Fantasy infused with myth

books:


	• The Waterborn (Chosen of the Changeling, Book 1) J. Gregory Keyes Del Rey, 1997 - 384 pages average customer review:based on 28 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Fantasy infused with myth

The problem with most fantasy is that it is written entirely within the world of fantasy literature. It refers only to other books, creating a mirror world in which every image has been seen before, and every character is the reflection of many others. With the Chosen of the Changeling series Greg Keyes has escaped from this trap by infusing his story with anthropology and traditional myth. These books feel original because they return to the tradition of heroic stories told around the hearth that lies behind all fantasy. Keyes' heroes are like the heroes of epic, chosen by the gods to play parts in stories they don't really understand. The setting is magnificent, the writing fine. I enjoyed both of these books and recommend them highly.

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A Typical Freshman Effort

"The Waterborn". What does one say about a book that hits the quintessence of average? We have our spunky little priestess Hehzi, who finds herself going up against a cabal of evil priests bent on, well, being evil priests. Elsewhere, wilderness warrior Perkar joins a quest to speak with a forest god about opening up some more land for cultivation. Unfortunately Perkar has recently had sex with a goddess, never a good thing, and consequently emerges with a fierce determination to kill some other god. Mix that with a good-sized helping of magic swords, swashbuckling action, and ill-fated attempts at romance, and you got a recipe for a book that plods along.

I won't say that "The Waterborn" is formulaic. It's not. In fact it has its share of genuine plot twists, hidden identities, and deftly concealed secrets. It would be more accurate to say that "The Waterborn" is a checklist novel. Stuff gets thrown in - the sex scenes, the irksome suitor, the mysterious warrior - and one feels it's merely because the author feels a fantasy needs to have all that stuff. I do certainly credit Keyes with respecting the reader's intelligence. "The Waterborn" unfolds with careful attention to motivation and psychology.

Keyes does have a mighty struggle with dialogue, unfortunately. Whenever people talk in this book, it's organized more around getting across the needed information rather than imitating the flow of a real conversation. I should perhaps be lenient. As Ernest Hemingway famously remarked, writing dialogue that really sounds like real people talking is the hardest thing any writer ever has to do, and it surely can't be done without practice. But as for that, I always review books by content, not caring whether it's the author's first effort or not.

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A Great Writer

This was the first Keyes book that I read and I have to say that, after wandering through a wilderness of some of the lousiest sci-fi and fantasy books over the past few years, that this was, oh so, refreshing.
I believe that Greg Keyes is probably one of the finer writers out there right now.
So, I'm picking up just about every book of his that I can.

A great read, well worth the money for a new one off of your favorite book store shelf.

Pretty good stuff

I thought this book was pretty original. It did have the storied nobody becomes big important stud theme but a lot of fantasy does that. I thought the world was unique and interesting. The book was very simple and easy to follow. The only problem is the characters lacked depth as did the plot. Same goes for the sequel Blackgod.

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Fantasy at its best !

This book would make you wonder "Where was Gregory Keyes all along"? The plot is dark, complicated, powerful and intense. It is adult fantasy at its best.

Having seen the rise and fall of many a fantasy writer getting bogged down by their creations, this book is a refreshing and welcome change. The story is unique and extremely well written. It will keep you hungering for more of Gregory Keyes and his other books are equally well written.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

The River flowed through all the land, deep and unstoppable, a god in his own right. His head was in the mountains; his arms embraced the outlands; his body lay at the core of all the civilized realms; and his legs stretched on to the distant sea. Dark and sluggish, he rolled unchallenged, dreaming his own invincible might and glory into stark reality.

Everywhere he touched, the River God held dominion. And in Nhol, the fabled city at the heart of the world, an emperor ruled as the living aspect of the god, presiding over the splendors and intrigues of a prosperous land and a glittering court.

Hezhi was an imperial princess; her blood carried the seeds of the River's power. When her favorite cousin disappeared, Hezhi searched throughout the sumptuous palace with its ghosts and priests, giants and courtiers, and frightening creatures of wizardry. And the magic within her began to grow; soon it must attract dangerous attention. Hezhi's anxious quest ripened into a desperate fight for her own life--a battle she could not hope to win alone.

Small wonder that the princess wished for a hero.

And far away, a hero's journey began...

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