Abhorsen by Garth Nix

[meganbmoore]

I found Sameth much less annoying here than I did in Lirael, but then, he didn’t have time to whine. I still would have rather been reading about Lirael and Ellimere.

I didn’t like this as much as I did Lirael, mostly because it didn’t have the Library, and because Lirael had already done most of her character growth in Lirael, and mostly just needed to get it all tied together. But I really liked the revelation about Mogget and Disreputable Dog’s identities, and I wish there had been more of Sabriel and Touchstone. (And wasn’t this the first time we learned Touchstone’s real name? Or did I just forget it?) I liked Sabriel and was ok with but not interested in Touchstone in Sabriel, but really like their older versions.

I feel like, since this is a continuation of Lirael, instead of a new story, I said everything I had to say when I posted on Lirael. But now people don’t have to bite their tongues when commenting on it!

I know that Across the Wall is a collection of short stories, at least one of which is set in the same world, but has anyone read Nix’s other series, or know if he plans to write anymore in this world? (Preferably about Ellimere or set later in Lirael’s life, but I accept that writers don’t get paid just to cater to me.)

Comments

[genarti]

I agree with you about Lirael's character growth, and about wanting to read about Lirael and Ellimere. I was torn on Sameth's annoyingness; sometimes I sympathized with him (because even if it's annoying in a fictional character, I have totally been that person, although I hope more introverted and non-annoying about it) and sometimes I just wanted to smack him. And I adore older Sabriel and Touchstone; I love happily married adult couples, and they totally were that.

Abhorsen is probably my least favorite of the series, but talking about it now has me wanting to reread it anyway.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Few things in fiction make me happy the way happy, stable couples being presented as being interesting does.

[genarti]

I agree with this 100%. And it's so weirdly rare!

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

There's an assumption that together/happy/stable=boring.

What I find boring is the convolutions a lot of fiction (I'm looking at you, shoujo romance, and you, kdramas) goes through to make things "interesting."

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

Seconded. I didn't mind the Sabriel/Touchstone ship in the first book but it didn't really make me feel anything, either; but I loved, loved, loved that here they were shown as an established, longtime couple, and parents of near-adult children no less, who still are clearly crazy about each other, and work together marvelously as a team.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

In Sabriel I thought Sabriel/Touchstone was a decent pairing, but it didn't do much for me. Ithought they were much better and more interesting as a pairing after years of marriage.

(Of course, I also think I'm the only person in the worldf who counts Zoe/Wash as their favorite Joss Whedon pairing, so...)

[luckychan.livejournal.com]

Um, Zoe/Wash is my favorite Joss Whedon pairing ever. ^^; Which is why I'm still pretty brokenhearted about them...

I love happily married couples too, and even when from the beginning I already liked Sabriel/Touchstone, I loved them even more when they were shown in Abhorsen. In Abhorsen, what I also found really interesting, by the way, the possibility of something that could go on between Lirael and Nick. ^^ It's hinted in Across The Wall, but I really would have liked that explored more. (I remember them being awkward and cute, even in Abhorsen.)

As for his other books, I read Mister Monday, and while it's not as absorbing as Sabriel was, I thought it was...okay. But that's probably just because there was a character there that I particularly liked.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

There's something there with Lirael and Nick. Maybe it'll get explored in the upcoming book.