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| Plot Summary of A Shadow On the Glass |
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"
Aspect, Jul 2001, 6.99, 672 pp.
ISBN: 0446609846
Three worlds (Santhenar, Aachan and Tallallamem) had passages that allowed humans to travel between them. However, out of the void came the bellicose Charon who conquered Aachan. The war forced the closing of the bridges that linked the three orbs. On each world lives natives and aliens from the other worlds. In common among the three worlds are a deep fear of the Charon and a desire of those left on the wrong world to return home.
On Santhenar the chronicler Llian makes known the contents of top secret documents that contain dangerous information from a more magical era. His release of them turns him into an ostracized pariah among his peers. The psychic Karen is forced into stealing the magic Mirror of Aachan, an artifact that can save or destroy worlds. Soon afterward everyone on planet and some beings that are off-planet are after Karen. After meeting Llian, who joins him in flight, Karen struggles to survive.
The first book in Ian Irvine's “The View from the Mirror” series is a complex, well-written science fiction fantasy that takes readers on a wild graphic trip into a strange universe. Santhenar and the key cast seem genuine and the concept of passages between tri-worlds appears real because of the tremendous depth of description, but that also slows down the epic a bit. This reviewer is disappointed that A SHADOW ON THE GLASS is not a stand-alone tale as the adventures continue with volume 2 THE TOWER OF THE RIFT that will arrive in bookstores in January 2002 or currently purchased along with 3 and 4 over the net.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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"Irvine gives us a world with competing races:Charon,Faellem, and Aachim.This epic tale is seen through the eyes of two memorable characters: Llian, chronicler who seeks to solve 3000 year old murder and Karan, a sensitive who comes to regret fulfilling a promise to make a dangerous mission for a friend.Karan is in possession a powerful mirror that gives the ability to see places at a distance and twist reality. Soon she and Llian will be hunted by ruthless mage,Yggur and his sinister minions called the Whelm! Irvine's novel has seen of lyrical beauty as he describes all of the exotic cities and ports of the lavish world.The other characters in this book also are memorable like Karan's friend,Maigraith who embroils Karan
in her mission to steal the mirror from Yggur and is tortured by
fanatical Whelm.Faelamor-Maigraith's ruthless patron who will stop at nothing to gain the mirror for herself.Magister Mendark, cunning ruler of Thurkad who has ruled the city for thousand years! Another thing I loveabout this book is plot twists as our hero and heroine must escape from various forces that seek the mirror for themselves."
Rodney Powell, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of A Shadow On the Glass |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book
- very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- fantasy world/fantasy past
Tech./$$$/Info hunt
Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying
- magical artifact
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
- Female
Profession/status:
- champion of justice
- writer
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an entire race
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- mage/magician
Has magical powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- can cast all sorts of spells
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
- an average amount
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Desert
- Water
- Mountains
- Forests
- Domed/Underground City
Earth setting:
- during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
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 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
- moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- none/very little science jargon needed
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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