Review: The Infernal City

Title: The Infernal City: an Elderscrolls Novel
Author: Greg Keyes
Length: 288pgs
Rating: 4 Stars

I am a fan of the Elder Scrolls, I have been since I played "Arena" back in 1994 (on a side note: Elder Scrolls 1 and 2 are available free for download here released on the 10th and 15th anniversaries of the Elder Scrolls) and I had never herd of Greg Keyes.  I understood the potential for how colossally bad this particular book could be.  Typically novels based on video games tend to fall on the shadier side of quality, but at the very least I knew that my fanatacism for the elderscrolls setting would mean that no matter how mediocre the tale might be I would probably enjoy it.  Even if it was terrible, it was only 288 pages.  Who knows, maybe this Greg Keyes was even an published author, if he was, he might even be decent, maybe even pretty good.  So, with that in mind I shelled out the $10 and went on home.

Upon inspecting the inside of the rear cover when I got home, I discovered that Greg Keyes had indeed previously published books, infact he'd even won some presteigious awards; looks like rings are coming up roses.  So, as I was travelling to Massachucetts I settled down with this little ~300 page gem.  I must say, I am thoroughly impressed.  Keyes' style is suprisingly similar to my own (I think) and it made for a very enjoyable read.  Pacing started out slow, which I believe was quite intentional.  He initially dumps the reader into the new political situation since the fall of the Septim Dynasty as well as the cultures and languages of Tamriel but then gives time for you to catch your breath.  He ramps the action up slowly at first, character development follows a similar pace, initially leading you to believe that you're going to read about a bunch of flatly archetypal characters the whole way through and then begins bleeding in more depth as the plot starts to twist and weave. 

Keyes does a brilliant job translating the setting to paper.  He captures the brutal magesty of The Elder Scrolls very well.  Mystical and fantastic while at the same time being brutally honest.  Yes it is a land where there is magic and spells and elves and all that, but yes people die, sometimes they die horribly, and sometimes thats not the worst thing that happens to them.  The new portion of the setting he has created (or at least brought to life), Umbriel, is like a twisted version of Wonderland and he does a wonderful job of making the people inside of it perfectly real yet simultaneously insane.  This is only compounded by dropping an 'Alice' type normal person into this madness.  These people are not silly, loony, insane. They are a very real and disturbing insane.

I was pleasantly suprised by this book.  It was a great read, and there were some passages where I simply could not put it down. 

Missed Deadline

Last weeks deadline was missed though there was something written.  Impromptu Christmas celebration with my "Family by Choice" as they have been called in Massachusetts.  "Apotheosis" is currently about 1200 words and could be posted, but is not yet finished.  It is sort of at an in between state where one could argue that it is finished, but it would be a weak arguement. Also I believe would be a lot stronger with some more time, thus, it will wait and perhaps shall be posted this week.  I am planning to write a short review of "The Infernal Island: An Elderscrolls Novel" this week as well to make up for lack of posting by Sunday.  It's a heavy week at work though, so we'll see what there is time for.

The Darkest of Days

Over and over, fingers worked to fold pieces of twine into concentric circles winding, around a shimmering bead placed in the center of the coil.  Scaalia and his siblings were busy winding the little sun charms that were traditionally crafted by their clan during this time of year.  This year supplies were short and so the charms they crafted were small but no less complex.  Their size was another reminder that the year had been tough and would only get tougher. 

Soon the snows would come in earnest to blanket the Lostwood.  With luck, the hanging of charms and the ritual prayers would remind the Sun of just how much the denizens missed her presence above the wood.  Hopefully after a time their devotions would warm her heart and she would brave the cold once again and emerge from the great cave that she had hidden herself in to melt the snows and warm the land once again.  It would take time, some years it took longer than others but those of the Lostwood knew that nothing with lasting power came quickly.

With this in mind they prepared for the festival on the darkest of days, when all the families of their clan would gather to celebrate.  It would be a day full of feasting and raucous celebration.  There would be a feast to honor the Sun when it was at its brightest to show their appreciation for the day light.  Following that the stories of their ancestors would be told, epic poems of how their clan had come to be.  As the sun set a great bonfire would be set alight to carry on the light of the sun and ward off the dark.  All around it they would dance and with the sound of their drums and voices they would call to the Sun to return to them, return life to the land, and end the harsh cold of winter.  The spirit of the celebration was most important; not the size of the fire, or the roar of the drums, but the love, and the joy of those who danced and sang.  As such the darkest of days was not so dark, and the light would only grow brighter as the year passed on.