The Elves of Cintra / Terry Brooks

The Elves of Cintra

category: fantasy, author:

Terry Brooks

book 2 of Genesis of Shannara
published by Orbit, original copyright 2007, read in May 2010

Agamedes' opinion: 6 out of 10

The first three books of Brooks' Word and Void series are, really, unremittingly gloomy. Sure, they end "satisfactorily" but you just know -- from the basic premise of the series -- that worse is yet to come. By linking the Word and Void series to the many Shannara books Brooks has managed to inject some optimism into the linking Genesis books.

Yes, the world is ruined. But we know that a reasonable world -- Shannara -- will rise from the ashes. Eventually.

On its own, The Elves of Cintra is not too bad. A bit episodic, partly due to to the multiple threads of separate adventures being followed. The short episode with the robots, though, seems to have no relevance whatsoever -- except, I guess, as an introduction to, an excuse for, some robots which appear in one of the "future" Shannara books. Distracting, really, since the robots have no further impact on this story.

Still, the good guys advance their various adventures and reach satisfactory conclusions. I appreciate the fact that yes, there are still challenges to be overcome, but Brooks avoids leaving the heroes in serious cliffhanger situations.

One aspect of this book that I do not like, is that the heroes are close to being merely protagonists... The last book that I read was one of the Dresden Files, White Night. Harry Dresden is a true "hero": he plans, he thinks, he acts deliberately. Suspense is maintained by the author not revealing some of the plans. Brooks' characters, however, do not really seem to plan:

Several characters in The Elves of Cintra are essential to moving the various plots forward. None of them, however, seem to know what is going on. Well, it's not quite that bad. But they do seem to drift a lot, to move forward based on feelings rather than thoughts. Kirisin the elf, for example, barely has a plan in mind. He drifts along, following the urgings of other goodies and the schemings of baddies. When he needs to use his developing magic, he seems to think, Oh well, better try to do something... and... something happens.

This let's-just-see-what-happens approach is common. It may amaze the reader. It also makers the fantasy seem even less believable.

It would really be quite nice if people did things for a well thought out purpose. Or at least for the best of deliberate intentions. The strongest motivation is, apparently, "The Word" -- the mystic super-power which directs the forces for good. "I should do this," thinks the good guy, "Because The Word says that I should." What happened to free will? What happened to human (or elf) independence? Ah well...

The book is worth reading. I look forward to reading the third and (I hope) final Genesis novel, just to see what happens.

Action rather than tension. Tough guys and nice guys but very few sympathetic characters. Worth reading, but not great.

..o0o..

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