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Myst #3
The Book of D'ni
Excitement for the MYST series continues with the release of the new CD-ROM Riven, the long awaited sequel to MYST. In this third novel by the creators of the CD-ROM phenomenon, Catherine and Atrus return to the devastated domain of the D'Ni civilization to fulfill their destinies. But as they begin to search the many worlds, seeking the survivors Ti'ana told them of, they find clues that bring them to a hidden book and discover a secret that the D'Ni masters planned long ago.
544 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
30 people are currently reading
1725 people want to read
About the author
Rand Miller
6 books129 followersRand Miller (born January 17, 1959 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.) co-founded Cyan (now Cyan Worlds) with brother Robyn Miller and became famous from the unexpected success of their computer game Myst, which remained the number one–selling game for the remainder of the 1990s. Rand also worked on the game's sequel, Riven, and later Myst III: Exile, Myst IV: Revelation, Myst V: End of Ages, realMyst, and Uru. The brothers also acted out parts in the game, with Robyn as Sirrus and Rand as Achenar and Atrus.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
September 10, 2023
The Reconstruction of D’ni.
There’s a type of writing that enables traveling between different worlds. The possibilities, infinite. Amazingly beautiful worlds, decadent ruined ones, and even worlds that defy the impossible.
This is the story of Atrus, Catherine, and their efforts to find survivors for the reconstruction of D'ni. Also their visit to Terahnee, a paradisiac Age full of fastuous palaces, untold riches, and marvelous attractions. A seemingly perfect utopia, but hiding terrible imperfections.
This last entry was a very good novelization, fast paced and gripping, yet sadly not as good as the previous two. The third and last book of the series, working as a mid between the events of Myst 2: Riven and Mist 3: Exile, and chronologically after The book of Atrus.
Of the trilogy, my least favorite. Some parts were lacking, and others could’ve used a bit more depth. The big revelation and ending, which I never saw it coming, was brilliant but felt a bit too forced and rushed for my taste. This was very entertaining and enjoyable, yet not as much to be Recommendable, although it came very very close.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1997] [468p] [Fantasy] [3.5] [Almost Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
★★★★☆ 1. The Book of Atrus
★★★★★ 2. The Book of Ti'ana
★★★★☆ 3. The Book of D'ni [3.5]
-----------------------------------------------
La Reconstrucción de D’ni.
Hay un tipo de escritura que permite viajar entre diferentes mundos. Las posibilidades, infinitas. Mundos asombrosamente hermosos, otros decadentes y en ruinas, y hasta mundos que desafían lo imposible.
Esta es la historia de Atrus, Catherine, y sus esfuerzos por encontrar sobrevivientes para la reconstrucción de D'ni. También su visita a Terahnee, una Era paradisíaca llena de fastuosos palacios, riquezas inigualables, y maravillosas atracciones. Una utopía aparentemente perfecta, pero que oculta terribles imperfecciones.
Esta última entrega fue una muy Buena novelización, de ritmo rápido y atrapante, pero lamentablemente no tan buena como las anteriores dos. El tercer y último libro de la serie, funcionando como un paso medio entre los eventos de Myst 2: Riven y Mist 3: Exilio, y cronológicamente después de El libro de Atrus.
De la trilogía, mi menos favorito. Algunas partes dejaron que desear, y otras podrían haberse favorecido con un poco más de profundidad. La gran revelación final, que nunca vi venir, fue brillante pero se sintió un poco forzada y apresurado para mi gusto. Esto fue muy entretenido y disfrutable, pero no tanto como para ser Recomendable, aunque estuvo muy muy cerca.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1997] [468p] [Fantasía] [3.5] [Casi Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
There’s a type of writing that enables traveling between different worlds. The possibilities, infinite. Amazingly beautiful worlds, decadent ruined ones, and even worlds that defy the impossible.
This is the story of Atrus, Catherine, and their efforts to find survivors for the reconstruction of D'ni. Also their visit to Terahnee, a paradisiac Age full of fastuous palaces, untold riches, and marvelous attractions. A seemingly perfect utopia, but hiding terrible imperfections.
This last entry was a very good novelization, fast paced and gripping, yet sadly not as good as the previous two. The third and last book of the series, working as a mid between the events of Myst 2: Riven and Mist 3: Exile, and chronologically after The book of Atrus.
Of the trilogy, my least favorite. Some parts were lacking, and others could’ve used a bit more depth. The big revelation and ending, which I never saw it coming, was brilliant but felt a bit too forced and rushed for my taste. This was very entertaining and enjoyable, yet not as much to be Recommendable, although it came very very close.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1997] [468p] [Fantasy] [3.5] [Almost Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
★★★★☆ 1. The Book of Atrus
★★★★★ 2. The Book of Ti'ana
★★★★☆ 3. The Book of D'ni [3.5]
-----------------------------------------------
La Reconstrucción de D’ni.
Hay un tipo de escritura que permite viajar entre diferentes mundos. Las posibilidades, infinitas. Mundos asombrosamente hermosos, otros decadentes y en ruinas, y hasta mundos que desafían lo imposible.
Esta es la historia de Atrus, Catherine, y sus esfuerzos por encontrar sobrevivientes para la reconstrucción de D'ni. También su visita a Terahnee, una Era paradisíaca llena de fastuosos palacios, riquezas inigualables, y maravillosas atracciones. Una utopía aparentemente perfecta, pero que oculta terribles imperfecciones.
Esta última entrega fue una muy Buena novelización, de ritmo rápido y atrapante, pero lamentablemente no tan buena como las anteriores dos. El tercer y último libro de la serie, funcionando como un paso medio entre los eventos de Myst 2: Riven y Mist 3: Exilio, y cronológicamente después de El libro de Atrus.
De la trilogía, mi menos favorito. Algunas partes dejaron que desear, y otras podrían haberse favorecido con un poco más de profundidad. La gran revelación final, que nunca vi venir, fue brillante pero se sintió un poco forzada y apresurado para mi gusto. Esto fue muy entretenido y disfrutable, pero no tanto como para ser Recomendable, aunque estuvo muy muy cerca.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1997] [468p] [Fantasía] [3.5] [Casi Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
July 12, 2021
The Book of D'ni is currently the 3rd book in the Myst book series. As of right now a 4th one has been announced, but that was many years ago so who knows if it will ever come out. The main story here follows once again our dude Atrus as he tries to rebuild the D'ni society and city.
As a Myst fan, you will learn so much more about the background and lore of the video games through this book. Haven't you ever wondered what Atrus was up to before meeting you ? Well this book gives you some GREAT insight! It is a wonderful story that really ties up the questions you might have about D'ni origins and culture. If you ever wondered what happened to the D'ni this book will fill in all the gaps!
As a stand alone series, I also recommend and enjoy these books. Each of the three books you could easily pick up and enjoy, but as a trilogy (so far) they all go very well together. You don't NEED to play Myst to understand the storyline BUT it definitely helps enrich the lore as a whole.
I know the 4th book has been "in the works" for a very very veryyyy long time now, but I am hoping with the revival of Myst this summer (VR version coming out) this will put a spark back into the Myst community and get that 4th book finally out!
As a Myst fan, you will learn so much more about the background and lore of the video games through this book. Haven't you ever wondered what Atrus was up to before meeting you ? Well this book gives you some GREAT insight! It is a wonderful story that really ties up the questions you might have about D'ni origins and culture. If you ever wondered what happened to the D'ni this book will fill in all the gaps!
As a stand alone series, I also recommend and enjoy these books. Each of the three books you could easily pick up and enjoy, but as a trilogy (so far) they all go very well together. You don't NEED to play Myst to understand the storyline BUT it definitely helps enrich the lore as a whole.
I know the 4th book has been "in the works" for a very very veryyyy long time now, but I am hoping with the revival of Myst this summer (VR version coming out) this will put a spark back into the Myst community and get that 4th book finally out!
January 12, 2019
2.5 stars, I think. Of the three books in this series, I'm not sure if this is the weakest book, or the middle-est book.
The Book of D'ni is only half about D'ni. The first half of the book has the same delicious atmospheric joy that the final few chapters of The Book of Ti'ana had. It's descriptive and chilling and has the sense of something huge and great and tragic to it. Miller's writing is, despite being more on the purple side and meandering (and somehow very 90s? Can I say that and you know what I mean?), rather fun to read. It's somehow lilting and easy and entertaining, more so than I'd normally expect a cash-grab adaptation to have.
But, to be clear, I've not played the games. I have no idea how this series stands against the source material.
The second half of the book, perhaps because I'm not familiar with the source material, comes crashing in with all the subtlety of a hammer, and it just goes on and on and onnnn. The second book in this series suffered from this too: they don't know what they want to be about. They want to be history books, travel books, discussions on social class, character studies. They pack too much trivial description in, at the expense of necessary development and comprehension. Did we need all that nonsense about Terahnee landscape? Probably not. It's like geology in the last book. It's over abundant and nearly distracting. It's a world building thing, sure, practically meta 4th-wall-y for this series, but it just doesn't ever seem to end or have much of a point.
Atrus is at his dumbest here: he's a scientist and a scholar, but he drinks the kool-aid straight off and thinks after a mere three days of partying that he should give up on his dreams of rebuilding D'ni and just move everyone he's ever met to this fancy new world and then burn all possible ways to go back home, because Why Not. Catherine has concerns but never voices them outright, and even then her vague hesitations are shot down to the point that, within two days, she's all for Atrus's idea. Heck, she may well not exist for all the good she does in this book, which is a huge disappointment. The rest of the characters from D'ni may well not exist either (spunky girl with short hair turns into a baby makin' machine by the end, because THAT seems like something she would have been into), and most of the Terehnee are flat entities with too-similar names and not enough content. The HUGE pack of characters we have to learn in the last fifty pages or so don't have any weight to them because they just Show Up and we have to deal with that, so any weight their scenes may have had are hampered by the wasted tourism-inspiring pages leading up to them.
As two distinct books, the first being a story of grief and rebirth and the second being one of corruption and change, these might have been great. Smooshed together, they're clumsy and don't seem to know what they want. Anything set up in the first half is thrown out for the second half, literally--Atrus basically thinks all their rebuilding is worthless and they should move on. The pacing, as a result, is all over the place and you feel surprisingly distant and unwelcome as a reader. It's also agonizingly slowwwwww.
I do like this series. I like the writing style. I like a lot of the characters. I love the worlds and the books and the Ages and how to link to them. I just wish they'd been more focused and clean. Maybe if I played the games it would feel more so. As they stand now, however, as standalone books, they're a bit too jumbled, with too much flowery meandering, to be easily recommended.
The Book of D'ni is only half about D'ni. The first half of the book has the same delicious atmospheric joy that the final few chapters of The Book of Ti'ana had. It's descriptive and chilling and has the sense of something huge and great and tragic to it. Miller's writing is, despite being more on the purple side and meandering (and somehow very 90s? Can I say that and you know what I mean?), rather fun to read. It's somehow lilting and easy and entertaining, more so than I'd normally expect a cash-grab adaptation to have.
But, to be clear, I've not played the games. I have no idea how this series stands against the source material.
The second half of the book, perhaps because I'm not familiar with the source material, comes crashing in with all the subtlety of a hammer, and it just goes on and on and onnnn. The second book in this series suffered from this too: they don't know what they want to be about. They want to be history books, travel books, discussions on social class, character studies. They pack too much trivial description in, at the expense of necessary development and comprehension. Did we need all that nonsense about Terahnee landscape? Probably not. It's like geology in the last book. It's over abundant and nearly distracting. It's a world building thing, sure, practically meta 4th-wall-y for this series, but it just doesn't ever seem to end or have much of a point.
Atrus is at his dumbest here: he's a scientist and a scholar, but he drinks the kool-aid straight off and thinks after a mere three days of partying that he should give up on his dreams of rebuilding D'ni and just move everyone he's ever met to this fancy new world and then burn all possible ways to go back home, because Why Not. Catherine has concerns but never voices them outright, and even then her vague hesitations are shot down to the point that, within two days, she's all for Atrus's idea. Heck, she may well not exist for all the good she does in this book, which is a huge disappointment. The rest of the characters from D'ni may well not exist either (spunky girl with short hair turns into a baby makin' machine by the end, because THAT seems like something she would have been into), and most of the Terehnee are flat entities with too-similar names and not enough content. The HUGE pack of characters we have to learn in the last fifty pages or so don't have any weight to them because they just Show Up and we have to deal with that, so any weight their scenes may have had are hampered by the wasted tourism-inspiring pages leading up to them.
As two distinct books, the first being a story of grief and rebirth and the second being one of corruption and change, these might have been great. Smooshed together, they're clumsy and don't seem to know what they want. Anything set up in the first half is thrown out for the second half, literally--Atrus basically thinks all their rebuilding is worthless and they should move on. The pacing, as a result, is all over the place and you feel surprisingly distant and unwelcome as a reader. It's also agonizingly slowwwwww.
I do like this series. I like the writing style. I like a lot of the characters. I love the worlds and the books and the Ages and how to link to them. I just wish they'd been more focused and clean. Maybe if I played the games it would feel more so. As they stand now, however, as standalone books, they're a bit too jumbled, with too much flowery meandering, to be easily recommended.
March 12, 2018
-I've relegated my main review of this particular book to a comment as I have devoted this section to my criticism of sexism in the series as I feel this deserves more attention.-
(What began as a side note) Catherine's role in the series really bothers me. She had such a promising start in The Book of Atrus. She's smart and she writes these amazingly creative and beatiful ages - and it rapidly goes downhill from there as she is increasingly shuffled off to the side. As a kid I didn't notice but as an adult I am like - there are no women in power in D'ni. All the guildmasters are dudes. There are no women in power in Terahnee. And then there's Catherine. I love Anna; Marrim is a promising kid, but let's face it this is very much a man's world. A series of mens' worlds. They never seem to encounter a matriarchal society. Even the back of the book proclaims "The Book of D'ni is a tale of ONE MAN against a powerful legacy." Ignoring the fact that Atrus has organized a small party to venture into Terahnee, Catherine has been with him FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE, and indeed most of his story as we know it. Catherine, who should be our most promising female character.
I actually replayed Myst while I reread the books. It was deeply unsettling reading Atrus's notes and journals. Catherine doesn't write worlds anymore. Catherine doesn't like to leave Myst. Atrus takes his sons to his Ages - and leaves them there to their own stupidity and narcissism. What the hell happened to Catherine? She has become this smiling, docile crutch for Atrus. Even her initial reservations in Terahnee are ignored and eventually fade. I expected her to put up more of a fight while Atrus went full weebo (if you will; I lack better vocabulary for it at the moment). Atrus doesn't even pronounce her name right - we know her as he knows her (again, where is the respect for the cultures he visits? it should not be that much of a shock...).
And then, they throw in this epilogue at the end of this book to allude that Catherine has written this trilogy. From Anna and Atrus' points of view. Maybe Anna relayed her story to Catherine, but, once again, CATHERINE WAS THERE for most of Atrus' story. Catherine writes as Atrus with a man's POV in a patriarchal society (or series of societies). Just. What. I kind of wanted to replay Riven too, but am not sure I want to waste any more of my time on this series now. It has a beautiful premise but is very poorly thought out. Atrus is an avid journal keeper, why is Catherine writing his story? And why is she writing this story from his point of view IF SHE WAS THERE?!
The more I think about it the more it bothers me. Catherine seems increasingly like a plot device in a series where you can only have one woman per story - and this is not an exaggeration. Men are working, writing, ruling, and slaving and women are in the background - included only where necessary - to make boy babies.
It's not as obvious at first in D'ni - that no women are mentioned on the excavation team, that there are no women in the guild counsel...until you start noticing it. Aitrus' mom stays at home. What does she do?
Atrus says he only knows of two women that write - Anna and Catherine - and he smiles like he's proud. Yet he doesn't question the constant presence of mostly men everywhere else.
In Terahnee we meet only men. Again. (I'm starting to wonder now if Marrim's prescense was emphasized BECAUSE she was the only other woman in the story...certainly Catherine's role is minimized to make room on the stage for her...it seems like a desperate attempt to offset the lack of women in the series.) Men at the feasts, men in power, Catherine and Atrus don't even realize there are female slaves until someone else mentions them. I didn't even realize Eeadrah's mom was still alive until they mention her (and his sisters too I think) toward the end of the book. When they come to his house they meet him and his father and his brother - it's like his mother (and sisters) are not even there.
Atrus' own mother's story is completely unknown to us. I don't think we even learn her name. Atrus is the son of Gehn, grandson of Aitrus. How Gehn met his mother, what kind of relationship they had, whether she had a relationship with Anna, how Gehn ended up back in D'ni, we never find these things out. She exists only in the context that Atrus must have had a mother since Gehn could not reproduce on his own.
Even one of the Ages in Myst - the stoneship Age - starts with three boys living on some rocks. Three boys who don't remember anything else when Atrus finds them. Three apparently unrelated boys. Do they even know that women exist?
The women in this series are less seen than the relyimah (with the notable exception of Anna). It's not even that their role is in the home or whatever - it's almost like their role is to be invisible unless it can't be avoided that a woman must have been there.
I was going to say I'm surprised but it's actually symptomatic of how sexist this series really is that the D'ni and Terahnee respectively are so up in arms about their xenophobic tendencies that they don't even acknowledge their own sexism. Anna is judged for being an outsider so much that no one even mentions THAT WOMEN DON'T WRITE (or apparently work, since there seems to be no evidence of it). It is so deeply ingrained that the authors completely roll over it. The Terahnee accept Catherine and Marrim being with the rest of the crew (though they eye Marrim and her boyish haircut dubiously), despite the apparent lack of other females at any of the places they visit in Terahnee.
It is the icing on the cake, the implication that Catherine is writing these Myst books, that "she" never acknowledges this. Surely, as a woman, she must have wondered where all the other women were. Surely, as a woman who seems to have some measure of authority, it would have bothered her that there are no other women with the same priviledge. To be met again and again with rooms full of men who get to make the decisions while women are shuffled so far off to the side that you don't even realize they're alive and not notice it is inconceivable. Especially in a series devoted to puzzle solving and detail. Perhaps we're expected to ignore that along with her inexplicable lapse in writing and exploring during the plot of the Myst game (obviously she must venture out again by the the plot of the Book of D'ni), and the way she let Atrus' blind confidence in the Terahnee people erase her own doubts and observations about their society (which seems especially doubtful given her history on Riven with Gehn; but she was permitted her own personality then). It is incredibly frustrating, not just in the context of a once much beloved series, but in the contexts of sci-fi and gaming as well. A series that once seemed so imaginative and magical instead proves to be unfortunately narrow and short sighted. I'll never look at it the same way again or love it like I used to.
(What began as a side note) Catherine's role in the series really bothers me. She had such a promising start in The Book of Atrus. She's smart and she writes these amazingly creative and beatiful ages - and it rapidly goes downhill from there as she is increasingly shuffled off to the side. As a kid I didn't notice but as an adult I am like - there are no women in power in D'ni. All the guildmasters are dudes. There are no women in power in Terahnee. And then there's Catherine. I love Anna; Marrim is a promising kid, but let's face it this is very much a man's world. A series of mens' worlds. They never seem to encounter a matriarchal society. Even the back of the book proclaims "The Book of D'ni is a tale of ONE MAN against a powerful legacy." Ignoring the fact that Atrus has organized a small party to venture into Terahnee, Catherine has been with him FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE, and indeed most of his story as we know it. Catherine, who should be our most promising female character.
I actually replayed Myst while I reread the books. It was deeply unsettling reading Atrus's notes and journals. Catherine doesn't write worlds anymore. Catherine doesn't like to leave Myst. Atrus takes his sons to his Ages - and leaves them there to their own stupidity and narcissism. What the hell happened to Catherine? She has become this smiling, docile crutch for Atrus. Even her initial reservations in Terahnee are ignored and eventually fade. I expected her to put up more of a fight while Atrus went full weebo (if you will; I lack better vocabulary for it at the moment). Atrus doesn't even pronounce her name right - we know her as he knows her (again, where is the respect for the cultures he visits? it should not be that much of a shock...).
And then, they throw in this epilogue at the end of this book to allude that Catherine has written this trilogy. From Anna and Atrus' points of view. Maybe Anna relayed her story to Catherine, but, once again, CATHERINE WAS THERE for most of Atrus' story. Catherine writes as Atrus with a man's POV in a patriarchal society (or series of societies). Just. What. I kind of wanted to replay Riven too, but am not sure I want to waste any more of my time on this series now. It has a beautiful premise but is very poorly thought out. Atrus is an avid journal keeper, why is Catherine writing his story? And why is she writing this story from his point of view IF SHE WAS THERE?!
The more I think about it the more it bothers me. Catherine seems increasingly like a plot device in a series where you can only have one woman per story - and this is not an exaggeration. Men are working, writing, ruling, and slaving and women are in the background - included only where necessary - to make boy babies.
It's not as obvious at first in D'ni - that no women are mentioned on the excavation team, that there are no women in the guild counsel...until you start noticing it. Aitrus' mom stays at home. What does she do?
Atrus says he only knows of two women that write - Anna and Catherine - and he smiles like he's proud. Yet he doesn't question the constant presence of mostly men everywhere else.
In Terahnee we meet only men. Again. (I'm starting to wonder now if Marrim's prescense was emphasized BECAUSE she was the only other woman in the story...certainly Catherine's role is minimized to make room on the stage for her...it seems like a desperate attempt to offset the lack of women in the series.) Men at the feasts, men in power, Catherine and Atrus don't even realize there are female slaves until someone else mentions them. I didn't even realize Eeadrah's mom was still alive until they mention her (and his sisters too I think) toward the end of the book. When they come to his house they meet him and his father and his brother - it's like his mother (and sisters) are not even there.
Atrus' own mother's story is completely unknown to us. I don't think we even learn her name. Atrus is the son of Gehn, grandson of Aitrus. How Gehn met his mother, what kind of relationship they had, whether she had a relationship with Anna, how Gehn ended up back in D'ni, we never find these things out. She exists only in the context that Atrus must have had a mother since Gehn could not reproduce on his own.
Even one of the Ages in Myst - the stoneship Age - starts with three boys living on some rocks. Three boys who don't remember anything else when Atrus finds them. Three apparently unrelated boys. Do they even know that women exist?
The women in this series are less seen than the relyimah (with the notable exception of Anna). It's not even that their role is in the home or whatever - it's almost like their role is to be invisible unless it can't be avoided that a woman must have been there.
I was going to say I'm surprised but it's actually symptomatic of how sexist this series really is that the D'ni and Terahnee respectively are so up in arms about their xenophobic tendencies that they don't even acknowledge their own sexism. Anna is judged for being an outsider so much that no one even mentions THAT WOMEN DON'T WRITE (or apparently work, since there seems to be no evidence of it). It is so deeply ingrained that the authors completely roll over it. The Terahnee accept Catherine and Marrim being with the rest of the crew (though they eye Marrim and her boyish haircut dubiously), despite the apparent lack of other females at any of the places they visit in Terahnee.
It is the icing on the cake, the implication that Catherine is writing these Myst books, that "she" never acknowledges this. Surely, as a woman, she must have wondered where all the other women were. Surely, as a woman who seems to have some measure of authority, it would have bothered her that there are no other women with the same priviledge. To be met again and again with rooms full of men who get to make the decisions while women are shuffled so far off to the side that you don't even realize they're alive and not notice it is inconceivable. Especially in a series devoted to puzzle solving and detail. Perhaps we're expected to ignore that along with her inexplicable lapse in writing and exploring during the plot of the Myst game (obviously she must venture out again by the the plot of the Book of D'ni), and the way she let Atrus' blind confidence in the Terahnee people erase her own doubts and observations about their society (which seems especially doubtful given her history on Riven with Gehn; but she was permitted her own personality then). It is incredibly frustrating, not just in the context of a once much beloved series, but in the contexts of sci-fi and gaming as well. A series that once seemed so imaginative and magical instead proves to be unfortunately narrow and short sighted. I'll never look at it the same way again or love it like I used to.
May 20, 2018
I really wanted to like this book. The other two are good, and I'm a big fan of the games, but this one just didn't measure up to expectations. I did enjoy hanging out with the characters one last time, and some scenes are genuinely moving, but I'd recommend that MYST fans read the first two and not bother with this one.
The whole trilogy is quite description-heavy, and I'm willing to give them some grace because the setting is such an important factor in the video games. However, I ran out of patience with this last book. The first two thirds were almost nothing but description of the setting. The conflict didn't get started until at least the last 30% of the story, and the main villain didn't appear until the last 10 or 15%.
The other main thing that turned me off about this book is that while the main character spends the entire story trying to fix major problems, his involvement almost always just makes everything a lot worse. Chance and the actions of minor characters mainly end up resolving the issues.
Lastly, it was impossible to keep track of the characters. The Book of Ti'ana had a similar problem, but not to this extent. Not only are there too many of them, but their personalities usually aren't strong enough to distinguish them and their names all sound the same. I read the book aloud with my siblings, and at least a couple times every reading session they would pipe up with "Wait, who's Ro'Jadre?" "He's the king, isn't he?" "No, you're mixed up. Ro'Eh Ro'Dan is the king." "Huh? I thought Jethe Ro'Jethe was the king."
The whole trilogy is quite description-heavy, and I'm willing to give them some grace because the setting is such an important factor in the video games. However, I ran out of patience with this last book. The first two thirds were almost nothing but description of the setting. The conflict didn't get started until at least the last 30% of the story, and the main villain didn't appear until the last 10 or 15%.
The other main thing that turned me off about this book is that while the main character spends the entire story trying to fix major problems, his involvement almost always just makes everything a lot worse. Chance and the actions of minor characters mainly end up resolving the issues.
Lastly, it was impossible to keep track of the characters. The Book of Ti'ana had a similar problem, but not to this extent. Not only are there too many of them, but their personalities usually aren't strong enough to distinguish them and their names all sound the same. I read the book aloud with my siblings, and at least a couple times every reading session they would pipe up with "Wait, who's Ro'Jadre?" "He's the king, isn't he?" "No, you're mixed up. Ro'Eh Ro'Dan is the king." "Huh? I thought Jethe Ro'Jethe was the king."
January 29, 2021
This is easily the worst of the trilogy. There are many characters and little to no character development- I can't think of character traits of Atrus or Catherine, much less the others. The traits the author tries to assign to them are erratically abandoned.
Catherine tries to be analytical but shrugs it off and disappears when Atrus pushes back even a little.
Atrus is diplomatic and non-violent until a random dude asks for liquid fire and Atrus is like, "Sure that sounds fine." Except after that when the same guy threatens violence against Atrus and Co., Atrus all of a sudden is back to, "Hey, violence doesn't solve anything."
The plot is all over the place, nobody sticks to their guns (what is motivating anyone here?!) and I'm honestly not sure why anyone listens to Atrus to begin with.
There are promising starts to be sure- I hoped Marrim would do more, and old Tergahn seems to be very interesting when he is introduced, but they are forgotten very quickly and fade to the background with no influence- they may as well not be in the story.
Also, the back of the book says "...your link to the story of Eedrah..." - a character that isn't even introduced until page 200 something of a 466 page book, and even then, the story is not about him.
Disappointing.
Catherine tries to be analytical but shrugs it off and disappears when Atrus pushes back even a little.
Atrus is diplomatic and non-violent until a random dude asks for liquid fire and Atrus is like, "Sure that sounds fine." Except after that when the same guy threatens violence against Atrus and Co., Atrus all of a sudden is back to, "Hey, violence doesn't solve anything."
The plot is all over the place, nobody sticks to their guns (what is motivating anyone here?!) and I'm honestly not sure why anyone listens to Atrus to begin with.
There are promising starts to be sure- I hoped Marrim would do more, and old Tergahn seems to be very interesting when he is introduced, but they are forgotten very quickly and fade to the background with no influence- they may as well not be in the story.
Also, the back of the book says "...your link to the story of Eedrah..." - a character that isn't even introduced until page 200 something of a 466 page book, and even then, the story is not about him.
Disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2019
The first half was fairly slow, the second half introduced a dystopian civilization that seems perfect, but is sustained by a labor force of slaves. Almost all of the slave owners die off because of bacteria accidentally introduced by Atrus and his friends. Then a civil war happens with the freed slaves - a faction wants to take revenge, and the others want to forgive and move on. There was way too much crammed into the second half of the book and way too much that could have been cut from the first half.
Also, Atrus was a complete moron in this one. Easily manipulated, and why would he give liquid fire to his enemy??
I liked Eedrah and Marrim. I would have liked their romance to be more developed though. It literally goes from Catherine observing that they spend a lot of time together to Marrim being pregnant in the course of a few pages. I was all for the romance between the two of them; I would have just liked it developed more.
Overall interesting continuation of the games. Was I the only one who kept picturing the Selenetic Age when Marrim was doing that maze thing????
Also, Atrus was a complete moron in this one. Easily manipulated, and why would he give liquid fire to his enemy??
I liked Eedrah and Marrim. I would have liked their romance to be more developed though. It literally goes from Catherine observing that they spend a lot of time together to Marrim being pregnant in the course of a few pages. I was all for the romance between the two of them; I would have just liked it developed more.
Overall interesting continuation of the games. Was I the only one who kept picturing the Selenetic Age when Marrim was doing that maze thing????
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2011
While the writing is of good quality, the actual plot and story are incredibly poor and paced horribly. A true disappointment after the last two books in the series. Read the first two, skip this one. You're not missing anything, really.
October 19, 2014
Compared to the phenomenal first two books of this series, this was a serious letdown.
August 5, 2024
The beginning of this one seemed a little slow, but it took me to places I wasn’t expecting. As with the games, elements you didn’t think would matter or that you forgot about turned out to be important later. Turned into an interesting read. Overall, very happy with the series.
November 16, 2021
La verdad que me gusto mucho saber más de la sociedad de los D'ni. Atrus y Catherine como los dos se complementan ayudan a entrenar lo que sería la nueva generación como Marrim y los demás chicos. Y apesar que no tiene mucha acción y el libro lo noto algo parecido osea no la historia si no que empieza lento y después en el final pasa algo que luego se resuelve. Apesar de eso el libro cumple perfectamente el rol de entretener. Una trilogía poco conocida que a mí punto de vista vale la pena leer.
May 28, 2024
Creo que si digo que la lectura de estos libros ha estado bien es simplemente por el cariño que le guardo a la historia y al universo de Myst.
No se lo recomiendo a nadie que no le tenga dicho aprecio ya que hay otras mil historias mejores que esta por ahí sueltas esperando a ser leídas.
No se lo recomiendo a nadie que no le tenga dicho aprecio ya que hay otras mil historias mejores que esta por ahí sueltas esperando a ser leídas.
November 8, 2019
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.5/5
This review does contain some spoilers!
Atrus and Catherine, along with some of their students from another Age, return to D'ni in an effort to assess the damage and find any remaining books that are intact. Their goal is to search through the Ages one by one and find any remaining D'ni survivors, tell them about the state of D'ni, and ask for their help in rebuilding. After some difficulty, they manage to find several thousand survivors and then begin the task of rebuilding, despite how daunting it is. As they are in the process of restoring a Guild house, they come across a buried chamber. They break down seals and find an entire library they didn't know existed. They find one particular book that is clearly of extreme significance, and after testing with the maintainer suits, decide to go through. They find to their surprise a stunningly beautiful Age - Terahnee - in which the people speak a form of D'ni. The society seems absolutely perfect. No crime, no sickness. Atrus asks the king to allow his people to settle there, as he feels rebuilding D'ni is basically futile at this point when this Age is here for them. The king agrees, but then a series of events cause all hell to break loose. They discover how this Age is so "perfect" and then a devastating plague spreads throughout the land. Will the D'ni still be able to settle in Terahnee? Should they settle there?
I enjoyed this book because I felt it was action packed and engrossing throughout. During their search of the Ages, I didn't want to put the book down until they found survivors. I was aching for them to find people. The search was really dangerous also, which made for some good reading. Then it was thrilling when they discovered the hidden chamber beneath the Guild house. The discovery of Terahnee was jaw-dropping. And there was a certain sick tension in my gut as it became clearer and clearer that this society was definitely not as perfect as it seemed. The last bit was tragic and violent. Overall, a good balance in my opinion!
One of the only things about this book that bothers me a little bit is the lack of emotion...or the lack of anxiety about certain things. There are a lot of truly devastating things that happen in this book. People die, an entire civilization is nearly wiped out, and Atrus is genuinely responsible for all of it. He is wise enough to realize that although he did none of it intentionally, he still has to bear that burden. Yet to me he doesn't really seem to have an appropriate amount of guilt or something. Maybe he does and this just doesn't come across well in the book. It's not that I expect him to crumple onto the ground weeping, but he (and actually all of the other characters now that I think about it) have this sort of odd stoicism. Maybe it's because their lives have always been hard and tragic. Their lives and environments have been really harsh and difficult.
One thing this book did well was address certain ethical issues. Slavery, of course, and classism are dealt with in a really interesting way. They, in fact, had ethical discussions and dilemmas even when D'ni was flourishing about how the classes were separated. The lower classes in D'ni were not abused as they were in Terahnee, but many of them were unsatisfied. Aitrus and Veovis talked about it a few times and sort of came to the conclusion that it was the way of the world, whereas Anna was more bothered by it. This book doesn't preach about the morality of the Ages, it simply lets the reader come to his or her own conclusion. Atrus is certainly not the most wise or pristine of all heroes. He is so relatable though. Yes, he was swayed by the utopian beauty of Terahnee. Yes, he ignored advice from D'ni elders. But all throughout the book, I kept thinking that when he was presented with hard choices, he just made the choices and then took ownership of them. He never blamed anyone else for his choices. He was kind and fair. I find him fascinating.
I believe this book happens right after the game Riven and before Exile, since at the beginning of that game they have just had Yeesha. I happen to be playing Exile right now, so it was the perfect time to read the series. I am excited to continue on with the game. I think having read the books will make gameplay a little richer. :-)
I think these books could be enjoyed by nearly anyone. But players of the Myst games will find them particularly interesting and enlightening of course. They do have a tendency to be a little slow, but really I think we probably all need a little bit of that in our fast-paced world. Slow down and enjoy the details and the great care that the author put into this series.
Rating: 4.5/5
This review does contain some spoilers!
Atrus and Catherine, along with some of their students from another Age, return to D'ni in an effort to assess the damage and find any remaining books that are intact. Their goal is to search through the Ages one by one and find any remaining D'ni survivors, tell them about the state of D'ni, and ask for their help in rebuilding. After some difficulty, they manage to find several thousand survivors and then begin the task of rebuilding, despite how daunting it is. As they are in the process of restoring a Guild house, they come across a buried chamber. They break down seals and find an entire library they didn't know existed. They find one particular book that is clearly of extreme significance, and after testing with the maintainer suits, decide to go through. They find to their surprise a stunningly beautiful Age - Terahnee - in which the people speak a form of D'ni. The society seems absolutely perfect. No crime, no sickness. Atrus asks the king to allow his people to settle there, as he feels rebuilding D'ni is basically futile at this point when this Age is here for them. The king agrees, but then a series of events cause all hell to break loose. They discover how this Age is so "perfect" and then a devastating plague spreads throughout the land. Will the D'ni still be able to settle in Terahnee? Should they settle there?
I enjoyed this book because I felt it was action packed and engrossing throughout. During their search of the Ages, I didn't want to put the book down until they found survivors. I was aching for them to find people. The search was really dangerous also, which made for some good reading. Then it was thrilling when they discovered the hidden chamber beneath the Guild house. The discovery of Terahnee was jaw-dropping. And there was a certain sick tension in my gut as it became clearer and clearer that this society was definitely not as perfect as it seemed. The last bit was tragic and violent. Overall, a good balance in my opinion!
One of the only things about this book that bothers me a little bit is the lack of emotion...or the lack of anxiety about certain things. There are a lot of truly devastating things that happen in this book. People die, an entire civilization is nearly wiped out, and Atrus is genuinely responsible for all of it. He is wise enough to realize that although he did none of it intentionally, he still has to bear that burden. Yet to me he doesn't really seem to have an appropriate amount of guilt or something. Maybe he does and this just doesn't come across well in the book. It's not that I expect him to crumple onto the ground weeping, but he (and actually all of the other characters now that I think about it) have this sort of odd stoicism. Maybe it's because their lives have always been hard and tragic. Their lives and environments have been really harsh and difficult.
One thing this book did well was address certain ethical issues. Slavery, of course, and classism are dealt with in a really interesting way. They, in fact, had ethical discussions and dilemmas even when D'ni was flourishing about how the classes were separated. The lower classes in D'ni were not abused as they were in Terahnee, but many of them were unsatisfied. Aitrus and Veovis talked about it a few times and sort of came to the conclusion that it was the way of the world, whereas Anna was more bothered by it. This book doesn't preach about the morality of the Ages, it simply lets the reader come to his or her own conclusion. Atrus is certainly not the most wise or pristine of all heroes. He is so relatable though. Yes, he was swayed by the utopian beauty of Terahnee. Yes, he ignored advice from D'ni elders. But all throughout the book, I kept thinking that when he was presented with hard choices, he just made the choices and then took ownership of them. He never blamed anyone else for his choices. He was kind and fair. I find him fascinating.
I believe this book happens right after the game Riven and before Exile, since at the beginning of that game they have just had Yeesha. I happen to be playing Exile right now, so it was the perfect time to read the series. I am excited to continue on with the game. I think having read the books will make gameplay a little richer. :-)
I think these books could be enjoyed by nearly anyone. But players of the Myst games will find them particularly interesting and enlightening of course. They do have a tendency to be a little slow, but really I think we probably all need a little bit of that in our fast-paced world. Slow down and enjoy the details and the great care that the author put into this series.
February 15, 2019
I've played the Myst video games a few times without knowing that the books existed. If I play them again it will be with a new understanding.
July 13, 2020
So if I remember correctly, this one is generally rated the worst of the series, the second (Ti'ana) being considered the best. By my consideration, story-wise, the first is the worst, second is better, and this is the best. I don't really look at these books as fleshing out the Myst universe besides the basic D'ni history, the character names, and some of the locales and events. Most of this trilogy honestly came off as a non-canonical fan fiction. It was still a good read, I felt this was the most well-rounded of all three of the series.
The issues I do hold with this book and the trilogy in general is that I felt there was fertile ground here for a lot more explanation of the mechanics of age-building or exploration of ages in general. It seems like every age was the same tribal farmland or uninhabitable wasteland. I really would've liked to have learned more about the backstory of the Myst island itself, its related ages, and the development of Atrus's sons. The plot seemed to try to find itself for the first half of the book, deviating into a different story from where it started and then accelerating a great deal near the end with full-scale battles being a few pages long whereas a earlier sizeable portions of the book were spent just reaching the king of Terahnee (get it?). Concerning that as well, I felt like the atmosphere was achieved early on concerning the not-quite-rightness about the age and everyone pretending everything was perfect, yet it dragged on way longer than necessary. Though this book held my attention, I think it would've fared better if they stuck with the initial plot of bringing D'ni back together rather than deviating into some weird slave age thing.
All in all, I don't regret reading the series, but it still frustrates me that after three books titled "Myst," only the first book had only passing notes about Catherine and Atrus writing the Myst age and spending a night or two there.
Good stories, not good Myst books.
The issues I do hold with this book and the trilogy in general is that I felt there was fertile ground here for a lot more explanation of the mechanics of age-building or exploration of ages in general. It seems like every age was the same tribal farmland or uninhabitable wasteland. I really would've liked to have learned more about the backstory of the Myst island itself, its related ages, and the development of Atrus's sons. The plot seemed to try to find itself for the first half of the book, deviating into a different story from where it started and then accelerating a great deal near the end with full-scale battles being a few pages long whereas a earlier sizeable portions of the book were spent just reaching the king of Terahnee (get it?). Concerning that as well, I felt like the atmosphere was achieved early on concerning the not-quite-rightness about the age and everyone pretending everything was perfect, yet it dragged on way longer than necessary. Though this book held my attention, I think it would've fared better if they stuck with the initial plot of bringing D'ni back together rather than deviating into some weird slave age thing.
All in all, I don't regret reading the series, but it still frustrates me that after three books titled "Myst," only the first book had only passing notes about Catherine and Atrus writing the Myst age and spending a night or two there.
Good stories, not good Myst books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2011
*** 1/2 Stars
I have enjoyed the previous books in the series and was looking forward to learning more about the D'ni in this book. The book is intelligently written and the descriptions are wonderful giving the reader a clear view of the various worlds that are visited. The characters are good with interesting personalities and a good sense of morality. The book deals with many issues such as slavery and wariness of those who seek power in the name of over-throwing an evil regime, and tackles them in an intelligent and thought-provoking way.
There were a few problems with the book however. Firstly the characters have very little influence on what happens in the story, they are essentially along for the ride, with the events happening around them.
There is also a problem with the pacing, for the first 3/4 of the book very little happens, other than the exploring of some worlds and one new culture. Then a lot of action is crammed into the last 1/4 of the book. It also leaps forward in time in many places and skips over parts that might have been interesting.
Lastly, despite the title, the D'ni feature very little in this book and we only learn a few new facts about them. It starts off with Atrus finding D'ni survivors and starting to rebuild D'ni itself, then going off in an entirely new direction. It left me disappointed with not learning more about the D'ni. It also meant that, other than introducing a few characters, the start of the book has few links to the rest of the story.
I have enjoyed the previous books in the series and was looking forward to learning more about the D'ni in this book. The book is intelligently written and the descriptions are wonderful giving the reader a clear view of the various worlds that are visited. The characters are good with interesting personalities and a good sense of morality. The book deals with many issues such as slavery and wariness of those who seek power in the name of over-throwing an evil regime, and tackles them in an intelligent and thought-provoking way.
There were a few problems with the book however. Firstly the characters have very little influence on what happens in the story, they are essentially along for the ride, with the events happening around them.
There is also a problem with the pacing, for the first 3/4 of the book very little happens, other than the exploring of some worlds and one new culture. Then a lot of action is crammed into the last 1/4 of the book. It also leaps forward in time in many places and skips over parts that might have been interesting.
Lastly, despite the title, the D'ni feature very little in this book and we only learn a few new facts about them. It starts off with Atrus finding D'ni survivors and starting to rebuild D'ni itself, then going off in an entirely new direction. It left me disappointed with not learning more about the D'ni. It also meant that, other than introducing a few characters, the start of the book has few links to the rest of the story.
November 25, 2023
A wonderful story with beautiful characters. I can't express how much this series has touched me as a writer, artist and explorer.
But beware the plot twist of this one! Though it's almost predictable if you got a feeling for the authors by now, it is nonetheless very amazing and touching to read from start to finish.
-------
I read the book again, and have to say it is not as good as the two previous volumes. I would not undo my choice of words, though.
However, this time I knew what was coming. And watching out for it realized how strange it seems that a civilization could exist like this for thousands of years. Their longlivety likely blurs the perception of timespan, yet a very basic concept has been broken: Generosity is easy when there is enough for everyone.
An intellectual, civilized people who allow indoctrination to dictate their believes, rather than biology and perception? A multitude of minds exploring and questioning the whole universe, but not this? Though it has been a great ending to a great series, the way that civilization was build looks like a plot device that doesn't stand stable by itself.
It's been a pleasant read nonetheless. And I will not forget them how well things worked out first time around. :)
But beware the plot twist of this one! Though it's almost predictable if you got a feeling for the authors by now, it is nonetheless very amazing and touching to read from start to finish.
-------
I read the book again, and have to say it is not as good as the two previous volumes. I would not undo my choice of words, though.
However, this time I knew what was coming. And watching out for it realized how strange it seems that a civilization could exist like this for thousands of years. Their longlivety likely blurs the perception of timespan, yet a very basic concept has been broken: Generosity is easy when there is enough for everyone.
An intellectual, civilized people who allow indoctrination to dictate their believes, rather than biology and perception? A multitude of minds exploring and questioning the whole universe, but not this? Though it has been a great ending to a great series, the way that civilization was build looks like a plot device that doesn't stand stable by itself.
It's been a pleasant read nonetheless. And I will not forget them how well things worked out first time around. :)
August 6, 2022
This is a fantastic cautionary tale for our times.
*spoiler*
*spoiler*
*spoiler*
*spoiler*
*spoiler*
*spoiler*
A civilization that appears to have marvellous technology but behind the scenes it's all run manually by slaves. I read it shortly after moving to Singapore and was struck by how they depend on migrant labour for everything but treat migrant workers in the most dehumanizing ways.
As part of the Myst universe I felt it also fit in well because it showed the dark side of linking books.
*spoiler*
*spoiler*
*spoiler*
*spoiler*
*spoiler*
*spoiler*
A civilization that appears to have marvellous technology but behind the scenes it's all run manually by slaves. I read it shortly after moving to Singapore and was struck by how they depend on migrant labour for everything but treat migrant workers in the most dehumanizing ways.
As part of the Myst universe I felt it also fit in well because it showed the dark side of linking books.
August 1, 2011
When I think about this books, I'm reminded of the Godfather part III. In both cases, the franchise made the third iteration bearable, but by no means enjoyable. On its own, I would have put this book down within 20 pages, but I read it out of devotion to the series. Don't waste your time.
February 7, 2018
The MYST book series runs out of steam. The 3rd book in a trilogy, The Book of D'Ni hints at some fantastic plot developments but gives way to a basic morality tale by the end. Disappointing.
September 6, 2019
A great addition to the Myst saga.
May 9, 2021
A must read if you've taken the dive!!
October 22, 2021
I will return to this series again. So beautiful and unique.
November 21, 2024
This book starts off as a slow burn, but has such a fantastic last third I can't not recommend it
August 8, 2017
Seventy years after the fall of D’Ni, Atrus and Catherine return with a team of enthusiastic assistants, intent on rebuilding. The devastation is overwhelming, unimaginable. The team hardly knows where to start. But Atrus feels certain some D’Ni could have escaped to other Ages. Their first task is to find them and bring them home.
The search begins with Books. Find and examine all that remain, even ancient texts so old their Maintainer’s Guild seals are faded almost into obscurity. Those survivors they find are reunited with their people and their fallen city, and the task of rebuilding begins even as the testing of Books continues.
But when a structural support in one of the buildings is deemed too damaged to repair and the floor is broken away, the survivors discover a crypt unknown to even the oldest D’Ni among them. Inside are Books more ancient than any even imagined, vaults sealed with the hardest of D’Ni stone, and a mysterious temptation Atrus cannot resist.
The Book of D’Ni is the third book in the Myst trilogy, and concludes the tale of young Atrus, who starts out Book I as a boy. Not every loose end is neatly tied, but then some things are better left to the reader’s imagination. Miller and Wingrove do a great job here in setting a scene, describing Terahnee, one of the new Ages. Beautiful and lush and prosperous, it sounds like paradise. I could see the buildings and gardens and waterways as I read. Characterizations also work here, though maybe not quite as well as in the Book of Ti’ana; while there are a number of characters, I had a little trouble picturing or feeling some of them, even though they appear numerous times in the story. Atrus seems, at times, a bit too good, too nice, too moral, but I think he represents an ideal. The antagonists in this story are somewhat stereotypical. They are also many; take one down and another takes his place. But I believe they too are symbols, exemplifying that which we ought to reject.
Of particular note is the lack of many truly strong female characters. If there is any serious flaw in the Myst books, this is it. Catherine and Ti’Ana both fill these shoes, but the writers didn’t take their roles far enough. Society in D’Ni falls back on male-only guilds and male heads of households. I suspect no malice in the writers’ lack therein; rather, I expect it was more a product of the times. Remember, these were written 20 or more years ago.
All that said, I still got lost in this book. It’s difficult to say much about it without spoiling the twist. Just as in the first two of the series, the authors weave a tale around ethics and compassion that could just as easily fit our own society, even almost twenty years later. I don’t think any reader will be able to miss these larger-than-life themes, even in a casual pass. The Book of D’Ni—indeed, the whole trilogy—is almost like a fairy-tale, a moral lesson on ethical behavior. Personally, I enjoyed it.
As I said with the other books, this series was written specifically to the fan base of the wildly popular computer games Myst (released 1993), Riven (1997), Exile (2001), Revelation (2004), and End of Ages (2005). If you played any or all of these games, but haven’t yet read the books, you’re missing out.
Yet you can enjoy the books without having played the games. Hyperion offers the entire trilogy in one volume, The Myst Reader, which is easily found online. If you enjoy fantasy, or a well-told tale, it’s an enjoyable, inspiring adventure.
The search begins with Books. Find and examine all that remain, even ancient texts so old their Maintainer’s Guild seals are faded almost into obscurity. Those survivors they find are reunited with their people and their fallen city, and the task of rebuilding begins even as the testing of Books continues.
But when a structural support in one of the buildings is deemed too damaged to repair and the floor is broken away, the survivors discover a crypt unknown to even the oldest D’Ni among them. Inside are Books more ancient than any even imagined, vaults sealed with the hardest of D’Ni stone, and a mysterious temptation Atrus cannot resist.
The Book of D’Ni is the third book in the Myst trilogy, and concludes the tale of young Atrus, who starts out Book I as a boy. Not every loose end is neatly tied, but then some things are better left to the reader’s imagination. Miller and Wingrove do a great job here in setting a scene, describing Terahnee, one of the new Ages. Beautiful and lush and prosperous, it sounds like paradise. I could see the buildings and gardens and waterways as I read. Characterizations also work here, though maybe not quite as well as in the Book of Ti’ana; while there are a number of characters, I had a little trouble picturing or feeling some of them, even though they appear numerous times in the story. Atrus seems, at times, a bit too good, too nice, too moral, but I think he represents an ideal. The antagonists in this story are somewhat stereotypical. They are also many; take one down and another takes his place. But I believe they too are symbols, exemplifying that which we ought to reject.
Of particular note is the lack of many truly strong female characters. If there is any serious flaw in the Myst books, this is it. Catherine and Ti’Ana both fill these shoes, but the writers didn’t take their roles far enough. Society in D’Ni falls back on male-only guilds and male heads of households. I suspect no malice in the writers’ lack therein; rather, I expect it was more a product of the times. Remember, these were written 20 or more years ago.
All that said, I still got lost in this book. It’s difficult to say much about it without spoiling the twist. Just as in the first two of the series, the authors weave a tale around ethics and compassion that could just as easily fit our own society, even almost twenty years later. I don’t think any reader will be able to miss these larger-than-life themes, even in a casual pass. The Book of D’Ni—indeed, the whole trilogy—is almost like a fairy-tale, a moral lesson on ethical behavior. Personally, I enjoyed it.
As I said with the other books, this series was written specifically to the fan base of the wildly popular computer games Myst (released 1993), Riven (1997), Exile (2001), Revelation (2004), and End of Ages (2005). If you played any or all of these games, but haven’t yet read the books, you’re missing out.
Yet you can enjoy the books without having played the games. Hyperion offers the entire trilogy in one volume, The Myst Reader, which is easily found online. If you enjoy fantasy, or a well-told tale, it’s an enjoyable, inspiring adventure.
February 22, 2021
Unlike the first two books, I have mixed feelings about this one.
I’ll start with the not-as-good.
I felt like the ending left a little bit too many threads open. I’m not sure if there’s other lore out there that explains what wasn’t explained in the book, but in my opinion books should stand on their own without depending on outside lore/canon. I wasn’t clear on what, in the end, happened to the D’ni or the relymiah/Terahnee, what world they ended up in, etc. I found myself wanting more when it came to how the Terahnee and the D’ni were connected, and I didn’t feel like I got all the answers regarding the prophecies. I felt like the story began by telling the story of the D’ni and then veered off into a completely different direction to focus on Terahnee—while I enjoyed the Terahnee plotline, I thought it could’ve worked together with the D’ni plotline better, rather than simply completely switching focus. And I wanted more development of Marrim and Eedrah’s relationship—I thought it was sweet that they ended up together, but I wanted to *see* it.
But the writing. Oh, the writing is absolutely beautiful. (And the reason I gave this book four starts instead of three.) The author does an amazing job of giving the feeling of thousands of years of history and fate behind the smallest moments, and the descriptions are beautiful and atmospheric. At first I thought he was going overboard with the descriptions of how idyllic Terahnee was, but then the twist hit and suddenly all those descriptions came back to punch me in the gut, and it really, really worked. Even the ending worked better than it could’ve, simply because of the writing style—you could feel that the characters were making history as they went, and it felt very tied into ancient prophecies, fate, and history in a way that’s almost hard to express—the author is incredibly good at giving a feel and atmosphere to scenes. And I really loved the scene where they first discovered the book to Terahnee—but then, I’ve always loved stories that feature discovering secrets in hidden ruins.
The characters, too, were vivid and interesting—Atrus and Catherine just as awesome as the first book, Marrim a likeable new addition, and every smaller character had their own personality and life.
All in all, a bit of a mixed bag, and it didn’t quite live up to the other two, but I did enjoy it quite a bit.
I’ll start with the not-as-good.
I felt like the ending left a little bit too many threads open. I’m not sure if there’s other lore out there that explains what wasn’t explained in the book, but in my opinion books should stand on their own without depending on outside lore/canon. I wasn’t clear on what, in the end, happened to the D’ni or the relymiah/Terahnee, what world they ended up in, etc. I found myself wanting more when it came to how the Terahnee and the D’ni were connected, and I didn’t feel like I got all the answers regarding the prophecies. I felt like the story began by telling the story of the D’ni and then veered off into a completely different direction to focus on Terahnee—while I enjoyed the Terahnee plotline, I thought it could’ve worked together with the D’ni plotline better, rather than simply completely switching focus. And I wanted more development of Marrim and Eedrah’s relationship—I thought it was sweet that they ended up together, but I wanted to *see* it.
But the writing. Oh, the writing is absolutely beautiful. (And the reason I gave this book four starts instead of three.) The author does an amazing job of giving the feeling of thousands of years of history and fate behind the smallest moments, and the descriptions are beautiful and atmospheric. At first I thought he was going overboard with the descriptions of how idyllic Terahnee was, but then the twist hit and suddenly all those descriptions came back to punch me in the gut, and it really, really worked. Even the ending worked better than it could’ve, simply because of the writing style—you could feel that the characters were making history as they went, and it felt very tied into ancient prophecies, fate, and history in a way that’s almost hard to express—the author is incredibly good at giving a feel and atmosphere to scenes. And I really loved the scene where they first discovered the book to Terahnee—but then, I’ve always loved stories that feature discovering secrets in hidden ruins.
The characters, too, were vivid and interesting—Atrus and Catherine just as awesome as the first book, Marrim a likeable new addition, and every smaller character had their own personality and life.
All in all, a bit of a mixed bag, and it didn’t quite live up to the other two, but I did enjoy it quite a bit.
December 14, 2020
I thought this might be about the Book of Earth, as in a prior book they mentioned there wasn't a book to Earth. But it wasn't about that at all. It's about another Age that seems perfect but is acting full of slaves. Oej main characters are dumb and "blinded" by the beautiful landscape and nice people.
Why would Atrus, who has spent pretty much his entire life at this point trying to rebuild D'ni abandon the plan in mere few days. Like they couldn't have maybe tried to find a world like Taharehee otherwise? If he thought there was even a potential to abandon the original caverns for a beautiful hospitable land then why not just write that Age?? It made no sense to me how quickly he gave up. Obviously it didn't work out anyway. It's interesting that even though the remaining Tarahee and freed slaves canal live in their home world freely they ultimately decide to write an Age and leave.
Also as other people have mentioned these books are pretty sexist. The female characters start off strong and then become irrelevant. Even though Catherine was the one who was allegedly writing these histories she writes herself out of them. It's all about the men. When Atrus first meets the Tahrahee there isn't mention of women at all for quite a while and I wondered if that was what the point of the story was going to be. The way they look at Marrium and her short hair with suspicion. But then very casually as if it's an afterthought they reference wives and sisters but just like that wives and sisters no women have names no women have purpose. And even Marrium becomes the pregnant bride of that other guy in the end as if her purpose is not to write Ages but to become pregnant. Atrus was going to teach her to write. Did he? Who knows. But we do know she's fertile. Good for that. ....
I bet these books would have been better in my mind if I read them when they came out and I was still a kid. And I bet they're better if you've played the game too but I haven't. I understand the game explains Atrus issues with his sons and why they don't exist in the narrative.
So, overall, disappointing. The first book is the best and could have been a stand alone book.
The only real cool thing about these stories is the fact that they can write the Ages and link to them. That's a cool thing. But I feel like a better story around that mechanic could have been written.
Why would Atrus, who has spent pretty much his entire life at this point trying to rebuild D'ni abandon the plan in mere few days. Like they couldn't have maybe tried to find a world like Taharehee otherwise? If he thought there was even a potential to abandon the original caverns for a beautiful hospitable land then why not just write that Age?? It made no sense to me how quickly he gave up. Obviously it didn't work out anyway. It's interesting that even though the remaining Tarahee and freed slaves canal live in their home world freely they ultimately decide to write an Age and leave.
Also as other people have mentioned these books are pretty sexist. The female characters start off strong and then become irrelevant. Even though Catherine was the one who was allegedly writing these histories she writes herself out of them. It's all about the men. When Atrus first meets the Tahrahee there isn't mention of women at all for quite a while and I wondered if that was what the point of the story was going to be. The way they look at Marrium and her short hair with suspicion. But then very casually as if it's an afterthought they reference wives and sisters but just like that wives and sisters no women have names no women have purpose. And even Marrium becomes the pregnant bride of that other guy in the end as if her purpose is not to write Ages but to become pregnant. Atrus was going to teach her to write. Did he? Who knows. But we do know she's fertile. Good for that. ....
I bet these books would have been better in my mind if I read them when they came out and I was still a kid. And I bet they're better if you've played the game too but I haven't. I understand the game explains Atrus issues with his sons and why they don't exist in the narrative.
So, overall, disappointing. The first book is the best and could have been a stand alone book.
The only real cool thing about these stories is the fact that they can write the Ages and link to them. That's a cool thing. But I feel like a better story around that mechanic could have been written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2023
Taking place after the events of Myst and Riven, Catherine and Atrus venture into the D’ni ruins for the first time since settling in the age of Myst. Anna passed away some 30 years ago, and now Atrus faces the ghosts of his past as he and Catherine search for survivors of the cataclysm that destroyed D’ni and scattered its people.
They brought with them a team of young helpers from another Age to collect and catalog D’ni Books. After much exploration, they do find survivors, and some of them are willing to return to the caverns and try to rebuild.
In the process of restoration, they break through a floor and find a hidden chamber. It leads to a sealed door, which leads to a tunnel that leads to another sealed door, which leads to another chamber that holds ancient Books written in some earlier form of D’ni.
Taking a great risk, Atrus links to one of these Ages himself, and what he finds is astonishing: a thriving civilization that rivals even the greatest achievements of the D’ni. Even the analytical Atrus is smitten by this place. Everything is grand, and all people enjoy a life of luxury.
Here the book drags while I waited for some kind of revelation. Who are these people, and why would the D’ni seal them off and erase all record of them? It’s all too perfect—something bad is about to happen—there must be a payoff.
And there is. All is not well in this Age, and Atrus inadvertently sets off a chain of events that throws society into chaos. He and his party feel obligated to make it right and help the people of this ancient age begin anew.
It’s a grand climax that hints at the direction D’ni might have gone had more people thought like Gehn.
They brought with them a team of young helpers from another Age to collect and catalog D’ni Books. After much exploration, they do find survivors, and some of them are willing to return to the caverns and try to rebuild.
In the process of restoration, they break through a floor and find a hidden chamber. It leads to a sealed door, which leads to a tunnel that leads to another sealed door, which leads to another chamber that holds ancient Books written in some earlier form of D’ni.
Taking a great risk, Atrus links to one of these Ages himself, and what he finds is astonishing: a thriving civilization that rivals even the greatest achievements of the D’ni. Even the analytical Atrus is smitten by this place. Everything is grand, and all people enjoy a life of luxury.
Here the book drags while I waited for some kind of revelation. Who are these people, and why would the D’ni seal them off and erase all record of them? It’s all too perfect—something bad is about to happen—there must be a payoff.
And there is. All is not well in this Age, and Atrus inadvertently sets off a chain of events that throws society into chaos. He and his party feel obligated to make it right and help the people of this ancient age begin anew.
It’s a grand climax that hints at the direction D’ni might have gone had more people thought like Gehn.
October 11, 2025
Author: Rand Miller
Title: The Book of D'ni
Series: Myst
Cover Rating:
Silver Star
Book Rating:
4 Stars
About the Book:
Excitement for the MYST series continues with the release of the new CD-ROM -- Riven, the long awaited sequel to MYST.
In the third novel by the creators of the CD-ROM phenomenon, Catherine and Atrus return to the devastated domain of the D'Ni civilization to fulfill their destinies.
But as they begin to search the many worlds, seeking the survivors Ti'ana told them of, they find clues that bring them to a hidden book and discover a secret that the D'Ni masters planned long ago.
My Thoughts:
Catherine and Atrus continue where the last book left off.
While there are some blanks that are left because of the discontinuation of this series you get a glimpse of the direction the hidden histories and secrets buried in the library directed the on- going tragedy and the start to rebuilding what was devastated even going back to its genesis.
Obviously there was meant to be another book in addition the the first three but its nice that we got all that was included in this book.
Disclaimer:
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews purchased a print copy for personal collection. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
Note:
If any of Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like my post or leave a comment to let me know what you think. I love hearing from you!
Title: The Book of D'ni
Series: Myst
Cover Rating:
Silver Star
Book Rating:
4 Stars
About the Book:
Excitement for the MYST series continues with the release of the new CD-ROM -- Riven, the long awaited sequel to MYST.
In the third novel by the creators of the CD-ROM phenomenon, Catherine and Atrus return to the devastated domain of the D'Ni civilization to fulfill their destinies.
But as they begin to search the many worlds, seeking the survivors Ti'ana told them of, they find clues that bring them to a hidden book and discover a secret that the D'Ni masters planned long ago.
My Thoughts:
Catherine and Atrus continue where the last book left off.
While there are some blanks that are left because of the discontinuation of this series you get a glimpse of the direction the hidden histories and secrets buried in the library directed the on- going tragedy and the start to rebuilding what was devastated even going back to its genesis.
Obviously there was meant to be another book in addition the the first three but its nice that we got all that was included in this book.
Disclaimer:
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews purchased a print copy for personal collection. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
Note:
If any of Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like my post or leave a comment to let me know what you think. I love hearing from you!
August 31, 2025
Definitely my least favorite of the books, but I still love most of it, again, just for the world. This takes place after Riven and before Exile, exploring the retrieval of the D'ni who survived and rebuilding and all the issues that come with it, plus a strange detour to the problems of another world, just to introduce the Bharo, which I don't yet understand the significance of despite their part in Uru. I will be playing the final game and maybe more will relate there. I did love the ending, mainly Atrus' final speech. I'm a little confused by Catherine's final letter/note. I have suspicions, but again maybe the final game will help me out.
I did have some problems with the writing in this one. And the art. The pacing was very slow in the middle, relying on withholding information by keeping conversations shallow and stripping our characters of their usual smarts and caution.
And these were the most pitiful illustrations I've seen in a long time, both bad skill and not useful/irrelevant
I don't think we met a single woman from Terahnee though they were mentioned to exist. I just don't know how any mother would have allowed certain things to have happened. I guess there were just a lot of things that didn't quite make sense. So overall, I loved Ti'ana's book best, then Atrus's, then this one. This seemed to have the least lore and only created more questions for me. Terahnee just wasn't very interesting to me either.
I did have some problems with the writing in this one. And the art. The pacing was very slow in the middle, relying on withholding information by keeping conversations shallow and stripping our characters of their usual smarts and caution.
And these were the most pitiful illustrations I've seen in a long time, both bad skill and not useful/irrelevant
I don't think we met a single woman from Terahnee though they were mentioned to exist. I just don't know how any mother would have allowed certain things to have happened. I guess there were just a lot of things that didn't quite make sense. So overall, I loved Ti'ana's book best, then Atrus's, then this one. This seemed to have the least lore and only created more questions for me. Terahnee just wasn't very interesting to me either.
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