- Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Corgi; paperback / softback edition (8 Aug 1986)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0552127590
- ISBN-13: 978-0552127592
- Product Dimensions: 17.4 x 10 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 980,562 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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1st edition paperback, vg++
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm quite surprised to be the first reviewer of this book. If 'Lord of the Rings' is the dragon of fantasy then 'The Elves and the Otterskin' is the hamster. But that's not a criticism, far from it- this is a very endearing story of swords and sorcerers with a spellbinding adventure to boot. But it isn't high fantasy and therefore won't appeal to everyone.
Before reading this book, although I'd read a variety of fantasy stories, I'd always assumed that epic themes with mighty battles and brave heroes were totally necessary for a fantasy story, whether with a slightly comedic or deadly serious tone. How wrong I was. This is a complete breath of fresh air and a great change of pace from the average fantasy tale- as far from the deadly earnestness of Tolkein or the ludicrously implausible of Pratchett as you can get, this is nonetheless a riot of a read, inventive and engrossing without ever being pretentious or belittling the genre. So I was definitely dismayed when THE END came, despite I admit finding the book a slow read in places. But probably about twenty pages in I knew I would be reading more by Boyer, despite this being my first experience of her work and that's both unusual and extraordinary, for me at least.
A less than engrossing section about half-way through mars a beautiful pace, but being lost in a maze must be very difficult to make entertaining. Throughout the book, I felt rather than being gripped by the plot and what would happen next in that sense, I was far more interested in the characters and how they would develop. The prose is basic, even sparse, but the dialogue is rich and expressive, so it's the characters that fuel the fire of this story. In a way the plot is insignificant compared to Boyer's inspired elf/magician/hero creations that leap from the pages.
This book doesn't follow fantasy conventions, so you may find yourself slightly disappointed by some aspects of the story, but that really is part of it's charm and this didn't dampen my enjoyment and I'm sure you'll find the same to be true. In one way that it highly succeeds in emulating and expanding upon fantasy genre conventions, is in its use of scandanavian-inspired people/place names that are completely unpronouncable and so do somewhat disrupt the flow of the narrative. This aside, no bad points.
Absolutely no effort is required to read this book- the storyline doesn't convolute at every oppotunity and nor are there long descriptions of the landscape to trawl through. A great antidote to the huge themes of Hobb, Feist, Eddings and Tolkein that I personally enjoy, but which can get repetitive, this is a book every fantasy fan must read for some light refreshment.
Before reading this book, although I'd read a variety of fantasy stories, I'd always assumed that epic themes with mighty battles and brave heroes were totally necessary for a fantasy story, whether with a slightly comedic or deadly serious tone. How wrong I was. This is a complete breath of fresh air and a great change of pace from the average fantasy tale- as far from the deadly earnestness of Tolkein or the ludicrously implausible of Pratchett as you can get, this is nonetheless a riot of a read, inventive and engrossing without ever being pretentious or belittling the genre. So I was definitely dismayed when THE END came, despite I admit finding the book a slow read in places. But probably about twenty pages in I knew I would be reading more by Boyer, despite this being my first experience of her work and that's both unusual and extraordinary, for me at least.
A less than engrossing section about half-way through mars a beautiful pace, but being lost in a maze must be very difficult to make entertaining. Throughout the book, I felt rather than being gripped by the plot and what would happen next in that sense, I was far more interested in the characters and how they would develop. The prose is basic, even sparse, but the dialogue is rich and expressive, so it's the characters that fuel the fire of this story. In a way the plot is insignificant compared to Boyer's inspired elf/magician/hero creations that leap from the pages.
This book doesn't follow fantasy conventions, so you may find yourself slightly disappointed by some aspects of the story, but that really is part of it's charm and this didn't dampen my enjoyment and I'm sure you'll find the same to be true. In one way that it highly succeeds in emulating and expanding upon fantasy genre conventions, is in its use of scandanavian-inspired people/place names that are completely unpronouncable and so do somewhat disrupt the flow of the narrative. This aside, no bad points.
Absolutely no effort is required to read this book- the storyline doesn't convolute at every oppotunity and nor are there long descriptions of the landscape to trawl through. A great antidote to the huge themes of Hobb, Feist, Eddings and Tolkein that I personally enjoy, but which can get repetitive, this is a book every fantasy fan must read for some light refreshment.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
An oldie, but a goodie!
20 Mar 1998
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I am amazed that this series of books have had so little said about them. Ms. Boyers style is very much a classic and the time should be taken to find this series, or even one of them. Try it, you'll like it!
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Wonderful book
29 Sep 1999
Format:Mass Market Paperback
It's a wonderful book. I am surprised, like the people who wrote reviews below me, that the book is not very much noticed. My favorite character was Gizur.. and because of him, my only complaint of this book. If one reads the book, they'll understand. This is one of my all-time favorite books.. (my favorite series in all books that I've read is Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings) If you can find this book, and read it, you'll enjoy!
A quirky, unique and refreshingly new take on fantasy
17 Jun 1999
Format:Mass Market Paperback
It is astonishing that this author has not received more acclaim than she has. The Elves and The Otterskin is a superbly written and unique book with a piquant sense of humor. All of the usual elements are here: heroes, swords of power, characters struggling towards great deeds, magic - the faithful will be happy. What makes the books so different - and thus refreshing to longtime devotees of the genre - is how well it is written, how well the characters in the book develop from being a rather fractious band of moronic elves into something rather more powerful, and how it stands the usual conventions of the genre on their heads - all done with a twinkle in its eye. This is decidedly a modern fable - the characters do not seem to have the the God-given assurance of an Aragorn or a Gandalf. Instead Ivarr, our clueless witches' assistant must stumble his way, with grit , determination, a little luck and some ridiculous companions, towards the rescuing of a famous sword from a horrible pit, the slaying of a legendary Dragon and the final defeat of an evil and powerful Necromancer. Comedy and seriousness are balanced beautifully into a tasty, light-hearted and very pleasing offering. Overall: a fabulous book - order it and keep it if you can still find it.
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