Young Princess Ximia did not want a life predestined by her heritage. She was torn between a thirst for adventures in the post-apocalyptic world of Altethlon and the role expected of her in the rigid culture of her kingdom. The politics of her time was delicate and her choices were limited. Just as she thought she found her destiny, a strange encounter turned her life upside down ... Son of an exiled criminal turned tribal leader, Nikolas was in total control of his fate. Yet when he took on just another ordinary mission for the Queen, things no longer seemed so certain. In this epic tale of adventures and conflicts, many paths were altered and many lives were changed.
The Altethlon Chronicles
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Format:Paperback
China's love affair with superstition, pseudoscience and the fantastical can be traced back over five millennia, whence some of history's oldest myths and legends originated.
Journey to the West (Xi You Ji), published anonymously by scholar Wu Cheng'en in the 16th century Ming Dynasty, remains China's most beloved fantasy story. Considered one of the "Four Great Classical Novels" of Chinese literature, the 100 chapters of `Journey' are replete with monkey kings, flesh-eating demons, immortal sages and celestial battles.
When science fiction became all the craze in 1950's America, Red China followed suit by founding its first sci-fi periodical. But unlike in the west, where science fiction was fueled by rapid advances in the tech sector, China promoted sci-fi to help inspire its own dormant technological progress. Conversely, about the same time during the 70's that American director George Lucas was preparing to film a little space opera called Star Wars, the Cultural Revolution was banishing all its scientists to hard-labor communes.
Indeed, where the Chinese have categorically failed in speculative fiction (programming on the Communist-controlled CCTV is evidence enough that future perspective is held in little regard here: of China's 19 official television channels, all feature serials set in olden times, some in the present, none about the future), they remain masters of mythology and purveyors of the past.
Present-day PRC is seeing a renaissance of the fantasy genre. The wuxia-inspired Chinese film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was a critical and commercial success, generations of young, Chinese cyber-punks are hopelessly addicted to the virtual sorcery of World of Warcraft, and Harry Potter remains China's "most pirated novel ever." Even so, no Chinese author has ever been able to replicate the success of Journey to the West; as a result, publishing houses in the Middle Kingdom prefer to translate western best-sellers like Lord of the Rings and Narnia rather than take their chances on local fantasy fiction writers.
Enter Zee Gorman, nee Yan Zihong, China's response to J.K. Rowling. Born in Guangdong province during the Cultural Revolution (both her parents were exiled to the countryside for being "intellectuals"), Zee was raised on a literary diet of propaganda and scar literature. But rather than publish a clichéd daughter-of-the-Revolution memoir about her hardships, the aspiring author opted for the escapism of fantasy. Hence her decades-in-the-making debut novel, The Altethlon Chronicles.
A high-fantasy fiction set in a parallel universe either far in China's future or its past, Altethlon Chronicles is a complex blend of military, history, romance and sorcery. Leading the rich cast of green-eyed, purple-skinned characters is the royal yet rebellious teen Ximia ("what kind of princess are you anyway, running around like a wildcat?") and her forbidden lover, Nikolas, the leader of a rival tribe - a tumultuous relationship most likely inspired by Zee's own experience with cultural clash when she immigrated to the U.S. and married an American. Ximia is misled into believing that Nikolas has been killed during an escape attempt, whereby the princess is married off by her father to a dastardly lord. The two young warriors go on to lead their respective armies until the day when destiny arranges for them to meet again in battle. Lots of magic, weird names and epic battles of Tolkien proportions (note: this reviewer has never actually read a J. R. R. Tolkien book; I just thought it sounded cool to say that) ensue.
In creating this alternate world, Zee draws heavily on her Chinese heritage. Kingdoms such as Manchuli, Dalong and Taklaman are each reminiscent of real regions in China. Nonetheless, Zee, who is bi-lingual and holds dual degrees in English Literature, chose to write The Altethlon Chronicles in her second language and self-publish in America rather than risk having it pirated in China's nascent fantasy market. Some realities are worth escaping.
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Tom Carter is the author of CHINA: Portrait of a People
Journey to the West (Xi You Ji), published anonymously by scholar Wu Cheng'en in the 16th century Ming Dynasty, remains China's most beloved fantasy story. Considered one of the "Four Great Classical Novels" of Chinese literature, the 100 chapters of `Journey' are replete with monkey kings, flesh-eating demons, immortal sages and celestial battles.
When science fiction became all the craze in 1950's America, Red China followed suit by founding its first sci-fi periodical. But unlike in the west, where science fiction was fueled by rapid advances in the tech sector, China promoted sci-fi to help inspire its own dormant technological progress. Conversely, about the same time during the 70's that American director George Lucas was preparing to film a little space opera called Star Wars, the Cultural Revolution was banishing all its scientists to hard-labor communes.
Indeed, where the Chinese have categorically failed in speculative fiction (programming on the Communist-controlled CCTV is evidence enough that future perspective is held in little regard here: of China's 19 official television channels, all feature serials set in olden times, some in the present, none about the future), they remain masters of mythology and purveyors of the past.
Present-day PRC is seeing a renaissance of the fantasy genre. The wuxia-inspired Chinese film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was a critical and commercial success, generations of young, Chinese cyber-punks are hopelessly addicted to the virtual sorcery of World of Warcraft, and Harry Potter remains China's "most pirated novel ever." Even so, no Chinese author has ever been able to replicate the success of Journey to the West; as a result, publishing houses in the Middle Kingdom prefer to translate western best-sellers like Lord of the Rings and Narnia rather than take their chances on local fantasy fiction writers.
Enter Zee Gorman, nee Yan Zihong, China's response to J.K. Rowling. Born in Guangdong province during the Cultural Revolution (both her parents were exiled to the countryside for being "intellectuals"), Zee was raised on a literary diet of propaganda and scar literature. But rather than publish a clichéd daughter-of-the-Revolution memoir about her hardships, the aspiring author opted for the escapism of fantasy. Hence her decades-in-the-making debut novel, The Altethlon Chronicles.
A high-fantasy fiction set in a parallel universe either far in China's future or its past, Altethlon Chronicles is a complex blend of military, history, romance and sorcery. Leading the rich cast of green-eyed, purple-skinned characters is the royal yet rebellious teen Ximia ("what kind of princess are you anyway, running around like a wildcat?") and her forbidden lover, Nikolas, the leader of a rival tribe - a tumultuous relationship most likely inspired by Zee's own experience with cultural clash when she immigrated to the U.S. and married an American. Ximia is misled into believing that Nikolas has been killed during an escape attempt, whereby the princess is married off by her father to a dastardly lord. The two young warriors go on to lead their respective armies until the day when destiny arranges for them to meet again in battle. Lots of magic, weird names and epic battles of Tolkien proportions (note: this reviewer has never actually read a J. R. R. Tolkien book; I just thought it sounded cool to say that) ensue.
In creating this alternate world, Zee draws heavily on her Chinese heritage. Kingdoms such as Manchuli, Dalong and Taklaman are each reminiscent of real regions in China. Nonetheless, Zee, who is bi-lingual and holds dual degrees in English Literature, chose to write The Altethlon Chronicles in her second language and self-publish in America rather than risk having it pirated in China's nascent fantasy market. Some realities are worth escaping.
###
Tom Carter is the author of CHINA: Portrait of a People
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.8 out of 5 stars
16 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fun read!
Aug 7 2010
By Kumu Obu Corlin
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Full disclosure up front: I originally made this purchase because I share an online hobby with the author. We have never met in person but I was intrigued when I heard about the book.
My copy arrived last Saturday so I read a few chapters before going out with some friends that night. Sunday morning I picked it up again and couldn't let go till I finished.
This really surprised me. I was expecting a "nice little story" that I would politely say I enjoyed - no matter what I actually thought. The Altethlon Chronicles was more, much more however, a real delight. It's obvious the author's creative side was on fire while writing this. The scope (both geographic and chronological) was much broader than I expected, the details drew me in, the characters made me care what happened, while the twists kept me intrigued. Bravo - I very much look forward to the next tale.
Thanks - it was a fun read.
My copy arrived last Saturday so I read a few chapters before going out with some friends that night. Sunday morning I picked it up again and couldn't let go till I finished.
This really surprised me. I was expecting a "nice little story" that I would politely say I enjoyed - no matter what I actually thought. The Altethlon Chronicles was more, much more however, a real delight. It's obvious the author's creative side was on fire while writing this. The scope (both geographic and chronological) was much broader than I expected, the details drew me in, the characters made me care what happened, while the twists kept me intrigued. Bravo - I very much look forward to the next tale.
Thanks - it was a fun read.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A new adventure
July 18 2010
By Rico Crossfire
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Queens Hero and the Ubion Princess is a character driven story, reflecting not only a gloried past, but also a world in which we live in the present.
The author in her art of story telling has created a new adventure, a place locked away in mystery, forged in battle, darkness and light, set in tradition and conflict. This unique timeless tale of struggle, friendship and love continues on in, "The Altethlon Chronicles." For those who want to set their feet on a new adventure, The Queen's hero and the Ubion Princess is a must read.
Richard Thomas Banegas Author
The author in her art of story telling has created a new adventure, a place locked away in mystery, forged in battle, darkness and light, set in tradition and conflict. This unique timeless tale of struggle, friendship and love continues on in, "The Altethlon Chronicles." For those who want to set their feet on a new adventure, The Queen's hero and the Ubion Princess is a must read.
Richard Thomas Banegas Author
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Zee's story captivating
Nov 5 2010
By Ruimin Zhang
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
This epic story is captivating. Only "half a candlestick" of reading carried me away into a world of magic, fantasy, folk tales, and legends, where love and hate, desire and destiny, adventures and struggle, all of which so masterly woven together and give me a cinematic portrait of the characters and places in the fiction. The deft twists and turns of the plot grab my mind and keep me read on and on to the very end of the story and still curious about what happens next to Ximia and Nikolas. How I wish to read a sequel! Ruimin Zhang
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 16 reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
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