The Librarian
by Mikhail Elizarov
(translated by Andrew Bromfield)
fantasy
copyright 2007
(translated 2015)
read in June 2016
rated 5/10: readable, but only if there's nothing else
I think that this book offers some sort of political commentary. Perhaps on the USSR. Or on the breakdown of the USSR. Maybe on the role of Russia post USSR.
Does any of that interest you? Read on. Explain it to me.
The fantasy concept is clever. Possibly unique. There's a page of jargon which provides -- possibly -- a scientific rationale for the effect of reading certain books. I'm happy to call it fantasy.
The effect of reading certain books is to create a violent fantasy world, modern day sword and sorcery. Butchery using everyday tools as weapons. It's brutal and violent.
There are no characters who attract my sympathy.
The story does built of logically. Like a car crash, really. It gets worse and worse, there's no way to stop the nasty ending.
Is the ending really nasty?
Well, I think so. People are sacrificed -- forcibly -- for the possible good of Russia. Sacrificed by people who are ugly, cruel, abhorrent. Sub-human. Is this a good ending? Not to me.
The murder and sacrifice are said to be for Russia. The characters who are responsible show no signs of being anything other than brutally self-centred. I can't see any reason why they would do anything at all for anyone other than themselves. Especially since they are under constant threat from the official Russian regime. So their true purpose is either hidden or unbelievable.
It's a book which is confusing at the start. Interesting once I realise what's going on. Depressing and nasty by half way through. And gradually worse from then on.
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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Agamedes Consulting
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"Today is your day ! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way." — Dr. Seuss
1 comment:
Why did I read this book? Because -- in the list of books waiting to be read -- it comes next in alphabetical order by author. Next after "Cogman". Also, there is the similarity of names, "Librarian" versus "Invisible Library". So I started reading with positive expectations.
Was there anything particularly good about The Librarian? Only that, after the disappointment of this book, I went back and re-read The Invisible Library. Which is a much better book.
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