- Paperback: 512 pages
- Publisher: Earthlight; paperback / softback edition (2 April 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0743408934
- ISBN-13: 978-0743408936
- Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 10.6 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 599,711 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Miller Lau's first novel, the fantasy Talisker, makes some interesting uses of parallel worlds and Celtic mythology, but suffers from problems with plot and characterisation that mark it out as the work of an inexperienced writer. In modern-day Edinburgh, Duncan Talisker has just been released from jail where he has served 15 years for six murders he did not commit. Talisker is the last descendent of Malcolm McLeod, a clansman whose ghost has been recruited by the shape-shifting Sidhe in a battle against the dark God Corvus. Corvus sends a demon to commit more murders, and Inspector Alessandro Chaplin, once a school-friend, is convinced of Talisker's guilt. Their feud travels with them when they, along with the ghost Malcolm, are drawn into the magical world of Sutra, where they become involved in a struggle between the Sidhe, the human Fine and Corvus, who threatens both peoples. Travelling back and forth between the two worlds, Talisker embarks on an intertwined series of adventures, battling evil magic in Sutra and attempting to avoid the police in Edinburgh. There are many familiar plot devices in this book: a prophesy, a magic gem and vengeful gods, while Talisker is a classic suffering hero--a wronged man battling to clear his name. The world of Sutra is quite rich but Lau still has a lot to learn about plotting; the story lacks coherence and is often inconsistent in its details. Hopefully, Lau will develop more fluency in subsequent volumes because there is promise here, albeit not yet fully realised. --Elizabeth Sourbut
SFX, July 2001
Miller Lau's debut work is a well-crafted, beautifully-structured story
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An enjoyable blend of adventure and well drawn characters,
By A Customer
This review is from: Talisker (The last clansman) (Paperback)
Now, it's not often that I read "big fantasy" books these days, but I enjoyed this one. Lots of atmosphere, a great sense of adventure, and very sympathetic characters brought to life by an imagination which displays both a sinister side and a cheeky sense of humour.I was impressed with the instantly familiar descriptions of Edinburgh, and also that Lau managed to slip in some superb colloquial turns of phrase - "She's a wee brammer," by rights has no place in a fantasy novel - but it worked brilliantly here. Looking forward to the subsequent instalments.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
very promising debut,
By A Customer
This review is from: Talisker (The last clansman) (Paperback)
Much popular fantasy is crippled by juvenile characters and an overbearing sentimentality, both of which are thankfully absent from Miller Lau`s first novel, Talisker. The bloke-from-our-world-sideslipping-into-phantasy-world has been done many times before, but seldom with this verve and downright angst. Everything costs, mainly to the protagonist, Talisker, but also to his amanuensis, Malcy, and the suffering gets results, yet.Nice to read a fantasy story involving Scottish characters, but which has also been written by a Scot. Really looking forward to book 2.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Exciting new fantasy,
By razumova (Bath, England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Talisker (The last clansman) (Paperback)
Miller Lau writes like a dream. In what is a substantial novel one is never bored, always curious as to what will happen next. She has distanced herself from stereotypical Celtic themes and produced an original 'mythos' with its roots in true legend. Interwoven with accounts of her fantasy world is a realistic take on the sights and sounds of modern Edinburgh, an aspect of the city the tourists overlook. Her main characters, including Malky, the undead warrior with a line in wry humour, are firmly rooted in this reality, emerging from its past and present. Miller Lau skilfully moves the narrative between Sutra, the land of myth, and Edinburgh, summoning up a strong cast of believable characters who are carefully realised, however minor their role. It is her eye for detail that impresses, as much as her ability to paint with a broad brush.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews |
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
