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La pierre de lumière #1
حجر النور - نفر الصامت
The Stone of Light: Volume 1: Nefer the Silent is Christian Jacq's (author of the Ramses series) first installment in a new four-part series of historical novels set in ancient Egypt. An incredible stone possesses magical powers, and one man's quest to seize it could topple the Pharaoh Ramses's reign over Egypt. Can a group of brave young people save the ruler? The saga is filled with romance, murder, betrayal and evil ambition.
390 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2000
28 people are currently reading
1246 people want to read
About the author
Christian Jacq
222 books942 followersAlso writes under the names Célestin Valois, J.B. Livingstone, and Christopher Carter.
Christian Jacq is a French author and Egyptologist. He has written several novels about ancient Egypt, notably a five book suite about pharaoh Ramses II, a character whom Jacq admires greatly.
Jacq's interest in Egyptology began when he was thirteen, and read History of Ancient Egyptian Civilization by Jacques Pirenne. This inspired him to write his first novel. He first visited Egypt when he was seventeen, went on to study Egyptology and archaeology at the Sorbonne, and is now one of the world's leading Egyptologists.
By the time he was eighteen, he had written eight books. His first commercially successful book was Champollion the Egyptian, published in 1987. As of 2004 he has written over fifty books, including several non-fiction books on the subject of Egyptology.
He and his wife later founded the Ramses Institute, which is dedicated to creating a photographic description of Egypt for the preservation of endangered archaeological sites.
Between 1995-1997, he published his best selling five book suite Ramsès, which is today published in over twenty-five countries. Each volume encompasses one aspect of Ramesses' known historical life, woven into a fictional tapestry of the ancient world for an epic tale of love, life and deceit.
Jacq's series describes a vision of the life of the pharaoh: he has two vile power-hungry siblings, Shanaar, his decadent older brother, and Dolora, his corrupted older sister who married his teacher. In his marital life, he first has Isetnofret (Iset) as a mistress (second Great Wife), meets his true love Nefertari (first Great Wife) and after their death, gets married to Maetnefrure in his old age. Jacq gives Ramesses only three biological children: Kha'emweset, Meritamen (she being the only child of Nefertari, the two others being from Iset) and Merneptah. The other "children" are only young officials trained for government and who are nicknamed "sons of the pharaoh".
Christian Jacq is a French author and Egyptologist. He has written several novels about ancient Egypt, notably a five book suite about pharaoh Ramses II, a character whom Jacq admires greatly.
Jacq's interest in Egyptology began when he was thirteen, and read History of Ancient Egyptian Civilization by Jacques Pirenne. This inspired him to write his first novel. He first visited Egypt when he was seventeen, went on to study Egyptology and archaeology at the Sorbonne, and is now one of the world's leading Egyptologists.
By the time he was eighteen, he had written eight books. His first commercially successful book was Champollion the Egyptian, published in 1987. As of 2004 he has written over fifty books, including several non-fiction books on the subject of Egyptology.
He and his wife later founded the Ramses Institute, which is dedicated to creating a photographic description of Egypt for the preservation of endangered archaeological sites.
Between 1995-1997, he published his best selling five book suite Ramsès, which is today published in over twenty-five countries. Each volume encompasses one aspect of Ramesses' known historical life, woven into a fictional tapestry of the ancient world for an epic tale of love, life and deceit.
Jacq's series describes a vision of the life of the pharaoh: he has two vile power-hungry siblings, Shanaar, his decadent older brother, and Dolora, his corrupted older sister who married his teacher. In his marital life, he first has Isetnofret (Iset) as a mistress (second Great Wife), meets his true love Nefertari (first Great Wife) and after their death, gets married to Maetnefrure in his old age. Jacq gives Ramesses only three biological children: Kha'emweset, Meritamen (she being the only child of Nefertari, the two others being from Iset) and Merneptah. The other "children" are only young officials trained for government and who are nicknamed "sons of the pharaoh".
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March 6, 2014
It was Christian Jacq who introduced me to historical fiction, mostly I employed a 'just the facts, marm' approach. Yet here was an Egyptologist plucking sequences off the walls of tombs and spinning out a tale that would make these characters come to life for us moderns. Fantastic concept.
However since then we have others who do the same job so much better. A soft spot I retain, yet in the light of honest feedback I cannot recommend The Stone of Light series.
Opening: Around midnight, in the light of the full moon, nine craftsmen left the Place of Truth and began to climb up a narrow path, guided by their overseer.
Summer 2013 Egyptian Encounters:
Cleopatra (1963)
3* The Mummy Curse
2* Alexandria: The Last Nights of Cleopatra
4* The Complete Valley of the Kings
1* Ancient Egypt by George Rawlinson
4* Tutankhamen: Life and death of a Pharoah
2* The Luxor Museum
3* Tutankhamen's Treasure
3* The Black Pharaoh\
3* Nubian Twilight.../ complimentary reading!
CR River God
4* House of Eternity
The Egyptian (1954)
Agora (2009)
TR Justine
Death on the Nile (1978)
2* The Stone of Light
However since then we have others who do the same job so much better. A soft spot I retain, yet in the light of honest feedback I cannot recommend The Stone of Light series.
Opening: Around midnight, in the light of the full moon, nine craftsmen left the Place of Truth and began to climb up a narrow path, guided by their overseer.
Summer 2013 Egyptian Encounters:
Cleopatra (1963)
3* The Mummy Curse
2* Alexandria: The Last Nights of Cleopatra
4* The Complete Valley of the Kings
1* Ancient Egypt by George Rawlinson
4* Tutankhamen: Life and death of a Pharoah
2* The Luxor Museum
3* Tutankhamen's Treasure
3* The Black Pharaoh\
3* Nubian Twilight.../ complimentary reading!
CR River God
4* House of Eternity
The Egyptian (1954)
Agora (2009)
TR Justine
Death on the Nile (1978)
2* The Stone of Light
November 18, 2017
Böyle kitaplar bana yaramıyor ama okumaktan da kendimi alamıyorum. :(
Çocukluğumun en büyük hayallerinden biri arkeolog olup Mısır'a gitmek, o kumtepelerinin arasında yükselen ve sırları yüzyıllardır keşfedilememiş olan piramitleri gezmek, keşfetmekti. Elbette zaman geçti, hayaller yön değiştirdi ancak Mısır'a gitme hayalim hiç değişmedi. Bir gün tüm piramitleri gezmek umuduyla diyorum ve kitaba geçiyorum.
I. Seti zamanında firavunların, Krallar Vadisi'ndeki ebedi istirahatgâhlarını hazırlamak üzere bir lonca kurulmuştur. Piramitlerin yapımı, süslenmesi başta olmak üzere tüm görevleri üstlenmiş bu loncanın üyeleri herkese kapalı bir köyde yaşamakta, dışarıdan kimseyi içeri almamaktadır.
Toplumun bir kesmi tarafından yük olarak gördüğü bu köyün ortadan kalmasını isteyenler ile tanrıçaların çağrısını duyup köye girmeye çalışanların arasında geçen; yeniden kurgulanmış bir kitap.
Basit, okunması kolay olmasına rağmen pek bir derinliği yok ne yazık ki. Ha, bu okumama engel mi? Elbette hayır.
Yer yer abartı unsurlarının bulunduğu seride ölen II. Ramses'in yerine tahta çıkan Merneptah'ın bu köye karşı tavrı ne olacağı belirsiz.
Babası köye her şeyiyle kalkan olurken yeni firavun bir kesmin isteğine karşılık verecek mi yoksa babasının arzusuna sadık mı kalacak göreceğiz.
Çocukluğumun en büyük hayallerinden biri arkeolog olup Mısır'a gitmek, o kumtepelerinin arasında yükselen ve sırları yüzyıllardır keşfedilememiş olan piramitleri gezmek, keşfetmekti. Elbette zaman geçti, hayaller yön değiştirdi ancak Mısır'a gitme hayalim hiç değişmedi. Bir gün tüm piramitleri gezmek umuduyla diyorum ve kitaba geçiyorum.
I. Seti zamanında firavunların, Krallar Vadisi'ndeki ebedi istirahatgâhlarını hazırlamak üzere bir lonca kurulmuştur. Piramitlerin yapımı, süslenmesi başta olmak üzere tüm görevleri üstlenmiş bu loncanın üyeleri herkese kapalı bir köyde yaşamakta, dışarıdan kimseyi içeri almamaktadır.
Toplumun bir kesmi tarafından yük olarak gördüğü bu köyün ortadan kalmasını isteyenler ile tanrıçaların çağrısını duyup köye girmeye çalışanların arasında geçen; yeniden kurgulanmış bir kitap.
Basit, okunması kolay olmasına rağmen pek bir derinliği yok ne yazık ki. Ha, bu okumama engel mi? Elbette hayır.
Yer yer abartı unsurlarının bulunduğu seride ölen II. Ramses'in yerine tahta çıkan Merneptah'ın bu köye karşı tavrı ne olacağı belirsiz.
Babası köye her şeyiyle kalkan olurken yeni firavun bir kesmin isteğine karşılık verecek mi yoksa babasının arzusuna sadık mı kalacak göreceğiz.
July 17, 2013
من أين نبدأ الحديث و القلب حزين !؟
قامت علي أرضنا حضارة لا ينكر عظمتها أو قيمتها إلا حاقد أو جاحد ، لكننا لآسف لم نهتم بهذه الحضارة إلا إذا تمكننا من العثور علي أي شئ ينتسب لها يمكن بيعه ويعود إلينا بأرباح سريعة تناسب ثقافتنا ونشأتنا ، فأنك إذا أردت أن تبحث عن أكثر رجل مصري اشتهر عالميا و ارتبط اسمه بالحضارة الفرعونية ولا يكاد يخلو أي فيلم وثائقي صور في مصر عن الفراعنة من وجوده هو وقبعته الشهيرة التي تحاكي انديانا جونز ليس سوي لص آثار محترم و جاهل بكثير من التاريخ الفرعوني لكنه أجاد عرض و تسويق نفسه كأيقونة ترضي فانتازيا الغرب ،و رغم كل هذا و لأننا نمتلك ميراث لا بأس به من الذكاء حتي في هذا الشأن فكثرة بيع التماثيل و الآثار أدي إلي انخفاض أسعارهم علي مواقع المزادات المختلفة
بينما الاهتمام الثقافي سواء كان متمثل في أدب أو معرفة أو سينما إلي آخره فنحن ندين بالكثير إلي الغرب أو الغرباء عن بلادنا بالكثير ، إذا نزعنا من ثقافتنا الروايات الأولي لنجيب محفوظ و أعمال سليم حسن و الأعمال السينمائية لشادي عبد السلام ما الذي سيتبقي لنا عن الفراعنة كأدب أو دراسة أو سينما إلا بعض الأعمال المشتتة هنا وهناك أو أعمال مغمورة لم يسمع عنها أحد إلا قلة قليلة متخصصة في هذه المجالات ، بينما نجد هنا مؤلف واحد مثل كريستيان جاك ذلك الرجل الفرنسي الذي انبهر بالحضارة المصرية القديمة حتي أنها فتنته عندما كان علي أرضها أثناء قضاء شهر العسل الخاص به حتي ظن أن حورس أرسل له برسالة ، قام هذا الرجل بكتابة روايات عن مصر القديمة والفراعنة مستندة علي أحداث ووقائع تاريخية في هيئة سلاسل مختلفة أشهرها سلسلة عن الرعامسة بيع منها أكثر من 10 مليون نسخة حول العالم ، لا تحلم في الوقت الحالي أن تجدها مترجمة باللغة العربية فربما لم يسمعوا بوجود هذه السلسلة أو بمجهودات هذا المؤلف عن الفراعنة من الأساس حتي الآن - صفحة المؤلف علي ويكيبيديا لم تترجم للعربية حتي الآن - ، بل أن تلك الرواية التي نتحدث عنها و المعنونة بنفر الصامت هي في الأصل أول رواية من ضمن سلسلة بعنوان حجر النور تتكون من 4 روايات ولم يتم تعريب باقي السلسلة حتي الآن
في هذه الرواية يعتبر محور الأحداث أو الطريق الرئيسي الذي تتفرع منه باقي الطرق هو المكان المسمي بساحة الحقيقة ذلك المكان الغامض الذي يضم أمهر الرسامين والنحاتين والفنانين إلي آخره ، ذلك المكان الذي يجهل الناس أسراره وتنسج حوله الأساطير ،الدخول إليه من أصعب الأشياء لكن الخروج والطرد منه من أسهل الأشياء ، برغم إن الرواية تقترب من 400 صفحة وبرغم هدوء أحداثها إلا أنك ستسير معها بدون أن تشعر بالوقت وستندمج مع كل ما يحدث من أحداث و صراعات مختلفة برغم تحفظي علي بعض الصدف التي حدثت في الرواية
الكاتب برع في إظهار صور كثيرة من مظاهر الحياة الاجتماعية لدي المصريين القدماء ، وإبراز مدي تفوقهم وتقدمهم في المجالات المختلفة ، وإن كان جانب الحياة الجنسية والحرية الجنسية لدي المصريين القدماء قد يسبب صدمة لدي البعض ، في بعض الجمل الحوارية شعرت بأن الكاتب من مصر و ليس من فرنسا
مثل جملة " نحن بلد تقاليد ليس من اليسير تغييرها "
و في رأيي هذا يدل علي مدي قدرة الكاتب ووتعمقه في فهم الشعب المصري
في النهاية نصيحة لا تقرأ هذه الرواية إلا إذا انتويت أن تكمل باقي السلسلة
قامت علي أرضنا حضارة لا ينكر عظمتها أو قيمتها إلا حاقد أو جاحد ، لكننا لآسف لم نهتم بهذه الحضارة إلا إذا تمكننا من العثور علي أي شئ ينتسب لها يمكن بيعه ويعود إلينا بأرباح سريعة تناسب ثقافتنا ونشأتنا ، فأنك إذا أردت أن تبحث عن أكثر رجل مصري اشتهر عالميا و ارتبط اسمه بالحضارة الفرعونية ولا يكاد يخلو أي فيلم وثائقي صور في مصر عن الفراعنة من وجوده هو وقبعته الشهيرة التي تحاكي انديانا جونز ليس سوي لص آثار محترم و جاهل بكثير من التاريخ الفرعوني لكنه أجاد عرض و تسويق نفسه كأيقونة ترضي فانتازيا الغرب ،و رغم كل هذا و لأننا نمتلك ميراث لا بأس به من الذكاء حتي في هذا الشأن فكثرة بيع التماثيل و الآثار أدي إلي انخفاض أسعارهم علي مواقع المزادات المختلفة
بينما الاهتمام الثقافي سواء كان متمثل في أدب أو معرفة أو سينما إلي آخره فنحن ندين بالكثير إلي الغرب أو الغرباء عن بلادنا بالكثير ، إذا نزعنا من ثقافتنا الروايات الأولي لنجيب محفوظ و أعمال سليم حسن و الأعمال السينمائية لشادي عبد السلام ما الذي سيتبقي لنا عن الفراعنة كأدب أو دراسة أو سينما إلا بعض الأعمال المشتتة هنا وهناك أو أعمال مغمورة لم يسمع عنها أحد إلا قلة قليلة متخصصة في هذه المجالات ، بينما نجد هنا مؤلف واحد مثل كريستيان جاك ذلك الرجل الفرنسي الذي انبهر بالحضارة المصرية القديمة حتي أنها فتنته عندما كان علي أرضها أثناء قضاء شهر العسل الخاص به حتي ظن أن حورس أرسل له برسالة ، قام هذا الرجل بكتابة روايات عن مصر القديمة والفراعنة مستندة علي أحداث ووقائع تاريخية في هيئة سلاسل مختلفة أشهرها سلسلة عن الرعامسة بيع منها أكثر من 10 مليون نسخة حول العالم ، لا تحلم في الوقت الحالي أن تجدها مترجمة باللغة العربية فربما لم يسمعوا بوجود هذه السلسلة أو بمجهودات هذا المؤلف عن الفراعنة من الأساس حتي الآن - صفحة المؤلف علي ويكيبيديا لم تترجم للعربية حتي الآن - ، بل أن تلك الرواية التي نتحدث عنها و المعنونة بنفر الصامت هي في الأصل أول رواية من ضمن سلسلة بعنوان حجر النور تتكون من 4 روايات ولم يتم تعريب باقي السلسلة حتي الآن
في هذه الرواية يعتبر محور الأحداث أو الطريق الرئيسي الذي تتفرع منه باقي الطرق هو المكان المسمي بساحة الحقيقة ذلك المكان الغامض الذي يضم أمهر الرسامين والنحاتين والفنانين إلي آخره ، ذلك المكان الذي يجهل الناس أسراره وتنسج حوله الأساطير ،الدخول إليه من أصعب الأشياء لكن الخروج والطرد منه من أسهل الأشياء ، برغم إن الرواية تقترب من 400 صفحة وبرغم هدوء أحداثها إلا أنك ستسير معها بدون أن تشعر بالوقت وستندمج مع كل ما يحدث من أحداث و صراعات مختلفة برغم تحفظي علي بعض الصدف التي حدثت في الرواية
الكاتب برع في إظهار صور كثيرة من مظاهر الحياة الاجتماعية لدي المصريين القدماء ، وإبراز مدي تفوقهم وتقدمهم في المجالات المختلفة ، وإن كان جانب الحياة الجنسية والحرية الجنسية لدي المصريين القدماء قد يسبب صدمة لدي البعض ، في بعض الجمل الحوارية شعرت بأن الكاتب من مصر و ليس من فرنسا
مثل جملة " نحن بلد تقاليد ليس من اليسير تغييرها "
و في رأيي هذا يدل علي مدي قدرة الكاتب ووتعمقه في فهم الشعب المصري
في النهاية نصيحة لا تقرأ هذه الرواية إلا إذا انتويت أن تكمل باقي السلسلة
February 28, 2017
Christian Jacq evokes a fascinating period in Ancient Egyptian history. As a child I loved reading about the achievements of this civilisation. Christian Jacq goes one step further however, initiating us into the minutiae of everyday life. If you love history or Egypt then you'll love this book. Wonderful setting, superb characters and a real flavour of the time.
February 12, 2017
Βιβλίο θητείας #1
Readathon 2017 [1/13]: Ένα βιβλίο μιας σειράς τεσσάρων ή περισσοτέρων βιβλίων.
Γνώριμος με τη δουλειά του Jacq και ως λάτρης του αρχαίου αιγυπτιακού πολιτισμού έπεσα στο βιβλίο με μεγάλο ενθουσιασμό. Το ότι ο συγγραφέας είναι κάτοχος διδακτορικού στην αιγυπτιολογία είναι πασιφανές και το βιβλίο εξυπηρετεί καλά το σκοπό του ως ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα, απεικονίζοντας -βασιζόμενο σε αληθινά γεγονότα- τον τρόπο ζωής, τα ήθη και έθιμα καθώς και την κοινωνική διάρθρωση ενός ξεχωριστού κομματιού της αρχαίας αιγυπτιακής κοινωνίας. Ωστόσο, πρόβλημα στο να απολαύσω την Πέτρα του Φωτός στο μέγιστο δυνατό βαθμό στάθηκε η γραφή του Jacq και το στόρυ, που έχανε σε τόσα σημεία ενώ ανακυκλώνονταν τα ίδια και τα ίδια πράγματα από ένα σημείο και πέρα λες και ο συγγραφέας απλώς συνέχιζε να γράφει για να προσθέσει τα υπόλοιπα ιστορικά στοιχεία στο βιβλίο του.
★★
Readathon 2017 [1/13]: Ένα βιβλίο μιας σειράς τεσσάρων ή περισσοτέρων βιβλίων.
Γνώριμος με τη δουλειά του Jacq και ως λάτρης του αρχαίου αιγυπτιακού πολιτισμού έπεσα στο βιβλίο με μεγάλο ενθουσιασμό. Το ότι ο συγγραφέας είναι κάτοχος διδακτορικού στην αιγυπτιολογία είναι πασιφανές και το βιβλίο εξυπηρετεί καλά το σκοπό του ως ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα, απεικονίζοντας -βασιζόμενο σε αληθινά γεγονότα- τον τρόπο ζωής, τα ήθη και έθιμα καθώς και την κοινωνική διάρθρωση ενός ξεχωριστού κομματιού της αρχαίας αιγυπτιακής κοινωνίας. Ωστόσο, πρόβλημα στο να απολαύσω την Πέτρα του Φωτός στο μέγιστο δυνατό βαθμό στάθηκε η γραφή του Jacq και το στόρυ, που έχανε σε τόσα σημεία ενώ ανακυκλώνονταν τα ίδια και τα ίδια πράγματα από ένα σημείο και πέρα λες και ο συγγραφέας απλώς συνέχιζε να γράφει για να προσθέσει τα υπόλοιπα ιστορικά στοιχεία στο βιβλίο του.
★★
December 22, 2021
I love reading about ancient Egypt, I find that time in history incredibly fascinating. And that's basically the only thing that made this book worth my while.
There is plot, sure, but it's rather slow and the translation is not helping matters.
If I didn't already have all the books in the series (they came in a set), I would probably stop here.
There is plot, sure, but it's rather slow and the translation is not helping matters.
If I didn't already have all the books in the series (they came in a set), I would probably stop here.
March 9, 2018
Christian Jacq is an established Egyptologist, but while he is able to communicate his knowledge in written form, he hasn't entirely succeeded in stepping away from an essay-like writing style. The events in this book series are based on historical events and on primary sources from the New Kingdom workman's village of Deir el-Medina, lifting certain character(name)s directly from those sources. Paneb, one of the main characters, is one of the most notorious inhabitants of the village. Among others, we have ostraca accusing him of theft, assault and rape, though it's not clear whether these accusations were factual or slanderous.
Stone of Light presents Paneb as a protagonist - if an impatient, belligerent and aggressive one. His personality, like the personalities of every character in this book, is despite this flat. There's no unexpectedness; every character acts precisely in the way they are required to act in order for the linear plot to move forward. Combined with large time skips and plot points that are resolved quickly (often in one or two pages) this makes the story feel bland and more like reading a paper than actual, suspenseful fiction.
Antagonist Mehy's scheming is so incredibly transparent that it requires a serious amount of suspension of disbelief to even start entertaining the thought that his success might be credible - the entire Theban administration under Ramses II must consist of complete incompetents! It would have taken only a single official to actually act according to his station for the conspiracy to come crashing down, but because the plot has been predetermined, there is no room to make it quite that hard for the antagonist.
There is also a clear division between The Good and The Bad, both in terms of their looks (The Bad are often ugly, fat, or both; The Good handsome or pretty), but also in their motivation and character arcs. There is on the whole nothing good about bad characters, and nothing bad about good characters. Even Paneb's insistence to jump to conclusions and use violence to solve his problems is mostly presented as a good quality. Disappointing, because even the Egyptians knew that it wasn't that simple.
What bothers me on a personal level is the sexism; sexism that isn't inherent in the treatment of women in pharaonic Egypt (which wasn't quite as bad as the treatment of women in contemporary neighbouring countries, which the book ironically mentions), but the kind that comes from the author's - subconscious or not - perception of women. The highly stereotypical presentations and descriptions of women are embarassing. Only two types of women are described with any kind of positivity: the docile and the lascivious - and the latter only in the case of one particular character. Not a good look.
The Stone of Light series spans four books, and this first book already spans 10 years. Because of this, the book doesn't manage to do anything but feel like a prologue, a 336-page background exposition to prepare for the events to come in the other three books. I can't help but feel this whole first book could have been scrapped and its background information seeded throughout the other three.
But in all fairness, those who read this book will inevitably learn something about New Kingdom Egypt; a few Egyptian words, the purpose of Deir el-Medina, New Kingdom administrative structure, even a few pharmaceutical treatments for various ailments. It's still unfortunate that this information is presented in either dry info dumps or stilted, overly explanatory dialogue, rather than organically throughout the narrative. The historical fiction author's pitfall: wanting to present all their information to the tiniest detail, whether it has any bearing on or importance for the story they're telling or not.
Still, Jacq knows his New Kingdom Egypt and the story is reasonably amusing for those who care more for learning-through-fiction than a perfect narrative. Because of that, three stars instead of two.
Stone of Light presents Paneb as a protagonist - if an impatient, belligerent and aggressive one. His personality, like the personalities of every character in this book, is despite this flat. There's no unexpectedness; every character acts precisely in the way they are required to act in order for the linear plot to move forward. Combined with large time skips and plot points that are resolved quickly (often in one or two pages) this makes the story feel bland and more like reading a paper than actual, suspenseful fiction.
Antagonist Mehy's scheming is so incredibly transparent that it requires a serious amount of suspension of disbelief to even start entertaining the thought that his success might be credible - the entire Theban administration under Ramses II must consist of complete incompetents! It would have taken only a single official to actually act according to his station for the conspiracy to come crashing down, but because the plot has been predetermined, there is no room to make it quite that hard for the antagonist.
There is also a clear division between The Good and The Bad, both in terms of their looks (The Bad are often ugly, fat, or both; The Good handsome or pretty), but also in their motivation and character arcs. There is on the whole nothing good about bad characters, and nothing bad about good characters. Even Paneb's insistence to jump to conclusions and use violence to solve his problems is mostly presented as a good quality. Disappointing, because even the Egyptians knew that it wasn't that simple.
What bothers me on a personal level is the sexism; sexism that isn't inherent in the treatment of women in pharaonic Egypt (which wasn't quite as bad as the treatment of women in contemporary neighbouring countries, which the book ironically mentions), but the kind that comes from the author's - subconscious or not - perception of women. The highly stereotypical presentations and descriptions of women are embarassing. Only two types of women are described with any kind of positivity: the docile and the lascivious - and the latter only in the case of one particular character. Not a good look.
The Stone of Light series spans four books, and this first book already spans 10 years. Because of this, the book doesn't manage to do anything but feel like a prologue, a 336-page background exposition to prepare for the events to come in the other three books. I can't help but feel this whole first book could have been scrapped and its background information seeded throughout the other three.
But in all fairness, those who read this book will inevitably learn something about New Kingdom Egypt; a few Egyptian words, the purpose of Deir el-Medina, New Kingdom administrative structure, even a few pharmaceutical treatments for various ailments. It's still unfortunate that this information is presented in either dry info dumps or stilted, overly explanatory dialogue, rather than organically throughout the narrative. The historical fiction author's pitfall: wanting to present all their information to the tiniest detail, whether it has any bearing on or importance for the story they're telling or not.
Still, Jacq knows his New Kingdom Egypt and the story is reasonably amusing for those who care more for learning-through-fiction than a perfect narrative. Because of that, three stars instead of two.
November 9, 2013
Read this ages ago in French, now finally re-reading it (and soon the rest of the series) in English. I honestly don't think it's a great translation - it seems like it's a lot of short simple sentences, which I don't remember finding in French. But maybe that says more about my French skills than the translation. Still interesting, despite the detestability of many of the characters. I'm hoping the rest of the series is better on that score.
April 17, 2015
A four novel series, I read them from my local library as they came out or were translated. These are wonderful books, well written, historically accurate and immensely entertaining and enthralling. I have been looking for his Ramses series, but no luck. Don't miss these books. If you are a fan of ancient Egypt, fascinated by the pyramids or just want a really really good read, these are the books for you.
April 26, 2016
A solid step up from his other book series I read. His characters are more deeply motivated. The landscape feels very authentic (as did his other, but I feel more historically indulged in this book). I just wanted to sit and read this book all day and night!
Surprisingly, one of the main characters is really hard to get behind, Paneb, but you see development here and there with him. Jacq has the talent to somehow get you interested in him though. He is quick to anger, he does not show appreciate to women, and he even cheats on a wife expecting his baby (granted, she did impose herself on him as basically a servant because she was in love with him, which is, well, demeaning in my opinion). Yet you can see his maturity sprinkle in the mix. I really went back and forth on him. While he seemed to begin to show growth in one chapter, he would revert in the next, and then I would not like him as much as the previous chapter. But near the end of this book, he did end up being more thoughtful and a better listener. He had a love of learning. Still, I’m not a huge fan due to his outlook on women.
In the Queen of Freedom (QoF) series, most characters had names that were a personality or facial tribute versus an actual Egyptian name. This story combines both an Egyptian name and a descriptive name, which makes more sense than the former. Having someone go by the name “the Arab” and “Moustache,” while they were great characters, felt a bit like a give up to me on the author’s part. In this story, characters are given names as they enter the Brotherhood.
As I mentioned before, the characters in this book have deep feelings. They are motivated by internal desires. You can really feel the emotion in this story. Most of the characters of the QoF series were pretty shallow and showed almost no emotional depth until the end. Strong men and women do not have to be devoid of emotions! This book seemed to get that. While many different characters can take the stage in this novel, their personalities really define them and make you want to keep reading (even if you don’t like them!). I seriously did not want to stop reading this book! I was a little disappointed that Nefer the Silent’s development seemed to stop after his got his name Nefer. He became a stoic side character to Paneb’s more dominating personality. I wanted more from Nefer after he began advancing up the ranks of craftsmen, not Paneb’s observations of his ascent.
The landscape felt more authentic in this story. Jacq put in a great blend of mystical and realism. People were inspired and driven by their beliefs, but they had to work hard, show dedication, lead an honest life, and were masters of their own fate. They did not rely on signs from the gods before taking action.
What I do find interesting is that Jacq emphasizes the one God who gave birth to many. He hardly mentions the rest of the multitude of gods by name except for a few like Thoth, Hathor, and Sekhmet. The emphasis is on one all-powerful God. This seems a rather Christian emphasis, especially after the hearsay of Akhenaten’s one god. Historically speaking, there were many different versions of the creation story for the Egyptians. So I would conclude this use of “God” versus god could be because Jacq kept the story in Thebes, and Thebes’ patron god is Amon. The other cities would have their worship and prayers centered on other gods. I can say that I liked the way it was handled. Jacq had some beautiful allegories with it too. His language and expressed enlightened thoughts were a delight in this book, which all stemmed from the religious beliefs. This belief also was the foundation for the Brotherhood and guided their methods and rituals. There were so many layers to the culture through the religious belief system. Everything branches out from this strong foundation. I just ate it up the way Jacq used it in the story.
As with QoF, the time period is hard to follow. Jacq will occasionally throw in a “for 10 years now” statement, but overall, the passage of time is difficult to tell. I did not find it a deterrent though as the characters and storyline were so strong.
But what I most loved was the details and the way life was carried out in this village. Their work has survived thousands of years. They created and decorated the tombs, and we still adore them today. This story really expands on life. Its not just throwing an ancient world on us to show it off. Its about how the pigments of colors were made, the division of work groups and how they functioned together, the way things were measured, how grids were used and the proportions of drawings on these grids, their mathematics, the way a stone was checked to be level, rituals of purification, how medicines were created and used, etc. The culture is so thick, and the storyline is made so much richer with these added details of life. It highlighted how people behaved and what was important to them. I loved learning the trade of these tomb builders along with the characters’ experiences.
The book wow’d me. It had great respect for the people of this time period. I’m glad I read this after QoF, otherwise that series would have seriously disappointed me after the dazzling depth of this story. I can’t wait to keep going into book 2!
Surprisingly, one of the main characters is really hard to get behind, Paneb, but you see development here and there with him. Jacq has the talent to somehow get you interested in him though. He is quick to anger, he does not show appreciate to women, and he even cheats on a wife expecting his baby (granted, she did impose herself on him as basically a servant because she was in love with him, which is, well, demeaning in my opinion). Yet you can see his maturity sprinkle in the mix. I really went back and forth on him. While he seemed to begin to show growth in one chapter, he would revert in the next, and then I would not like him as much as the previous chapter. But near the end of this book, he did end up being more thoughtful and a better listener. He had a love of learning. Still, I’m not a huge fan due to his outlook on women.
In the Queen of Freedom (QoF) series, most characters had names that were a personality or facial tribute versus an actual Egyptian name. This story combines both an Egyptian name and a descriptive name, which makes more sense than the former. Having someone go by the name “the Arab” and “Moustache,” while they were great characters, felt a bit like a give up to me on the author’s part. In this story, characters are given names as they enter the Brotherhood.
As I mentioned before, the characters in this book have deep feelings. They are motivated by internal desires. You can really feel the emotion in this story. Most of the characters of the QoF series were pretty shallow and showed almost no emotional depth until the end. Strong men and women do not have to be devoid of emotions! This book seemed to get that. While many different characters can take the stage in this novel, their personalities really define them and make you want to keep reading (even if you don’t like them!). I seriously did not want to stop reading this book! I was a little disappointed that Nefer the Silent’s development seemed to stop after his got his name Nefer. He became a stoic side character to Paneb’s more dominating personality. I wanted more from Nefer after he began advancing up the ranks of craftsmen, not Paneb’s observations of his ascent.
The landscape felt more authentic in this story. Jacq put in a great blend of mystical and realism. People were inspired and driven by their beliefs, but they had to work hard, show dedication, lead an honest life, and were masters of their own fate. They did not rely on signs from the gods before taking action.
What I do find interesting is that Jacq emphasizes the one God who gave birth to many. He hardly mentions the rest of the multitude of gods by name except for a few like Thoth, Hathor, and Sekhmet. The emphasis is on one all-powerful God. This seems a rather Christian emphasis, especially after the hearsay of Akhenaten’s one god. Historically speaking, there were many different versions of the creation story for the Egyptians. So I would conclude this use of “God” versus god could be because Jacq kept the story in Thebes, and Thebes’ patron god is Amon. The other cities would have their worship and prayers centered on other gods. I can say that I liked the way it was handled. Jacq had some beautiful allegories with it too. His language and expressed enlightened thoughts were a delight in this book, which all stemmed from the religious beliefs. This belief also was the foundation for the Brotherhood and guided their methods and rituals. There were so many layers to the culture through the religious belief system. Everything branches out from this strong foundation. I just ate it up the way Jacq used it in the story.
As with QoF, the time period is hard to follow. Jacq will occasionally throw in a “for 10 years now” statement, but overall, the passage of time is difficult to tell. I did not find it a deterrent though as the characters and storyline were so strong.
But what I most loved was the details and the way life was carried out in this village. Their work has survived thousands of years. They created and decorated the tombs, and we still adore them today. This story really expands on life. Its not just throwing an ancient world on us to show it off. Its about how the pigments of colors were made, the division of work groups and how they functioned together, the way things were measured, how grids were used and the proportions of drawings on these grids, their mathematics, the way a stone was checked to be level, rituals of purification, how medicines were created and used, etc. The culture is so thick, and the storyline is made so much richer with these added details of life. It highlighted how people behaved and what was important to them. I loved learning the trade of these tomb builders along with the characters’ experiences.
The book wow’d me. It had great respect for the people of this time period. I’m glad I read this after QoF, otherwise that series would have seriously disappointed me after the dazzling depth of this story. I can’t wait to keep going into book 2!
Read
May 6, 2017Foi-me emprestado por uma colega e eu demorei imenso tempo a começar e ainda mais a terminar. Gosto do tema, sempre achei a civilização egípcia fascinante, mas o livro perde-se muito em pormenores acessórios que não me interessam e tornou-se demasiado longo.
February 8, 2025
Después de más de 20 años de haber comprado este libro, por fin lo leí y no me ha decepcionado, a través de la novela, el autor nos va acercando a un Egipto desconocido y misterioso. La novela atrapa desde el principio.
December 29, 2024
ha estat bé, m’esperava un altre tipus de final, i per mi el prota no és el del títol del llibre pro whatever. el que passa és que sento que tenia molt potencial i sha quedat a mitges però suposo que això sóc jo buscant de més.
October 22, 2022
Na čítanie tejto tetralógie som čakala celý svoj život (no, možno nie celý život, ale odkedy ma začal zaujímať Egypt, zistila som, že existuje Christian Jacq).
Hlavný dej sa odohráva v Meste Pravda alias Deir el-Medine. Sledujeme osudy troch postáv.
Nefer Mlčanlivý sa v dedine narodil, odišiel odtiaľ, aby začul volanie a šťastne sa vrátil naspäť. Na cestách získal veľa skúseností a navyše aj manželku Kláru. Spolu vstúpili do dediny a žili tu podľa princípov spoločenstva a Maat.
Ardent (a.k.a. Ohnivý) je roľníkom, ktorého životným snom je vstúpiť do Mesta Pravdy a stať sa kresličom. Jeho cesta je dlhá a komplikovaná. Raz stretne Nefera a zachráni mu život. Odvtedy sú z nich priatelia. Ardentovi sa nakoniec jeho sen splní a prijíma meno Paneb (Paneb Ohnivý).
Mehy. Hlavný záporák celého príbehu. Tiež sa snažil dostať do dediny, ale jeho žiadosť bola zamietnutá. Jednu noc sledoval spoločenstvo remeselníkov a uvidel kameň, ktorý svietil. Rozhodol sa, že získa tajomstvá dedina za každú cenu. Uzatvára rôzne dohody s ďalšími významnými obyvateľmi Vesetu, aby intrigami získal, čo chce.
Opäť, typický Christian Jacq. Dej je jednoznačný, postavy majú nemenné morálne zásady, ale nie je tu tak veľa rečníckych otázok, na ktoré som uňho zvyknutá (asi sa poučil z jeho pentalógie Ramzes, kde ich bolo snáď milión).
Pred očami nám ožíva svet starovekého Egypta s jeho tajomstvami a pravidlami. Dokonca zahliadneme aj samotného Ramzesa a jeho tajomníka Ameniho (na tomto mieste musím zdôrazniť, že bolo milé, ako sa autor odvoláva na niektoré postavy z jeho pentalógie Ramzes, okrem Ameniho je spomenutá aj lekárka Neferet a logicky, jeho synovia Ach a Merenptah).
Mierne nechápem, prečo sa tento diel volá Nefer Mlčanlivý, keď hlavný dôraz je na Paneba a jeho cestu do spoločenstva. Uvidíme, ako to bude v treťom diele, ktorý nesie podnázov po tejto postave.
Mínusové body dávam slovenskej korektúre, ktorá po sebe zanechala štylistické chyby.
Hlavný dej sa odohráva v Meste Pravda alias Deir el-Medine. Sledujeme osudy troch postáv.
Nefer Mlčanlivý sa v dedine narodil, odišiel odtiaľ, aby začul volanie a šťastne sa vrátil naspäť. Na cestách získal veľa skúseností a navyše aj manželku Kláru. Spolu vstúpili do dediny a žili tu podľa princípov spoločenstva a Maat.
Ardent (a.k.a. Ohnivý) je roľníkom, ktorého životným snom je vstúpiť do Mesta Pravdy a stať sa kresličom. Jeho cesta je dlhá a komplikovaná. Raz stretne Nefera a zachráni mu život. Odvtedy sú z nich priatelia. Ardentovi sa nakoniec jeho sen splní a prijíma meno Paneb (Paneb Ohnivý).
Mehy. Hlavný záporák celého príbehu. Tiež sa snažil dostať do dediny, ale jeho žiadosť bola zamietnutá. Jednu noc sledoval spoločenstvo remeselníkov a uvidel kameň, ktorý svietil. Rozhodol sa, že získa tajomstvá dedina za každú cenu. Uzatvára rôzne dohody s ďalšími významnými obyvateľmi Vesetu, aby intrigami získal, čo chce.
Opäť, typický Christian Jacq. Dej je jednoznačný, postavy majú nemenné morálne zásady, ale nie je tu tak veľa rečníckych otázok, na ktoré som uňho zvyknutá (asi sa poučil z jeho pentalógie Ramzes, kde ich bolo snáď milión).
Pred očami nám ožíva svet starovekého Egypta s jeho tajomstvami a pravidlami. Dokonca zahliadneme aj samotného Ramzesa a jeho tajomníka Ameniho (na tomto mieste musím zdôrazniť, že bolo milé, ako sa autor odvoláva na niektoré postavy z jeho pentalógie Ramzes, okrem Ameniho je spomenutá aj lekárka Neferet a logicky, jeho synovia Ach a Merenptah).
Mierne nechápem, prečo sa tento diel volá Nefer Mlčanlivý, keď hlavný dôraz je na Paneba a jeho cestu do spoločenstva. Uvidíme, ako to bude v treťom diele, ktorý nesie podnázov po tejto postave.
Mínusové body dávam slovenskej korektúre, ktorá po sebe zanechala štylistické chyby.
May 7, 2018
Set myself a challenge to read our ‘old books’ bookshelf and this was first on the list. It was a decidedly battered paperback and I was convinced it would be joining the charity pile, but it’s actually fantastic! Will definitely be surviving for another day. Loved the intrigue of the ancient egyptians, and the individual characters.
October 19, 2021
Către miezul nopții, nouă artizani, cu șeful de echipă în frunte, au ieșit din Locașul Adevărului și au început să urce un drumeag îngust în lumina lunii pline.
În vârful unui deal ce străjuia deșertul luase naștere satul unde locuiau constructorii faraonului, ale căror secrete erau ocrotite de ziduri de nepătruns. Ascuns în spatele unui bloc de calcar, Mehy abia își putu stăpâni un strigăt de bucurie.
Conducătorul carelor încerca de luni de zile să culeagă informații despre această confrerie menită să cioplească și să decoreze mormintele din Valea Regilor și a Reginelor.
Dar nimeni nu știa nimic, cu excepția lui Ramses cel Mare, protectorul locului în care maeștri în ale artei, cioplitori, sculptori și pictori erau inițiați în principalele lor îndeletniciri prin care asigurau supraviețuirea statului. Satul artizanilor avea propriul guvern, propria justiție și depindea direct de rege și de prim-ministrul său.
Mehy n-ar fi trebuit să se ocupe decât de cariera sa militară, care se anunța strălucită; dar cum ar fi putut să uite că, solicitând admiterea sa în confrerie, această candidatură îi fusese refuzată? Un nobil ca el nu putea fi înjosit astfel. Dezgustat, Mehy s-a orientat către o armată de elită, a carelor, în cadrul căreia talentul său făcuse minuni. Mai mult chiar, urma să primească un loc important în ierarhie.
În inima sa a luat naștere însă, crescând cu fiecare zi ce trecea, ura împotriva acestei confrerii blestemate, care îl umilise și a cărei existență îl împiedica să cunoască fericirea deplină.
Ofițerul din el a luat o hotărâre: ori să descopere toate secretele satului, pe care apoi să le folosească în avantajul său, ori să distrugă această insuliță aparent inaccesibilă și atât de mândră de privilegiile sale.
Pentru a-și atinge scopul, Mehy nu-și putea permite să facă vreo greșeală sau să trezească vreo bănuială. Dar în ultimele zile a îndrăznit. Acești slujitori ai Adevărului, după cum erau numiți oficial, nu erau oare niște simpli lăudăroși demni de dispreț, ale căror pretinse puteri erau doar iluzii? Prea bine păzita Vale a Regilor păstra ea oare altceva decât trupurile monarhilor înțepenite în moarte?
Ascunzându-se printre dealurile din preajma satului interzis, Mehy sperase să surprindă riturile despre care nu vorbea nimeni; decepția i-a fost însă pe măsura eforturilor.
Dar iată că, în această noapte, visul i se împlinea!
În vârful unui deal ce străjuia deșertul luase naștere satul unde locuiau constructorii faraonului, ale căror secrete erau ocrotite de ziduri de nepătruns. Ascuns în spatele unui bloc de calcar, Mehy abia își putu stăpâni un strigăt de bucurie.
Conducătorul carelor încerca de luni de zile să culeagă informații despre această confrerie menită să cioplească și să decoreze mormintele din Valea Regilor și a Reginelor.
Dar nimeni nu știa nimic, cu excepția lui Ramses cel Mare, protectorul locului în care maeștri în ale artei, cioplitori, sculptori și pictori erau inițiați în principalele lor îndeletniciri prin care asigurau supraviețuirea statului. Satul artizanilor avea propriul guvern, propria justiție și depindea direct de rege și de prim-ministrul său.
Mehy n-ar fi trebuit să se ocupe decât de cariera sa militară, care se anunța strălucită; dar cum ar fi putut să uite că, solicitând admiterea sa în confrerie, această candidatură îi fusese refuzată? Un nobil ca el nu putea fi înjosit astfel. Dezgustat, Mehy s-a orientat către o armată de elită, a carelor, în cadrul căreia talentul său făcuse minuni. Mai mult chiar, urma să primească un loc important în ierarhie.
În inima sa a luat naștere însă, crescând cu fiecare zi ce trecea, ura împotriva acestei confrerii blestemate, care îl umilise și a cărei existență îl împiedica să cunoască fericirea deplină.
Ofițerul din el a luat o hotărâre: ori să descopere toate secretele satului, pe care apoi să le folosească în avantajul său, ori să distrugă această insuliță aparent inaccesibilă și atât de mândră de privilegiile sale.
Pentru a-și atinge scopul, Mehy nu-și putea permite să facă vreo greșeală sau să trezească vreo bănuială. Dar în ultimele zile a îndrăznit. Acești slujitori ai Adevărului, după cum erau numiți oficial, nu erau oare niște simpli lăudăroși demni de dispreț, ale căror pretinse puteri erau doar iluzii? Prea bine păzita Vale a Regilor păstra ea oare altceva decât trupurile monarhilor înțepenite în moarte?
Ascunzându-se printre dealurile din preajma satului interzis, Mehy sperase să surprindă riturile despre care nu vorbea nimeni; decepția i-a fost însă pe măsura eforturilor.
Dar iată că, în această noapte, visul i se împlinea!
June 8, 2019
The story revolves around the Place of Truth, a mysterious village around Thebes, where many secrets are held, and very few allowed to access them. There are 3 "main" protagonists : Ardent, a sixteen years old boy who wants to get in the Place of Truth and become a painter, Silent, who was born in the Place of Truth and left it to hear 'The call" of art that will let him come back to the village, and Mehy, a curious counsellor, who wants nothing more than to acess the Place of Truth's secrets and destroy the village along.
This is my first Christian Jacq book and I'm delighted by it. As a big history and ancient Egypt lover, I was excited to dive into this story, set in one of my favorites era ! I was not disappointed. I'm still surprised by the speed with which I read. It took me less than a week to read, when I thought it would take me twice that time. However, I was a little scared about all the historical references I might find and the difficulty of it. Thankfully, everything that needed explaining was explained easily, in a few line. No page long footnote !
The writing style is fast paced, I never got bored, and the change of character's "POVs" is very coherent within the story, which is not the case in all books. I'm glad I never felt like I was reading too much or too few about anyone. The balance was perfect, and it makes a good chunk of why I enjoyed this so much.
Not only that, but the characters are really likeable. From the beginning. They all evolve throughout the story, and yet, I loved them since the beginning, which is exceptionnal for me, as I usually have a hard time getting into books. Even Mehy is one of those "love to hate" villains, and I'm really curious about his plans in the next book (which I already have and plan to read next month)
I really felt like I was in the Place of Truth with the characters, like I was living in that era and was interacting with everyone. Somehow, that book is truly alive, and captivated me as I had not been in a while (since Skyward in February/March, I think). Christian Jacq was a hit a few years ago and was kind of forgotten since. Terrible mistake ! I hope his books get rediscovered soon, because they're really worth it if you're a historical fiction fan. Even if you're not, it's still pretty enjoyable.
This is my first Christian Jacq book and I'm delighted by it. As a big history and ancient Egypt lover, I was excited to dive into this story, set in one of my favorites era ! I was not disappointed. I'm still surprised by the speed with which I read. It took me less than a week to read, when I thought it would take me twice that time. However, I was a little scared about all the historical references I might find and the difficulty of it. Thankfully, everything that needed explaining was explained easily, in a few line. No page long footnote !
The writing style is fast paced, I never got bored, and the change of character's "POVs" is very coherent within the story, which is not the case in all books. I'm glad I never felt like I was reading too much or too few about anyone. The balance was perfect, and it makes a good chunk of why I enjoyed this so much.
Not only that, but the characters are really likeable. From the beginning. They all evolve throughout the story, and yet, I loved them since the beginning, which is exceptionnal for me, as I usually have a hard time getting into books. Even Mehy is one of those "love to hate" villains, and I'm really curious about his plans in the next book (which I already have and plan to read next month)
I really felt like I was in the Place of Truth with the characters, like I was living in that era and was interacting with everyone. Somehow, that book is truly alive, and captivated me as I had not been in a while (since Skyward in February/March, I think). Christian Jacq was a hit a few years ago and was kind of forgotten since. Terrible mistake ! I hope his books get rediscovered soon, because they're really worth it if you're a historical fiction fan. Even if you're not, it's still pretty enjoyable.
June 4, 2025
Kirjan Egypti historiallinen tarina oli se mikä tässä kirjassa kiinnosti eniten ja sen takia saa Kolme tähteä kahden sijasta. Sinänsä mielenkiintoinen ajatus, mutta loppuvaikutelma jäi latteaksi ja ehkä tämä ensimmäinen kirja onkin vain pohjustusta muille sarjan osille. Hahmot ovat toisaalta hyvin paljon tunteidensa ja halujensa vietävissä, mutta silti heihin ei pääse oikein käsiksi, aika pintapuolisia.
Päähenkilö ei ole kovin pidettävä: malttamaton ja aggressiivinen eikä arvosta naisia mitenkään, uhkaamalla esimerkiksi raiskata, pettää vaimoaan ja kohtelee muutenkin aika valjusti. Kuitenkin hahmon aggressiivisuutta kuvataan jotenkin, kuin se olisi hyvä asia tai sen vahvuus. Hahmosta on todella vaikea tykätä, mutta kuitenkin jotenkin mielenkiintoinen, mutta siinä jää taas tyhjäksi hahmoksi joka tarvitsisi jotain enemmän taustalle. Toisaalta hahmo näytti kasvavansa loppua kohti, mutta seuraavalla sivulla saattoi palata taas entiselleen.
Tarina on hyvin yksityiskohtainen ja hidas, mutta yllättäen paljon huomaamattomia aikahyppyjä, yhtäkkiä vain ohimennen mainitaan että niin, tässä on kulunut jo vuosia. Aikaa on siis aika vaikea määrittää.
Hahmot tuntuu toimivan aika juonivetoisesti.
Hyvän ja pahan raja on selkeä esimerkiksi pahat on rumia ja hyvät kauniita. Naishahmoja ei juuri ole, ja ne joita on on nöyriä ja myöntyväisiä, tai kieroja viettelijöitä.
Neferin hahmo olisi kiinnostanut enemmänkin, mutta ei kertonut kovin paljon.
Toisaalta se mitä tästä kirjasta sain, jäi kaikki puolitiehen. Yritän kuitenkin lukea muutkin osat kun kaikki löytyy itseltä jo valmiiksi.
Päähenkilö ei ole kovin pidettävä: malttamaton ja aggressiivinen eikä arvosta naisia mitenkään, uhkaamalla esimerkiksi raiskata, pettää vaimoaan ja kohtelee muutenkin aika valjusti. Kuitenkin hahmon aggressiivisuutta kuvataan jotenkin, kuin se olisi hyvä asia tai sen vahvuus. Hahmosta on todella vaikea tykätä, mutta kuitenkin jotenkin mielenkiintoinen, mutta siinä jää taas tyhjäksi hahmoksi joka tarvitsisi jotain enemmän taustalle. Toisaalta hahmo näytti kasvavansa loppua kohti, mutta seuraavalla sivulla saattoi palata taas entiselleen.
Tarina on hyvin yksityiskohtainen ja hidas, mutta yllättäen paljon huomaamattomia aikahyppyjä, yhtäkkiä vain ohimennen mainitaan että niin, tässä on kulunut jo vuosia. Aikaa on siis aika vaikea määrittää.
Hahmot tuntuu toimivan aika juonivetoisesti.
Hyvän ja pahan raja on selkeä esimerkiksi pahat on rumia ja hyvät kauniita. Naishahmoja ei juuri ole, ja ne joita on on nöyriä ja myöntyväisiä, tai kieroja viettelijöitä.
Neferin hahmo olisi kiinnostanut enemmänkin, mutta ei kertonut kovin paljon.
Toisaalta se mitä tästä kirjasta sain, jäi kaikki puolitiehen. Yritän kuitenkin lukea muutkin osat kun kaikki löytyy itseltä jo valmiiksi.
May 26, 2024
10/100.
A pesar de que quería leer algo más sobre Egipto tras el Viaje sentimental a Egipto de Terenci Moix, Nefer the Silent no ha sido esa lectura que buscaba. Lo encontré bajo la lluvia un día invernal de paseo. A pesar de que el libro está destrozado, es legible todavía. La dedicatoria (Que ce livre t'aides sur le chemin de la guérison... Ciao Bello! Tanging) me haya parecido más interesante que el propio libro... dice mucho. No sé a quién regaló este libro Tanging ni cómo acabó donde lo recogí. Es un libro que pronto desaparecerá de mi colección, así que quería dejar las circunstancias de su encuentro en una reseña, al menos.
La historia de Nefer the Silent me ha parecido bastante simplona, con unos personajes masculinos que no son más que caricaturas y unos personajes femeninos cuya única función es mantener relaciones sexuales con uno de los personajes masculinos. He estado a punto de abandonarlo en varias ocasiones, pero el fraseo es tan simple (dicen que es más bien por la traducción; no he leído el original francés) que simplemente he seguido hasta terminar. A pesar de tener unas 400 páginas, se lee rapidísimo por los cortos capítulos (3-5 páginas) y la simpleza de la narración.
A veces, hay que leer algún libro que no guste mucho para apreciar aquellos que sí adoras.
A pesar de que quería leer algo más sobre Egipto tras el Viaje sentimental a Egipto de Terenci Moix, Nefer the Silent no ha sido esa lectura que buscaba. Lo encontré bajo la lluvia un día invernal de paseo. A pesar de que el libro está destrozado, es legible todavía. La dedicatoria (Que ce livre t'aides sur le chemin de la guérison... Ciao Bello! Tanging) me haya parecido más interesante que el propio libro... dice mucho. No sé a quién regaló este libro Tanging ni cómo acabó donde lo recogí. Es un libro que pronto desaparecerá de mi colección, así que quería dejar las circunstancias de su encuentro en una reseña, al menos.
La historia de Nefer the Silent me ha parecido bastante simplona, con unos personajes masculinos que no son más que caricaturas y unos personajes femeninos cuya única función es mantener relaciones sexuales con uno de los personajes masculinos. He estado a punto de abandonarlo en varias ocasiones, pero el fraseo es tan simple (dicen que es más bien por la traducción; no he leído el original francés) que simplemente he seguido hasta terminar. A pesar de tener unas 400 páginas, se lee rapidísimo por los cortos capítulos (3-5 páginas) y la simpleza de la narración.
A veces, hay que leer algún libro que no guste mucho para apreciar aquellos que sí adoras.
December 31, 2018
Sin duda alguna lo más destacado de este libro son el mundo y los escenarios. El autor, ayudado por su profesión, los trae a la vida con un detalle pasmoso que hace que el lector se sumerja en un mundo antiguo y sorprendentemente moderno. Sin embargo, a veces describía con excesiva meticulosidad los objetos, especificando los centímetros de todas sus dimensiones o dando detalles superfluos y, en una instancia, refiriendo a una excavación en la que se habrían encontrado dichos objetos. También encontré algunas de las notas aclaratorias al pie aleatorias.
De no haber sido por el mundo y el objetivo de terminar, no habría encontrado nada que me motivase a continuar. Los personajes principales, buenos o malos, obtenían todo lo que se proponían con una facilidad pasmosa y sus personalidades llenas de defectos, como excesiva violencia o pasividad, no parecían afectar en absoluto a su éxito. El único personaje con el que conseguí conectar fue el jefe de policía, un hombre noble y astuto que aprende de sus errores. Y dada la facilidad con que conseguían sus objetivos, la trama parecía carente de estructura, siendo una simple sucesión de hechos.
Miscelánea: los malos son feos y los buenos guapos, los saltos temporales no se explican.
¡Muchas gracias por leer!
De no haber sido por el mundo y el objetivo de terminar, no habría encontrado nada que me motivase a continuar. Los personajes principales, buenos o malos, obtenían todo lo que se proponían con una facilidad pasmosa y sus personalidades llenas de defectos, como excesiva violencia o pasividad, no parecían afectar en absoluto a su éxito. El único personaje con el que conseguí conectar fue el jefe de policía, un hombre noble y astuto que aprende de sus errores. Y dada la facilidad con que conseguían sus objetivos, la trama parecía carente de estructura, siendo una simple sucesión de hechos.
Miscelánea: los malos son feos y los buenos guapos, los saltos temporales no se explican.
¡Muchas gracias por leer!
November 29, 2017
No se me ocurre otra manera de describirlo más que INTERESANTE.
Lo bueno: Está escrito de tal manera que te sentís leyendo Gamo of Thrones versión Egipto y verídico, lo cual me pareció super atrapante. Es la historia de Nefer, quien nació dentro del Lugar de Verdad, y sale en busca de la "llamada", Paneb y su incansable lucha por ser dibujante, Sobek y su rectitud como policía y Méhy y su juego de poder para destruir el Lugar de Verdad. Los personajes, aunque me parecieron medio insulsos, por sí solos no cuentan nada, pero en conjunto cuentan una historia que nos enseña sobre derecho, economía, arte y política en el antiguo Egipto.
Lo malo: le encontré un poco de fallas en la narrativa, como que iba a una velocidad que no se notaba en los personajes, pasaban 5 años pero no te dabas cuenta hasta que algún personaje lo decía. Otra cosa que no me agradó, aunque entiendo que fue porque es un libro en varias partes, es que este no tiene un cierre, el final es tan abierto debido a que el principal hecho todavía no pasó que me dejó un poco desilusionada.
Lo bueno: Está escrito de tal manera que te sentís leyendo Gamo of Thrones versión Egipto y verídico, lo cual me pareció super atrapante. Es la historia de Nefer, quien nació dentro del Lugar de Verdad, y sale en busca de la "llamada", Paneb y su incansable lucha por ser dibujante, Sobek y su rectitud como policía y Méhy y su juego de poder para destruir el Lugar de Verdad. Los personajes, aunque me parecieron medio insulsos, por sí solos no cuentan nada, pero en conjunto cuentan una historia que nos enseña sobre derecho, economía, arte y política en el antiguo Egipto.
Lo malo: le encontré un poco de fallas en la narrativa, como que iba a una velocidad que no se notaba en los personajes, pasaban 5 años pero no te dabas cuenta hasta que algún personaje lo decía. Otra cosa que no me agradó, aunque entiendo que fue porque es un libro en varias partes, es que este no tiene un cierre, el final es tan abierto debido a que el principal hecho todavía no pasó que me dejó un poco desilusionada.
June 27, 2022
it’s kind of incredible how bad this book manages to be. i first read it when i was quite young, maybe 13, and i remember being absolutely enchanted by it. now being 30 i figured i’d revisit and hoo boy, it does not hold up to what i remember.
i’m not sure if it’s an artefact of the translation from french to english, but the prose is woefully utilitarian. characters will be described in the bluntest terms, explicitly saying everything they want to do and why, as though you’re reading a summary of a different story. the events of the story appear rapidly and are equally as rapidly dealt with, nothing seems to last more than 30 pages before being completely resolved. it’s almost comical looking back and seeing how often the characters just perfectly resolved everything they ran up against without ever failing.
i think the nostalgia is what pulled me through, and that’s enough to make me want to read the next one. i can only hope that it has a little more actual book rather than being a first draft outline of a story
i’m not sure if it’s an artefact of the translation from french to english, but the prose is woefully utilitarian. characters will be described in the bluntest terms, explicitly saying everything they want to do and why, as though you’re reading a summary of a different story. the events of the story appear rapidly and are equally as rapidly dealt with, nothing seems to last more than 30 pages before being completely resolved. it’s almost comical looking back and seeing how often the characters just perfectly resolved everything they ran up against without ever failing.
i think the nostalgia is what pulled me through, and that’s enough to make me want to read the next one. i can only hope that it has a little more actual book rather than being a first draft outline of a story
May 5, 2025
Buenas buenas!
Hoy les traigo la reseña de…
NEFER EL SILENCIOSO 🦂
Este libro es el primero de la saga “LA PIEDRA DE LA LUZ”. En total son 4 libros.
De la mano de #christianjacq
Este libro ya tiene sus años pero no deja de ser sumamente hermoso!
La historia se centra principalmente en las vivencias de Nefer, las personas que va conociendo y las relaciones que va estrechando al tiempo que va cumpliendo sus objetivos, al igual que sus mas allegados…
Ellos tienen una misión de vida abocada a las peticiones de su faraón y sus dioses, en la aldea llena de secretos donde viven. Pero lo que no saben es que, fuera de esa aldea hay personas cegadas por la codicia donde lo único que quieren es conocer todos esos secretos y destruir lo que ellos han creado.
Lo que mas me gusto de este libro es la valentía de sus personajes principales, la lealtad y confianza que se tienen. Ademas de la forma en que manejan sus decepciones y no se rinden hasta conseguir su objetivo! 💪🏻
Le doy 3.5 ⭐️
Espero poder encontrar los siguientes libros en esta misma edición 🙌🏻
Hoy les traigo la reseña de…
NEFER EL SILENCIOSO 🦂
Este libro es el primero de la saga “LA PIEDRA DE LA LUZ”. En total son 4 libros.
De la mano de #christianjacq
Este libro ya tiene sus años pero no deja de ser sumamente hermoso!
La historia se centra principalmente en las vivencias de Nefer, las personas que va conociendo y las relaciones que va estrechando al tiempo que va cumpliendo sus objetivos, al igual que sus mas allegados…
Ellos tienen una misión de vida abocada a las peticiones de su faraón y sus dioses, en la aldea llena de secretos donde viven. Pero lo que no saben es que, fuera de esa aldea hay personas cegadas por la codicia donde lo único que quieren es conocer todos esos secretos y destruir lo que ellos han creado.
Lo que mas me gusto de este libro es la valentía de sus personajes principales, la lealtad y confianza que se tienen. Ademas de la forma en que manejan sus decepciones y no se rinden hasta conseguir su objetivo! 💪🏻
Le doy 3.5 ⭐️
Espero poder encontrar los siguientes libros en esta misma edición 🙌🏻
January 31, 2025
Possibly one of the worst books I've ever read. Appeared to be written by an adolescent and had too many cliché problems popping up constantly. Ardent one of the main characters is a violent idiot and his dialogue sounds like a middle school bully.
It was so bad, I couldn't finish reading it. Less than halfway through I started skipping multiple pages to get an idea where this story was going. Of course it ended on a slight cliffhanger to attempt to get the reader to purchase the next book. I won't be doing that.
I found it poorly written, full of clichés and characters that weren't satisfactorily fleshed out. The bad guys were too evil, many of the women were portrayed as bimbos without an ounce of brains and I just didn't care about the characters. During my skipping, I discovered the violent idiot had gotten married and I didn't bother to go back and check to find out how.
It was so bad, I couldn't finish reading it. Less than halfway through I started skipping multiple pages to get an idea where this story was going. Of course it ended on a slight cliffhanger to attempt to get the reader to purchase the next book. I won't be doing that.
I found it poorly written, full of clichés and characters that weren't satisfactorily fleshed out. The bad guys were too evil, many of the women were portrayed as bimbos without an ounce of brains and I just didn't care about the characters. During my skipping, I discovered the violent idiot had gotten married and I didn't bother to go back and check to find out how.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2018
While the writing seemed rather "wooden" at the start, the story line became so very interesting, that I became quite involved in the lives of the characters in Thebes. Perhaps some of the awkwardness at the beginning came from its translation (from the French), but the author and translator clearly found their stride in the second half of the book. As others have said, the author is a renowned Egyptologist, and it clearly shows in the descriptions of the town layouts, roles of political and economic figures, means of holding power, religious beliefs, and artworks - including how such works are made and the symbolic importance of certain motifs. I am eagerly looking forward to the next book,.
July 30, 2019
Although the book is interesting and follows a history and culture I've little knowledge of, the translated books I've read are seriously lacking in depth and quality. To the extent that it appears written by a child. There is a serious lack of detail in characters, environments and actions. Parts of the story seem abrupt and tenuously linked due to this lack of flourish, which I accredit to the poor translation, rather than Jacq's own abilities as an author.
I'd hope to possibly find another English translation of this series and hopefully I'd be able to give more credit to this series. Because, as I've said, the story is genuinely interesting and despite the lack of quality in the writing, I still found myself reading this book with interest
I'd hope to possibly find another English translation of this series and hopefully I'd be able to give more credit to this series. Because, as I've said, the story is genuinely interesting and despite the lack of quality in the writing, I still found myself reading this book with interest
January 14, 2018
Despite the simple nature of the writing, I enjoyed this novel. It was a very easy read, and the plot was very basic. The characters were, for the most part, very one dimensional. Nevertheless, I thought that the novel gave a good look at Egypt during the time of Ramses the Great. The plot follows the craftsman of the Place of Truth and the trials they must go through to build and maintain the tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
The novel does a good job showing the history of the period, and is very informative. I think it is an accurate summation of what happened inside the Place of Truth.
The novel does a good job showing the history of the period, and is very informative. I think it is an accurate summation of what happened inside the Place of Truth.
September 30, 2023
Ambientado en el antiguo Egipto por uno de los mejores arqueólogos egipcios que existen, si bien, a mi juicio no es una novela histórica ya que la trama del libro no está basada en hechos reales. Libro de fácil lectura y más que correcta traducción. Le pongo dos estrellas porque esperaba algún elemento más histórico y porque considero que la trama es bastante simple y monótona, una historia sencilla e incluso absurda estirada hasta la saciedad. Pocos, por no decir ningún momento de “nervios” por ver qué ocurre a continuación.
November 12, 2020
Primera parte de la serie titulada "La piedra de luz", no solamente es una novela sobre el antiguo Egipto. Junto a una trama de suspense, nos muestra un mundo en donde lo espiritual es lo que sustenta su pervivencia. También este libro nos habla de la amistad, la lealtad, el amor y el deseo de conocimiento, de los sueños que se cumplen si se persevera lo suficiente, de las elecciones que marcan nuestro destino y de las sombras que se ciernen detrás de cada esquina.
August 12, 2018
I enjoyed this and it clearly is based on historical knowledge. My one criticism is that the characters are quite one-dimensional and nothing out of the ordinary really happens to them. I am going to read the rest of the series, however.
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