Sign for the Sacred

by Storm Constantine

Lucien is a vibrancer of the Church of Ixmarity, dedicated since childhood to an enslaved life of religious dance. . . until he meets Jeopardy. Cleo is a child-bride of a poisoner, until one of Jeopardy's offspring is brought to her home for disposal and she falls in love with both the child and his father. . . Jeopardy. Delilah is orphaned when a berserker named Trajan attacks and kills everyone in her village. She is the only one who is immune to the plague that Trajan carries, and promises to watch over him as he returns to the sanctuary. . . of Jeopardy. Dauntless Javelot is a chivalrous knight of Ixmarity on his last campaign. . . until he joins Cleo on her journey to seek Jeopardy. Lord Pliance is a courtly vampire who accompanies the pilgrims in the hopes for a cure. . . from Jeopardy. And as they all seek the elusive Jeopardy, they are haunted by a ruthless adversary. Wilfish Implexion is an ecclesiarch in the Church of Ixmarity. Threatened by the power of the pagan Jeopardites, he will use any means possible to kill their prophet. . . Jeopardy! And what of Resenence Jeopardy himself? Is he all that he seems? What is the secret of his charismatic power. . . and what will he decide to do with it? This is the first U.S. edition of Sign for the Sacred, and includes a new introduction by the author. Also included is the original first draft of the beginning of the novel, when it was called "Prophet Dancer," as well as the first four chapters of an aborted sequel titled "Death by Sweetness."

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, LGBT, Science Fiction, Dark Fantasy

566 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Storm Constantine was a British science fiction and fantasy author, primarily known for her Wraeththu series.

Since the late 1980s she wrote more than 20 novels, plus several non-fiction books. She is featured in the Goth Bible and is often included in discussions of alternative sexuality and gender in science fiction and fantasy; many of her novels include same-sex relationships or hermaphrodites or other twists of gender. Magic, mysticism and ancient legends (like the Grigori) also figure strongly in her works.

In 2003 she launched Immanion Press, based out of Stafford, England. The publishing company publishes not only her own works but those of new writers, as well as well-known genre writers, mainly from the UK.

Reviews

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually thought about giving this one 5 stars despite a certain... oddness... here and there but then that weird ass poorly thought out feeling ending happened and here we are.

RTC.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I didn't find it as compelling as Storm Constantine's Wraeththu books, Sign for the Sacred is a memorable novel about journeys, power, and perception. A couple of the storylines were slow at times, but I did enjoy reading Lucien's story since it revealed more about the central figure, the prophet Resenance Jeopardy.

My Full Review

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know how you read a Storm Constantine book and you go 'Where the fuck is this going?' but then she ties it all up in the end and it's perfect. Well, this novel is like that.

So we get a bunch of characters who don't know each other looking for a (probably) mad prophet, Resenence Jeopardy. I read half of this book when I was a sophomore at uni (it was one of those things. I had a row with the person I borrowed the book from and had to give it back before I finished the thing) and back then I really hated Jeopardy's character. I mean, here we have a sort of mystical guy who can supposedly do all sorts of things, and everyone loves him, and he's super beautiful, and he's perfect and OKAY? I didn't know what's so special about him.

This time around (and giving Lucien's narrative bits more attention), I think I get what Jeopardy is meant to be, and I like what Storm Constantine did for him.

Let's have the characters while we discuss Jeopardy's character:

Lucien Earthlight - former vibrancer (dancer to you, son), who left his master's household in order to follow his former lover, Res. Lucien's version of Jeopardy is probably the one closest to the 'truth', if there is such a one, in that Lucien knew Jeopardy before he became the prophet. Lucien doesn't really 'get' Jeopardy's motives, but Jeopardy allows Lucien to see what no one else (aside from Delilah, later on) is privy to.

To Lucien, Res is freedom. True, Jeopardy preaches about freedom to his followers and all that jazz, but the very first lesson about freedom that Jeopardy teaches was to Lucien, and that's why it's important.

Delilah Latterkin - After a madman kills everyone in her small village, Delilah decides to travel with said madman (name of Trajan Sacripent) in order to see the mad prophet Jeopardy. Lots of talk about how Delilah is fated to open the eyes of the prophet (and I guess she does? Delilah is the only one who understands what happens in the end, even though Jeopardy told her AND Lucien. Lucien's just too bitchy at the time to get what's going on).

To Delilah, Jeopardy is part of a HUGE world that she has no idea existed outside her small village. Her journey doesn't exactly end when she finds Jeopardy. It's more of a milestone.

Cleo Sinister - wife of a poisoner, takes care of one of Jeopardy's children before her husband kills the child, looks for Jeopardy to find out what the fuss is all about. Later on joined by paladin Dauntless Javelot I really find it hilarious that Dauntless gets pegged later on, but that's not important.

To Cleo, Jeopardy is a piece of a puzzle concerning the Jeopardites. Her journey to look for Jeopardy took her on a journey to her past.

Wilfish Implexion - important because he pretty much symbolises religious oppression: the authority that Jeopardy is fighting against. Jeopardy's foil (Lucien is also Jeopardy's foil, but more in a mirror-like way).

Basically, epic fantasy novel with talks about religion and freedom to choose what to believe in, homosexual romance, gothic Ghostbuster band, and gothic groupies? How can I actually say no to that?

[K.S. Trenten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only is this a refreshing, complex reinvention of a fantasy quest, it’s a creative energy drink, opening and stimulating my own imagination, showing me what a writer can do when she steps outside the box of what’s expected in the fantasy genre. Each one of the characters; Lucien, the young man who yearns for Resenence Jeopardy, Delilah, the maiden whose life is torn assunder and reassembled by one of Jeopardy’s conflicted followers, Cleo Sinister, the poisoner’s wife whom nurtured and lost one of Jeopardy’s martyred children, and Jeopardy himself, former household favorite who becomes a prophet, a revolutionary, and a shifting archeytpe for the faith and needs of many people are drawn into a joruney full of mysticism, magic, self-discovery, and a surprising amount of humour. This fantasy world comes alive through them, developing through their eyes and experiences as they interact with the setting and a host of intriguing minor figures. On the track of the prophet is the covetous fist of the established religion in this world, determined to eradicate Jeopardy and all he stands for, even as the owner of that fist gazes at Jeopardy with the same fervour as his followers. Layer upon layer of complexity is woved together with each character’s quest, as everyone, including Jeopardy himself, ponders the mystery of Jeopardy.

Not only is this one of the most engrossing, thought provoking, yet enjoyable fantasy novels I’ve been fortunate enough to read my life, it shaped my own desires as a writer, making me aware of themes and ideas I wanted to read for in my own tales. This is a magical book. Every time I read it, it enchants me.

[Mizuki]

I tried reading this book long ago, but couldn't finish it.T_T

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in a land subjugated by a religion that bleeds the people for the comfort of its ecclesiastics, and deals out violence and death to any considered to be heretics, ‘Sign for the Sacred’ covers a time of unrest and rebirth. Following several characters all of whom are drawn to the heretical prophet, Jeopardy, the reader is provided with an in-depth picture of the society from multiple angles. We are taken on a number of wildly imaginative and often bizarre quests that offer, amongst other things, magic, horror, humour, pathos, and sympathy.
Constantine writes beautifully, employing lyrical and evocative prose that from a lesser writer would be considered over-written, or indeed, purple, but which she pulls off with consummate skill. I was entranced by each of the characters’ journeys and couldn’t wait to get back to the book every time I had to break off from reading.
The ending is not very satisfying, but perhaps that doesn’t matter – it’s the journey that counts? It certainly isn’t wrapped up neatly, and lacks the explanations I would have wished for, but perhaps if it had, that would have been equally unsatisfying. As it is, the religion looks set to go down a different path that may well be much better for the population, and each of the characters we have followed has grown a great deal along the way.
Recommended for those that adore sumptuous writing, vivid, rich imagination, and complex characters that feel so real you want to step in there and change their fates.

[maha · Rating 3 out of 5]

قرأتها في مراهقتي.. كان وقتها الغريب يجذبني.. لأن العالم والبشر وعلاقاتهم ببعض مجهولين بعض الشيء
كذلك المقدس أو صناعة القدسية في عالم خيالي


تبدل ذوقي ولم اعد استسيغ من الخيال الا المؤصل في الحقيقة، أو الذي يرى السحر في الواقع (مثلا، يحر اليس في فلم tideland


الشخصية الأساسية للرجل المتحجب الذي يخلع عبائته ليرقص، ما زالت عالقة بذهني
قيمتها بناء على هذه الذكريات المتخبطة..