Fantasy

Review: The Color of Magic

/ rtrube54 / Leave a comment
Cover image of "The Color of Magic" by Terry Pratchett

The Color of Magic (Discworld, 1) Terry Pratchett. (HarperCollins (ISBN: 9780063373662) 2024 (first published in 1983).

Summary: A failure at wizard school is compelled to protect a rich but naive traveler with a most unusual luggage chest.

So, I’ve taken the plunge into Discworld. For the uninitiated, Discworld is a planet that exists as a flat disc with continents and oceans. Four huge elephants support Discworld. They, in turn, stand on the shell of one gigantic turtle, the Great A’Tuin, who swims through space. From that alone, you will probably deduce that this is fantasy at its zaniest. And you would not be wrong. Given the huge popularity of the series, you might be surprised to know that the original British press run back in 1983 was 506 copies.

In a way, this first book serves to introduce us to Discworld. It takes the form of an odyssey that begins at Ankh-Morpork, the biggest city of Discworld. Rincewind is a wizard school flunkout whose one accomplishment was to memorize one of the eight powerful spells, which drove any other magic out of his head. Twoflower, an insurance salesman from the Agatean Empire, approaches him to serve as a guide.. He is accompanied by the Luggage–a chest with legs. The chest is full of gold and is ferociously protective of Twoflower. He hires Rincewind as a guide for what is an exorbitant fee for the poor wizard. Rincewind, of questionable scruples, tries to run away but Ankh-Morpork’s Patrician captures him and compels him to “protect” Twoflower. Relations with the much richer Agateans are at stake.

However, thieves kidnap Twoflower. Prior to the kidnapping, Twoflower had sold an insurance policy to the owner of the tavern where they were staying. While Rincewind rescues Twoflower, the owner burns down the tavern to get the insurance money, destroying the town. Rincewind and Twoflower decide to skedaddle.

In a series of adventures orchestrated by the gods of Discworld, they visit Quirm and Wyrmberg, surviving a series of challenges, complete with trolls and dragons, only to end up in the ocean. The current carries them to edge of Discworld, but the Circumfence, a net built by the nation of Krull, catches them. A sea troll retrieves them and sends them to Krull–to be sacrifices.

Twoflower seems less worried about danger than Rincewind. He is an intrepid explorer who even wants to see the beast supporting Discworld. At one time or the other Rincewind, Twoflower, the Luggage, and even a magic picture box (camera) are responsible for rescues when things were looking bad. Death personified pursues Rincewind throughout, but through his own devices and those of the gods, he elude’s Death’s grasp.

At first, I thought all of this quite strange and a bit confusing. Then the strange became interesting and amusing. By the end, I was looking forward to the next zany escape and the next adventure. Which takes me to Book Two… (I see what you are doing Terry Pratchett!).

By the way, the color of magic is octarine, a fluorescent greenish-yellow-purple. Only magicians can see it and it occurs in the presence of magic. For what it is worth.

Review: The Fall of Númenor

/ rtrube54 / Leave a comment
Cover image of "The Fall of Númenor" by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Brian Sibley, illustrated by Alan Lee

The Fall of Númenor, J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Brian Sibley, illustrated by Alan Lee. William Morrow (ISBN: 9780063280687) 2022.

Summary: The collected writings of Tolkien on the Second Age of Middle Earth, covering the rise and fall of Númenor.

For those who have read only The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Númenor is a place no longer existing, where a great line of kings of men ruled, a descendent of which was Isildur, who cut the Great Ring from Sauron’s hand at the end of the Second Age. In this work, Brian Sibley has assembled the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien from The Silmarillion and other sources. He gives a narrative of Numenor and the Second Age.

The First Age ended with the defeat of Morgoth at Thangorodrim by an alliance elves and men. The Fathers of Men were rewarded by the angelic Valar with the raising of an island, Númenor, west of Middle Earth. As part of their grant, they gave to men long lives, for many over 400 years. But this was on the condition that they not attempt to sail west to the Undying Lands.

The work traces the line of kings (and a couple queens) who ruled Númenor, a description of Númenor, and the major events on Númenor and in Middle Earth. In back of all of it is Sauron, diminished but not vanquished in the defeat of Morgoth.

Sauron begins stirring at the time of the first restlessness of the kingly line when Aldarion takes to the sea, building harbors on Middle Earth’s coast, trading. It is he who first realizes the danger of Sauron, who has rebuilt Barad-dur. But all this turns his heart away from Númenor and from Erendis, who he loved. He repeatedly broke promises to her. Though they married, she eventually separated from him rather than share his mistress, the sea.

From then on Númenor’s previously peaceful life is wrapped up in the resistance to Sauron, who has deceived elves, dwarves, and some men as he offers them the illusions of power and prosperity. The tale unfolds as Sauron is taken prisoner to Númenor, gradually seducing many of them. The temptation was not wealth or power, which they possessed. Instead he seduces them to invade the Undying Lands in quest of endless life. Their lives, as they grew increasingly heedless of the Valar had grown shorter and the gift of life became replaced with the curse of dying in their minds.

By breaking the Ban of the Valar, they brought about a great cataclysm. The sea overwhelmed them, along with the island of Númenor. Only Elendil and his sons Anarion and Isildur and their men escape. Of course, Sauron also survives. The exiles found Arnor and Gondor, while Sauron returns to Mordor and seizes Minas Ithil, once an outpost of Gondor. This sets up the Last Alliance of Elves and Men and the overthrow of Sauron in which Elendil and Gil-galad die, while Isildur takes, and sadly, keeps the One Ring, setting up the events of the Third Age.

This is a brief overview of a narrative at least as rich as that of the Third Age. One reflects on the restlessness of Aldarion, who could not be content to wed Erendis, and rule Númenor. One considers the seductions of Sauron, when he still seemed fair, offering power and wealth. Until too late, when the Rings of Power were forged, did they discern the danger behind the fair appearance. Likewise, the Numenoreans could not be content with the gift of long life and the teaching of the Valar. In their power, they wanted more. I think of Augustine’s observation about the restlessness of our hearts, making us vulnerable to seduction.

Alan Lee’s illustrations capture something of the beauty of Númenor. He helps us visualize the other pivotal events of the Second Age. This includes when Galadriel leads the elves through Moria and Gil-galad crosses the Misty mountains to form the Last Alliance. Sibley’s editing achieves more of a continuous narrative than some of those by Christopher Tolkien. One has a sense that this is how J.R.R. Tolkien would have rendered the tale if he had the time.

Finally, thanks for visiting Bob on Books. People aren’t reading blogs like they used to, so I appreciate that you spent time here. Feel to “look around” – see the tabs at the top of the website, and the right hand column. And use the buttons below to share this post. Blessings! [Adapted from Enough Light, a blog I follow.]

Review: Beren and Lúthien

/ rtrube54 / Leave a comment
Cover image of "Beren and Lúthien" by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien

Beren and Lúthien, J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien, with illustrations by Allen Lee. HarperCollins (ISBN: 9781328915337) 2018.

Summary: An edited collection of different versions and extracts of one of the most celebrated love stories of Middle-earth.

The tale of the love story of Beren and Lúthien was considered by J.R.R. Tolkien one of the chief stories of The Silmarillion, published posthumously with the editorial work of his son Christopher. Beren and Lúthien is one of the last edited works by Christopher Tolkien before his death in 2020, along with The Fall of Gondolin, which followed it. It reflects Christopher’s work in collecting, ordering, and editing his father’s various writings in creating the world of Middle-earth. As in other works, Tolkien’s telling of the story evolved over time and this work shows that development.

The story in brief, is of Beren, a refugee of wars with Morgoth that wiped out his people. He wanders into the elvish realm of king Thingol. There, he sees Lúthien (or Tinuviel) dancing in a glade and falls in love, which Lúthien reciprocates. But her father sets a high price for her hand, a Simaril (a precious and powerful jewel) in the crown of Morgoth. After many perils Beren is imprisoned. There are various versions, one involving imprisonment by a great cat. Sauron holds him captive in another. Lúthien, whose dances have the power to enthrall to sleep, comes to his rescue, aided by the great hound, Huan. They succeed in liberating Beren. Subsequently, she uses her powers to enter Morgoth’s fortress, subduing to sleep Morgoth long enough for Beren to cut the Silmaril from Morgoth’s crown.

Alas, they cannot escape without encountering the great wolf who guards the gate of Morgoth, now wide awake. All Beren can do is ram his hand down the wolf’s throat, which bites it off, holding the Silmaril, which drives the wolf mad, allowing their escape. How they recover the Silmaril and the further lore around Beren and Lúthien, in several versions, are all here.

As I’ve mentioned. Christopher Tolkien provides various versions of the story and extracts of parts of it from an early rendering with the cat, later replaced by Sauron, various passages with variations on the story, a lengthy verse rendering of much of the story in The Lay of Leithian, and various versions of the return and afterlife of Beren and Lúthien, as well as the subsequent history of the Silmaril.

In addition, Alan Lee provides nine full-color plates of incidents in the tale. Also, Christopher Tolkien adds an annotated list of names and glossary. This is helpful to keep straight so many names of persons and places.

In conclusion, Christopher Tolkien gives Middle-earth fans a trove of background surrounding this great story. In doing so, he helps us understand afresh the monumental world-building effort of J.R.R. Tolkien. It was so great that it took two generations (at least) to bring it all into published form.

Review: Impossible Creatures

/ rtrube54 / 2 Comments
Cover image of "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Impossible Creatures, Katherine Rundell, illustrated by Ashley Mackenzie. Alfred A. Knopf (ISBN: 9780593809860), 2024.

Summary: Christopher helps Mal, a young girl who can fly, as she flees a murderer and seeks the reason why the magic is fading.

A young boy, Christopher, visits his grandfather, in Scotland. Before he knows it, he rescues a griffin, coming face to face with the mythical creature, and escapes a vicious wolf-like creature called a kludde. Then he follows a girl to the bottom of a pool into a hidden world, the Archipelago. This is a collection of islands on Earth, hidden from the rest of the planet.

They arrive only to confront the man trying to murder Mal, the young girl. He has already killed her great aunt. But they fend him off, flee with the help of unicorns, and jump from a cliff onto a boat captained by Nighthand. Something Mal says about the Immortal stops him from throwing them off the ship.

Besides fleeing a murderer out to kill her for reasons unknown, she is trying to figure out why the glimourie, the life force that sustains the Archipelago, is weakening. Nighthand agrees to assist them. Kraken attack them. They seek help in turn in the City of Scholars and from the sphinx, who will help only after you answer riddles. A wrong answer, and they will eat you. They learn that only the Immortal can gain access to the glimourie tree through a labyrinth. But the Immortal is lost. The last renounced his powers, and, although a new Immortal was born when he died, no one knows who the immortal is.

Yet there is something more to Christopher, Mal, and Nighthand than meets the eye. Christopher’s grandfather is a Guardian of the Archipelago. From the way animals treat him, is he as well? Nighthand is more than a captain. He is the defender of the Immortal, a kind of bodyguard. And Mal? She can fly with her magical cloak. But why is she burdened with concern for the fading of the glimourie? Who is she, really, and why does someone want to kill her? So much of the story turns on her coming to understand and accept her identity. The life of the Archipelago, indeed all Earth, hangs upon it.

This is a story to set one’s spirit soaring along with Mal. Between the characters we see courage, compassion, and sacrifice, along with sheer determination. But be warned, there are moments that will break your heart as well. Along the way we encounter dragons and centaurs and a host of other mythical creatures (Rundell even includes an illustrated bestiary at the back of the book). Rundell’s writing combines beauty, memorable characters, and a fast-paced plot. Ashley Mackenzie’s illustrations capture key scenes and feed our imaginations.

I loved the story as an adult even though it is written for middle-graders. I understand the comparisons to Tolkien and Philip Pullman. And perhaps this is fitting. Rundell is a fellow in two of the Colleges of Oxford and has written academic works on John Donne, including a Baillie Gifford prize winner. Therefore, it is thrilling that this is the first of a series. After all, what’s not to like about an adventure fantasy filled with mythical creatures and noble quests?

Review: Unfinished Tales Of Numenor And Middle-Earth

/ rtrube54 / Leave a comment
Cover image of "Unfinished Tales Of Numenor And Middle-Earth" by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien

Unfinished Tales Of Numenor And Middle-Earth, J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien. William Morrow (ASIN: B00796E7CA), 2012 (originally published by Houghton Mifflin, 1980).

Summary: A collection of stories, many in unfinished state, by J.R.R. Tolkien providing background information on the three ages of Numenor and Middle Earth, edited by his son.

The creation of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) is perhaps one of the most astounding instances of worldbuilding in fantasy fiction. Tolkien not only creates Middle-Earth but a whole history surrounding the events in his stories. He invented the languages spoken by the different races. He wrote backstories of many key figures appearing in these works or mentioned. Tolkien intended to publish at least some of this material but it was left unfinished at the time of his death in 1973.

Tolkien’s son, Christopher, has made a life’s work of marshalling this literary inheritance into print, beginning with The Silmarillion, in 1977. Here, Christopher Tolkien wove the extant fragments his father had written into a cohesive narrative of the three ages of Middle Earth. In Lost Tales, we see some of the raw materials with which he worked. Sometimes Tolkien changed names, or events. What Christopher Tolkien does is give us these stories, with some editing on his part, along with an extensive set of notes, annotations as it were on the text, changes made, and so forth.

The stories offer helpful background for any dedicated reader of Tolkien. The book follows the three ages of Middle Earth.

Part One: The First Age

This includes the story of Tuor, son of Huor, his captivity in and escape from Morgoth. Tolkien renders Tuor’s journey with the elf, Voronwe, and his coming to Gondolin, carrying the message of Ulmo, and being revealed in all his greatness. Also included is the tragic story of Hurin, son of Turin, involving his marriage to Nienor, not knowing she was his sister.

Part Two: The Second Age

This part opens with a description of the geography, people, and some history of Numenor, often referred to in LOTR. “Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner’s Wife” tells the story of a prince who loves the sea, and voyaging to Middle Earth more than his wife. Perhaps most moving is the step his father the king takes in resigning his throne to this son. Tolkien follows with an account of the lineage of the kings of Numenor. The part ends with the marriage of Celeborn and Galadriel and we learn of the sadness that marked her life as well as her distinctive greatness.

Part Three: The Third Age

This section begins with the death of Isildur and the loss of the Great Ring in the battle of Gladden Fields. “Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan” traces the beginnings and long alliance between Rohan and Gondor, so crucial in the final war of the Ring. One of the delights of this collection is the story Gandalf tells Frodo of why he chose Bilbo as the thief to help the dwarves retake the Lonely Mountain. In “The Hunt for the Ring” we learn of the Nine Riders search for The Ring from when Gollum was questioned until Frodo leaves the Shire–as if we didn’t think the Nine sinister enough! In LOTR, we know Theoden lost his son in the battle of Isen. The final story is the account of this battle.

Part Four

The final part of the book includes three background essays. The first gives the background of the Druedain, wild men who inhabited the forests. The second and third were of greater interest. In “The Ishtari,” we learn the history of the wizards, sent by the Valar. We learn there were five, two who passed into the east and out of history. Tolkien traces the long and hidden resentment of Saruman toward Gandalf and of his treachery. Tolkien gives us all the names by which each were known. The last essay describes the nature and number of the Palantiri, including how they were used for seeing and communicating.

Christopher Tolkien appends an Index giving all the names used in the stories and a brief description of each–incredibly useful.

Comments

The success of this work encouraged Christopher Tolkien to embark on his twelve volume History of Middle Earth. This revealed to me the power of Tolkien’s worldmaking. We re-read his major works and want to read more of this world. That’s why an edited collection of unfinished works holds such a fascination. We will wade through pages of notes and even revel in indexes. We want to fix in our minds the contours of this world.

This is not for Tolkien newbies. Rather, it is for dedicated readers who aren’t contented with mere references to Numenor. This is for the afficionado, the one who wants to read everything connected with Tolkien. I would read it after The Silmarillion, which it followed, and after reading The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The stories vary in quality. The account of Turin and that of Aldarion and Erendis are great tragedies. The story of the choosing of Bilbo is just great fun. The lineage of Numenor’s kings and the essay on the Druedain fell into the category of “for your information.”

Review: Salamandastron

/ rtrube54 / 1 Comment

Salamandastron (Redwall #5), Brian Jacques. New York: Ace Books, 1994.

Summary: The Badger Lord of the mountain fortress Salamandastron faces the overwheming forces of the Corpsemakers led by Ferahgo the Assassin and his son Klitch while Redwall Abbey is laid low by a deadly fever.

In this fifth book in the Redwall we are faced with the possibility of the fall of the mountain fortress of Salamandastron to evil forces and the extinction of Redwall Abbey to a deadly plague. So much will hinge on the actions of a few creatures we follow through the story.

The story begins with the restlessness of Mara, the young ward of the Badger Lord of Salamandastron, Urthstripe. She chafes under the discipline of the mountain fortress, and wanders off with Pikkle, a rogue hare with a huge appetite. They meet up with a couple of weasels who seem friendly enough that Mara invites them to dinner. Hospitality prevails but Urthstripe is suspicious and forces them to leave with the morning. He is right to do so, because they are spying out the fortress for Ferahgo the Assassin, an evil weasel who heads up a large band known as the Corpsemakers. One of them is Klitch, Ferahgo’s son, second in command, itching to take over. Mara resents Urthstripe’s coldness to her new friends and decides to run away. She is joined by Pikkle, they meet up with her weasel “friends” who take them to Ferahgo where they are held captive and questioned about the “treasure” in the mountain. They know nothing of this. Ferahgo sets his sights on conquest, eventually besieging, attacking, and through a secret agent, poisoning the food and water in the mountain.

Meanwhile, two stoats from Ferahgo’s group, unhappy with their lot, go wandering in the forests and find their way to Redwall. The Abbey, hospitable to all, welcomes them and the join a feast. That night, a storm descends, and a lightning strike looses the sword of Martin the Warrior that had been affixed to the weathervane, nearly killing Samkin the squirrel, who has been having dreams about Martin. They place it in the Great Hall by Martin’s Tapestry. The next morning the stoats are fooling with arrows in the hall and accidentally kill a brother. They flee, but before escaping, spy the sword, which they take to present to Ferahgo. Samkin and Arula the molemaid go in pursuit, only to find one dead along the way. They encounter a hermit, Furgle, who tells them it is Dry Ditch fever. They press on while Furgle goes to warn the Abbey. Too late. The sickness is spreading throughout the Abbey. Legend has it only the Flowers of Icetor in the North Mountains can cure the sickness. So Thrugg the otter, accompanied by Dumble the Dormouse set off to find the flowers, braving an attack of crows, only to find the flowers guarded by a majestic golden eagle, King MacPhearsome.

Meanwhile, Mara and Pikkle escape, and through a series of adventures join with an army of shrews. Samkin and Arula eventually join another group of shrews and recapture the sword. The groups face a lake serpent, Deepcoiler and a fearsome white badger who holds a stone sacred to the shrews. Eventually all go to relieve the beseiged forces of Salamandastron. Will they make it in time and defeat such a wily foe? And will Samkin and Arula find anyone alive should they make it back to the Abbey?

Jacques offers a clear contrast throughout the story between good and evil–courage, camraderie, hospitality, and integrity on one side and treachery, backbiting, servitude, and betrayal on the other. Even amid challenges, there is the love of goodness, of friends, and of food. Once again, Jacques creates a strong female character in Mara, as ready and courageous in battle as her guardian Urthstripe. And in a theme that has developed in these stories, the spirit of Martin continues to watch over the Abbey.