The Book of Transformations (Red Sun 3) [Hardcover]

The third installment of the "legends of the red sun" is the most unique so far with a focus on superheroes as a political tool. While this idea is well explored in the realms of comic, I haven't really seen it done in fantasy before. The motivations behind these "heroes" are, oddly enough, more realistic than in modern set comics. It also explores the "good people doing bad things" in a mature way and also highlights that people are often powerless against the system - something I'm sure Mark was intentionally doing.
Some people may find it distracting that only one character from the previous books appears here but to be honest that shouldn't be too much of a worry as the new cast are all quite likeable. Another aspect of Mark's writing which may be "love or hate" is that while he clearly has an epic storyline taking place the focus is, more often than not, more concerned with the immediate personal problems of his characters. I found this frustrating in places but at the same time realise this is a more honest form of telling the story.
An aspect of the story that may also generate controversy is the transgender character, although I think she is handled expertly and rather than take a sensationalist approach to her, Mark uses her as one of many links that fit into the books title. There are some scenes in the book that are worrying in the sense that I sadly fear that's how people in our own world would respond.
It's also worth pointing out that Mark is often at his best when writing scenes that should be utterly ridiculous but often turn out to be the most heartfelt eg being caught "cheating" by your dead partner.
Overall I'd say this book is well worth the read although many might find this story as a diversion from the main arc, although closer inspection reveals it actually progresses the story quite a lot as well as introduce some major characters. The action is more understated than it was in "city of Ruin" but the characterisation is as strong as ever.

With The Book of Transformations Mr. Newton returns to Villjamur, the towering city (and Imperial capital) that dominated the first book in the series. There have been changes. An apocalyptic new ice age is still looming on the horizon. Alien crab people are leering at the world from a hostile dimension. The Empire is aggressively at war with its neighbours, seeking to stockpile resources and grab new land. At home, things are no more peaceful. The Emperor Urtica has brought about a regime of haves and have-nots, building extravagent new markets for rich merchants while driving the poor and the refugees into a subterranean undercity. It's land war overseas and class war at home.

Mr. Newton cheekily opens The Book of Transformations with "This was no time to be a hero." The rest of the text explores the meaning of that sentence - why does heroism fail? Or, more accurately, superheroism. The core conceit in epic fantasy is that the hero is actually better than everyone else. He's the best swordsman; she's the most powerful wizard or the preternaturally clever thief; he's the child of prophecy; she's the chosen one. Not only are they more important in the Great Scheme of Destiny, they're actually more talented. Be this via exhaustive training (and who doesn't love a fantasy training montage?) or just as the result of an innate power, the hero is superhuman.

Mr. Newton explores this difference in his post-modern look at fantasy heroics. Many of the main characters in The Book of Transformations are also superheroic - in possession of powers way outside the ken of the average bloke.

The Villjamur Knights, the "recruited" team of three heroes intended to protect the city, are the headline examples. Lan, Vuldon and Tane are selected by the increasingly-neurotic Emperor to undergo a series of mysterious cultist trials. As a result, Lan can control gravity. Vuldon is super-strong. Tane becomes a were-tiger with phenomenal agility. The three are an unstoppable force... except that they aren't.

The three were selected because of their physical potential and their pliability. They "get to" become superheroes because the Emperor can be blackmail them into obedience. Similarly, their newfound skills are only of limited use. Being able to break down a door is lovely, but what's there to do in a riot involving thousands of people? Claws are cool but any nasty bureaucrat with access to the right information can keep Tane on a leash. In the greater scheme of things their talents are meaningless. The Emperor has an army to do his dirty work - the role of the Knights is merely to provide a glamorous distraction. This isn't high fantasy. Flying people aren't going to solve Villjamur's problems.

The other key players are facing their own barriers to the successful achievement of the traditional heroic standard. Dartun Sur has been modified by his former alien captors. He can level a village or fly to the moon, but he doesn't know why. He's immensely powerful, but with that comes an equally gaping detachment from the rest of humanity. Sur alternately marvels at his own prowess or barrels inhumanly forward on a mission that he doesn't even fully comprehend.

Shalev, for one of the book's ostensible villains (at least, as far as the Knights are concerned), is the closest interpretation of proper epic heroism. Tragic past + great power = moral obligation. She's out to topple an evil empire and - upon viewing said empire through the readers' eyes - she's got a point. She's possessed by her mission and, although she permits discussion, she is ultimately no more open-minded to dissension than any other superhero. Just like any stableboy with a magic sword, she's got force and certainty on her side.

As a comics fan, I naturally tend toward an analysis of The Book of Transformations' take on fantasy heroism - or, more accurately, the transformation from human to superhuman. But this is only one of the many, many lenses that can be applied Mr. Newton's substantial text. He has given his book an audacious title and yet the finished product manages to live up to it. The book also scrutinizes the moment that utopian socialistic aspiration turns into anarchist revolt, and when enlightened absolutism becomes an oligarchical dictatorship. Transformations marks a turning point in the series as well - the climax of the internal politics and the dawn of a more external focus. The characters themselves undergo a series of transformations: static definitions of gender, class and species are all evolved over the course of the book. Transformation is a broad topic, but Mr. Newton approaches it from every conceivable direction. This is a book that, like many of its Dying Earth predecessors, will provide grist for criticism for decades to come.

That said, The Book of Transformations isn't a weighty tome. It is a cheeky, well-paced adventure story with flashing blades and fiery sorcery a-plenty. There's a stirring romance, a haunting journey through the land of the dead, a series of explosive battles and even a chase scene or two. Mr. Newton maintains the light touch of the surreal that served him so well in City of Ruin - he discusses the very, very strange in the same dry manner as the very, very everyday. Be it the trilobites on the street or the giant in the harbour, the Weirdness is treated as commonplace, which, of course, just makes it all the more wonderfully bizarre.

After an auspicious (if raw) start with Nights of Villjamur, Mr. Newton found his voice with City of Ruin. He hasn't lost it. The Book of Transformations is the work of a confident and mature author. An author who, having become comfortable with his style, is keen to wrap it around increasingly ambitious challenges. And Mr. Newton has just such a challenge on his hands: with a fourth novel in the works, he must to corral the scattered refugees of three tightly-packed volumes in the series' conclusion. I'm aching to know how it all resolves.

Book of Transformations - Mark Charan Newton - book 3 of 4.

What a fantastic book. I'll sum up my review. BUY THIS BOOK :)

That was easy. The book can be read as a standalone novel, as with the previous couple of books he has slightly changed his style, In this book and we are back in the stunning city of Villjamur the site of the first book in the series. The city is surrounded by refugees, Emperor Urtica has now taken over control of the city and is determined to hold on to it come hell or high water. The big freeze is inching closer and the world is holding it's breath.

The city has all sorts of problems the refugees outside, and the oppressed minorities within the city who have a strange rebel leader. So what can the slightly mad emporer come up with... Obvious of course! Create a group of superheroes to save the city. How could anything go wrong with that idea.

So he gets an old ex hero, a self indulgent weener, and a seriously sexy kick arse transsexual together and improves them to save the city.

We have a bit of a mad monk arrive around now, who among other things seems to have the ability to bring the dead back as ghosts....

Nothing can go wrong with Urtica's plans ;)

The slight fly in the ointment is the scary group of cultists marching back to the city to pass on some ultimatum from alien Invaders. Well by now the title really really becomes accurate and everything around the city is transforming.

Then chaos is let loose within the city, grab this book and find out what happens.

I've reviewed this for another site and said it's the best book / new series / new author that I have read in a very long time. The writing and pace of the book is fantastic. Your never quite sure what is going to happen next.

If there is one author you must add this year to your list of must have authors make it Mark Charan Newton.