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The Edda of Burdens #1
All the Windwracked Stars
It all began with Ragnarok, with the Children of the Light and the Tarnished ones battling to the death in the ice and the dark. At the end of the long battle, one Valkyrie survived, wounded, and one valraven €“ the steeds of the valkyrie.Because they lived, Valdyrgard was not wholly destroyed. Because the valraven was transformed in the last miracle offered to a Child of the Light, Valdyrgard was changed to a world where magic and technology worked hand in hand.2500 years later, Muire is in the last city on the dying planet, where the Technomancer rules what€™s left of humanity. She's caught sight of someone she has not seen since the Last Mingan the Wolf is hunting in her city.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published October 28, 2008
44 people are currently reading
1524 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Bear
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
October 21, 2015
I really wanted to like this. Elisabeth Bear has been on my to-read list for years and she has a ton of books that have received decent acclaim. It also sounded like it would be a cool blend of fantasy, sci-fi, and Norse mythology. Sadly, I could not get into the story and found the book a total bore. Bear's distant writing style definitely did not help.
I persisted with this for as long as I could, but decided to quit around the 50% mark as I just had no desire to return to the book when I put it down. I found I just did not care about the happenings in the story or any of the characters. There is no worse crime for a book than for it to be one that I avoid trying to read! In all fairness it was more boring than awful.
All in all this was a big disappointment.
DNF'd 50%
Rating: 2 stars.
Audio Note: Even the superb Michael Krammer and Kate Reading could not save this one.
I persisted with this for as long as I could, but decided to quit around the 50% mark as I just had no desire to return to the book when I put it down. I found I just did not care about the happenings in the story or any of the characters. There is no worse crime for a book than for it to be one that I avoid trying to read! In all fairness it was more boring than awful.
All in all this was a big disappointment.
DNF'd 50%
Rating: 2 stars.
Audio Note: Even the superb Michael Krammer and Kate Reading could not save this one.
May 13, 2011
Occasionally, a novel can be greatly appreciated without being appealing. Like a piece of art in which one can enjoy the beauty and craftsmanship, but feel no connection with it. No matter how hard one tries, the novel and reader never engage each other; there is only an emotional flatness, a seed of a story that never germinates. Sometimes certain books don’t work with certain readers. This is not a criticism as much as an observation. What doesn’t emotionally connect with one reader could just as likely connect with the next one.
Case in point is Elizabeth Bear’s latest novel “All the Windwracked Stars.” Bear’s novel is beautifully written and expertly plotted, yet the story failed to engage me, lessening the overall appeal of the book for me. There were moments when I got into the story, only to have later events jar me back out of it. However, there was never a point in “All the Windwracked Stars” where the book grabbed hold and refused to let go. Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to like the book due to Bear’s sublime craftsmanship, “All the Windwracked Stars” never generated any interest in me; it was an emotional flatline. But that isn’t to say that it wouldn’t generate interest in others. It contains all the elements necessary to be very successful with readers; I’m just not one of them.
As the novel begins, Muire stumbles across the aftermath of an apocalyptic battle between the children of the Light and the tarnished. She sadly discovers that all of her brothers and sisters of the Light have been killed, leaving her as the lone survivor of the Light. Muire is understandably crushed by this discovery. She is also wracked with enormous guilt, since she owes her survival to the fact that she fled like a coward before the battle began.
Among the corpses littering the battlefield, Muire discovers the valraven Kasimir, barely alive. Kasimir is an extremely intelligent type of stallion that has two heads and wings. The valravens traditionally serve as mounts for the children of Light. Among the cold and snowy field of death, Muire and Kasimir end up eventually saving each other (both literally and metaphorically), creating a timeless bond in the process.
Twenty-three hundred years later, human civilization has risen and nearly fallen, humanity now poised on the brink of extinction. Two hundred years earlier, the Desolation “left all Valdyrgard a salted garden.” Only the ancient city of Eiledon currently survives due to the magical guardianship of the Technomancer. But it too is now failing.
Muire, who has been living in Eiledon since before the Desolation, stumbles across a man dying in the streets one night. She takes in his last breath, sucking it down deep into her lungs, a waelcyrge rite by which she chooses him. In choosing him, Muire “accepted his death and accepted as well the burden of vengeance that death brought.” But this vengeance comes with a heavy price, and Muire suddenly finds herself in the heart of a complex mystery. One in which the outcome may affect the very survival of human civilization.
Muire, the protagonist of “All the Windwracked Stars,” was the biggest hindrance to my enjoyment of the book. Due to her guilt over her desertion of the children of Light twenty-three hundred years prior, Muire is emotionally crippled, filled with so much self-hatred that she is more annoying rather than endearing. Her woe-is-me act wore thin quickly. I generally am bored by mopey, angst-ridden characters, so Muire’s inability to “get over it” didn’t make for the most exciting reading. Thematically, “All the Windwracked Stars” concentrates on the Muire’s possible salvation. Can her future actions erase the stain of her past negligence? While I can appreciate this question, her emotional trauma bored me; I felt no empathy for her character. Many of the other characters in the novel like Selene, Kasimir, Cristokos, and Cathoair are quite appealing though. Only Muire undermines the narrative by wallowing in her angst. If she had only spanked her inner emo, “All the Windwracked Stars” would have been very special.
The world of “All the Windwracked Stars” is highly imaginative and creative; the world-building and characterization is generally fresh and unique. Bear’s creativity is wonderful to behold as it informs even the smallest detail of Valdyrgard. The language is beautiful; passages are poetic in their composition. Bear writes with an artist’s sense of language; prose that is elevated above normal genre fiction. For example, Bear writes:
“Since the breaking of the Light the wolf has been listening to the ticking decay. Worlds, like gods, are a long time dying, and the deathblow dealt the children of the Light did not stop a civilization of mortal men from rising in their place, inventing medicine and philosophy, metallurgy and space flight.”
Aesthetically, the novel is a wonder to behold. I was awed intellectually by Bear’s imagination. Only my issues with Muire kept me from fully connecting with the world. If the focus had been shifted onto another character, I likely would have found the material much more engaging. I just couldn’t bring myself to care about Muire.
Last Word:
Despite being beautifully composed and crafted, “All the Windwracked Stars” failed to connect with me. The angst-ridden protagonist Muire is too weepy, her consuming self-hatred too melodramatic and boring. Therefore, I found myself having a difficult time relating to her, and as she serves as the main conduit for the story, this obviously hampered my enjoyment of the novel. This is really a personal objection more than a criticism though. Despite my distaste for Muire, “All the Windwracked Stars” is still a wonderfully imaginative and enjoyable novel.
Case in point is Elizabeth Bear’s latest novel “All the Windwracked Stars.” Bear’s novel is beautifully written and expertly plotted, yet the story failed to engage me, lessening the overall appeal of the book for me. There were moments when I got into the story, only to have later events jar me back out of it. However, there was never a point in “All the Windwracked Stars” where the book grabbed hold and refused to let go. Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to like the book due to Bear’s sublime craftsmanship, “All the Windwracked Stars” never generated any interest in me; it was an emotional flatline. But that isn’t to say that it wouldn’t generate interest in others. It contains all the elements necessary to be very successful with readers; I’m just not one of them.
As the novel begins, Muire stumbles across the aftermath of an apocalyptic battle between the children of the Light and the tarnished. She sadly discovers that all of her brothers and sisters of the Light have been killed, leaving her as the lone survivor of the Light. Muire is understandably crushed by this discovery. She is also wracked with enormous guilt, since she owes her survival to the fact that she fled like a coward before the battle began.
Among the corpses littering the battlefield, Muire discovers the valraven Kasimir, barely alive. Kasimir is an extremely intelligent type of stallion that has two heads and wings. The valravens traditionally serve as mounts for the children of Light. Among the cold and snowy field of death, Muire and Kasimir end up eventually saving each other (both literally and metaphorically), creating a timeless bond in the process.
Twenty-three hundred years later, human civilization has risen and nearly fallen, humanity now poised on the brink of extinction. Two hundred years earlier, the Desolation “left all Valdyrgard a salted garden.” Only the ancient city of Eiledon currently survives due to the magical guardianship of the Technomancer. But it too is now failing.
Muire, who has been living in Eiledon since before the Desolation, stumbles across a man dying in the streets one night. She takes in his last breath, sucking it down deep into her lungs, a waelcyrge rite by which she chooses him. In choosing him, Muire “accepted his death and accepted as well the burden of vengeance that death brought.” But this vengeance comes with a heavy price, and Muire suddenly finds herself in the heart of a complex mystery. One in which the outcome may affect the very survival of human civilization.
Muire, the protagonist of “All the Windwracked Stars,” was the biggest hindrance to my enjoyment of the book. Due to her guilt over her desertion of the children of Light twenty-three hundred years prior, Muire is emotionally crippled, filled with so much self-hatred that she is more annoying rather than endearing. Her woe-is-me act wore thin quickly. I generally am bored by mopey, angst-ridden characters, so Muire’s inability to “get over it” didn’t make for the most exciting reading. Thematically, “All the Windwracked Stars” concentrates on the Muire’s possible salvation. Can her future actions erase the stain of her past negligence? While I can appreciate this question, her emotional trauma bored me; I felt no empathy for her character. Many of the other characters in the novel like Selene, Kasimir, Cristokos, and Cathoair are quite appealing though. Only Muire undermines the narrative by wallowing in her angst. If she had only spanked her inner emo, “All the Windwracked Stars” would have been very special.
The world of “All the Windwracked Stars” is highly imaginative and creative; the world-building and characterization is generally fresh and unique. Bear’s creativity is wonderful to behold as it informs even the smallest detail of Valdyrgard. The language is beautiful; passages are poetic in their composition. Bear writes with an artist’s sense of language; prose that is elevated above normal genre fiction. For example, Bear writes:
“Since the breaking of the Light the wolf has been listening to the ticking decay. Worlds, like gods, are a long time dying, and the deathblow dealt the children of the Light did not stop a civilization of mortal men from rising in their place, inventing medicine and philosophy, metallurgy and space flight.”
Aesthetically, the novel is a wonder to behold. I was awed intellectually by Bear’s imagination. Only my issues with Muire kept me from fully connecting with the world. If the focus had been shifted onto another character, I likely would have found the material much more engaging. I just couldn’t bring myself to care about Muire.
Last Word:
Despite being beautifully composed and crafted, “All the Windwracked Stars” failed to connect with me. The angst-ridden protagonist Muire is too weepy, her consuming self-hatred too melodramatic and boring. Therefore, I found myself having a difficult time relating to her, and as she serves as the main conduit for the story, this obviously hampered my enjoyment of the novel. This is really a personal objection more than a criticism though. Despite my distaste for Muire, “All the Windwracked Stars” is still a wonderfully imaginative and enjoyable novel.
August 21, 2009
When I read the first chapter of All the Windwracked Stars by Elizabeth Bear, I thought I would be giving it 5 stars. The language is beyond beautiful. The story is told in the manner of an epic poem, without the verse. This is the stuff of myth and legend and that is reflected in the style. The reader doesn't really connect to the characters, but can one really ever connect to legends?
I ended up downgrading this story by one star for a couple of reasons. First, about halfway through the book, I realized that I was so caught up with the way Bear was telling the story that I missed some of the setup for the main action. I had to flip back a few time to figure out what was going on. Second, the time spans encompassed in this story were confusing and I it seemed to me that I never knew how much time had passed. Characters would be in one place for what seemed like months, but they got back to where they had been in a few days.
If you're one of those people who checks out where readers shelve books, you'll see that I've put this on both my fantasy and sci-fi shelves. All the Windwracked Stars is mostly fantasy, but it has the stuff of science fiction going on in it too. It's supposed to be the first book in a trilogy, but it stands well on its own. It's a challenging read, beautifully done. It reminded me a lot of Perdido Street Station by China Miéville. If you liked that book, you should like this one as well.
I ended up downgrading this story by one star for a couple of reasons. First, about halfway through the book, I realized that I was so caught up with the way Bear was telling the story that I missed some of the setup for the main action. I had to flip back a few time to figure out what was going on. Second, the time spans encompassed in this story were confusing and I it seemed to me that I never knew how much time had passed. Characters would be in one place for what seemed like months, but they got back to where they had been in a few days.
If you're one of those people who checks out where readers shelve books, you'll see that I've put this on both my fantasy and sci-fi shelves. All the Windwracked Stars is mostly fantasy, but it has the stuff of science fiction going on in it too. It's supposed to be the first book in a trilogy, but it stands well on its own. It's a challenging read, beautifully done. It reminded me a lot of Perdido Street Station by China Miéville. If you liked that book, you should like this one as well.
October 27, 2013
"Welcome to "Books with Charactrs". The show, where xour favorite movie characters talk about the books they like. So let's get into it, shall we? First up, we have Luke Skywalker with us tonight."
"Thanks, host. May you live long and prosper!" said Luke.
"Oh snap, you're a funny one, aren't you? Spend a lot of time with Mr. Solo lately? So, what kind of book did you bring today?"
"I have a SF book for you. It plays in the far future, we have genetically mutated species, a university flying over the city of Eidolon, the last remaining city on the planet. There is a virus, you've got your hoverboards and all the great SF stuff."
"And what is the name of your book?"
"It's called "All the windwracked stars."
"Nice, moving on we have the lovely Lady Galadriel. Welcome to the show!"
"Thank you, dear host. What a pleasure to be hear," said Galadriel.
"I hope the conversation stays pleasent, so you don't have to use your voice, you know," said the host.
"I hope not, isn't there enough of The Voice already on tv?" asked Galadriel.
"Splendid, my lady! So what kind of book did you bring to the show?"
"Of course, I brought a tale of Fantasy. Of long lost swords, of rebirth and fallen gods. Of wolf and men."
"That sound promising. What is the name of your book then, my lady?" asked the host.
"It's called "All the windwracked stars"," said Galadriel.
"Hey, wait a minute. That's my book!" said Luke Skywalker.
"My, my that's getting interesting, don't you think folks? But don't let us get into the discussion yet. We have more guests to introduce. From The Avengers and his own movies, please welcome the mighty Thor!" said the host.
"Hail thee, honorable host! The Son of Odin is proud to be thy guest." said Thor.
"You have a movie coming out quite sonn, am I right?" asked the host.
"Hey, I have a movie coming out as well...at some point in the future!" said Luke Skywalker.
"Silence, ye infidel! When the God of Thunder speaks, thou shall awe my words, mortal! And thou are not in error, dear host. A fine tale of the beloved god I am is soon to be told to your world of Midgard!" said Thor.
"Well, Thor, what kind of book did you bring to us from Valhalla?" asked the host.
"Witness an epic of nordic tales, where valkyries fly on valravens. Where Ragnarök occurred and the wolf ate the sun! A tale of the end of the world, of glory, of honor of freedom. It's all in the pages of the scrolls called "All the windwracked stars",".
"It can't be. Now you're stealing my thunder as well?" asked Luke Skywalker.
"The thunder is mine to giveth in the first place, wielder of colorful lightning!" said Thor.
"What an extraordinary show! So, let's move on to our last guest. Please give a warm applause for the lovely Ms. Scarlett O'Hara."
"Thank you, y'all! Ah'm honored to be here," said Scarlett.
"So, what kind of book did you bring us today?" asked the host.
"Ah brought a story o' romance. Of love that surpasses death. Of love between man and woman, of man and beast and of man and man. There's heartbreak and heartache in the romance "All the windwracked stars"," said Scarlett.
"There's always another day for books, isn't there. But sadly, we are running out of time. So one final question to you all. What is "All the windwracked stars" all about?" asked the host.
"Choices and Destiny," said Luke Skywalker.
"Redemption and Forgiveness," said Galadriel.
"Honor and Sacrifice," said Thor.
"Love and Friendship," said Scarlett.
"Well, that sounds confusing, but fascinating. Thank you folks for tuning in. See you next time on "Books with Characters"!
"Thanks, host. May you live long and prosper!" said Luke.
"Oh snap, you're a funny one, aren't you? Spend a lot of time with Mr. Solo lately? So, what kind of book did you bring today?"
"I have a SF book for you. It plays in the far future, we have genetically mutated species, a university flying over the city of Eidolon, the last remaining city on the planet. There is a virus, you've got your hoverboards and all the great SF stuff."
"And what is the name of your book?"
"It's called "All the windwracked stars."
"Nice, moving on we have the lovely Lady Galadriel. Welcome to the show!"
"Thank you, dear host. What a pleasure to be hear," said Galadriel.
"I hope the conversation stays pleasent, so you don't have to use your voice, you know," said the host.
"I hope not, isn't there enough of The Voice already on tv?" asked Galadriel.
"Splendid, my lady! So what kind of book did you bring to the show?"
"Of course, I brought a tale of Fantasy. Of long lost swords, of rebirth and fallen gods. Of wolf and men."
"That sound promising. What is the name of your book then, my lady?" asked the host.
"It's called "All the windwracked stars"," said Galadriel.
"Hey, wait a minute. That's my book!" said Luke Skywalker.
"My, my that's getting interesting, don't you think folks? But don't let us get into the discussion yet. We have more guests to introduce. From The Avengers and his own movies, please welcome the mighty Thor!" said the host.
"Hail thee, honorable host! The Son of Odin is proud to be thy guest." said Thor.
"You have a movie coming out quite sonn, am I right?" asked the host.
"Hey, I have a movie coming out as well...at some point in the future!" said Luke Skywalker.
"Silence, ye infidel! When the God of Thunder speaks, thou shall awe my words, mortal! And thou are not in error, dear host. A fine tale of the beloved god I am is soon to be told to your world of Midgard!" said Thor.
"Well, Thor, what kind of book did you bring to us from Valhalla?" asked the host.
"Witness an epic of nordic tales, where valkyries fly on valravens. Where Ragnarök occurred and the wolf ate the sun! A tale of the end of the world, of glory, of honor of freedom. It's all in the pages of the scrolls called "All the windwracked stars",".
"It can't be. Now you're stealing my thunder as well?" asked Luke Skywalker.
"The thunder is mine to giveth in the first place, wielder of colorful lightning!" said Thor.
"What an extraordinary show! So, let's move on to our last guest. Please give a warm applause for the lovely Ms. Scarlett O'Hara."
"Thank you, y'all! Ah'm honored to be here," said Scarlett.
"So, what kind of book did you bring us today?" asked the host.
"Ah brought a story o' romance. Of love that surpasses death. Of love between man and woman, of man and beast and of man and man. There's heartbreak and heartache in the romance "All the windwracked stars"," said Scarlett.
"There's always another day for books, isn't there. But sadly, we are running out of time. So one final question to you all. What is "All the windwracked stars" all about?" asked the host.
"Choices and Destiny," said Luke Skywalker.
"Redemption and Forgiveness," said Galadriel.
"Honor and Sacrifice," said Thor.
"Love and Friendship," said Scarlett.
"Well, that sounds confusing, but fascinating. Thank you folks for tuning in. See you next time on "Books with Characters"!
October 9, 2014
Elizabeth Bear is one of my favourite authors these days, but I struggled with the start of All the Windwracked Stars. I don't mind being plunged in at the deep end and left to figure my own way out, but this world was so alien, built on such different assumptions that just a tiny bit more of a roadmap would have been helpful.
Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
November 13, 2009
All the Windwracked Stars is the first book in the EDDA OF BURDENS trilogy by fantasy and SF author Elizabeth Bear. The novel is a very original blend of fantasy, science fiction, steampunk and mythology, and while it has some weaknesses, its originality sets it apart in a genre that's all too often filled with cookie-cutter material.
Surprisingly, All the Windwracked Stars actually begins with Ragnarok, the final battle between the Children of the Light and the Tarnished. Muire, a waelcyrge (valkyrie) is one of the only survivors, together with Kasimir, another valkyrie's wounded valraven, who (in a sign of things to come) is transformed from his old two-headed, winged horse form into a more steampunk-ish guise.
Fast forward more than two millennia, to a post-apocalyptic world in which humanity only has one semi-viable city left. Eiledon is ruled by the Technomancer, who lives in a university/fortress floating above the city, and enforces her rule over the general population with a force of "unmans" (animal/human hybrids). Early in the novel, Muire learns that Mingan the Wolf is still stalking the world, and that the Technomancer's goals may not be entirely benevolent.
All the Windwracked Stars is a challenging but ultimately rewarding novel — challenging, because it takes a good 200 pages before the plot really emerges. Until that happens, you're reading a novel set in a world that's so unique it can be confusing, populated by characters that are extremely hard to connect with, especially in the first handful of chapters. The original setting, combined with Elizabeth Bear's beautiful prose, will carry patient readers to the point where the story really takes off, but it's hard not to feel that this novel could have been more accessible.
Regardless of this, All the Windwracked Stars is amazingly successful at combining mythology and science fiction in an intriguing and unique way. If you are interested in Norse mythology, and your tolerance for challenging reads is high, this book will deliver for you in spades.
(My review was also published at www.fantasyliterature.com)
Surprisingly, All the Windwracked Stars actually begins with Ragnarok, the final battle between the Children of the Light and the Tarnished. Muire, a waelcyrge (valkyrie) is one of the only survivors, together with Kasimir, another valkyrie's wounded valraven, who (in a sign of things to come) is transformed from his old two-headed, winged horse form into a more steampunk-ish guise.
Fast forward more than two millennia, to a post-apocalyptic world in which humanity only has one semi-viable city left. Eiledon is ruled by the Technomancer, who lives in a university/fortress floating above the city, and enforces her rule over the general population with a force of "unmans" (animal/human hybrids). Early in the novel, Muire learns that Mingan the Wolf is still stalking the world, and that the Technomancer's goals may not be entirely benevolent.
All the Windwracked Stars is a challenging but ultimately rewarding novel — challenging, because it takes a good 200 pages before the plot really emerges. Until that happens, you're reading a novel set in a world that's so unique it can be confusing, populated by characters that are extremely hard to connect with, especially in the first handful of chapters. The original setting, combined with Elizabeth Bear's beautiful prose, will carry patient readers to the point where the story really takes off, but it's hard not to feel that this novel could have been more accessible.
Regardless of this, All the Windwracked Stars is amazingly successful at combining mythology and science fiction in an intriguing and unique way. If you are interested in Norse mythology, and your tolerance for challenging reads is high, this book will deliver for you in spades.
(My review was also published at www.fantasyliterature.com)
March 26, 2014
Elizabeth Bear has some of the most lyrical writing I have ever read, simply beautiful, and it puts you right into the scene...you can feel the snow, or the heat of the steed. I love a book that can simply transport me into a sense of place.
A take from the Norse pantheon, Muire is the lone surviving Valkyrie, doomed to immortality. But can she simply live out her days and watch the world end? WIll she have to do something to try and save it? I found her indecision very humane.
She finds another Child of Light still alive, and determined to have the world end. But when Muire starts 'recognizing' her fellow Valkyries souls in some of the people around her...she feels compelled to drop the shields she has built around her, and once more become involved in the world.
A take from the Norse pantheon, Muire is the lone surviving Valkyrie, doomed to immortality. But can she simply live out her days and watch the world end? WIll she have to do something to try and save it? I found her indecision very humane.
She finds another Child of Light still alive, and determined to have the world end. But when Muire starts 'recognizing' her fellow Valkyries souls in some of the people around her...she feels compelled to drop the shields she has built around her, and once more become involved in the world.
July 16, 2009
What a great read! This one really was a winner. I admit that I'm a sucker for a female protagonist, especially of the gritty persuasion, and in that respect Muire doesn't disappoint. And talk about a flawed hero! She was the LONE Valkyrie to run away from the Ragnarok. The first one at least. This book is about her saving the world from the second. And it features a villain with human and justifiable motivations. How lacking in sci-fi/fantasy! My own quibble was that I wish it would have been a bit longer. Bear is a sparse writer, and I wish she would have taken a bit more time fleshing out the world. Still, great none the less, and I can't wait for the prequel in Fall 09!
March 8, 2018
I read this after the prequel, By the Mountain Bound (even though that was published second).
A beautiful, eerie, tragic mix of Norse legend and science-fantasy, this is a complex, complicated, tender and ultimately heartbreaking book.
The world is dying, and Muire, last of the Valkyrie, is tasked with watching it happen. And, perhaps, trying to stop it. On her journey she comes across technomancers, created animal-people known as moreaux or unmans, halfman and nearman allies and enemies, and Fenris himself, in human guise - the Grey Wolf. Mingan.
Wonderfully written and expertly combining legend, myth, magic and swords with satellites, radiation and bioengineered viruses, All the Windwracked Stars defies categorisation and deserves to be read.
A beautiful, eerie, tragic mix of Norse legend and science-fantasy, this is a complex, complicated, tender and ultimately heartbreaking book.
The world is dying, and Muire, last of the Valkyrie, is tasked with watching it happen. And, perhaps, trying to stop it. On her journey she comes across technomancers, created animal-people known as moreaux or unmans, halfman and nearman allies and enemies, and Fenris himself, in human guise - the Grey Wolf. Mingan.
Wonderfully written and expertly combining legend, myth, magic and swords with satellites, radiation and bioengineered viruses, All the Windwracked Stars defies categorisation and deserves to be read.
April 5, 2009
Elizabeth Bear is an audacious, difficult, and ultimately rewarding author. There are good reasons why she won a Campbell award, and a Hugo award. She's ambitious, writes characters who are all-too-human, and is very willing to take standard pieces of the F/SF genre, and rework them, remix myth and Story into it, and come out with books and stories that bite.
All the Windwracked Stars is the latest in that tradition. Informed and infused by Norse mythology, the novel begins with, paradoxically, a Ragnarok. We meet Muire, last of the Valkyrie, and Kasimir, the Valraven steed that bonds to her in the denouement of that final battle. Muire the Historian, to her shame, does not die as the rest of the Children of the Light do, and so lives on and on to see civilization, this time a human one, arise again on Valdyrgard. As you might expect, with a novel based so heavily on Norse stories, and given Bear's writing proclivities and style, the novel carries us headlong toward the inevitable fall of this human civilization.
It is between these two falls of civilizations that the meat of the novel and the Story take place. Muire still has her Valkyrie obligations, and it is in the unfolding of those obligations that Muire encounters an old enemy, and discovers the real reason why Eiledon, the last city, has managed to survive until the end under its implacable, mysterious ruler, the Technomancer.
Norse Myth and Mythology. Strange technology and a Last City set in blasted landscape. Complex characters muddling along as best they can. Muire seeks a chance at redemption, a strong and potent theme in the novel, reflected across the range of characters. And while it might not be a crackerjack straightforward plot, Bear hauntingly and memorably creates Valdyrgard and Eiledon and its denizens.
I've said in other reviews that Bear's work is probably not for everyone, or every SF reader. However, given that she is at the cutting edge of the newest generation of SF writers, if you want to see why the "young turks" of SF are doing with the genre, Bear is a strong choice for you to find that out. In an publishing age where Fantasy is ascendant over its technologically inclined brother, its refreshing, encouraging, and joyful to find a writer who does write fantasy (e.g. The Promethean age novels), but who is also willing to write darned good science fiction, with no apologies. And more importantly than just being willing to write science fiction, but to be very good at it.
Barq's Root Beer has a tagline: "Barq's Got Bite!". I would say, however, having read a number of her novels, and especially after reading this one, that "Bear's Got Bite!".
All the Windwracked Stars is the latest in that tradition. Informed and infused by Norse mythology, the novel begins with, paradoxically, a Ragnarok. We meet Muire, last of the Valkyrie, and Kasimir, the Valraven steed that bonds to her in the denouement of that final battle. Muire the Historian, to her shame, does not die as the rest of the Children of the Light do, and so lives on and on to see civilization, this time a human one, arise again on Valdyrgard. As you might expect, with a novel based so heavily on Norse stories, and given Bear's writing proclivities and style, the novel carries us headlong toward the inevitable fall of this human civilization.
It is between these two falls of civilizations that the meat of the novel and the Story take place. Muire still has her Valkyrie obligations, and it is in the unfolding of those obligations that Muire encounters an old enemy, and discovers the real reason why Eiledon, the last city, has managed to survive until the end under its implacable, mysterious ruler, the Technomancer.
Norse Myth and Mythology. Strange technology and a Last City set in blasted landscape. Complex characters muddling along as best they can. Muire seeks a chance at redemption, a strong and potent theme in the novel, reflected across the range of characters. And while it might not be a crackerjack straightforward plot, Bear hauntingly and memorably creates Valdyrgard and Eiledon and its denizens.
I've said in other reviews that Bear's work is probably not for everyone, or every SF reader. However, given that she is at the cutting edge of the newest generation of SF writers, if you want to see why the "young turks" of SF are doing with the genre, Bear is a strong choice for you to find that out. In an publishing age where Fantasy is ascendant over its technologically inclined brother, its refreshing, encouraging, and joyful to find a writer who does write fantasy (e.g. The Promethean age novels), but who is also willing to write darned good science fiction, with no apologies. And more importantly than just being willing to write science fiction, but to be very good at it.
Barq's Root Beer has a tagline: "Barq's Got Bite!". I would say, however, having read a number of her novels, and especially after reading this one, that "Bear's Got Bite!".
January 9, 2011
There is something about a post-apocalyptic/apocalyptic, Sci-Fi Fantasy story that does it for me – mix in some Norse mythology and it’s a win-win situation. Elizabeth Bear’s All the Windwracked Stars has all of the above and more. She uses mythology loosely to construct her world and if you are familiar with Odin’s crew of Gods and immortals, you will recognize their integration into Bear’s world, her characters and usage of language.
Our fantasy adventure begins with the end. It’s the end for the Children of Light and their world – survived only by Muire, a waelcyrge (valkyrie), and Kasimir, a valraven (two-headed, winged, war-steed). Muire, who thinks of herself as the “least” of all her sisters, is not a warrior; instead she is a poet, historian and artist. She survives by fleeing that final battle where all her sisters and brothers – the einherjar or immortal warriors -- die. That single act of cowardice, the guilt and shame Muire carries with her, become the driving force behind her actions throughout this story.
Fast forward twenty three hundred years later and the world is again dying. This time, surprise, surprise it is a world of men, who after rising and inventing medicine, philosophy, space flight and metallurgy now live in an era known as the Desolation, under the Defile – a contaminated earth full of deserts and bleached bones, un-breathable air and a dead sea killed by bio-weapons and never ending wars. Only one city remains, Eiledon.
When Muire finds a truman dying in the shadows of darkness, with no traces of blood or bodily harm, she recognizes the manner of death and knows the killer. An old, powerful evil from long ago has returned and she must hunt it and kill it, or die trying.
The gloom and doom that permeate the world Bear constructs makes this a tough read through the first third of the book. Muire’s self-recrimination, guilt and sense of worthlessness, while understandable, were tough to deal with at times. Thank goodness for Kasimir who serves as her conscience and represents the hope and promise of a possible future. He has the faith in Muire that she doesn’t have in herself, and recognizes the courage and Light she possesses. Although Muire is the main character, and a strong one at that, once Bear’s well-developed and fascinating secondary characters start to emerge, I became immersed in her world. They were the ones that made this story work for me.
Thjierry Thorvaldsdottir, Technomancer of Eiledon, is known as the savior of the dying city. A combination techie/witch, she reigns supreme in the Tower, a floating bubble-like city she created – a city above a city -- adored by her students and guarded by loyal servants, the moreau or unmen -- animals with human-like abilities. Thjierry and Muire might be the only hope left for Eiledon. The unmen play a small, if key, part in the story. Selene, the cat girl with her claws, whip and smarts, is the most memorable of the unmen characters. I was touched by her toughness, vulnerability and courage – a definite reminder of H.G. Wells’ “The Island of Dr. Moreau.”
Mingan, the Grey Wolf is a tarnished predator, traitor to all, but most of all to himself. He is a dark, fascinating character that took hold of my imagination and didn’t let go, even after the book was finished. Possibly my favorite in this book, his is the character that brings us the closest to the tragedy and duality that we often find in Norse mythology. Based on a cross between Fenrir the Wolf and Hati, the sun-eater, Mingan, together with Cathoair, a young male prostitute and bar fighter, take over the page whenever they appear. Theirs is a complex relationship --Mingan hunts Cathoair, whom he both loves and hates and in turn, Cathoair haunts Mingan. Cathoair is both more and less than he appears to be. By becoming important to both Muire and the Grey Wolf, he also becomes a catalyst and central to this story.
As the story unfolded, defining the Dark and the Light became difficult, gray areas expanded and I found myself reading slower, savoring every moment, not wanting the book to end. And as I concluded my journey with Muire and her ragtag group of friends and foes, after experiencing depths of despair and selfishness, the power of friendship and love, I found that in the end, this book was mostly about redemption and self-sacrifice.
There is potential in this world for other great adventures. Hopefully, Elizabeth Bear will give us more. If you like Fantasy, Sci-Fi and mythology, this book is certainly for you.
Our fantasy adventure begins with the end. It’s the end for the Children of Light and their world – survived only by Muire, a waelcyrge (valkyrie), and Kasimir, a valraven (two-headed, winged, war-steed). Muire, who thinks of herself as the “least” of all her sisters, is not a warrior; instead she is a poet, historian and artist. She survives by fleeing that final battle where all her sisters and brothers – the einherjar or immortal warriors -- die. That single act of cowardice, the guilt and shame Muire carries with her, become the driving force behind her actions throughout this story.
Fast forward twenty three hundred years later and the world is again dying. This time, surprise, surprise it is a world of men, who after rising and inventing medicine, philosophy, space flight and metallurgy now live in an era known as the Desolation, under the Defile – a contaminated earth full of deserts and bleached bones, un-breathable air and a dead sea killed by bio-weapons and never ending wars. Only one city remains, Eiledon.
When Muire finds a truman dying in the shadows of darkness, with no traces of blood or bodily harm, she recognizes the manner of death and knows the killer. An old, powerful evil from long ago has returned and she must hunt it and kill it, or die trying.
The gloom and doom that permeate the world Bear constructs makes this a tough read through the first third of the book. Muire’s self-recrimination, guilt and sense of worthlessness, while understandable, were tough to deal with at times. Thank goodness for Kasimir who serves as her conscience and represents the hope and promise of a possible future. He has the faith in Muire that she doesn’t have in herself, and recognizes the courage and Light she possesses. Although Muire is the main character, and a strong one at that, once Bear’s well-developed and fascinating secondary characters start to emerge, I became immersed in her world. They were the ones that made this story work for me.
Thjierry Thorvaldsdottir, Technomancer of Eiledon, is known as the savior of the dying city. A combination techie/witch, she reigns supreme in the Tower, a floating bubble-like city she created – a city above a city -- adored by her students and guarded by loyal servants, the moreau or unmen -- animals with human-like abilities. Thjierry and Muire might be the only hope left for Eiledon. The unmen play a small, if key, part in the story. Selene, the cat girl with her claws, whip and smarts, is the most memorable of the unmen characters. I was touched by her toughness, vulnerability and courage – a definite reminder of H.G. Wells’ “The Island of Dr. Moreau.”
Mingan, the Grey Wolf is a tarnished predator, traitor to all, but most of all to himself. He is a dark, fascinating character that took hold of my imagination and didn’t let go, even after the book was finished. Possibly my favorite in this book, his is the character that brings us the closest to the tragedy and duality that we often find in Norse mythology. Based on a cross between Fenrir the Wolf and Hati, the sun-eater, Mingan, together with Cathoair, a young male prostitute and bar fighter, take over the page whenever they appear. Theirs is a complex relationship --Mingan hunts Cathoair, whom he both loves and hates and in turn, Cathoair haunts Mingan. Cathoair is both more and less than he appears to be. By becoming important to both Muire and the Grey Wolf, he also becomes a catalyst and central to this story.
As the story unfolded, defining the Dark and the Light became difficult, gray areas expanded and I found myself reading slower, savoring every moment, not wanting the book to end. And as I concluded my journey with Muire and her ragtag group of friends and foes, after experiencing depths of despair and selfishness, the power of friendship and love, I found that in the end, this book was mostly about redemption and self-sacrifice.
There is potential in this world for other great adventures. Hopefully, Elizabeth Bear will give us more. If you like Fantasy, Sci-Fi and mythology, this book is certainly for you.
July 24, 2018
This was beautiful, and by the end I didn't want to stop reading, but oh, it was hard to get into at the beginning.
Bear makes you work for it. You're thrown in the deep end, and though the water is salt enough to support you, it takes a while to realise it.
Bear makes you work for it. You're thrown in the deep end, and though the water is salt enough to support you, it takes a while to realise it.
January 3, 2013
I loved the experience of reading this book, but find myself puzzled now at its end.
This is a gorgeous piece of writing, with some dazzlingly inventive conceits. Bear drops you right into the second end of the world, on a plain covered by dying angels. We then fast forward to a world devastated a second time, this time after a man-made apocalypse. The writing is lonely and poignant and lovely. The characters--Muire the Valkyrie who abandoned her comrades and so is doomed to watch the world end again and again, Kasimir the two headed winged stallion whose constancy has lasted millennia, the wolf who swallowed the sun, the pit fighter, the Technomancer, the bestiary of the enslaved--are haunting. The references to Norse mythology are ever-present, but oblique.
And it's this obliqueness that's ultimately frustrating. Bear has a way of hinting at things without coming out and saying them, and in the end, I'm not completely sure I understand what happened. What happened to the World Serpent, whether the Technomancer ever understood fully what she was doing, how life will play out for the moreaux, what the ramifications of Muire's choice will ultimately be. I think she left us enough clues to piece it all together, and yet I'm still not sure how.
So I loved reading this. I loved the language, I loved the complexity and shades-of-gray of all the characters, I loved the layered world-building. The ending works on an emotional level--it felt appropriately cathartic. But on a purely logical level, I'm still a little confused. I wish she'd given us a handful more paragraphs to spell things out for those of us who are apparently not quite as swift on the uptake as she wanted her readers to be.
This is a gorgeous piece of writing, with some dazzlingly inventive conceits. Bear drops you right into the second end of the world, on a plain covered by dying angels. We then fast forward to a world devastated a second time, this time after a man-made apocalypse. The writing is lonely and poignant and lovely. The characters--Muire the Valkyrie who abandoned her comrades and so is doomed to watch the world end again and again, Kasimir the two headed winged stallion whose constancy has lasted millennia, the wolf who swallowed the sun, the pit fighter, the Technomancer, the bestiary of the enslaved--are haunting. The references to Norse mythology are ever-present, but oblique.
And it's this obliqueness that's ultimately frustrating. Bear has a way of hinting at things without coming out and saying them, and in the end, I'm not completely sure I understand what happened. What happened to the World Serpent, whether the Technomancer ever understood fully what she was doing, how life will play out for the moreaux, what the ramifications of Muire's choice will ultimately be. I think she left us enough clues to piece it all together, and yet I'm still not sure how.
So I loved reading this. I loved the language, I loved the complexity and shades-of-gray of all the characters, I loved the layered world-building. The ending works on an emotional level--it felt appropriately cathartic. But on a purely logical level, I'm still a little confused. I wish she'd given us a handful more paragraphs to spell things out for those of us who are apparently not quite as swift on the uptake as she wanted her readers to be.
July 17, 2013
I'm a little torn on this one.
I really liked what this book was trying to do: tell a postapocalyptic - or perhaps just apocalyptic - story based on a somewhat-modernized, somewhat-vintage version of the Norse mythology of Ragnarok. The semi-poetic language and worldbuilding through the eyes of someone who'd been around since the original Ragnarok (and therefore views technology through the lens of magic) was well-done.
Unfortunately, I have only a passing familiarity with Norse mythology in general, and almost nothing with Ragnarok or the Valkyrie specifically. And, unsurprisingly, the impressionistic poeticism of the language didn't really lend itself well to exposition. So more than once I found myself going "Wait. What just happened? What's going on? This latest plot development is obviously important, but what does it all mean? A little help for a non-classically-educated American, here?"
I also found the main character rather frustrating. For all that she's a Valkyrie and thousands of years old, she seems to have spent the bulk of that time being passive and angsty, and that carries over into this story, too - the bulk of it reads as rare bursts of action interspersed with moping and occasional flashbacks. Towards the end, when she finally gets up off her butt and does something, she (and her equally-frustrating compatriots) becomes much more interesting, but until then I found the story a bit of a slog.
Still, it's well written and thoroughly researched, and the ending works well enough that I was willing to forgive a good chunk of the slogging. I wish it hadn't taken so long to get there, though.
I really liked what this book was trying to do: tell a postapocalyptic - or perhaps just apocalyptic - story based on a somewhat-modernized, somewhat-vintage version of the Norse mythology of Ragnarok. The semi-poetic language and worldbuilding through the eyes of someone who'd been around since the original Ragnarok (and therefore views technology through the lens of magic) was well-done.
Unfortunately, I have only a passing familiarity with Norse mythology in general, and almost nothing with Ragnarok or the Valkyrie specifically. And, unsurprisingly, the impressionistic poeticism of the language didn't really lend itself well to exposition. So more than once I found myself going "Wait. What just happened? What's going on? This latest plot development is obviously important, but what does it all mean? A little help for a non-classically-educated American, here?"
I also found the main character rather frustrating. For all that she's a Valkyrie and thousands of years old, she seems to have spent the bulk of that time being passive and angsty, and that carries over into this story, too - the bulk of it reads as rare bursts of action interspersed with moping and occasional flashbacks. Towards the end, when she finally gets up off her butt and does something, she (and her equally-frustrating compatriots) becomes much more interesting, but until then I found the story a bit of a slog.
Still, it's well written and thoroughly researched, and the ending works well enough that I was willing to forgive a good chunk of the slogging. I wish it hadn't taken so long to get there, though.
February 26, 2014
There was a lot of good and a lot of not-so-good here, and the good helped me get through the whole novel and the bad pretty much assured that I won't read another of Ms Bear's books.
The Good:
- Bear wields language skillfully and idosyncratically; her style is lovely in a way that is reminiscent of (but not really similar to) Patricia McKillip's.
- Once the story got moving, I had absolutely no idea where it was going or how it would end--suspense!
- The worldbuilding was a cool post-apocalyptic steampunk everything-and-the-kitchen-sink mish-mash; very atmospheric and interesting.
- Valkyries!
- Animal people!
- Magic!
The Bad:
Unfortunately another writer Bear reminds me of is Phillip Pullman, and if you're a Pullman fan then maybe you will love Bear too, and that is wonderful. The conscious loveliness of her prose seemed to me to cover a hollowness of meaning. Do you remember the TV show Angel? When Angel's detective pal asks Angel why he keeps fighting in the face of the true, certain knowledge that life sucks and then you die, and none of it means a damn thing, he replies, "If nothing that we do matters, then all that matters is what we do." It's the sort of positive, life-affirming cousin to nihilism, and every single one of this book's characters seem to subscribe to the same philosophy. Which means the book is pretty, it's exciting, but ultimately just as empty as the protagonists' beliefs.
The Good:
- Bear wields language skillfully and idosyncratically; her style is lovely in a way that is reminiscent of (but not really similar to) Patricia McKillip's.
- Once the story got moving, I had absolutely no idea where it was going or how it would end--suspense!
- The worldbuilding was a cool post-apocalyptic steampunk everything-and-the-kitchen-sink mish-mash; very atmospheric and interesting.
- Valkyries!
- Animal people!
- Magic!
The Bad:
Unfortunately another writer Bear reminds me of is Phillip Pullman, and if you're a Pullman fan then maybe you will love Bear too, and that is wonderful. The conscious loveliness of her prose seemed to me to cover a hollowness of meaning. Do you remember the TV show Angel? When Angel's detective pal asks Angel why he keeps fighting in the face of the true, certain knowledge that life sucks and then you die, and none of it means a damn thing, he replies, "If nothing that we do matters, then all that matters is what we do." It's the sort of positive, life-affirming cousin to nihilism, and every single one of this book's characters seem to subscribe to the same philosophy. Which means the book is pretty, it's exciting, but ultimately just as empty as the protagonists' beliefs.
December 19, 2008
I've loved Bear's short fiction on Escape Pod, so was excited to get my hands on one of her full length novels. And I was not dissapointed! This is a sweeping, elegant story that meshes technology with ancient mythology. There's a bit of melodrama, but I think that just goes hand in hand with the whole "valkyrie" theme, and its really not overbearing. A quick spoiler-free synopsis: the last valkyrie, long coping with guilt and loss, tracks a sinister and ancient foe through a high-tech city. But not all is as it seems, and the weary angel is in for a few shocks.
The book definitely has the feel of an epic about it. I actually thought it was self contained, though now I see its the first in a series. I think it speaks quite well of the book it could pass as a stand-alone.
The ending is poignant as all get out, seriously one of the best I've read in a long time. I do believe I teared up a little.
All together, just absolutely a wonderful tale. Highly recommended.
The book definitely has the feel of an epic about it. I actually thought it was self contained, though now I see its the first in a series. I think it speaks quite well of the book it could pass as a stand-alone.
The ending is poignant as all get out, seriously one of the best I've read in a long time. I do believe I teared up a little.
All together, just absolutely a wonderful tale. Highly recommended.
August 26, 2009
The premise of the book is fascinating: take an older mythology and extend it into the future. Mixture of fantasy and sci-fi. Interesting story ensues.
Wrong. Boring, slow, stories with overly weird writing and mythological terminology ensues.
I'm not so into fantasy these days, so I took a small chance on this one based on how much I liked one of her recent novels, Carnival. While that story turned culture on its head, it remained interesting. This one had almost no character development - or it was clouded by the mythology being used. I had to put this one down.
Wrong. Boring, slow, stories with overly weird writing and mythological terminology ensues.
I'm not so into fantasy these days, so I took a small chance on this one based on how much I liked one of her recent novels, Carnival. While that story turned culture on its head, it remained interesting. This one had almost no character development - or it was clouded by the mythology being used. I had to put this one down.
June 22, 2010
I was very eager to read this novel, as I completed a Masters and some doctoral work in Old Norse mythology. The first few chapters seemed to confirm my decision, dealing as they did with the fallout from Ragnarok and the ensuing chaos. The scene then shifts to a far future, and the story rapidly deteriorates. Elizabeth Bear is a strong writer, ccertainly, but her vivid prose isn't enough to carry the flagging story. As a result, I didn't even finish the book.
January 3, 2015
"It was amazing."
ON A ROLL, THREE BOOKS FINISHED IN TWO DAYS.
This teeters pretty evenly between a four and a five star but I went with a 5 because of how much this book aspired to and how much it achieved. Rather than taking points off for the areas it didn't succeed, I went with my gut response and gave it all I had here.
All The Windwracked Stars is ... very difficult to describe. Mythology, cyberpunk, urban fantasy, actual fantasy ... it's a great deal of things. And one of those things is challenging. This book does not hold your hand. It doesn't take time to explain things. Bear's approach to world-building is that this is a 102 class and if you didn't take the 101, that's not her problem. A working knowledge of all the major lore of Norse mythology is highly suggested, because this isn't just inspired by that canon -- it's set in that canon.
Thinking of All the Windwracked Stars as a sequel to Norse mythology wouldn't be a bad idea. It's set in a universe where reincarnation is the thing, in every sense of the world. Nothing can come from nothing and all birth must come from death. This includes universes. The world of this novel sprang from the corpse of Midgard and is about to leave a corpse of its own. The valkyries have been torn asunder and have gone to war, and the result is a complete slaughter on both sides. Only three living beings walk away from this conflict: Muire, a deserter who fled the battlefield rather than die by her brothers and sisters, Mingan, the Grey Wolf who played both sides of the conflict and betrayed both, and Kasimir, the last stallion of the valyries. One of the casualties is the great Snake, the world serpent, who bears all the burdens of the world so that life can come forth despite it. Without the serpent to bear the burdens, life in this world will slowly die. Thousands of years pass, and humanity evolves in the death throes of the world. The story begins in earnest as the end has truly begun, with humanity having wiped itself out and only one city left in the world. It's a science fiction cyberpunk dystopian sort of place, where purity of blood is status, life is barely kept afloat by technomancy, and everyone is in denial that the world is about to end and mostly centers around the trio of Muire, Mingan, and Kasimir, along with a teenaged kickboxer and a cat-woman who both hold the keys to the chance for this world to keep on living.
It is a very, very strange and wonderous world that doesn't really fit into any sort of niche. It's hard to give this book a genre classification because it's just so many things all at once. And the worldbuilding is absolutely not spoonfed to you. Bear doesn't take the time to explain the rules. You are expected to be 100% engaged and pick up what's needed on the fly. And it can be hard, because the book is told out of chronological order and has a vast mythos, half of which is not even covered in the book because it's just Norse myth, none of which Bear takes time to explain to you. The book moves at a breakneck pace and if you're not paying attention, you're going to be lost.
Usually, this sort of thing bothers me, but I feel that All the Windwracked Stars earns its right to be this sort of roller coaster. It's challenging but it's fair, and it demands a big commitment from you in your engagement level but it never asks too much. One thing I loved about this book is that in spite of the short "running time" and breakneck pace, I really felt like there was enough time to get to know the characters in small, personal scenes that were good offbeats to the crazy train pace of the story. I usually find books paced in this way don't give me enough filler -- I like filler. Filler lets me get to know the characters and just hang out with them. But All the Windwracked Stars manages to let me feel like I'm getting downtime with the characters without needing to HAVE filler, and I really loved and respected that about it.
The writing is absolutely beautiful, also. Bear has some serious chops. I'm very impressed at how she manages to combine artistic writing with a breakneck pace because that's something I personally stuggle with a lot as a writer. It's easy to be florid and flowy when you're not trying to move the plot, but Bear manages to do both very smoothly at the same time which is a big plus.
I also just loved how unconventional and full of wonder this story is. The macho quest fantasy trappings that pollute the genre as runoff from the success of LoTR don't make any appearance here. It's all wonder and magic and fable and myth and it really feels as though anything were possible. I love this sort of story, where there's a real feeling of exploration and discovery and looking forward to what wonder you'll see next. Because the rules of magic are never quite laid out, it can continually surprise and delight you, and the big magic duel at the end was super enjoyable in part because we hadn't seen Muire let loose before that.
It's impossible to be juggling this many plates without messing some things up though, and Bear does. The pace doesn't make quite as much time to bond with certain characters who the story demands empathy for -- mainly Astrid and Cristokos -- and that takes the bite out of some events. Astrid is especially bad, as she is a massively important character to Cathoair's life and story and arc and I never feel like we really get to sense what she's doing. I was a little confused at the love ... shape between all the characters -- no, really, like, all the characters -- and the ending seemed to be convinced that a decision was made and people paired off and shit, I didn't see any of that! And Mingan was defniitely my favourite character, but his arc was confused and he disappeared for too long a stretch in the middle for the fact that he's basically the deuragonist of this story.
But there are times when ambition and scope and novelty just count for more than anything else, and this is one of them. This is not a perfect book, it has problems and it's very challenging to read and fully comprehend. But it's intensely unique and very emotionally weighted and I dare you not to care about these characters and be fascinated and compelled by this world.
EDIT 25/07/13: I'm revising my rating down to four stars from the initial five, just because I don't feel this book stuck with me the way it would have needed to to deserve its five star rating. Comparing it to the other five stars I've read this year, it doesn't seem to belong on the same tier. I'm reading the sequel now and it's highlighting all the problems I had with the original and just generally being a way better book. I still love this book, I'm just bumping it down a little bit.
ON A ROLL, THREE BOOKS FINISHED IN TWO DAYS.
This teeters pretty evenly between a four and a five star but I went with a 5 because of how much this book aspired to and how much it achieved. Rather than taking points off for the areas it didn't succeed, I went with my gut response and gave it all I had here.
All The Windwracked Stars is ... very difficult to describe. Mythology, cyberpunk, urban fantasy, actual fantasy ... it's a great deal of things. And one of those things is challenging. This book does not hold your hand. It doesn't take time to explain things. Bear's approach to world-building is that this is a 102 class and if you didn't take the 101, that's not her problem. A working knowledge of all the major lore of Norse mythology is highly suggested, because this isn't just inspired by that canon -- it's set in that canon.
Thinking of All the Windwracked Stars as a sequel to Norse mythology wouldn't be a bad idea. It's set in a universe where reincarnation is the thing, in every sense of the world. Nothing can come from nothing and all birth must come from death. This includes universes. The world of this novel sprang from the corpse of Midgard and is about to leave a corpse of its own. The valkyries have been torn asunder and have gone to war, and the result is a complete slaughter on both sides. Only three living beings walk away from this conflict: Muire, a deserter who fled the battlefield rather than die by her brothers and sisters, Mingan, the Grey Wolf who played both sides of the conflict and betrayed both, and Kasimir, the last stallion of the valyries. One of the casualties is the great Snake, the world serpent, who bears all the burdens of the world so that life can come forth despite it. Without the serpent to bear the burdens, life in this world will slowly die. Thousands of years pass, and humanity evolves in the death throes of the world. The story begins in earnest as the end has truly begun, with humanity having wiped itself out and only one city left in the world. It's a science fiction cyberpunk dystopian sort of place, where purity of blood is status, life is barely kept afloat by technomancy, and everyone is in denial that the world is about to end and mostly centers around the trio of Muire, Mingan, and Kasimir, along with a teenaged kickboxer and a cat-woman who both hold the keys to the chance for this world to keep on living.
It is a very, very strange and wonderous world that doesn't really fit into any sort of niche. It's hard to give this book a genre classification because it's just so many things all at once. And the worldbuilding is absolutely not spoonfed to you. Bear doesn't take the time to explain the rules. You are expected to be 100% engaged and pick up what's needed on the fly. And it can be hard, because the book is told out of chronological order and has a vast mythos, half of which is not even covered in the book because it's just Norse myth, none of which Bear takes time to explain to you. The book moves at a breakneck pace and if you're not paying attention, you're going to be lost.
Usually, this sort of thing bothers me, but I feel that All the Windwracked Stars earns its right to be this sort of roller coaster. It's challenging but it's fair, and it demands a big commitment from you in your engagement level but it never asks too much. One thing I loved about this book is that in spite of the short "running time" and breakneck pace, I really felt like there was enough time to get to know the characters in small, personal scenes that were good offbeats to the crazy train pace of the story. I usually find books paced in this way don't give me enough filler -- I like filler. Filler lets me get to know the characters and just hang out with them. But All the Windwracked Stars manages to let me feel like I'm getting downtime with the characters without needing to HAVE filler, and I really loved and respected that about it.
The writing is absolutely beautiful, also. Bear has some serious chops. I'm very impressed at how she manages to combine artistic writing with a breakneck pace because that's something I personally stuggle with a lot as a writer. It's easy to be florid and flowy when you're not trying to move the plot, but Bear manages to do both very smoothly at the same time which is a big plus.
I also just loved how unconventional and full of wonder this story is. The macho quest fantasy trappings that pollute the genre as runoff from the success of LoTR don't make any appearance here. It's all wonder and magic and fable and myth and it really feels as though anything were possible. I love this sort of story, where there's a real feeling of exploration and discovery and looking forward to what wonder you'll see next. Because the rules of magic are never quite laid out, it can continually surprise and delight you, and the big magic duel at the end was super enjoyable in part because we hadn't seen Muire let loose before that.
It's impossible to be juggling this many plates without messing some things up though, and Bear does. The pace doesn't make quite as much time to bond with certain characters who the story demands empathy for -- mainly Astrid and Cristokos -- and that takes the bite out of some events. Astrid is especially bad, as she is a massively important character to Cathoair's life and story and arc and I never feel like we really get to sense what she's doing. I was a little confused at the love ... shape between all the characters -- no, really, like, all the characters -- and the ending seemed to be convinced that a decision was made and people paired off and shit, I didn't see any of that! And Mingan was defniitely my favourite character, but his arc was confused and he disappeared for too long a stretch in the middle for the fact that he's basically the deuragonist of this story.
But there are times when ambition and scope and novelty just count for more than anything else, and this is one of them. This is not a perfect book, it has problems and it's very challenging to read and fully comprehend. But it's intensely unique and very emotionally weighted and I dare you not to care about these characters and be fascinated and compelled by this world.
EDIT 25/07/13: I'm revising my rating down to four stars from the initial five, just because I don't feel this book stuck with me the way it would have needed to to deserve its five star rating. Comparing it to the other five stars I've read this year, it doesn't seem to belong on the same tier. I'm reading the sequel now and it's highlighting all the problems I had with the original and just generally being a way better book. I still love this book, I'm just bumping it down a little bit.
November 30, 2020
This is one that I stumbled across while searching for books that would bridge the gap between Norsevember and Sci-Fi month, and it was the title that first caught my attention, followed by the cover and the summary. Science-fantasy was my first introduction to reading fantasy/sci-fi through the Dragonriders of Pern series, and this one certainly appealed to that old love.
Firstly, I have to say that absolutely adored Bear’s writing – this was my first time reading her, but it won’t be my last – because her prose completely swept me away from the get go. All The Windwracked Stars is a fantastic blending of Norse Legend and all the myth and magic that you might expect from that, expertly blended with starkly-science fiction technology and settings, without either aspect losing out to the other, and instead creating a complicated, compelling narrative that tugs on more than a few heartstrings along the way.
I will say that this is a book you have to work for, as you are very much thrown in at the deep end and it can take a little while to find you feet, and keep track of the flow of time, but it is well worth the effort. This has to be my favourite discovery from the month, as it was one that wasn’t on any TBR or even on my radar, and I would have missed out greatly if I hadn’t stumbled across it, and I will now be checking out the rest of the series as well as the other books by Elizabeth Bear.
Firstly, I have to say that absolutely adored Bear’s writing – this was my first time reading her, but it won’t be my last – because her prose completely swept me away from the get go. All The Windwracked Stars is a fantastic blending of Norse Legend and all the myth and magic that you might expect from that, expertly blended with starkly-science fiction technology and settings, without either aspect losing out to the other, and instead creating a complicated, compelling narrative that tugs on more than a few heartstrings along the way.
I will say that this is a book you have to work for, as you are very much thrown in at the deep end and it can take a little while to find you feet, and keep track of the flow of time, but it is well worth the effort. This has to be my favourite discovery from the month, as it was one that wasn’t on any TBR or even on my radar, and I would have missed out greatly if I hadn’t stumbled across it, and I will now be checking out the rest of the series as well as the other books by Elizabeth Bear.
December 10, 2017
2-2.5 stars. Too much odd kissing. I learned more from the synopsis of the book than from actually reading the book so there’s that... If there were more magic battles using fiddles and singing, I think I would have enjoyed it more but I really had no clue what was happening throughout the whole thing.
May 23, 2017
I did not finish this.
March 31, 2025
Just not for me. I can appreciate it, I can see the writing is beautiful and the story is mostly there, but ultimately, I just didn’t connect. I guarantee there are some for whom this is going to be an amazing read, but this time around, not me.
July 15, 2012
Elizabeth Bear has become the Robert Silverberg of modern science fiction:
A prolific author who suffers from that very strength, as too often her
work, like that of Silverberg, seems rushed, and begs for a little more
polish.
“All the Windwracked Stars” (Tor, $24.95, 368 pages) is one of her better
efforts, though, starting with the premise that “worlds take a long time
to die,” and that the final battle of the gods, when the Light went out of
human culture, was fought several thousand years ago. Now, the Earth is a
dying shell, with only a single city left with living beings of any sort.
The remaining humans, and almost humans, live their lives as humans always
do, but there are still some survivors from that last defining clash
between the tainted and the pure, and the book's plot turns on their
bitterness and need for redemption. There's plenty of action, though, and
lots of surprises, as Bear is near her best in this one – which is pretty
darn good. If you've liked some of Bear's work a lot, as I have, but have
been put off by some of her recent less successful efforts, take a chance
on “All the Windwracked Stars.” It may not be her “Book of Skulls”
(Silverberg's best, I always thought), but it's a good read with some
substance underneath.
A prolific author who suffers from that very strength, as too often her
work, like that of Silverberg, seems rushed, and begs for a little more
polish.
“All the Windwracked Stars” (Tor, $24.95, 368 pages) is one of her better
efforts, though, starting with the premise that “worlds take a long time
to die,” and that the final battle of the gods, when the Light went out of
human culture, was fought several thousand years ago. Now, the Earth is a
dying shell, with only a single city left with living beings of any sort.
The remaining humans, and almost humans, live their lives as humans always
do, but there are still some survivors from that last defining clash
between the tainted and the pure, and the book's plot turns on their
bitterness and need for redemption. There's plenty of action, though, and
lots of surprises, as Bear is near her best in this one – which is pretty
darn good. If you've liked some of Bear's work a lot, as I have, but have
been put off by some of her recent less successful efforts, take a chance
on “All the Windwracked Stars.” It may not be her “Book of Skulls”
(Silverberg's best, I always thought), but it's a good read with some
substance underneath.
October 23, 2010
...It took me a while to grow into this book but nearing the end I realized this was one of the best books I’ve read in 2008. With Bear’s choice of themes it is not a happy tale. Desperation, a sense of loss and a good deal of guilt are present throughout the story. The characters don’t wallow in it however. They get on with their lives no matter what, and provide a measure of hope in the bleak word they inhabit. Norse legend, magic, strange technology and strong characters, I have high expectations of the other books in this series. If Bear keeps up the standard she sets in All the Windwracked Stars it could be a remarkable trilogy. Look beyond the slow beginning, read it start to finish and you will be rewarded.
Full Random Comments review
Full Random Comments review
June 20, 2009
If your looking for fantasy NOT based on Celtic mythology this one is a nice change. The last Waelcyrge (Valkyrie) is in the end days of Valdyrgard after 2 Ragnaroks. The world is dead but for one human city and a Technomancer is sucking the essence out of even the gods to keep it alive for only the few. Its a world one can relate with as the humans have killed all other life with virus wars and other horrible weapons, making this also sic-fi but still filled with magic.
October 21, 2014
Wanted to like it more. The story was disjointed and difficult to figure out who all the characters were and what they meant to the overall story. In the end I felt like I'd finished watching a really 'artistic' movie where all the really 'artistic' people got what the director was trying to say and I'm just thinking that I did not partake of the required psychedelic to see what they saw to be so excited about it.
March 11, 2009
A stellar, if difficult read from Elizabeth Bear. In a book with no clear villain, and a hero that is sometimes difficult to root for, the lines are hard to draw. Betrayal is the word of the day. Still, in the end, E-Bear pulls off a satisfying, happy, cathartic ending.
April 9, 2009
I found this book very hard to get into. It did grow on me some, eventually, but I found her use of language to be a barrier to the story, not a gateway in.
September 27, 2010
Incredibly unique book with some fantastic writing. Read my full review here -
http://bookwormblues.blogspot.com/201...
http://bookwormblues.blogspot.com/201...
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