Publication History |
Award-winning author Garth Nix’s "Sabriel" is one of many dual-world
fantasies. The title character, a teenaged girl, is a boarding student at the
Wyverley College, “Established in 1652 for Young Ladies of Quality” in
Ancelstierre. Ancelstierre is similar to our own world – it is a science-based
land with cars, electricity and other modern conveniences. The main
difference between Ancelstierre and our world is that the people of
Ancelstierre are all too aware of their fantasy counterpart lying to the north.
Beyond the military-guarded Wall (reminiscent of the Berlin Wall) is the Old
Kingdom, where magic reigns and the populace is menaced by the Dead.
Sabriel is, of course, far more than just a talented student. She was born in the
Old Kingdom and is the daughter of Abhorsen, part of an age-old line of
necromancers who put the Dead away for good. When Abhorsen goes missing,
Sabriel must take up the tools of his trade and journey into the dangerous Old
Kingdom to find him. Along the way, she learns that his disappearance is part of
a greater threat to both the Old Kingdom and to Ancelstierre. Although it is the
first of a trilogy, Sabriel can easily be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel.
"Sabriel" is a familiar coming-of-age story that follows a familiar pattern with a
familiar cast of characters. It also has a unique (if not fully explained) magical
system involving, among other things, bells, whistling, humming, and other
music. And it is dotted with great details, like bus loads of tourists gawking at
the Wall, weather and time differences between Ancelstierre and the Old
Kingdom, Abhorsen’s enchanted household (reminding this reader of classic
Walt Disney films), and the Paperwing (a glider, of sorts).
"Sabriel" is also part of the new breed of “young adult” fantasy that can be
enjoyed by readers of almost any age. I particularly recommended this to those
who enjoyed Philip Pullman’s "His Dark Materials." I rate it an 8 out of 10.
fantasies. The title character, a teenaged girl, is a boarding student at the
Wyverley College, “Established in 1652 for Young Ladies of Quality” in
Ancelstierre. Ancelstierre is similar to our own world – it is a science-based
land with cars, electricity and other modern conveniences. The main
difference between Ancelstierre and our world is that the people of
Ancelstierre are all too aware of their fantasy counterpart lying to the north.
Beyond the military-guarded Wall (reminiscent of the Berlin Wall) is the Old
Kingdom, where magic reigns and the populace is menaced by the Dead.
Sabriel is, of course, far more than just a talented student. She was born in the
Old Kingdom and is the daughter of Abhorsen, part of an age-old line of
necromancers who put the Dead away for good. When Abhorsen goes missing,
Sabriel must take up the tools of his trade and journey into the dangerous Old
Kingdom to find him. Along the way, she learns that his disappearance is part of
a greater threat to both the Old Kingdom and to Ancelstierre. Although it is the
first of a trilogy, Sabriel can easily be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel.
"Sabriel" is a familiar coming-of-age story that follows a familiar pattern with a
familiar cast of characters. It also has a unique (if not fully explained) magical
system involving, among other things, bells, whistling, humming, and other
music. And it is dotted with great details, like bus loads of tourists gawking at
the Wall, weather and time differences between Ancelstierre and the Old
Kingdom, Abhorsen’s enchanted household (reminding this reader of classic
Walt Disney films), and the Paperwing (a glider, of sorts).
"Sabriel" is also part of the new breed of “young adult” fantasy that can be
enjoyed by readers of almost any age. I particularly recommended this to those
who enjoyed Philip Pullman’s "His Dark Materials." I rate it an 8 out of 10.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Sabriel (Garth Nix) By SC Bryce |
First Printing:
FantasyBookSpot.com (Jan. 10, 2006).
FantasyBookSpot.com (Jan. 10, 2006).
Second Printing:
SCBryce.com (Dec. 22, 2006).
SCBryce.com (Dec. 22, 2006).
|