- Paperback: 736 pages
- Publisher: Bantam; New edition edition (1 Jan 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0553505815
- ISBN-13: 978-0553505818
- Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 10.2 x 5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 249,431 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Ricardo Pinto's first novel opens a fantasy sequence titled "The Stone Dance of the Chameleon", exploring a complex and hierarchical empire with a vaguely Oriental flavour. Young hero Carnelian journeys from his aristocratic father's remote, wintry house of exile to the heart of power--moving stage by stage from carefree family life to an imperial court dominated by unchangeable rituals that make the regimentation of Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast seem like an anarchic free-for-all. This obsessiveness is reflected in ornate masks and formal clothing, growing more bizarrely exotic as travellers approach the centre of the Guarded Land and culminating in massive "robes" of woven precious metals built up on scaffolding, plus shoes that are virtually stilts. Masks are socially necessary because any commoner who sees the face of a Master (the immensely tall ruling class) must be blinded--as Carnelian learns to his horror after briefly forgetting to cover up. Far worse mutilations are commonplace. But even amid the poisoned splendours, suffocating protocols and treachery of court life, there are tiny opportunities to break loose: our hero discovers illicit knowledge and a forbidden lover. Then, after the new God Emperor's election, there's disaster leading to a sudden cliffhanger ending. Full of rich imagery, haunting horror and the slow-motion quality of dreams, this is a series to watch. --David Langford
Book Description
A magnificent and highly original fantasy novel - the first in the trilogy - written with the sophistication of The Coming of the King and Gormenghast.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The story kept me hooked even though I had to put it down for a week (outside reasons) but it was the little things that where intresting, links with the the pre-conquest cultures of central/southern American , the use of lingistic terms and a pre iron age socity that is obsessed with genetics, gave an archaeology student so many moments of joy. Plus the departure from the standard straight love story and the lack of good and bad guys.
but the ending is... , thank the twins its a trilogy.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you are after fast flowing fights this probably isn't for you. It follows the son of an exiled "Master" through his family's journey back to their homeland to aid in the election of the new God Emperor. It deals with him facing the ever growing strictness imposed by this strange culture that he is supposed to follow... and he gets dragged into the election process of the new ruler.
Ricardo Pinto likes to add a lot of detail to the surroundings, I've seen this criticised by people but I found it a nice touch as it creates a world in which the adventures live rather than just the story and nothing else.
I bought this one on a business trip when I forgot to pick up my Robert Jordan book...this one was so compelling that it took precedent. That's saying a lot as once I start a WoT book I generally don't let anything distract me till it's finished.
I'm looking forward to the next volume of this series very much.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Finally not the standard 'evil-dark-necromancer-wants-to-destroy-world-and-kid-saves-the-day-with-hidden-magic-talent'-bad-Tolkien-imitation we see so often, but mature, detailed, beautifully writen fantasy about a strange, cruel, but convincing world. As good as Tolkien, as strong als Mervyn Peake, but the quality is uniquelly Pinto. Stunning detailed world, strong characters and no fluffy elves. If you want a book that goes beyond conventional fantasy, read this!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Unique character driven fantasy drama.
I've had The Chosen - a book originally published in 1999 - on my shelves for quite some time. Now at last, I've finally managed to read this first volume in The Stone Dance of the... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Kamvision
Boring
Lets clear up a few things about this book. The authors imagination is incredible, he can the world in which these characters live in to life in a fashion that so many other... Read more
Published on 14 Sep 2009 by K. Bourouba
An engaging fantasy
Carnelian is one of the chosen, a race of masters who consider the people they rule over to be so inferior they treat them as slaves, who can be mutilated and killed for even the... Read more
Published on 22 April 2009 by Blackhorse47
Difficult to decide just how good this one is...
Despite having finished The Chosen, I am left with a feeling of indecision. I just can't seem to decide whether I thought it was good, or just okay. Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2009 by xenofan
The Worst Book Ever Written by Man or Beast
I started reading this as a serious exercise in the anthropology of industrial decline and the Scottish imagination and ended up dipping into it for laughs. Read more
Published on 21 Jan 2009 by COMMON SENSE
Imaginative and different
Briefly: Carnelian and his father, a Ruling Lord, live in exile on a remote island with their household of slaves and lower caste relations. Read more
Published on 16 Oct 2008 by Benjamin
Brilliant but Soooo slow
This book is truly original, other-worldly, disturbing, haunting and beautifully written.
So a great book then? well not quite. Read more
So a great book then? well not quite. Read more
Published on 24 May 2008 by Mr. A. I. Harrison
Imaginative and enthralling
I love this book and can't understand some of the less eager reviews, this book is great and I just had to say it. Obviously it is a matter of personal taste. Read more
Published on 8 April 2007 by S. Pritchatd
A real slog which did not get any better and was not worth it.
I had picked this book up while on holiday and based on the reviews was expecting something special. Read more
Published on 5 Feb 2007 by pmcro1
Its the little things
The story kept me hooked even though I had to put it down for a week (outside reasons) but it was the little things that where intresting, links with the the pre-conquest cultures... Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2004 by "burningissy"
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