thumb up. Hopefully that makes sense to you, its to keep you from coming back and crying to me that it was boring. I’m talking to you Goodkind!
2 comments:
If you don't understand Terry's werk, then you probebly not old enougf to reed his books.
By "old enough" do you mean "senile" cause....that I can understand.
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