The Name of the Wind

‘I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.

You may have heard of me’.

That is the impeccable synopsis that one can be read when is interested in The Name of the Wind. It is a completely new bestseller, reason why some people won’t recognize the author, Patrick Rothfuss. Unfortunately, some would just ignore it because of a raising trend of awareness of new authors. It could be one of the greatest failures in one’s life. Because this book is more than just’ worth it’. Because it is different to everything else. Because it is not other attempt of imitate Tolkien’s world. Also because this fear is completely groundless. Even the synopsis is just perfect.

The story finds its stem in the slaughter of the parents and troop of Edema Ruh – a travelling ethnic group similar to the real gypsies- of the main character, Kvothe, by some gloomy people –The Chandrian-. Left as an orphan, Kvothe loses part of his childhood trying both to survive in an aggressive world and uncover the truth behind the death of his beloved family. During that time, the reader can imagine the different situations and complications he come across in his way to maturity, followed by his desire of being accepted in a mysterious institution called The University.

Even though that doesn’t sound very new or original, the thing that makes this book special is, apart from its plot, the storytelling. It is supposed to be the first book of three, the Kingkiller Chronicles. Nowadays the second book –Wise men’s fear- can be found in the majority of bookshops, but the ones like me who are eager to read to third one will have to wait a little bit more. Rothfuss’ revolutionary method lies on, basically, a perfect way of explaining the world, of building characters and describing sceneries. He makes it with such precision that the reader never finds it tedious or tiresome. It is always interesting. Even when he describes a daily activity such as have some beers with friends in a bar. The most part of the book is in first person, a kind of autobiography. Nevertheless, the story is being told by the own Kvothe in a bar, so sometimes the author swaps the point of view from first to third person. With this book Patrick Rothfuss doesn’t prove just a cunning narrative, but a beautiful one.

Also, one of the strongest points of the book is the way the characters think. The author creates so many characters, being –obviously- Kvothe the main one. However, the most interesting thing about the book lies on Kvothe’s point of view. Some of the readers may expect the typical hero; brave and handsome why always follows the rules of chivalry. But this is not Kvothe’s case. It is true that he is a talented, full-fledged magician… as well a rogue. It can be said that he is some sort of genius, and he really knows how to take advantage of that. He has also a lot of flaws, he is arrogant and mendacious, but still has a good heart, which makes him more human than the other typical main characters.

So, taking into account that it is my idea to write another article to explain my impression about Wise men’s fear, I will leave some of the interesting details for that. But before, I would like to conclude reiterating myself: this book is an absolute masterpiece, incredible and recommendable not for a read, but for a re-read.

Across the nightingale floor

It is said that the Otori castle is unbreakable, soldiers are everywhere to be seen and, above everything else, it counts with a nightingale floor. It is an absolute masterpiece that provides the castle with a solid security having into account that no one can cross it unheard – the nightingale floor sings as a human foot step on it, which makes it impossible to break into the castle.

Impossible?

Impossible is nothing. Overall for Otori Takeo.

The story I am talking about is the one shown in the saga Tales of the Otori written by Lian Hearn, being ‘The Nightingale Floor’ the first one. It takes place in an alternate-universe feudal Japan, where some cultural and traditional similarities can be found – it can be said that it is the same and yet, different.

The story starts when the main character, Takeo finds his own village and people –The Hidden- massacrated by one of the dominating lords of the country. He is supposed to be a normal kid, but on his first encounter with that lord, he dodges one of his attacks with an estrange movement. Time later, after he is adopted by Otori Sigeru, he discovers his birth-father was a member of The Tribe, a secret organization of assassins and spies with supernatural powers.

As you may see, it has all the ingredients to be the beginning of a great adventure:  All the difficulties Takeo bump into lead him across the most dangerous quests and to his own unimaginable fate.

I have seen so many bad critics about the Japanese practices described in the book, which, in my opinion, doesn’t make any sense. There are a lot of people who support the idea of a bad research from the author about Japan, but I would like to emphasize that neither the setting nor the period is intended to be any specific era, though echoes many facts of this culture.

In my opinion, this book is worthy read, a real page turner: it draws your attention and you can’t stop reading! It is a book of honor, identity and determination which, together with the fantasy issues and a Japanese style context create an interesting and original story. Also, the author combines both first and third person, which gives the book different points of view and some changes the reader usually needs.

The magicians is to Harry Potter as a shot of Irish whiskey is to a glass of weak tea’

George R. R. Martin

However recurrent this quote is, it has become one of the best ways of describing The magicians.  And maybe that is the main reason why the majority of readers have chosen no ordinary book in the fantasy and sci-fi section but this book. Truth be told, it is not easy to get such quote from one of the most famous fiction authors, and it can be the perfect sales pitch. However, after reading and analyzing this book, one may be wondering about to such extent this is true.

Lev Grossman shows the story of Quentyn, an exceptionally gifted young boy who is obsessed with Fillory, an imaginary world. Furthermore, this main character lacks motivation and, at the beginning of the story has no interest in nothing and no one… until he founds in a strange way – similar to Narnia Chronicles -the magic university Brakebills, and that is when his idea of the world starts to change…or at least it is what he thought.

Having said so, it is not really strange that one may think that this book is completely related to the famous masterpieces of J. K. Rowling. In spite of that apparent similarity, nothing could be more wrong. The magicians shows a majority never seen before in that kind of novels, let alone the fact that The magicians’ world is much more cruel, gloomy and complex. Quentyn, who is far from being the hero prototype we are used to, is a selfish, hedonist and depressive person, which just adds reality to the story. In fact, once in Brakebills, the main character meets up with other young magicians in similar circumstances, who will be his partners in a lot of adventures, some of them finishing in a whirl of sex, drugs and alcohol.

In fact, as the story goes on, one starts wondering what happened with those sweet vehement characters which are typical in this kind of books. That is the way how Lev Grossman in an original and smart way, tears apart the fantasy world as we know it.

On the other hand, the author’s narrative writing is very dark, intelligent and, even though it may sound contradictory, it could be funny and sad at the same time. It could be said that Grossman uses conventional characteristics of fantasy fiction adding big doses of good humor and drama, giving a sweet and sour tastes in one’s mouth. Besides, the chaotic way of writing plus a very precise description of each and every action makes this book a ‘must-have’ to any person who love this kind of novels. But one thing is for sure: it is eccentric and extravagant, to the extent that it provokes both revulsion and pleasure. Some people hate it, some love it, but what is undeniable is that one doesn’t feel indifferent once he has read it.