The Two Kingdoms: A Novel of Islandia

by Mark Saxton

WRITTEN BY MARK SAXTON

Genres: Fantasy

242 pages, Hardcover

First published August 9, 1979

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of two prequels (Havoc in Islandia is the other) to Austin Tappan Wright's "Islandia," written long after publication of the original by its editor and with the permission and encouragement of Wright's estate - an early sort of licensed fan fiction, if you will. This one takes place several centuries before the events in Islandia and concerns the tumult surrounding the crowning of the country's first queen. It's a much more straightforward, plotted narrative than Wright's original - and much shorter, with much less lovely meandering - but Saxton somehow still gives a similar feel to the country and its people as Wright. Probably not of much interest to those who aren't fans of Islandia, but definitely worth a read for those who are. Oh, and a much better map of the country than in any of Wright's editions that I've seen.

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recently I had re-read "Islandia", and while looking at some out-of-print book sites online, idly searched for Islandia to see what editions were available. I was astounded to find three other Islandian novels, all written by the editor (after Sylvia Wright) of the original Islandia. So of course I snapped them right up!

Mark Saxton does a good job of simulating Austin Tappen Wright's voice and style in this prequel to Wright's massive novel "Islandia". Set in the 14th century, the story centers around the time when Islandia acquired its first queen, Alwina, to the dismay of some provincial lords. The country as we know it from Wright's story does not yet exist; the western third of it is the independent kingdom of Winder, ruled by Tor. As both kingdoms face the threat of invasion from the people living to the north, Alwina and Tor try to protect their national interests while fighting their personal attraction to each other.

Saxton is good at fleshing out a story that Wright originally wrote as part of his history of Islandia, and he conveys the feeling of the country and the politics quite well. His female characters are not as well written, or maybe I just didn't like Alwina that much. Far from a heroic character (that I expected from Dorna's view of her in the original book), she comes across as headstrong and impulsive, and not a particularly good leader. Still, it has been fascinating to delve into Islandia again from a different point of view and in a different time. I'm looking forward to reading the other two Islandia books that Saxton wrote.

[Linda Edquist · Rating 2 out of 5]

Taking the history of Islandia back several centuries to their 1st Queen and the setting up a new conflicts that must be faced. Meant to follow the style of Islandia by Austin Wright but I do not think it was that successful there though the bonus is it is not 1000 pages only 240.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only really for Islandia fans. Slow going, characters not well fleshed out. He took Wright’s outline but really didn’t do it justice. You’d think with such great material he could have engaged the reader more.

[Joe Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very different book from "Islandia" while remaining true to Wright's Islandian vision. There is far more action in its ~250 pages than in all of Islandia's 1000+. Saxon's writing is much more concise, which many readers will appreciate while others may miss Wright's rambling style and attention to details of setting and characterization. The Two Kingdoms fill in details about Islandia's military, its metallurgy and regions Lang never gets around to visiting in the Mother Book. It's quite the swashbuckling tale with an unexpected plot twist at the end. A good adventure tale that's quite Islandian despite it's faster pace and compactness.