The Sleeping City
Ratings1
Average rating4
15
Ratings1
Average rating4
From the opening reared a head, wide, flat, huge. Below it stretched a body beautiful with iridescent scales of gold edged with ruby. Nictitating membranes lifted over enormous eyes, deep, limpid pools of ancient wisdom, catching and reflecting the light of the miniature sun, turning the glowing orb into a scatter of stars shimmering in an ebon sea. From open jaws a forked tongue flickered with a soft susurration. Its scent was dry, acrid, tinged with that of living fur on a summer's day. The head rose higher, swaying over the three men on the ledge, the sinuous length of the body almost filling the passage through which it had come. From it radiated an impression of incredible age. "A serpent," whispered Thagamista. "A creature from the beginning of time. Somehow surviving to find this place and feast on those who dwell here. It was inevitable they should think it a god."
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. The author: Edwin Charles Tubb (15 October 1919 – 10 September 2010) was a British writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. The author of over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, Tubb is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra), an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future. Michael Moorcock wrote, “His reputation for fast-moving and colourful SF writing is unmatched by anyone in Britain.”
. Summary: The second volume of Tubbs's heroic fantasy novels, The Chronicles of Malkar (both published in 1999):
1) Death God's Doom
2) The Sleeping City
Like its predecessor, it's full of relentless action and rich, poetic writing. This propels the plot forward so the reader is never far away from fights, monstrous villains, amazing sorcery or awful monsters. The book also boasts a great Ron Turner cover too. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
. Quote:When a man has nothing to lose he can afford to gamble all.
. Characters: marks 2* /5. Plot: marks 5 /5. Settings: marks 4 /5. Dialogue: marks 4 /5Reviewing CriteriaCharacters: = one-dimensional; generic cardboard cut-outs; didn't care if they lived or died
** = a few redeeming features; slightly fleshed out; only wanted to punch a few of them
* = nicely rounded; would probably go for a pint with them; may add as a Facebook friend** = almost a real person; almost fully formed & three-dimensional; care about their motivations & actions
*** = fully formed & three-dimensional; completely invested in them; would probably date themPlot:* = boring; confusing; possibly generated by computer with a grudge against humanity = unoriginal but tolerable; several gaping holes; just about holds the reader's interest
* = average; unexception but works in the context of its own genre; nothing too earth shattering here** = exciting and dramatic; impressive; only a few minor flaws which can be overlooked
*** = rip-roaring; moved to tears; didn't want it to finish; wanted to re-read the book immediatelySettings:* = limited; hardly moved from one location; induces sleep (zzzz) = some variation; helped move the plot along; added a small degree of interest
* = fluid; generated a sense of anticipation; worked well with the plot & characters** = several locations; well described and exciting; propelled the lot along
*** = extensive jet-setting; exotic locations & well described geography; makes me want to add these to my bucket listDialogue:* = unconvincing, dull and clichéd. Blurgh (sad face) = somewhat bloated, a bit turgid and generally below par
* = not bad; fairly convincing; may be a bit exposition heavy but overall it works** = above average; very convincing; mostly enjoyable; worked well with the characters
***** = sparkling & erudite; intelligent & clever; brilliantly fitted to the characters
