Carnivores Of Light And Darkness (1999) - Plot & Excerpts
I picked up this book from the library in early August because I remembered reading it when I was eleven or twelve (around the age I was devouring the Dragonlance books as if they would disappear) and loving it to pieces. Now, over ten years later, I find myself rather...disappointed.The first thing that annoyed me about this book was the language Foster uses. I kept getting thrown out of the store when I came across these large and/or obscure words that I didn't know the definition to. I guess it didn't bother me back then because it's fairly easy to figure out what those words mean using context, but now I like to know the exact definition of things. Which means that I was constantly bringing up my Dictionary.com app on my phone looking things up. The last thing I want to do while reading a novel is have to look up words that I will likely never encounter again.I also find Etjole's and Simna's friendship kind of annoying. How can you claim to be friends with someone if you're constantly insisting that said someone is lying about who they are and why they're doing what they're doing? Really, Simna is probably one of the most annoying characters I've ever known in a fantasy novel, and that's saying something. Etjole is a bit of a saint to put up with him, and half the time that's just what it feels like he's doing. They don't feel like friends. They feel like a couple of people the author threw together for no other reason than because he felt like it.Then there's the fact that absolutely none of the adventures the trio encounters have anything to do with each other or their main quest. No, not everything has to lead up to the final thing, but it's really just a bunch of random events that coincidentally happen to the same people, and that on the one time Etjole ever undertakes any sort of adventure. This doesn't seem to happen to anybody else: at least, from what I can tell of Simna, his near-death episodes have likely been few and far between. Nothing like the way Etjole constantly seems to fall into danger again and again for no other apparent reason than because he's the main character in a novel. The only thing that links the events together is the existence of the eromakadi (I am almost positive that's the right word) that has been following Etjole, but obviously the creature isn't causing the events itself. It's just sort of along for the ride until the end of the novel (and probably beyond).And, of course, all of the little things. Simna never seems to run out of deities to use in his swears, but we never learn a single thing about any one of them. Why mention all of them if you're never going to do anything with them? Then he'll mention creatures not because they have anything to do with the novel but because he wants to show off that he thought them up. I don't mind a few red herrings, but everything is a throw-away comment. We don't need to know every strange creature Etjole happens to notice as he walks by them: the ones he interacts with that actually do something are, frankly, more than enough. We like to have an idea of the world, but we don't need a beastiary. On top of that, there are just so many random things that go completely unexplained. Where did that wall Etjole jumped over come from? Why did going over it take him where it did? Why were the slelves randomly attacking the monkeys? For a character that is described as wanting an answer to everything, Etjole certainly leaves a whole lot of mysteries unsolved.So how did this story get three stars? Well, because I was interested. The events may not have been linked to anything else, but I liked to know what was going to happen (since I couldn't really remember). The animals and creatures they encountered weren't always necessary, but it was neat to see what they could do. Despite my frustration with Simna, I don't hate him: I just sort of want him to finally get it through his skull that Etjole is what he says he is. I want to find out how Etjole's quest ends, and I want to know how Ahlitah fulfills his debt. I'll definitely continue to read this trilogy because it isn't over yet and because I didn't find myself completely hating its existence like I did the last book I complained this much about.And, besides, there are a few events that I do vaguely remember, and I want to see how correct my memory is and how those events came about.Now to gather up the will to drive the half hour away to the other library that has the second book in it. They do this on purpose, don't they?
The hero of this adventure fantasy is a simple, humble, african (well African-like)sheepherder. He has incredible magical ability, but a zen-like attitude towards understanding his ability. I love his calm, positive, go-with-the-flow nature.From the Publishers Weekly Review:Etjole Ehombe is a warrior of the desert-dwelling Naumkib and a man of honor. When a dying foreigner charges him with saving the Visioness Themaryl, kidnaped by an evil sorcerer called Hymneth the Possessed, Ehombe reluctantly accepts the task, packing up his spear, his sword made of sky-metal and a sack of potions and simpleseven though he knows nothing about these strange people or their fight, only that they dwell far to the distant north. Thus opens Book I of Foster's (author of the popular Flinx and Spellsinger novels) new fantasy series. Foster shows off his fertile imagination as Ehombe, a "simple shepherd," matches wits with the various denizens of each new territory he enters. The land is alive with talking animals, magical creatures and a vivid sense of ancient folklore come to life. Along the way, Ehombe picks up a couple of sidekicks: Simna ibn Sind, skilled swordsman and voracious treasure hunter; and the Ahlitah, half-lion, half-cheetah and curious as any cat could be. Although the book lacks any resolution, it is top-drawer Foster, featuring a fast-paced mix of wry humor, high fantasy and amazing new places and creatures. (June)
What do You think about Carnivores Of Light And Darkness (1999)?
It was a struggle for me to decide whether to put this into fantasy or science fiction. I had forgotten over the years how much I really enjoyed Mr. Foster's writing. I've had this book for years and am delighted that I finally picked it up for reading. Thankfully I also have the sequel to this story. Besides his story telling abilities I especially enjoy the new words (for me) that are sprinkled throughout his story. The main character is a fantastic role model and one of integrity. His understated humility makes the events of the story even more striking. I'm anxious to see this story continue!
—Mary Ann
This book is an archetype of the Bad Fantasy Novel. It involves:1. A clear quest in the first chapter.2. A dull hero who will fulfill that quest without actually thinking about it or having a good reason. They will do it because they’re just so full of virtue. They will have no real background or character besides this unwavering virtue. And this will be virtue, not pigheadedness. And it will never bite them in the butt. Butt-biting would add too much interest to the story.3. A long journey filled with miscellaneous randomness where the hero doesn’t actually get much closer to the quest. The quest never changes. It never gets more interesting. It never shifts. It never gains layers. It’s just there like a lump of sodden lettuce in the back of the fridge that will be tossed sometime in the future.4. No resolution because it’s a series. Of course it’s a series! That’s the classic fantasy writer’s excuse for their dull books. You know, if you write a trilogy, you don’t have to save the one interesting part for the very end. It’s OK to put other interesting parts in. You want to save the most interesting part for the very last part of the very last book, yes. Besides, if you’re Robert Jordan you might die before you write anything interesting. (OK, so I only read the first two. But everyone I know who is in mourning for that man bewails the fact that they missed all the interesting parts.)In addition you get the "noble, untouched savage" archetype. Someday I’m going to die, see Rousseau in the afterlife, and I’m going to kick his butt.
—Jennifer
I don't read much of this type of book - sort of science fiction/fantasy. I enjoyed this trilogy, though don't think it'll be particularly memorable. I found the author's universe compelling and interesting and the characters cheesy, but not overly so. There were a few moments where the author's morality picture sort of overwhelmed the story (e.g., a dig at TV and its ability to inculcate too much GroupThink), but mostly the story flowed along nicely. I don't think the second two books would stand alone very well -- better to read the trilogy in order.
—Joanna
