Abhorsen

by Garth Nix | Science Fiction & Fantasy |
ISBN: 0007137354 Global Overview for this book
Registered by s-m-c on 12/5/2005
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Bol.com
8 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by s-m-c on Monday, December 5, 2005
The third book in the Sabriel Trilogy. Lirael, Abhorsen in Waiting, must set out on a perilous mission with her companions.

Journal Entry 2 by s-m-c on Friday, December 9, 2005
Posted to spike1972

Journal Entry 3 by spike1972 from Cardiff, Wales United Kingdom on Monday, December 12, 2005
Received yesterday, thank you.

Journal Entry 4 by Vespa from Weymouth, Dorset United Kingdom on Sunday, December 25, 2005
yipee, recieved along with the other part of this trilogy from my lovely secret santa. Thank you soooo much

Journal Entry 5 by Vespa from Weymouth, Dorset United Kingdom on Sunday, January 29, 2006
I really enjoyed this final part of the trilogy. Am now sending this out on a spiral, players so far :-


Sweetf UK
UrbanSpaceman
Deadendmind Greece
ZlatkoGR Greece

Lpree US

airehead Canada
lolly-the-tall UK
cowprintavenger
then home to me

PM me if you want to join in

Journal Entry 6 by Vespa from Weymouth, Dorset United Kingdom on Monday, January 30, 2006
Off on its journey now, first to SweetF. Usual sort of rules apply, please journal the book when it gets to you so that we all know it is safe and again after reading it so that we can all see what you thought. Try and read the book within 30 days, but as the most important rule is to enjoy reading the book, so if life gets in the way and you can't manage it in 30 days, please don't panic.
I look forward to seeing what everyone thinks of the book.

Journal Entry 7 by sweetf from Bridgwater, Somerset United Kingdom on Saturday, February 4, 2006
Recieved on Wednesday, read on Thursday, all of them were great books, but although Sabriel could have been a stand alone book Lirael and Abhorsen were like two halves of the same book.

Journal Entry 8 by UrbanSpaceman from Strasbourg, Alsace France on Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Just arrived in the post from SweetF. Two books ahead of it in the ring TBR pile...

Journal Entry 9 by UrbanSpaceman from Strasbourg, Alsace France on Tuesday, February 14, 2006
I have finished this now. As Sweetf said, Lirael and Abhorsen are really two halves of the same book. I enjoyed this pair more than I enjoyed Sabriel. Although I liked a lot of things about that book, Kerrigor seemed far to much like your standard fantasy "dark lord trying to tke over the world" to me).

Returning to the Lirael-Abhorsen duest, though, I enjoyed both of them. I liked Lirael as a strong (even if she doesn't relaise it herself) but bookish heroine. I liked Sameth not being the big strong prince (well not at first) and I liked the continued development of the world and its mythology/history.

I'll certainly look at other of Nix' books as a result.

Will post both books on to Deadendmind tomorrow.




*** Possible spoiler - close your eyes if you haven't read the book yet and don't want to know!***






On a side note, I'm not sure if I'm correct, but I wonder what was in Nix' mind when he conceived some of the details about Orannis.

As soon as I read the description of the two metal hemispheres that would release Orannis if joined, it reminded me of some designs for atomic bombs where two hemispheres of uranium/plutonium are brought together to initiate nuclear fission. Certainly, the description of the second manifestation of Orannis and its effects are very reminiscent of those of an atomic explosion.

I was also reminded of a passage from the Hindu scripture the Bhagavad-Gita quoted by the Robert Oppenheimer, Scientific Director of the Manhattan Project (the US atmic bomb programme during Worls War II) on seeing the first atomic explosion, - "I am become Death, *the destroyer* of worlds.'" (my asterisks).

Lastly, prompted by the above, I wondered if the name Orannis = Uranium, in any way.

Of course, I can't be sure about any of the above, but it made for an interesting (to me at any rate!) speculation.

Journal Entry 10 by deadendmind from Athens - Αθήνα, Attica Greece on Tuesday, February 21, 2006
I received it today, together with Lirael. I'm reading another book at the moment, I'll get to them as soon as I finish it. I'm really looking forward to reading these books!
Thank you Vespa and UrbanSpaceman!

Journal Entry 11 by deadendmind from Athens - Αθήνα, Attica Greece on Sunday, May 7, 2006
I've finished the book for some time now, I'm sorry I didn't journal it earlier. I'm keeping it a little longer, until Sabriel gets moving. It's currently stuck in the hands of s3rendipity I think.

I liked Abhorsen very much, but I have forgotten most of the things I wanted to say about it. I really liked the mythology Nix has built for his books. It is deep and very substantial.
The way he forms the characters in the books is very successful. One thing I liked very much, is the fact that his heroines are so strong, and in general women are very prominent in the books. That is one thing I wanted to comment on, as it surprised me positively. Rarely women are treated as being strong and so central as characters in books.

Abhorsen is a climax all in itself. Lirael kind of prepares the reader for the fierce journey and battle the characters have to face. It is a very strong and moving book, well-conceived and well-written.
Thank you vespa for giving me the opportunity to read these books. I really don't think I would have if it wasn't for bookcrossing.

Journal Entry 12 by deadendmind from Athens - Αθήνα, Attica Greece on Wednesday, June 14, 2006
I think I've kept the book long enough now. The first one does not seem to be moving.
I have pmed lpree for his/her address.

15th of June: Sent the book today to lpree.

Journal Entry 13 by Lpree from Omaha, Nebraska USA on Thursday, July 6, 2006
This arrived several days ago and Lirael arrived today. Since the first book in this series seems to be stuck, I think I might go ahead and pick it up so I can read these in order. I'll work with the host of these rings to see if we can continue the first ring. I do have a couple other rings ahead of this, but will read as soon as I can.

This looks like an interesting series, so I'm looking forward to checking them out!

Journal Entry 14 by airehead from Didsbury, Alberta Canada on Friday, September 22, 2006
Received last week, thank you.

Are you sure you want to delete this item? It cannot be undone.