science fiction

Kingdoms of the Wall - Robert Silverberg Book Review

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Review Summaries
"The story takes place on a middle-ages type Earth-like planet with mostly humanoid people. The only thing that sets them apart from men is that they can do minor shapechanging, such as elongating their limbs. Poilar Crookleg lives in a village on the base of the Wall, a huge range of mountains. It is the annual custom of the village to send forty strong young people to the summit of the mountain to converse with the gods who live their and bring their new knowledge back to the village. However, most never make it back, and those who do are crazed. Poilar and his brilliant childhood friend Traiben vow to reach the summit. When their time comes, they set out determined to succeed. Poilar is the natural choice for leader, and he and the others pass through the many and difficult Kingdoms of the Wall. Each new realm offers new challenges and lessons to learn. The mountain range is big enough to be a world unto itself. Many do not make it, but Poilar and Traiben know that what they find on the top will change them and their society forever. "
Jake Borcher, Resident Robert Silverberg Scholar


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Overall Review
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Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 20%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%




Tone of book - sensitive (sigh....)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Plotlets: - exploring a wondrous planet or phenomena
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - explorer
Age: - 20's-30's
Has magical/special powers? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - natural phenomena
Profession/status: - religious figure
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - throughout most of the book.
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - bulging muscles

Setting
Terrain - Mountains
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a primitive/fantasy society
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - weird alien sex
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Keeper Martin's Tale by Robert Stanek
The Simarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Billy Thunder and the Night Gate by Isobelle Carmody
Imajica by Clive Barker
Wish You Were Here by Vincent M. Wales





Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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