Riddle of Stars Comments
Riddle of Stars (Patricia A. McKillip)
This trilogy has been around for a while, but by no means is it any less worth reading. It is one of the "classics"
like Lord of the Rings, that every fantasy enthusiast should read. Fear not, the books are not archaic by any means
(published 20 or so years ago). The story is gripping, the characters indelible, and the prose lyrical--in the style of
say Sean Russell and J.R.R Tolkien. These fantasy books are everything fantasy should be and more -- a true gem of fantasy literature.
Feel free to rate The Riddle of Stars on the Community Book Review section of the site.
i completely agree with everything samdam said. the beautiful and lyrical prose paints a dreamlike picture in your imagination that lingers after you've finished- almost like a half-remembered scene from your childhood. there are none of the ham-handed descriptions and clunky interactions which bludgeon you over and over that are so common in fantasy. this trilogy ranks up with the sublime fantasy of le guin and tolkien for capturing the true magic that is possible in a fantasy novel.
no comments? such a shame.
This one here is for those who put aesthetics over superficial depth, and the ones who love prose and evocative imagery rather than bland descriptions.
The prose here is just so beautiful, and is, in my humble opinion, on the same level as some of the earthsea material. No words wasted like Tad williams or Robert Jordan; where they use ten words to describe a scene, Mckillip needs only one. She truly is a master wordsmith.
recommended for fans of earthsea and the hobbit.
I have to thank this site and its author for helping me find this gem (and Gene wolfe). Seriously, whoever behind this site is just plain awesome.