Thoughtful Fantasy With Breadth and
Punch
As I was reading “The IX” I was
reminded of “A Canticle for Leibowitz.” It was more of a shadow
correlation because it was about fifteen years ago that I read
“Canticle,” but the enduring trait of that novel is its breadth.
You get a sense of the passage of time and the enormity of the
universe and this sensation also applies to “The IX.”
First of all, the concept of “The IX”
is fantastic. The idea of gathering up warriors from different ages
and throwing them into a fight for their life is the kind of starting
point most sci-fi/fantasy fans will jump at. The only drawback of an
idea like this is realizing it in a way that doesn’t appear campy
or contrived. If the author rushes to get to the punch, the effect
is cheapened. However, Andrew Weston is too skilled an author to
fall into this trap. The mechanics of this book are rock solid, and
Weston stays true to the established rules.
The first quarter of the book details
the backgrounds of the various protagonists who will populate the
novel. The reader gets to spend significant amount of time with all
of them in their native setting. These moments are not rushed, and
the presence of significant back story sets up the suspicion that
there is an interconnectedness of fate which causes the actions of
their past to impact the future. However, this theme isn’t applied
in a “Cloud Atlas” kind of way, it’s just a lurking presence
that adds spice to the whole experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It has
enough action to keep you entertained and turning the pages on a
first reading, and enough subtext to make you want to revisit it
again and again. Andrew Weston is a skilled storyteller and his work
shows the polish of an experienced craftsman (with minimal search I
found many examples of his writing published with “Amazing
Stories”).
Check out “The IX,” you won’t be
disappointed. Get your copy here!
Great review, Walter
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