Book Description
In the year 666 C.E., Sister Fidelma embarks on a pilgrimage to reflect upon her commitment to the church and her relationship with the Saxon monk Eadulf. Seabound to the Shrine of St. James, she encounters her first love Cian, who abandoned her ten years earlier. But before she can sort out her feelings-she must discern if a murderer has also set sail with her...
Customer Reviews:
Sister Fidelma at Her Best.......2007-02-03
Peter Tremayne is the fiction pseudonym of a well-known authority on the ancient Celts, who has utilised his knowledge of the Brehon law system and 7th-Century Irish society to create a new concept in detective fiction.
The Sister Fidelma novels are taking on almost cult proportions and are becoming ever more popular with each offering from the author, whose obvious knowledge of the times and subjects he writes about shines out like a beacon on the shore.
It is the autumn of the year AD666 and Sister Fidelma has set out on a pilgrimage, her main task and thoughts are to reflect on her commitment to the religious life. Her work has to a degree isolated her from the life that a normal Christian Sister would live within the church.
However on the first night aboard ship a pilgrim is washed overboard, but was it an accident or a deliberate act of murder. Fidelma find herself involved in attempting to solve the mystery . . .
The best so far!.......2005-01-20
My wife bought about 30 books for a few bucks at a church yard sale. Many of Peter Tremayne's books were in with the ones she purchased. Several months later I began reading them. They were good.
I enjoy the mysteries. I love Tremayne's viewpoint on the Irish Catholic Church. His characters are broad, but nonetheless enjoyable.
However I found Act of Mercy to be the best title so far. It moves quickly and engages the reader better than the previous books. This is not great literature, but it's pretty darn cool to read.
Murder on the high seas.......2003-07-17
Act of Mercy is set in the year 666. The novel's protaganist, Sister Fidelma finds herself on a pilgrimage to the Iberian Peninsula. While on the journey, a series of murders are commited on the high seas that Fidelma must solve. In addition, her ex-lover Cian is also traveling with the group of pilgrims and becomes a prime suspect in the crimes. Fidelma must overcome her personal feelings towards Cian if she if to find the true culpret to the crimes, and bring them to justice.
This novel does a great job balancing history with murder, adventure and internal struggle. Some of the high points of Act of Mercy include the Historical Note at the beginning of the book that explains some of the events, people, and circumstances that surround the characters involved in the story. The descriptions and focus on the religious and political climate of the era is also a high point for this novel. In addition, there are a few scenes in this book where the author brings together all the suspects into one room for interogation. This form of detective work done by Fidelma is indicative of such classic novels written by the likes of Agatha Christie and Ngao Marsh.
The plot of this book was solid, but one of the deaths was a bit unconvincing. Also, the romantic angle of the book was a bit tiresome at times. Too often mystery writers feel the need to give their characters a love interest as a means of exploring that characters personal life. Quite frankly, the trick is over-used and there is nothing remotely orginal or engaging about Fidelma's love life. Tremayne does a much better job of fleshing out Fidelma when she is focused on her choice of career, her duty the church, and her passion for seeking the truth in crimes. This is not to suggest that she should not have a love life, but many readers who are fans of historical mysteries are more interested in reading how the characters act and react to the setting in which the author has placed them, not affairs of the heart.
Overall, Tremayne is successful at having his characters act and react to the historical setting he has placed them in. The shotcomings of this book are common to many mystery novels, but not so severe that it ruins the book. In fact, the novel was quite good and gives promise to the rest of the series.
About my grading system: I interpret Amazon.com's five-star ranking system as follows: 1 star = far below standards, 2 stars = below standards, 3 stars = meets standards, 4 stars = exceeds standards, 5 stars = far exceeds standards.
A Ship-Lover's Mystery.......2003-07-06
I highly recommend this book to lovers of ships and Celtic history. The writing style is a significant improvement from Tremayne's Shroud for the Archbishop - those who were disappointed with the quality of the writing and characterization in that book may now want to give the series another try. Although the author's biases still come through at times, they are more often hinted than shouted (which was a problem for Shroud), and the characters are considerably fuller and richer.
Average customer rating:
- My brother's keeper - Rolph
- My Brothers Keeper
- Well worth time to read
- Inspiring and healing
- Outstanding!
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My Brother's Keeper: Union and Confederate Soldiers' Acts of Mercy During the Civil War
Daniel N. Rolph
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0811709973 |
Book Description
Countless books on the Civil War recount the carnage, vengeance, and heroism in battle. But there was another aspect of the Civil War as well: one in which Yankees and Rebels during the heat of battle saved one another, often at risk of their own lives; one in which soldiers and civilians, prison guards and prisoners, though on opposing sides, not only traded with one another, but gave humanitarian aid and sustenance in times of need. This "brotherhood for the enemy" contradicted all the rules of normal warfare but did in fact take place. Using primary source materials such as diaries, letters, military reports, and newspapers, Daniel Rolph opens up a unique and little-known genre of Civil War history.
Customer Reviews:
My brother's keeper - Rolph.......2002-06-27
With so many books detailing the gore and carnage of the CW, it's refreshing to read about the bridges to humanity that were never destroyed. Dr. Dan deserves a lot of credit for compiling these moving anecdotes.
My Brothers Keeper.......2002-04-10
My Brother's Keeper by Dr. Daniel Rolph raises the standard by which Civil War history is recorded. We have many historical accounts of bravery and agression on the battlefield and while those accounts can stir the blood in positive ways, nothing has moved me more than Rolph's reports of merciful bravery in My Brother's Keeper. During these days of patriotic fervor and nationalism, it was inspiring to read about mercy being part of the warrior's spirit. Definately a must read and a "Keeper" for my library.
Well worth time to read.......2002-04-09
It doesn't matter if you have ancestors from the North or South, you will have a different feeling toward those who so gallantly fought and died for what they believed after reading "My Brothers Keeper." The book brings out the basic caring nature of man that can be seen in page after page of records written by those who were involved in hand to hand combat during the Civil War. A few tears were shed during the reading of this book, as I could imagine the emotions on both sides. Well worth the time to read.
Inspiring and healing.......2002-04-07
It was intriguing reading the experiences of those that participated from both the North and South and their compassion for one another. It was because of the character of those that served on both sides that we are a strong united nation today. I liked the fact that the author did not editorialize a lot. It was a beautiful collection of experiences of those from both sides that rendered and received compassionate service. I highly recommend the book to anyone that enjoys biographies.
Outstanding!.......2002-04-03
Rolph's book takes the reader behind enemy lines in the Civil War - only to find that the "enemy" oftentimes lowered their sword in order to aid a wounded opponent in battle. The courage, compassion and selflessness of these soldiers of yesteryear are shining examples for us today.
My Brother's Keeper is smartly written and thoroughly enjoyable. The accounts are well-documented - showing that Rolph cares more about historical accuracy than recreating the past. Many of the soldiers' writings are literary masterpieces in and of themselves. An excellent read!
Book Description
A major new reissue of the work of a classic noir novelist. With the acclaim for The Talented Mr. Ripley, more film projects in production, and two biographies forthcoming, expatriate legend Patricia Highsmith would be shocked to see that she has finally arrived in her homeland. Throughout her career, Highsmith brought a keen literary eye and a genius for plumbing the psychopathic mind to more than thirty works of fiction, unparalleled in their placid deviousness and sardonic humor. With deadpan accuracy, she delighted in creating true sociopaths in the guise of the everyday man or woman. Now, one of her finest works is again in print: A Suspension of Mercy, a masterpiece of noir fantasy. With this novel, Highsmith revels in eliciting the unsettling psychological forces that lurk beneath the surface of everyday contemporary life.
Customer Reviews:
Brilliant.......2007-05-04
One amazing book. ASome wonderful sequences, and a slow, painful descent into confusion and misery and all set up by such a simple, clear premise. The ending is so unusual and so violent you feel a palpable sense of shock. The feeling of an "everyman" trying to detangle himself from a mess is as good as anything Hitchcock ever concocted. Wow.
Another Strange Psycholgical Treat from P. Highsmith!.......2005-07-24
A frustrated American author meets and marries an English lady, they move into the English countryside so he can write and think, and their marriage gradually dissolves into sarsastic quips, and trivial complaints. Though this is definitely not new, Hightsmith twists this faltering marriage into a nasty game of hide and seek, where the wife takes an extended disappearing act into Brighton, and her folks call the police to investigate. Meanwhile, frustrated write-hubby daydreams and sometimes tells his friends how he may have done away with her. In a wonderfully set English landscape, this seeming innocent situation slowly turns frightening, with a fine cast of characters, including the elderly widow,new next door neighbor. For sheer everyday creepiness, Highsmith is in a class of her own in this non-Ripley mesmorizer.
A mystery story without a real murder.......2004-11-22
During the whole book one of the main figures, Sydney, thinks about killing other people. Of course, he's a writer he has to imagine such things, other people in the story say. Nearly in every detail he imagines how he would kill for example his wife. And when she leaves him he plays as if she was really dead and it seems as if she was on the way to play this game with him. But his wife isn't dead. She's still alive but she doesn't want to see Sydney again and she doesn't want to come back to her parents because she's ashamed because she has been away for such a long time.
But didn't I buy a mystery story the reader asks himself. He can see that there's a lot of talking about murder but no-one gets killed by an other. Still the book takes an ending in a very special way, in a way no-one would expect it to happen.
So we may say that Patricia Highsmith keeps us on tenterhooks nearly until the end of the book - because we are all waiting for a murder and really don't know if it will happen. And we can also never be sure, that the murder (if it is going to happen) will happen in the way we could imagine it. We are always uncertain about the next thing that will happen. But exactly this is how Patricia Highsmith holds the tension inside of us high, very high.
I really enjoyed this book because it's full of tension from the first until the last page and you as the reader may never know what will happen next. The book is also full of special personalities who are worth to be known by us. The figures have thoughts which I can't imagine that they will cross my mind once but it's very interesting to see how other people may think or react if the situation becomes real or seems to become real.
The book really takes us in another world, a world full of incertitudes although the reader does always know what Sydney thinks. But there are all the other people who think differently about Sydney and this always produces a feeling of incertitude in us. The reader doesn't really know if he may trust Sydney or if Sydney will do a thing to change the image we have of him. This also holds the tension on a very high level. Your feelings will change through the lecture at the end of the book you will think differently about nearly everyone in the book than you did in the beginning! So, just read it and let you be taken through this change of feelings!
Highsmith was NOT a crime writer...........2004-01-08
...and this novel is an example. Because her characters often engage in activities that are illegal or, at least, immoral, American publishers have classified her work as "crime fiction," or something similar. Highsmith's fiction was decidedly NOT crime fiction, and people who read Grafton, Cornwell, or Kellerman might be disappointed. There are no good guys, bad guys, hunky detectives, loyal girl Fridays, or love stories. Just people we normally meet, taking extraordinary chances or exploring weird indulgences. Who hasn't fantasized about killing one's spouse (or parent, child, friend, enemy, etc.)?
Read any of Patricia Highsmith's work as if you were reading a classic novelist--Dostoevsky, perhaps. In Highsmith's vision, crime is a metaphor representing the oddly amoral choices we make out of our natural narcissism or neurosis. The discomfort you feel while reading a Highsmith novel? Be warned: that's your conscience scraping its fingernails across the blackboard of your soul. Pleasant? No. Dangerous, guilty, neurotic fun? You bet!
Enjoyable suspense novel.......2002-04-26
I'm so glad that the works of Patricia Highsmith have been reissued (I particularly love her Ripley series). This book is similar in many ways to the Ripley books - male protagonist who is an amoral American living in the European countryside and married to a European. Sydney is an unsuccessful American mystery writer, who finds himself unhappy in his marriage. His wife, Alicia, is a bit critical of Sydney and he finds his imagination plotting her murder. The suspense comes from guessing whether he will end up killing her and whether he will get away with it. The plot twists are rather clever, although very little of what happens is particularly believable and the ending is a let-down. Despite these flaws, Highsmith's writing style is so smooth and enjoyable that I found myself liking this book a great deal. Highly recommmended for suspense book lovers and fans of the Ripley series.
Book Description
In the late autumn of 666 A.D., Fidelma of Cashel - an advocate of the Brehon Courts, sister to the King of Cashel, and religieuse of the Celtic Church is at a crossroads. Needing to reflect upon her commitment to the religious life and her relationship to the Saxon monk Eadulf, she leaves Eadulf behind and joins a small band sailing from Ireland on a pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. James in modern-day Spain. Her first surprise on-board is the appearance of Cian, her first love, a man who had deserted her ten years ago, and who stirs up memories she'd rather forget.
As if this wasn't complication enough, on the first night out the ship is tossed by a turbulent sea and a pilgrim disappears, apparently washed overboard. But the appearance of a blood-stained robe raises the possibility of murder and death continues to dog the tiny band of pilgrims trapped within the close confines of the ship. Battling against the antagonism of her fellow pilgrims, Fidelma is determined to solve this most perplexing of puzzles before the ship reaches the shrine and the killer, if there is one, disappears forever.
Customer Reviews:
Sister Fidelma Sets Sail.......2004-10-09
I freely admit that Peter Tremayne is not a good writer. At his worst he sounds like he is across the room shouting the narrative at you. His detective, Sister Fidelma comes across like a mixture of Perry Mason, Kung Fu and Sherlock Holmes, with poor old Brother Ealdwolf her happy bumbling Watson. However there are simply not enough books about Dark Age (he would dispute the term) Irish judge magistrates in a religious order.
In this book where we have Sister Fidelma leaving Ealdwolf behind as she ponders her dedication to law and religion, she sets sail with a group of contentious and mismatched pilgrims. And, lo and behold, she finds one of the pilgrims to be a blast from her own past. And he hasn't changed much at all. Then a woman disappears and is presumed lost overboard and Fidelma begins to investigate that and other strange happenings on a small boat.
Add Saxon slavers (Wo-DEN, Wo-DEN), heavy weather at sea and a dreadful ship wreck resulting in a rescue that further complicates the case.
You can tell that Tremayne is really trying to give Sister Fidelma more depth and character and because he is doing something different I'm inclined to give him an A for Effort.
Bad prose, bad characterization, silly plot.......2003-09-05
This was my first Peter Tremayne purchase, and it will be my last. Mr. Tremayne doesn't seem to know if he is writing a historical mystery, a fantasy novel, or a really bad romance. I finished this book because I couldn't believe it was so bad--it gradually assumed a kind of horrible fascination for me. The prose style is clumsy, the diction overblown, and the motivations are silly.
If you want historical mysteries, stick with Brother Cadfael. If you want hokey but fun fantasy, read Barbara Hamblyn. If you want romantic mysteries, read Elizabeth Peters et al. Or read Lindsey Davis' "Falco" mysteries for a bit of all three.
A Medieval Nautical Mystery!.......2003-05-06
In this story Sister Fidelmas is making a pilgrimage to visit a Saint's shrine in Iberia. She is without the faithful Eadulf, and , in fact, she has deliberately made this trip in order to try to assess her feelings for Eadulf and to asses the validity of her religious calling. In order to get to Iberia she must take ship. She books with a group of pilgrims that are going to visit the same shrine that she is going to, but what an ill-assorted group they are. There are a lot of tensions in the group, and it's not long after they get out to sea before murder occurs. We meet a lot of wonderful characters in this book, and the sea theme is good. Fidelma does manage to figure out the murderer, but not before other bodies turn up. In fact, she narrowly misses being one of them herself.
Sister Fidelma is Tops.......2001-11-13
This series has always been one of the best of its genre, and, unlike other similar series, it shows no sign whatsoever of losing steam as more books are written. In fact, this was one of the best Fidelma mysteries. As always, Fidelma is positively Holmesian in her deductive abilities, and she is a much more multi-faceted character than the illustrious Mr. H. Also, Tremayne always creates memorable characters, both the foils and the criminals, and, for the most part(certainly here), cracking good mysteries. Also, there was a nice teaser at the end that leaves the reader definitely anticipating the next entry in the series. (...). Anyway, a great read.
Great historical mystery.......2001-10-18
Sister Fidelma of Cashmal, daughter and sister to kings, takes a pilgrimage to Iberia to visit the Shrine of St. James. She needs a respite from her royal sibling and from the Saxon monk Eadulf. She knows she has found her life's calling as a religieure, but hopes this odyssey will help her sort some mixed feelings especially her feelings about Eadulf.
Alas, poor Fidelma received no respite on her trek as her luck deserts her from the start when she meets first love Cian, who unceremoniously dumped her years ago. Soon two women are killed and attempts on Fidelma's life occur. With the ship's captain blessing, Fidelma begins investigating the homicides.
In the eighth installment of the Sister Fidelma historical mysteries, readers obtain a glimpse at the heart and soul of the heroine that paints a vivid picture of life in eight-century Ireland. The who-done-it is a marvelous piece of misdirection, as the villain remains hidden until the end. When revealed, the audience will feel pity towards the culprit. ACT OF MERCY is a fantastic Dark Ages who-done-it.
Harriet Klausner
Average customer rating:
- sure to be a classic
- A MUST-READ
- A challenge to read...
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The Micah Mandate: "What Does the Lord Require of You? to Act Justly and to Love Mercy and to Walk Humbly With Your God." (Christian Living)
George Grant
Manufacturer: Moody Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0802456340 |
Customer Reviews:
sure to be a classic.......2006-04-07
Dr. Grant's 'Micah Mandate' is surely a must read for all Christians seeking spiritual balance. For me, this book falls into the category of purpose dirven life and other popular books. This may not have the popularity, but the read is a good one. I have given this book out to dozens of friends who have benefitted in the way of lasting change. It is delightfully written. It is scholastic, yet entertaining.
A MUST-READ.......2002-09-24
George Grant is one of the smartest guys on earth, and this writing is dead-on. If only there were more like him...
This book offers an excellent analysis of the balance between faith and good works. It's well-written, very in-depth, and I HIGHLY recommend it!
A challenge to read..........2000-06-10
This book is well written, though it is a cheallenge to read. It is written above the average persons head at times. But keep working at it, it will help you understand where we, as Christians, have failed to follow God's direction and left His path.
Product Description
Multiple books shipped as one item for your convenience. Save on Shipping/Handling charges.
Product Description
The true story of a killing in the 'name' of love. Blood brothers in a chilling pact of loyalty and love... The death of George Zygmanic.
Average customer rating:
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ACT OF MERCY
FRANCIS CLIFFORD
Manufacturer: HODDER AND STOUGHTON
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SDVWQA |
Average customer rating:
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Act of mercy
Francis Clifford
Manufacturer: Coward-McCann
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007E9D0C |
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An act of mercy: euthanasia today
Richard Trubo
Manufacturer: Nash Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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ASIN: 0840212917 |
Average customer rating:
- A major work by a major writer (when she cares to be)
- A Classic!
- Hrmmm......
- not for fantasy fans only!
- beginning of one of the finest SF series I've seen
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Gate of Ivrel (G K Hall Large Print Science Fiction Series)
C. J. Cherryh
Manufacturer: G. K. Hall & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Fires of Azeroth (Morgaine Saga, Book 3)
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Exile's Gate (Morgaine Saga, Book 4)
ASIN: 0783888244 |
Download Description
Scattered about the galaxy were the time-space Gates of a vanished but not forgotten alien race. In their time, long before the rise of the native civilizations, they had terrorized a hundred worlds -- not from villainy but from folly, from tampering with the strands that held a universe together.
Now the task was to uproot these Gates, destroy their potency for mischief, take horror out of the hands of the few who hungered for power by misuse of the Gates.
This is the story of one such Gate and one such world.
Customer Reviews:
A major work by a major writer (when she cares to be).......2007-05-25
After her two "Hanan Rebellion" novels, the Morgaine trilogy, of which this is the first volume, was Cherryh's first major project. It's the story of Vanye, bastard half-brother of the heir to Morija, whom he kills in self-defense and finds himself outlawed as punishment. Now an "ilin," a warrior without a clan or anything else to protect him, he is subject to Claiming by any lord who claims to put him under obligation for the period of a year. But Vanye, barely alive on a frozen mountainside, meets Morgaine as she exits a Gate -- only a short time, subjectively, after she entered it, but more than a century has passed by Vanye's calendar. Morgaine's task, as the last survivor of a party sent out by the Science Bureau, is to close the Gates all across the universe, to prevent a time-change enacted in the ancient past from destroying the present and the future. All the story is told, though, from Vanye's POV, so it has more of magic to it than science as he tries to understand what's happening. And it's a chase story from the first page, with Morgaine and Vanye, now bound to her to what he expects to be his death, forcing their way through a series of clan-chiefdoms as they try to reach the mountain upon which stands the Master Gate. Honor is a major force in this world and Vanye suffers greatly because of it, trying to balance the needs and demands of his "liyo," Morgaine, his remaining half-brother, whom he crippled, and his cousin, lord of another territory nearby. Even this early in her career, Cherryh was a master at spinning a magical narrative and dialogue, and you will want to have the other two volumes of the trilogy close to hand before you finish this one.
A Classic!.......2006-02-23
This is one of the small handfull of books which I have kept for years (decades?) and read repeatedly. It hovers just below THE LORD OF THE RINGS on the scale of great sci-fi/fantasy. Nobody who has read this book on my recommendation has been anything less than 100% pleased. Including my Mom.
Though this is the first of a series, it stands well on its own -- perfection just as it is. A real classic which can be read by people who don't usually read or like sci-fi. Loan it to your own Mom after you are finished and you will see.
The "heroine" is a traveler through space and time named Morgaine. But the entire tale is from the point of view of Vanye, a youth from a primitive and superstitious warrior culture who regards Morgaine as a witch. He is forced by a sacred oath to serve her, even though he believes that serving a witch will cost him his soul -- a LITERAL "Damned-If-I-Do and Damned-If-I-Don't" situation.
The book is science fiction, but reads like sword and sorcery, because that is how Vanye sees the world. He is a wonderful character, probably one of the BEST CHARACTERS EVER CREATED, imho. Cherryh's gift for realisticly portraying the psychology of a superstitious, obsessive, highly traumatized, warrior-caste teenager is so spot-on it is almost creepy. Morgaine isn't too shabby either.
Give it a try. I tell people to read the first three pages of Chapter One. That is all it takes to get them hooked.
Oh, and don't be misled by the the cover art. This isn't remotely cheese-cakey. The heroine wears clothes and everything.
Hrmmm.............2000-10-31
It wasn't that bad, but first let me note that the other 7 reviewers here have read this entire series (some more than once) and for the most part, they each seem to be lumping all the books into one review here.
I, however, as a first time Cherryh reader, found this book to be rather dry. The premise, setting, description, and characters were decent enough and it was quite unlike most other fantasy I've read. But it didn't really capture my imagination as it had theirs. Still, I hope that when I continue the series with WELL of SHIUAN, it will pick up as they have alluded, but for now -I am not sold on this one. Time will tell!
not for fantasy fans only!.......2000-07-07
I am not usually a fan of fantasy novels, but this novel and the three that follow it are one of the few exceptions to this. The most interesting aspect of the novel (and series) to me is the way both of the major characters, Morgaine and Vanye, are bound by their oaths to paths they would not otherwise have chosen. This novel deals more with Vanye than with Morgaine, and this reluctant warrior who will above all else honor his oath makes an extremely interesting character. Morgaine's character will be more fully developed in the novels to come; this first one belongs to Vanye. This is very human fantasy, a heroic reflection of all the things we do because we have said we would.
beginning of one of the finest SF series I've seen.......2000-01-23
_Gate_ is a great beginning to the Morgaine novels. Morgaine is an excellent heroine, breaking a lot of the lame stereotypes that lesser writers have fallen back on when it was too much effort to create a strong, unique female protagonist. If you appreciate a heroine who is all business and only fleetingly vulnerable, Morgaine is the genuine article. Vanye makes the perfect foil to her: fallible, afraid, loyal, and very human.
To give just one example of Cherryh's descriptive talents without spoiling the book, if you close your eyes and visualize when Morgaine draws her primary weapon, a shiver will probably go down your back. Rare indeed is the author who can scare you without resorting to grossness.
You could save time by ordering _Well of Shiuan_, _Fires of Azeroth_, and _Exile's Gate_ at the same time you order this one. If you order this one you are going to want the other three anyway.
Average customer rating:
- Gate of Ivrel: Claiming Rites Graphic Novel
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Gate of Ivrel: Claiming Rites
C. J. Cherryh
Manufacturer: Donning Company Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Gate of Ivrel: Fever Dreams
ASIN: 0898655153 |
Book Description
Full color glossy graphic novel: adaptation of C.J. Cherryh's novel Gate of Ivrel, vol 1
Customer Reviews:
Gate of Ivrel: Claiming Rites Graphic Novel.......1999-12-04
This is a great little graphic novel based on the first few chapters of C.J. Cherryh's excellent novel Gate of Ivrel. The art is painstakingly detailed while remaining in the best classic comic-book style. There was a second Gate of Ivrel graphic novel, Fever Dreams, but the third, Blood Ties, was never finished or published. Fancher and Cherryh make a great duo. Perfect for any Cherryh fan!
Product Description
Fantasy. "The world of Shiuan was doomed. Rising waters and shattering earthquakes due to the coming of a vast and strange new satellite had sealed the fate of its peoples- flee or die with their world. Their sole escape routes were the Gates, the passages between worlds established by a forgotten cosmic race. And just as this knowledge dawned on the desperate tribes and cities there appeared the woman Morgaine- whose mission was to seal Shiuan's Gates." Winner of the John W. Campbell Award for the best new writer of the year.
Customer Reviews:
First-rate for a "middle" book.......2007-05-28
The middle volume of a trilogy is always a difficult animal: It lacks both the background and set-up material necessary to introduce the story, and the climax promised for the final third. Here, Cherryh forthrightly treats it as the "bridge" story it is, and it's a rather depressing read -- though necessary for what comes after. Where Andur-Kursh in the first book was a land of armed holds on crags and hard winters, Hiuaj is a slowly-drowning land of earthquakes under the thumb of the qual halflings of Shiuan to the north. Jhirun is a young barrow-folk girl of the south, dangerously fey in the eyes of her family and neighbors, who rejects her home for the legendary prospect of safety in the north when Morgaine and Vanye, her sworn right hand, appear suddenly before her. But where Morgaine spent only a hundred years in the Gate between coming and going, the army she led in Andur-Kursh, and which disappeared into the Gate of Ivrel, landed in Hiuaj a thousand years in the past, and Jhirun is one of their distant descendants. Morgaine's quest this time is to pursue Vanye's cousin, Roh -- who is no longer what he seems -- in an attempt to close Shiuan's Gate before Roh can use it for his own ends. It's a much darker and much more unpleasant journey than the straightforward quest in the first book, but Roh is a fascinating character: How much of the original man is left, how much is now the body-changing qual who inhabits him? You should have all three volumes lined up on your shelf so you can read straight through this one, put it down and pick up the third volume. The whole epic runs to 700 pages and it's well worth your time.
Hurry through this to get to Fires of Azeroth.......2002-05-06
Cherryh seems to be just warming up here. The first book, "Gate," set up the characters, but was otherwise not up to much. "Well" is choppy and repetitive -- and in desperate need of editing (like dropping the first couple of chapters, and drawing out the ending so it reads better), but is well worth rushing through to get to "Fires of Azeroth." "Fires" brings it all together, with fantastic dialogue, action, characters, and so on. So don't give up. Blow through this, and get to Azeroth. You'll be happy you did.
The excellent follow-up to "Gate of Ivrel".......1998-07-01
This tale of Morgaine and Vanye following Roh through the gate into a world slowly being engulfed by rising seas is a good deal more engrossing than "Gate of Ivrel". It's a very dark tale, Roh, the halfling qhal, and the humans from the Barrows-hold all seem to be only out for themselves. But it is definitely a fine story, raising important moral questions mainly about Vanye's loyalties and the nature of evil. Many books claim to have transcended the black/white portrayal of good and evil, but with this book (and its even better follow-up, "Fires of Azeroth"), Cherryh truly does achieve what most of them couldn't; exhibiting the ambivalent nature of the border of good and bad. Superb.
TENSION ... that makes you beg for more........1997-01-03
This whole series, consisting of "Gate of Ivrel", "Well of Shiuan", "Fires of Azeroth", and "Exile's Gate", is my favorite of any author's, and I've read A LOT.
Cherryh's style is clean and dry, but at the same time very intense and passionate. Instead of using flowery words and melodrama to spoon-feed emotion to the reader, she uses common words and short, almost aggressive phrasing. The tension and passion and danger are drawn with a sharpness and clarity that is almost painful. A deceptively simple word or glance between these characters, whether friends or enemies, will at times bring that tension to a breathless peak, but without the expected release afterwards.
This is not an easy, exciting Harlequin-esque roller-coaster of peaks and valleys. This is a sharp ridge on a bare mountain with an occasional rock slide.
This is not a graceful Puccini aria that makes you want to weep and feel melancholy. This is avant-garde jazz where a single painfully high note is drawn out in the background for so long that you find yourself begging for a release that you fear may never come but then again do you really want it to?
It's exhausting, but in the best sense.
And about the 4th time I read the series, I found that it was funny too! It is, of course, a very dry humor, but it's there. And not a joke or eccentric comedic bit player to be seen.
It's easy to fall in love with these characters. They're very different from each other, but they're both excruciatingly familiar!
Cherryh creates the perfect male characters for a straight female audience. Cherryh's men are the kind many of us would create for ourselves. (Which is very different from the men male writers create.) Cherryh's men are capable of great valor and honor, but also of very deep emotion and affection, and self-reflection.
Also, her men often feel strong love and affection and respect for other men, without there being any sexual element to it. This is not only unique, but very difficult. The ability to create tension between male characters who love each other without it reading like sexual tension or a Sunday night "family drama" is something I rarely see. I appreciate it when I do.
My circle of friends has a shorthand way of expressing our reaction to this exhausting mix of physical danger and emotional tension, just by groaning "AAAAAHHHHGHHHHGHGHHHHHG!!!". If one of us starts off a conversation this way, another might say "Are you dying, or did you just finish a Cherryh?"
Average customer rating:
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Gate of Ivrel
Manufacturer: Daw Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000HYPKEU |
Average customer rating:
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Gate of Ivrel
C.J. Cherryh
Manufacturer: Orbit Books, London
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Cherryh, C.J. | ( C ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000PL0EA0 |
Product Description
UK edition. Cherryh's first sci fi book. A book in the Morgaine series.
Average customer rating:
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Gate of Ivrel
C.J. Cherryh
Manufacturer: Daw
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000OUIJ22 |
Books:
- Agents of Innocence
- Always a Thief
- Animal Appetite
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- Badger's Moon: A Mystery of Ancient Ireland (Sister Fidelma Mysteries)
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- Bones to Ashes: A Novel
- Cat Seeing Double: A Joe Grey Mystery (Joe Grey Mysteries)
- Cold Sassy Tree
- Complete Novels: Red Harvest / The Dain Curse / The Maltese Falcon / The Glass Key / The Thin Man (Library of America)
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