Within a matter of days, I devoured the story of Remy and this strange dark world he inhabits. Rather than providing a typical Aladdin-esque story-line of 'street-rat turns hero', Christina Lay has clearly went to great lengths ensuring that Symphony of Ruin's main character is both an accidental, and extremely flawed one. From the get-go, Remy sips liquor with his friends, stolen from a man who'd taken him in, and of whom he has no real appreciation; he is willing to take advantage of the people around him, blatantly lie in pursuit of reward, and is rather uncaring upon sight of the people, who'd once been his friends, lying dead from a mysterious form of attack. Because of this, Remy is constantly thrown into situations where he has to act the hero in order to ensure that he can live another day - either because of frivolous spending, leaving him unable to support himself while his master is gone, or due the fact that people are threatening him, or the money he could make. Remy is so flawed and cocksure that it's almost comedic, and he stands out as an interesting example of an accidental hero who is doing the right thing for all the wrong reasons. I rarely have comments on the individual elements of a novel (usually opting to provide my thoughts on the whole) but The City, a brooding little haunt where plagues, monster attacks, ghosts, vampire creatures, and supernatural plots seem far too common to it's residents, stands out as a character all on it's own. Life is just terrible for everyone here, even the higher ranking officials, and it's even at the point where Alchemists (basically wizards in this universe) have found a way to make a living from this fact. However, just like the main character, the dark and twisted elements of this place are portrayed in an almost comedic manner. Everyone is just so okay with others dying; the only consistent occurrence in The City being death. Why do they stay here? No person knows - even the nobility of this place are being killed off and requiring some form of exorcism due the ways they’ve been killed, sit atop magic portals to cult layers, and are victim of magical abuses. And, who will do something about this state? Not a person, unless there is a reward. Way to reflect the nature of humanity, am I right? My only gripe, besides a singular typo, is that Chapters whip from one location to another, constructed like episodes or scenes of a television show. This isn’t all bad, I still very much loved Symphony of Ruin, but it had me confused at times - having to get a read on where Remy was, who he was talking to, what was going on. Honestly, I just feel that this was a stylistic choice I don’t see often and had to get used to. Not truly a detriment to the novel. For a great, very strange, dark comedy that provides death and mystery at every turn - I suggest Symphony of Ruin. It is well written, well paced, and Christina Lay has given me one of the most interesting and fun characters I have ever had the chance of experiencing. It is entirely straight-forward and to-the-point, with no unnecessary filler, but it makes for a stress-free read. Not every fantasy novel needs to be as big as a concrete block to please, or provide a compelling or entertaining narrative. Let Symphony of Ruin be a prime example of this. -L. BROOKS For those interested... SHADOW SPINNERS - Christina Lay Symphony of Ruin - On Amazon
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I have to confess, I own a rather nice little compilation of Kafka's shorter works. It is through this that I've been able to read his work, and share my thoughts on his stories. Some of them aren't fantasy or scifi, but they are certainly all obscure. Of course, I'm not going to just be reviewing every little story that I read by him, I'm simply pointing out the ones that I feel need attention drawn to. And, I can confidentially say, The Metamorphosis deserves a little attention. When Gregor Samsa wakes as a giant bug, his life takes a turn for the worse... but if it was ever good is the real question. The Metamorphosis is, hands down, the most popular tale that Franz Kafka ever turned out - and for good reason. Not often can a story deal with topics such as ignorance, desperation, the expectations of others, and alienation without being completely heavy handed. Somehow, the concept of a travelling salesmen being turned into a giant bug is the perfect device in which to express these ideas. Who would have known? I can't say I had high expectations with this one. Many times have I read the stories of the late 1800's and early 1900's, heard endless praise about some extremely unique idea, and been completely disappointed with the overall execution. It feels like the stories of that time had some very brave ideas, but no one really knew how to make them be. The Metamorphosis succeeds in expressing a unique idea, and explores it in a completely unique and satisfying way. Page One, Line One, tells you that Gregor has been changed. He has no idea how to get off the bed, how to interact with others, or how to walk; deal with his condition. A lot of times is spent watching him adjust to his new body and it's quirks, and getting over his single minded mentality when it comes to work. You see, Gregor's biggest issue is his obsession with work and providing for others, his life as a man was little else. And, strangely but effectively, its through Kafka's exploration of Gregor's human life and his family that you learn that things really never were ideal. Gregor was never a man of much besides work, same with his father, and because of this, when Gregor's work-life and money is removed from the equation, he becomes a burden on his parents and sister - a spec that they soon grow tired of taking care of, and long to move on from. Wow. As a man, who was often told that if I didn't work I'd be useless (by both real parents and step parents) in his youth, I can relate. Its also due to this relation that I can look over some of the overall silliness of the writing. At times, Kafka's confidence shines through and it can really hurt what he's trying to say. Moments that are supposed to be dreadful or profound realizations can come off as too direct or too preachy, especially during the end of the story. Ultimately, the tale concludes with the reader being filled in enough on the family, their situation, and Gregor's life to accept his eventual fate. Kakfa has a strange way of making you feel like, perhaps, it was the best option - providing a significant moral dilemma for the reader. It really does, I read this story nearly a week before writing this article and I can say that it sticks with you. The Metamorphosis really is a harrowing tale about a man who is turned into a bug, and the story and themes it expresses are easy for anyone to relate too. Better yet, Kafka's more simplistic and essay-style of writing really works here, almost anyone out of high-school could read this without any difficulty. - unlike Lovecraft or the Lord Dunsany. - L.BROOKS |
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