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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
I remember playing the Myst games and feeling the thrill at how immersive the world was. It was so rich with history and detail. It isn't an exaggeration to say that the entire experience of the Myst world is lush. It was wonderfully fun. When I got the books, I had my hopes high it would be a similar enjoyment.
So after sitting them on the back of my to-read list for such a long time, I decided to make them a priority. I went in with the most positive outlook for all three books. I think they are going to mean more if you've been lucky enough to play the game, but the books are (and, man, I hate to say this) boring. Really boring.
All three books in the series are overbearingly detailed. In the first book, I was prepared for this. I had read some reviews that called it "meta" and explained that because the book is about world-making the extended details would be vivid and connect into a masterpiece of a true Reading Experience. Okay, I thought, I can get behind that. What a cool idea! But, as it turns out, I really believe the exhaustive descriptions and scene-setting to be simply Miller's writing style. I don't think he was trying to become some accidental teacher to writers/creators of fantasy worlds. He's got a lot of imagination and that's great, but I don't think it has the multilayered transcendent oomph that I've seen in some reviews.
Still, I would recommend it. The Book of Atrus, at least. It has some pleasant surprises (and reminders if you're familiar with the games) and it has characters that are compelling and good (if a bit archetypal). But don't expect this to change your fantasy top ten. I was really hoping that I'd found a gem.
Another plus is that the books look beautiful. The covers are embossed and inlaid, pages have a very attractive marbling to them, and they include some stellar maps and charcoal/pencil drawings. It'd be hard for any fantasy fiction reader not to gush over. I think I'll keep them for a while and see if I have my interest re-sparked. But for now, I'm linking out.
Atrus 4 of 5
Ti'ana 3 of 5
D'ni 3 of 5
So after sitting them on the back of my to-read list for such a long time, I decided to make them a priority. I went in with the most positive outlook for all three books. I think they are going to mean more if you've been lucky enough to play the game, but the books are (and, man, I hate to say this) boring. Really boring.
All three books in the series are overbearingly detailed. In the first book, I was prepared for this. I had read some reviews that called it "meta" and explained that because the book is about world-making the extended details would be vivid and connect into a masterpiece of a true Reading Experience. Okay, I thought, I can get behind that. What a cool idea! But, as it turns out, I really believe the exhaustive descriptions and scene-setting to be simply Miller's writing style. I don't think he was trying to become some accidental teacher to writers/creators of fantasy worlds. He's got a lot of imagination and that's great, but I don't think it has the multilayered transcendent oomph that I've seen in some reviews.
Still, I would recommend it. The Book of Atrus, at least. It has some pleasant surprises (and reminders if you're familiar with the games) and it has characters that are compelling and good (if a bit archetypal). But don't expect this to change your fantasy top ten. I was really hoping that I'd found a gem.
Another plus is that the books look beautiful. The covers are embossed and inlaid, pages have a very attractive marbling to them, and they include some stellar maps and charcoal/pencil drawings. It'd be hard for any fantasy fiction reader not to gush over. I think I'll keep them for a while and see if I have my interest re-sparked. But for now, I'm linking out.
Atrus 4 of 5
Ti'ana 3 of 5
D'ni 3 of 5
This is easily the worst of the trilogy. There are many characters and little to no character development- I can't think of character traits of Atrus or Catherine, much less the others. The traits the author tries to assign to them are erratically abandoned.
Catherine tries to be analytical but shrugs it off and disappears when Atrus pushes back even a little.
Atrus is diplomatic and non-violent until a random dude asks for liquid fire and Atrus is like, "Sure that sounds fine." Except after that when the same guy threatens violence against Atrus and Co., Atrus all of a sudden is back to, "Hey, violence doesn't solve anything."
The plot is all over the place, nobody sticks to their guns (what is motivating anyone here?!) and I'm honestly not sure why anyone listens to Atrus to begin with.
There are promising starts to be sure- I hoped Marrim would do more, and old Tergahn seems to be very interesting when he is introduced, but they are forgotten very quickly and fade to the background with no influence- they may as well not be in the story.
Also, the back of the book says "...your link to the story of Eedrah..." - a character that isn't even introduced until page 200 something of a 466 page book, and even then, the story is not about him.
Disappointing.
Catherine tries to be analytical but shrugs it off and disappears when Atrus pushes back even a little.
Atrus is diplomatic and non-violent until a random dude asks for liquid fire and Atrus is like, "Sure that sounds fine." Except after that when the same guy threatens violence against Atrus and Co., Atrus all of a sudden is back to, "Hey, violence doesn't solve anything."
The plot is all over the place, nobody sticks to their guns (what is motivating anyone here?!) and I'm honestly not sure why anyone listens to Atrus to begin with.
There are promising starts to be sure- I hoped Marrim would do more, and old Tergahn seems to be very interesting when he is introduced, but they are forgotten very quickly and fade to the background with no influence- they may as well not be in the story.
Also, the back of the book says "...your link to the story of Eedrah..." - a character that isn't even introduced until page 200 something of a 466 page book, and even then, the story is not about him.
Disappointing.
Beautifully written for beautifully written Ages, a great tale for great characters. The culmination of Atrus' eternal question: What do you see?
** spoiler alert ** Not as strong, in my opinion, as Myst The Book of Ti'ana but stronger than the first book, The Book of Atrus. Too many unanswered questions about "the prophecies", too many missing links.
The entire last section of the book--the disease, the revolt, the war, the resoution--felt very rushed compared to the build-up. Why did Uta idolize Ymur--how did that turn-about happen? Why not describe their final confrontation and the resulting disappearance of Ymur's army? How did they resolve the issue of the men & women all being sterile? Who stayed behind when the world was sealed, and did any of the D'Ni stay in the underground world of D'Ni?
I would not recommend any of the Myst books unless the potential reader already had an interest because of the games. But, as fantasy books separate from the games, the second book was best.
The entire last section of the book--the disease, the revolt, the war, the resoution--felt very rushed compared to the build-up. Why did Uta idolize Ymur--how did that turn-about happen? Why not describe their final confrontation and the resulting disappearance of Ymur's army? How did they resolve the issue of the men & women all being sterile? Who stayed behind when the world was sealed, and did any of the D'Ni stay in the underground world of D'Ni?
I would not recommend any of the Myst books unless the potential reader already had an interest because of the games. But, as fantasy books separate from the games, the second book was best.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The first half was fairly slow, the second half introduced a dystopian civilization that seems perfect, but is sustained by a labor force of slaves. Almost all of the slave owners die off because of bacteria accidentally introduced by Atrus and his friends. Then a civil war happens with the freed slaves - a faction wants to take revenge, and the others want to forgive and move on. There was way too much crammed into the second half of the book and way too much that could have been cut from the first half.
Also, Atrus was a complete moron in this one. Easily manipulated, and why would he give liquid fire to his enemy??
I liked Eedrah and Marrim. I would have liked their romance to be more developed though. It literally goes from Catherine observing that they spend a lot of time together to Marrim being pregnant in the course of a few pages. I was all for the romance between the two of them; I would have just liked it developed more.
Overall interesting continuation of the games. Was I the only one who kept picturing the Selenetic Age when Marrim was doing that maze thing????
Also, Atrus was a complete moron in this one. Easily manipulated, and why would he give liquid fire to his enemy??
I liked Eedrah and Marrim. I would have liked their romance to be more developed though. It literally goes from Catherine observing that they spend a lot of time together to Marrim being pregnant in the course of a few pages. I was all for the romance between the two of them; I would have just liked it developed more.
Overall interesting continuation of the games. Was I the only one who kept picturing the Selenetic Age when Marrim was doing that maze thing????
I read this series so long ago. I remember I enjoyed it at the time. Well, I was playing the game after all.
Not the best book in the Myst series, but good none the less. It had some ideas I thought were unique, and of course I like the Myst premise of science fantasy.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes