- Hardcover: 56 pages
- Publisher: Raincoast Books (Aug 10 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1551926210
- ISBN-13: 978-1551926216
- Product Dimensions: 20.3 x 20.1 x 1.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 476 g
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #268,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
In this sixth and final installment in his popular Griffin & Sabine saga (divided into two trilogies), writer and illustrator Bantock creates another jewel box of a book, rife with intrigue, legend and mystery. The exquisitely designed text features the series' trademark postcards and letters, written by archeologist Matthew Sedon, his true love Isabella de Reims, and the mysterious Griffin and Sabine, who have infiltrated the young lovers' lives. Fetchingly sepia-toned and exotic, the illustrated missives are charged with equal parts passion and mythology. Although newcomers to the story may be baffled by references to events that occurred in the previous volumes, they will find much to enjoy in the lush design and seductive tale. The suspense builds as Isabella, abandoning her studies in Paris, travels by land closer and closer to Matthew in Egypt. There is a voyeuristic thrill to reading someone else's mail, and Bantock exploits it thoroughly. When Matthew and Isabella come together at last, their union is a bit too breathless (Isabella engulfs Matthew "in her creature senses"), but readers who have followed the characters this far will appreciate the fireworks.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
From Booklist
Artist and fabulist Bantock concludes the cosmic romance of his internationally adored creations, Griffin and Sabine, and their young disciples, Matthew and Isabella, in the final installment in a series that includes The Gryphon (2001) and Alexandria (2002). Elevating his exquisite and unique form of illustrated epistolary novels (beware: as before, some letters are not bound into the book) to new heights, Bantock's art has never been finer, the sweet sensuality has never been more poetic, and the drama of their spiritual mission has never been so exalted. As Griffin and Sabine encourage the intrepid Isabella on her urgent and risky journey from France to Egypt and instruct Matthew in ways to subvert the dark force that stalks him, Bantock orchestrates a fantastic battle between good and evil. Sabine writes that Matthew and Isabella are part of "an elite of the sensitive, the considerate and the tenacious" engaged in a "struggle against cruelty and unrelenting chaos," and, at the very least, best-selling Bantock's dreamy creations do good by adding beauty to the world. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.1 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
The End?, Oct 12 2003
By Michael Mapa - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Morning Star (Hardcover)
This book (and the second trilogy, for that matter) is neither as visually arresting nor as emotionally involving as the first one. Of course, it could be that the novelty of the gimmick (reading someone else's mail) is wearing off, but I think it is also because Matthew and Isabella are simply not as interesting as Griffin and Sabine. As for the art, it's still lavish, but it lacks the sort of dream-/nightmare-like quality that made the first series so compelling. In other words, there doesn't seem to be much spirit in this series.And unless Nick Bantock has plans of coming up with a 3rd trilogy, I'm afraid the question will linger in my mind is: "What was THAT all about?" I wish he'd stopped at The Golden Mean--at least there were so many interesting theories about the series at that point (my personal favorite is that Sabine was a malevolent force that drove Griffin to madness). But now, there are no good theories.
Hardcore fans of Bantock's art will no doubt enjoy this series. But those hoping for a story worthy of the first series may be disappointed, as I was.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
The un-story, May 17 2004
By wiredweird "wiredweird" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Morning Star (Hardcover)
Frankly, I'm disappointed. The original Griffin and Sabine series had a wonderful spark of originality. This series is just too derivative. I wanted to like this new trilogy. I like Bantock's art. There is so much in each picture that I can barely pull myself away for the text. I like the new plot elements that Bantock introduced. The cat with a name, Isabella's roar - these could have been rich new elements in the G&S mythology. They never went anywhere though, and left us re-reading the G&S story in somewhat different words.
If you're new to Bantock, the first G&S trilogy is your best bet. It's fresh, mysterious, and exciting. I just wish that this series could have deepened the mystery or sustained the excitement.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Illuminated?? I'm still in the dark..., July 12 2004
By Mike - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Morning Star (Hardcover)
...either that or Bantock just forgot to hit the light switch. I must admit, despite the enigmatic characters, intriguing plot twists and refreshingly exotic artwork I've come to love from this series, what I was really holding my breath for with this final installment was clarification. Alas, it didn't deliver. I have no gripes with the story, or the whole second series for that matter, up until the final two postcards. After six books and twelve years, did Bantock just write himself into a trap? Could it be that he lost direction in the end and saw no way out but to flash-cook up a conclusion in the guise of another puzzle for us to figure out? I doubt it, but I can't help feeling shortchanged. What exactly was Frolatti, and why was he so intent on keeping Griffin and Sabine subdued (wherever the heck they were)? After so much time, why was Matthew and Isabella's reunion so vague?
I love cliffhangers as much as the next person, but not when there's nothing more to look forward to. Disappointing.
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