Acacia: War with the Mein Bk. 1 (The War with the Mein)
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Product Description
Lisa Tuttle, The Times
'David Anthony Durham has won acclaim for his historical novels, and brings his knowledge of the past and other cultures to create a rich and compelling world on his first foray into fantasy. His skilful storytelling, depth of characterisation, and an ability to unsettle reader expectations is reminiscent of George R.R. Martin, but his is a distinctive new voice'
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
'...where this sort of thing really works is not just in the attention to detail, but the attention to character. And with its epic duels and mighty sea battles, the whole thing is suffused with a feeling of Greek myth and legend.'
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Acacia is a novel which is epic in the broadest sense of the word, concerning the shattering and building of empires, across a large scale of time, and centred around a relatively small key cast of characters.
It is in this first area that Acacia does best. The world which David Durham has created is intricate, fascinating, and lovingly presented. The gradual revelation of each area of that world is handled well, and the reader is left breathless from the sense of grandeur and scope, and impressed by the background which interweaves each of the disparate cultures that are presented.
The book is written across a large piece of internal time; that time is not all present in the novel. The characters we will follow are introduced in the first half of the novel, and their fates left undecided - the reader is then re-introduced to those characters some years later. I enjoyed the abrupt nature of this change, exploring what were familiar characters, and reorienting my expectations from the character's actions, and the hints of their `missing time' gleaned from their interactions with others. On the other hand, some people may find this sudden jump in continuity more jarring than refreshing.
The characters are at once the greatest strength and weakness of the text. Each character within a faction has their own motives, and, as mentioned in other reviews, each faction of characters has their own point of view - Durham allows the reader to feel sympathy for one set of characters, and then swings to another viewpoint, and establishes your sympathy with those (often adversarial) characters instead. While some characters are less ethical than others, each has a valid point of view, and Durham tries hard to get us to understand it.
This `shades of grey' characterisation is one of the strengths of the book. Unfortunately, it feels as if the individual characters (as opposed to the factions, or groups of characters) are a little shallow. While some have their motives expressed in detail, others seem to remain question marks throughout the book. Perhaps that will change in later novels, but it is sometimes difficult to empathise with a character about whom we are shown or told a great deal, but not given much access to their personal motivations.
Having said that, the key characters are well written and represented, and while they may seem to play second fiddle to the world around them, that world is so rich that it may not matter. Throw in a plot which is reasonably deep and complex, with a few sharp twists and turns to throw off standard fantasy tropes, and this is an excellent novel. Highly recommended.
It is in this first area that Acacia does best. The world which David Durham has created is intricate, fascinating, and lovingly presented. The gradual revelation of each area of that world is handled well, and the reader is left breathless from the sense of grandeur and scope, and impressed by the background which interweaves each of the disparate cultures that are presented.
The book is written across a large piece of internal time; that time is not all present in the novel. The characters we will follow are introduced in the first half of the novel, and their fates left undecided - the reader is then re-introduced to those characters some years later. I enjoyed the abrupt nature of this change, exploring what were familiar characters, and reorienting my expectations from the character's actions, and the hints of their `missing time' gleaned from their interactions with others. On the other hand, some people may find this sudden jump in continuity more jarring than refreshing.
The characters are at once the greatest strength and weakness of the text. Each character within a faction has their own motives, and, as mentioned in other reviews, each faction of characters has their own point of view - Durham allows the reader to feel sympathy for one set of characters, and then swings to another viewpoint, and establishes your sympathy with those (often adversarial) characters instead. While some characters are less ethical than others, each has a valid point of view, and Durham tries hard to get us to understand it.
This `shades of grey' characterisation is one of the strengths of the book. Unfortunately, it feels as if the individual characters (as opposed to the factions, or groups of characters) are a little shallow. While some have their motives expressed in detail, others seem to remain question marks throughout the book. Perhaps that will change in later novels, but it is sometimes difficult to empathise with a character about whom we are shown or told a great deal, but not given much access to their personal motivations.
Having said that, the key characters are well written and represented, and while they may seem to play second fiddle to the world around them, that world is so rich that it may not matter. Throw in a plot which is reasonably deep and complex, with a few sharp twists and turns to throw off standard fantasy tropes, and this is an excellent novel. Highly recommended.
Format:Paperback
I received this with some anticipation having read some promising reviews, and was eager to dive in and explore a new world.
Well, it was a bit like swimming in treacle and in the end I opted for skimming through the pages, slowing only when something interesting was happening - and that wasn't often until the last third, when the pace picked up again.
To be fair David has created an interesting world, with intriguing hints of the "other lands" beyond. He has also given us a cast of characters who are more complex than usual - the problem is, as others have commented, that we don't really get to know them very well - or find anyone to root for. It's all rather impersonal and I found it difficult to emotionally engage with any of them.
I will probably give the next one a go as I'm curious enough to explore his world - but at the moment the world is considerably more interesting than the characters.
Well, it was a bit like swimming in treacle and in the end I opted for skimming through the pages, slowing only when something interesting was happening - and that wasn't often until the last third, when the pace picked up again.
To be fair David has created an interesting world, with intriguing hints of the "other lands" beyond. He has also given us a cast of characters who are more complex than usual - the problem is, as others have commented, that we don't really get to know them very well - or find anyone to root for. It's all rather impersonal and I found it difficult to emotionally engage with any of them.
I will probably give the next one a go as I'm curious enough to explore his world - but at the moment the world is considerably more interesting than the characters.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
All the ingredients for an epic to rival Martin and some of the best contemporary fantasy dons. Somehow, though, Acacia is just not that good. The main problem in my opinion is the style. There is a notable lack of humour. It's not that I'm wanting to laugh out loud. I don't even expect the wit and stylisation of Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy. It's just that Acacia takes itself so seriously that it becomes flat and pompous. At times it lacks subtlety when portraying very well meaning and powerful ideas. So whilst Durham writes a novel of war without good and evil per se, and with plenty of digs at our own world's hypocrisies and flaws, he does so in a slightly preachy way that often borders far too much on telling rather than showing, on parallels tediously drawn out rather than echoes or satires that might pack a more powerful punch.
The characters too are somewhat lacking. Although each is very carefully drawn, very lengthily explained - that is the problem. I always felt like characters were being explained rather than brought to life on the page.
For all these flaws, I give Acacia 3 stars because it is in theory and reality an excellent and detailed fantasy world with a lot of effort and intelligence put into it. It is so well pieced together, perhaps it neglects the passion needed to come alive.
The characters too are somewhat lacking. Although each is very carefully drawn, very lengthily explained - that is the problem. I always felt like characters were being explained rather than brought to life on the page.
For all these flaws, I give Acacia 3 stars because it is in theory and reality an excellent and detailed fantasy world with a lot of effort and intelligence put into it. It is so well pieced together, perhaps it neglects the passion needed to come alive.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Acacia
This book is a slow read that tends to skim over the details that make a book truly great. It's still enjoyable with some good idea's and an interesting and original plot. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Uk Dynamite
Good book
Great book good read would have been 5star if i hadnt read 'a song of ice and fire' before it.
Otherwise a good read and I will def read the next Acacia book
Otherwise a good read and I will def read the next Acacia book
Published on 4 Mar 2010 by Mr. A. P. Jones
Good fun and epic adventure
Having read David's Pride of Carthage I was quite looking forward to see what he would do with a fantasy setting. Read more
Published on 16 Oct 2008 by Gareth Wilson - Falcata Times Blog
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