Most helpful customer reviews
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4.0 out of 5 stars
A Little "Out of Character" in Places, Mar 3 2004
I love this series, and true to form, Williams makes a great story of the second book. However, there were parts of the narrative that were slightly disappointing. In Dragonbone Chair, the plot emanates from the characters like a harmonic reverberates from a plucked string. That quality is what made the book so believable. History, after all, is like a quilt and our decisions/behaviors etc. the patches that make up the pattern. The Stone of Farewell is not quite as realistic in its flow. At times I found myself becoming slightly suspicious and cynical of the plot turns, and feeling like Williams was trying too hard to work certain details into the "big picture" and forgetting the moment at hand and, ultimately, betraying his characters. At these times the characters would often succumb to witless/irrational moves that would leave me thinking, "what in the world did he do THAT for??" It's hard to imagine such clever characters making such flagrant mistakes (or asking stupid questions). Why did Binabik, Sludig and Simon not question the appearance of a strange child on a deserted road? And why did none of them seem to recall that Sludig saw him a long time before the meeting and mistook him for a troll? How did a child, poorly clad for the weather and on foot out pace men on horses??? Some how I find it hard to imagine soldiers and deep thinkers suddenly not thinking of these things. Also, if Josua needs Geloe to explain why the Farewell Stone creates strategic advantage for those that the top, he's not quite the commander Williams makes him out to be. Also, if it truly was Fengbald and his cronies chasing the ragamuffin bunch across the grasslands (as was initially thought), why would they announce their presence with torches? Surely they would be accustomed to riding in the dark for "stealth." Shouldn't a war-hardened, strategic thinker at least question these things before simply reacting? Some of these inconsistencies in the characters made the story less believeable than Dragonbone. Simon, however, is the most consistent character (his irrational moves are almost expected) and Williams does an excellent job of taking him through his various "growth" stages--mentally, emotionally etc. I really like the fact that the straggling bands of "good guys" aren't always triumphant and supernaturally prevailing in everything. I like the fact that they make mistakes, I just think the characters need to be a bit more true in the mistakes that they make. I like a story where the characters really have to work for the final outcome. There are very tense moments in the narrative that are exciting and well done. Overall, I think this book is a great read and does a nice job of tying the "big picture" together more clearly and building toward the ultimate climax. My hope for the next installment in the series: I'd like to see a little more philosophical grappling with the spiritual content, since the theme of good vs. evil is so pronounced. Williams is very relational and "shows" the reader about spiritual nature through the character traits like those of Pryrates vs. the Lector but I'd like to see a little more thinking about it on the part of the characters. Josua alludes to Aedon in his challenge preceding the battle with the Thrithing that is slightly reminiscent of Old Testament bravado, but it feels more like a manipulation than personal ownership of "the good." Simon does have his moments (as does Maegwin...sort of), but they pass quickly. Binabik's answers are a little bit too pat for a deep thinker. New information about the origins of the Sithi (and others) comes to light and Williams alludes to a Garden where the nature of the race was somehow corrupted, thereby giving rise to the Shadow that arose among them. I hope he intends to delve into this a little more deeply. If he is going to make assertions about the nature of evil and being (if there is a state of Unbeing-as the Sithi allude to-what, exactly is it's opposite state: Being?), I'd like to see him go all the way with it and present plausible philosophical "discourse" on the subject. The pace at which he introduces these moral conundrums in the minds of the characters is a bit slow for my taste. They seem to have a deep seated sense of duty and worry much about what to do, but little (in comparison) about the deep nature of existence from which all things (and therefore decisions) arise. But, in defense, I suppose that's pretty typical of humanity as a whole, and therefore another "realistic" element to the story.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Middle Volume Blues, Dec 7 2003
It's no mystery that Tad Williams draws much of his "Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn" series from the J.R.R. Tolkien well - and most contemporary fantasists drink from these same waters, point of fact - but what Williams does not replicate is the intensity of "The Two Towers," the middle volume in Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings." "The Stone of Farewell" is a bloated tome that rambles more often than it compels. Even so, the characters introduced in "The Dragonbone Chair" are strong enough to warrant the effort spent on "Farewell," and the concluding volume ("To Green Angel Tower") promises a resounding conclusion. I can't help but think that "Farewell" just runs on too long, especially during those times when nothing of any real consequence is actually taking place. To be curt, it can be very boring. On the other hand, there are some very moody and inspiring sequences - they just happen to be trapped in the tangle. As a bridge between "The Dragonbone Chair" and "To Green Angel Tower," "The Stone of Farewell" is definitely worth the hike - but even books in an ongoing series should, to some extent, satisfy on their own. "Farewell" suffers from the middle volume blues. Still, my interest in the series continues despite the drudgery of this particular journey, and that says a lot.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent sequel, Jun 20 2003
In answer to the Dragonbone Chair, Williams tells the tale of poor Simon, and others, after the fall of his good Prince's stronghold. More hints tug at our imagination, showing again the vast scope of Williams' research in writing his books. Good is crippled by evil, but hope is not lost. The promise of prophesy wars with the reality of evil's victory on many fronts, and the teasing hints at history's play in current events continues. Enjoy Book Two -- it sets the stage for a mind-blowing third installment.
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