- Audio Cassette
- Publisher: Shadow Mountain; Abridged edition (March 2000)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1573456624
- ISBN-13: 978-1573456623
- Product Dimensions: 14.6 x 11.4 x 3.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 249 g
- Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Less a fantasy than an extended allegory about the dissemination of God's word to mankind, this ambitious, engrossing novel by the author of the acclaimed Thomas and Charlotte Pitt Victorian mysteries (The Twisted Root, Forecasts, Aug. 23, etc.) tackles the infinite battle between good and evil through its title character, Tathea. One moonlit night, Ta-Thea--as she is known while Empress of Shinabar, her world's most ancient, advanced civilization--is awakened by screams. Her husband and young son murdered, Ta-Thea flees her home and takes on a new name and an epic journey as she seeks both understanding of her personal tragedy and a reason to continue living. With Ishrafeli, a steadfast comrade who lends support to her quest, Tathea encounters new lands and engages in their inhabitants' clashes with mortal dilemmas of the flesh and the spirit alike. When she has tested her mettle sufficiently and not found it wanting, Tathea witnesses a debate between the Man of Holiness and his adversary, Asmodeus, which leads her to a precious Book, whose teachings she undertakes to divine and share with the world against opposition beyond her imagining. Although Perry's prose tends toward the florid, and she at times sacrifices her characters' dimensionality in favor of homily--spending much of their dialogue and Tathea's thoughts on somewhat repetitive philosophies about the Book--she has devised here a powerful, inventive meditation on the possibilities that lie in and beyond the origin of religion. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Perry's latest work is a disappointing departure from her popular Victorian mysteries. Billed as a fantasy, it is in fact a religious allegory about a woman on a quest to find God and spread his teachings. The story revolves around Empress Tathea, who has fled her native Shinabar in search of truth and meaning. Her wanderings in mystic lands lead her to a book that contains the word of God, which she must share with the worldAbut the world, it seems, is not ready to listen. What might have been an interesting story is undermined by preachy language and poor character development. Minor characters regularly appear and disappear, and Tathea comes across as too perfect to be true. Finally, instead of exploring questions about religious faith, Perry beats the reader over the head with it. Her other books are much more successful at addressing profound philosophical issues. Not recommended.ALaurel Bliss, New Haven, CT
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
Another for my Short List,
By wysewomon "wysewomon" (Paonia, CO United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Tathea (Mass Market Paperback)
Ta-thea, Empress of Shinabar, is awakened one night to find herself in the middle of a palace coup and everyone around her dead. With the help of a faithful servant, she manages to escape to the Lost Lands, where she seeks out a sage, demanding that he tell her the purpose of her life, the universe, and everything. He sends her off on a quest with a mysterious boatsman who appears from nowhere. The object of this quest is to learn the mind of God.According to the book jacket reviews, _Tathea_ is "riveting from the first page," "crafted with depth of thought," and "filled with symbolism." I can't help but wonder if the reviewers who wrote those blurbs actually read the book, or only some promotional material from the publisher. I found this book immensely dull, trite and self-conscious, a work that constantly drew attention to its own supposed profundity while actually sermonizing on pretty simplistic and not-very-original themes. After a hundred pages of monotonous situations, depthless characters and heavy-handed allegory, I couldn't take any more. This isn't a fantasy novel; it's a Fundamentalist tract. Reading it made me feel like I was being hit over the head with a dull axe. I've never read anything else by the author and I don't intend to. Ace did a disservice to all readers of fantasy by publishing this.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
a religious parable, not a novel,
By
This review is from: Tathea (Mass Market Paperback)
Tathea is essentially a lengthy (over 500 page) Christian parable. Regardless of the merits of its message, this book should not be represented as a fantasy novel.The characters are undeveloped and uninteresting. The main character, Tathea, journeys from place to place with only the thinnest of plot devices to connect the various episodes. Supposedly, each of her adventures deepens her understanding of "The Book," but in fact no such growth is evident in the character. I am surprised that the author, who has published dozens of books in the mystery genre, could produce somethng as poorly written as Tathea.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
A cure for insomnia,
This review is from: Tathea (Mass Market Paperback)
I'll be brief. I love Anne Perry's work. Although I'm a huge fan of William Monk and Hester and I love the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt myteries, this book was sleep inducing. There are 522 pages of religious ramblings that could have been condensed into 200. I'm sorry to say, reading this was a waste of time.
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