The Waterborn - Softcover

Keyes, Greg

Softcover

ISBN 10: 009966951X ISBN 13: 9780099669517

Publisher: Legend, 1997

Synopsis

Princess Hezhi lives in the great city of Nhol. With clandestine help from friends, she investigates why various members of the royal family disappear at puberty. Is it an act of the gods? Meanwhile another teenager, Perkar, sets out on an odyssey which leads him down the great river to Nhol.

About this title

Review

It's that story again: unsophisticated adolescent boy, spunky, curious princess, large landscape for them to tour, troublesome deities, a magic sword. J. Gregory Keyes's knowledge of epics, myths, and human cultures is a solid foundation for his series, making it far better than the average product: a story that might have happened sometime between the Ice Ages when numinous deities still dwelled in every tree, rock, and pool. The detailed social structures and customs feel more authentic, though they're also familiar--the urban monotheists, the shamanistic horseback nomads, and so on. The writing is workmanlike, but the anthropological soundness and echoes of ancient stories give life and dimension to the old archetypes.

From the Publisher

True story: my sister, Joan Narvaez (you can call her and ask if this isn't the truth), had really enjoyed THE WATERBORN, Book One of this two-book series. So naturally, I let her know when THE BLACKGOD was coming out. Now, Joan is a good sister and normally insists on buying our books, but in this case, she begged me to get her one of the advance reading copies we were doing for THE BLACKGOD--not to save the cost of the hardcover, but so she could have the book in hand by the time she was due to have her first baby: she wanted her husband to read THE BLACKGOD to her in the delivery room. She said it was the only thing she could think of that could possibly take her mind off the ... what do they call it these days, discomfort? Which is about the highest praise you can give an author.
        Of course--as those of you who have been through the birthing process may have anticipated--it didn't work. But she did love the book, when she finally got the chance to read it.
                        --Veronica Chapman, Senior Editor

When this manuscript came to Del Rey, word quickly spread among the staff that the next major fantasy author had been found! Such statements are made very, very rarely at Del Rey so I was quick to get my hands on a copy of the work. All I can say is that I agree whole-heartedly, Greg is a terrific author! The story has exceptional characters, a rich mythological underpining, and a dramatic setting.
The Waterborn is Greg's first novel. Over breakfast in Seattle, I asked him how he had developed such polish and style in a first work. He told me that this was actually his third novel, the first two had not been published. As he looks back on them now, he's glad they weren't published and he doesn't think they ever should be. But he learned a tremendous amount from writing them. I guess even a great natural talent needs practice to develop fully. That's inspiration for all aspiring writers!
                        --Tim Kochuba, General Manager

About this edition

• Publisher: Legend
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 009966951X
• ISBN 13: 9780099669517
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 448