Status
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Description
The Christian Patriarch of Constantinople is fighting a holy war against the forces of Islam. His attempts to rally the support of Europe fail to give him the strength he needs against the forces of Islam. Fearing defeat, he sends his appeals to the great Christian king in the East, Prester John--for the Patriarch was once a boy named Kostas, a novice in the service of John, long before he became king. The Patriarch's message, seemingly via divine providence, manages to cross into the world of John's Kingdom, where John's devotion to Christ overcomes his wife's misgivings. To Hagia, Christianity and Islam are equally foreign to her and her world, and neither is worth fighting for, or against. The Kingdom rallies behind John's banner, and his magical hosts march across the worlds. The closer the armies of Prester John come to Jerusalem, the more information reaches the Patriarch as to its nature, and the less comfortable he feels with his alliance. Can John and his armies save Jerusalem? Will the Patriarch remain an alley, or become a deadly enemy? And what will happen to the worlds now that an army has breached the barriers between them? Mythopoeic Award winner Catherynne M. Valente continues to re-imagine the legends of the Middle Ages, creating a rich fantasy tapestry that has captivated the imaginations of modern readers. "Valente is writing the smartest, gentlest, deepest work in the field, and she's good enough to do it. I remain in awe." --Daniel Abraham, author of The Long Price Quartet "Valente is a modern-day Scheherazade." --SFSite… (more)
User reviews
Goddammit, Cat Valente, you're making me like arty books. Ruining my whole shtick.
These three voices weave a story of death, faith, beauty, and power, dancing in the margins of true history, illuminating a place that never was.
My Rating: Good Read
I know, it's not the normal rating of "Excellent," for a Valente book, but despite some seriously wonderful passages and really vivid and profound moments, the story has a whole does not resonate with me the way Valente's other fiction has. I've heard many say the Prester John series is her best to date, and I feel that this is a set of books that I will re-read some day in the future, as a whole rather than waiting a year between installments. I think, and hope, that the indeterminate date in the future will be a better time for me to connect with the material, as I just can't do it now. That said, it's a glorious, vivid book (both books are, really), and there are things I remember about these books that I cannot remember of my favorites from Valente, so that certainly speaks to the power of her writing. Volume Two for A Dirge for Prester John follows the same structure as Volume One, but it leaves me to wonder if this is it, or if Valente has one more title up her sleeve. Given the ending, I don't see how; yet, given the ending, I feel there's so much more left to talk about.
Certainly, fans of Valente have to get their hands on this. It may not be my favorite, but it's not to be missed. Even if this were truly an "off" book for Valente (it isn't, it's just me), Valente's "off" book would surpass many other writers at their best. And this isn't an off book. It's just not my favorite of hers. :)
All that being said, don't read this without having read A Habitation for the Blessed first, because you will be hopelessly confused otherwise.
Spoilers, yay or nay?: Yay. If you aren't caught up, don't read the full review. Especially do not read if you haven't yet read The Habitation of the Blessed, because there's spoilers here for that too. But if you've read both books, then you're caught up, so onward! The full review is at my blog, which I've provided the link for below. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.
REVIEW: Catherynne M. Valente's THE FOLDED WORLD
Happy Reading!