Jim Grimsley Resident Scholar Profiles TOP SCHOLAR: Harriet Klausner SCHOLARS:
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Review Summaries
"Jessex is a normal boy who grew up as all little boys do, but he soon was called upon to enter the service of the exiled king. There he fulfilled prophecy after prophecy and was trained to be a wizard or Thaanarc. When his training is complete, he is immediately thrust into battle against an evil wizard who has ruled the kingdom for far too many lifetimes. At his side are the king, Kirith Kirin, and the other twice-named. The twice-named can be killed, but if they are not killed in battle, poisoned, etc., then they live forever. This is the story of their battle to regain the kingdom of Arthyn for Kirith Kirin.
Jim Grimsley does a superb job on crafting a completely different world. He creates a richly textured land complete with details as to how magic works, how different races came to be and how the land is ruled. The details really make this world come alive and helps the reader understand all of the subtle ramifications that come from one small act.
This book is written as a type of personal history that Jessex wrote long after all of this happened and, as such, is written in third person instead of the more active first person. This is a bit disorienting at first, but the reader soon adjusts and is captivated all the same.
"
Debbie, Resident Jim Grimsley Scholar
"Jim Grimsley, a writer of "literary" fiction, turns to fantasy in this story of Jessex, a farmboy who becomes a great magician and saviour of the world. Jessex leaves his home to serve the legendary king Kirith Kirin and discovers a lot in the process - his aptitude for magic, for one thing, and his love for Kirith Kirin, for another. Eventually, Jessex must use his abilities to free his land from a reigning tyrant - and, in the process, risks losing everything that is important to him. "
Ivy, Resident Jim Grimsley 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 - 30% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- fantasy world/fantasy past
Coming of age
Yes
Youngster becomes
- a powerful magician
Romance
Yes
Political power play
Yes
Political plotlets
- overthrowing govt/kingdom
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- mage/magician
Age:
- a teen
Has magical/special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character:
- can talk to animals
- fire/lightning/weather cntrl
- telekinesis
- mind reading
- mind control
- clairvoyant
- can cast many different spells
- is very quick
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
- Female
Age:
- long-lived adults
Profession/status:
- mage/magician
Has magical powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- can talk to animals
- fire/thunder/weather cntrl
- telekinesis
- mind reading
- mind control
- can cast all sorts of spells
- Invisibility
- can read emotions
- is very quick
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
- throughout most of the book.
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Mountains
- Forests
Earth setting:
- general past
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a primitive/fantasy society
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 1st
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
- descript. of private male anat.
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog
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