Post by Necromancer on Nov 4, 2015 4:45:12 GMT -5
Has anyone else around here read these books? Geraldine Harris is a British egyptologist, but also a writer of fiction. The Seven Citadels is a fantasy series for young adults, comprised of four novels with a continuous narrative:
Prince of the Godborn (1982)
The Children of the Wind (1982)
The Dead Kingdom (1983)
The Seventh Gate (1983)
I read them when I was about 13 or so, and enjoyed them but had forgotten most about them. A while ago I came to think of them, for some reason, and felt it would be interesting to read them again. I managed to track them down (they've been out of print around here since the late 80's) and finished re-reading them the other day. As far as I can tell, they don't seem to be very well known, which I think is a shame, so I thought it'd be fun to see if anyone else here has read them, or perhaps make someone interested in reading them.
The main protagonist is Kerish-lo-Taan, third son of the emperor of Galkis. Once a great and powerful nation, Galkis now faces internal decadence and intrigues as well as external threats as barbarian hordes seek to invade the country. The royal family traces their ancestry back to their god, Zeldin, and his human wife, Imarko, which explains some abilities that could best be described as somewhat psionic. Initially, Kerish is a young man, intelligent and educated, but hot-tempered and a bit arrogant. The high priest of Zeldin sends him off on a quest to find a mythic saviour that will redeem the declining empire. He's accompanied by his older illegitimate half-brother Forollkin, a soldier. The saviour is supposedly imprisoned behind seven gates, and the two of them must search for seven wizards, each holding one of the keys to the gates. However, the keys grant the wizards immortality, which obviously makes the task complicated. During their quest, Kerish and Forollkin encounters foreign cultures and dangerous environments. Two more companions join their quest; Gidjabolgo, a servant as ugly and peculiar as outspoken and loyal, and Gwerath, a princess of a nomadic tribe.
Re-reading the books as an adult was an interesting experience, and I was very pleased to find that I still enjoyed them. Sure, there are tropes familiar from other works of fantasy literature - the epic quest, the saviour, the protagonist maturing from a boy to a hero etc. But I still think it differs quite a lot from the generic fantasy quest. Despite being written for a young audience, the characters have a certain psychological depth, and there are philosophical undertones throughout the series. Although the characters face mortal danger on many occasions, brute force is rarely a solution. Poetry, music, theatre and mythology are all made important aspects. Apart from evocative descriptions of foreign cultures and luscious scenery, it focuses a lot on moral dilemmas as well as the personal growth of Kerish from a sheltered noble to a mature hero.
Prince of the Godborn (1982)
The Children of the Wind (1982)
The Dead Kingdom (1983)
The Seventh Gate (1983)
I read them when I was about 13 or so, and enjoyed them but had forgotten most about them. A while ago I came to think of them, for some reason, and felt it would be interesting to read them again. I managed to track them down (they've been out of print around here since the late 80's) and finished re-reading them the other day. As far as I can tell, they don't seem to be very well known, which I think is a shame, so I thought it'd be fun to see if anyone else here has read them, or perhaps make someone interested in reading them.
The main protagonist is Kerish-lo-Taan, third son of the emperor of Galkis. Once a great and powerful nation, Galkis now faces internal decadence and intrigues as well as external threats as barbarian hordes seek to invade the country. The royal family traces their ancestry back to their god, Zeldin, and his human wife, Imarko, which explains some abilities that could best be described as somewhat psionic. Initially, Kerish is a young man, intelligent and educated, but hot-tempered and a bit arrogant. The high priest of Zeldin sends him off on a quest to find a mythic saviour that will redeem the declining empire. He's accompanied by his older illegitimate half-brother Forollkin, a soldier. The saviour is supposedly imprisoned behind seven gates, and the two of them must search for seven wizards, each holding one of the keys to the gates. However, the keys grant the wizards immortality, which obviously makes the task complicated. During their quest, Kerish and Forollkin encounters foreign cultures and dangerous environments. Two more companions join their quest; Gidjabolgo, a servant as ugly and peculiar as outspoken and loyal, and Gwerath, a princess of a nomadic tribe.
Re-reading the books as an adult was an interesting experience, and I was very pleased to find that I still enjoyed them. Sure, there are tropes familiar from other works of fantasy literature - the epic quest, the saviour, the protagonist maturing from a boy to a hero etc. But I still think it differs quite a lot from the generic fantasy quest. Despite being written for a young audience, the characters have a certain psychological depth, and there are philosophical undertones throughout the series. Although the characters face mortal danger on many occasions, brute force is rarely a solution. Poetry, music, theatre and mythology are all made important aspects. Apart from evocative descriptions of foreign cultures and luscious scenery, it focuses a lot on moral dilemmas as well as the personal growth of Kerish from a sheltered noble to a mature hero.
