Animist [Hardcover]

Eve Forward (Author), Darrell K. Sweet (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 3, 2000

Young Alex is a slave. But recognized for his potential as an Animist, he is bought by his college and begins rigorous training. Now, Alex must begin his quest for his Anim-the animal with whom he will bond.

Alex hopes it will be an extraordinary creature that will help him earn the money he needs to buy his freedom. Unfortunately, his Anim turns out to be . . . well, not nearly what he had hoped. But as Alex finds himself caught in one misadventure after another, he will learn-and learn to appreciate-that there is more to his Anim than meets the eye.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As predictable as it may beAa coming-of-age ramble quest through a weird world where bonded human-animal pairs battle dread black magical forcesAthis launch novel for Forward's new fantasy trilogy steps out smartly from her earlier Villains by Necessity. Upon graduation from the College of Animism, where he seems to have majored in manure shoveling, 16-year-old, five-feet-tall Alex first seeks out his Anim, an empathetic animal that will allow him to detect and elude the magicians who are bent on destroying the rational-scientific Animists, believers that all things have souls. Alex's Anim turns out to be the tiny rat Mote, one of Forward's most appealing characters, who constantly preserves Alex from blundering into annihilation. Rigged out with the customary complement of companionsATemith, a world-weary, old scholar; a glamorous Princess Celine to adore from afar; a Pattonesque giant saurian generalAAlex and Mote take on the job of freeing the Rodeni, a small rodentlike race that has been enslaved for centuries by wicked Humani. Forward is capable of some luscious descriptive passages, especially in her scenes of the gloriously intelligent Delphini rollicking through sparkling tropical seas, and she draws both her people and nonpeople with taste and sympathy, leaving plenty of room for Alex's further adventures. (June)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Sold to the College of Animism as a child, Alex graduates and embarks on a spirit quest to seek an animal to power his magic. His journey through a world inhabited by numerous nonhuman races involves him in a series of intrigues that result in the fall of a kingdom and the discovery of his own worth. Forward (Villains by Necessity) offers a fresh and imaginative view of magic and mayhem in this first book of a projected trilogy. Recommended for most fantasy collections.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (June 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031286891X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312868918
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #884,895 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reminiscent of early Norton and Heinlein, July 4, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Animist (Hardcover)

Teenager Alex worries about his future now that he graduates from the College of Animists. He knows he must embark on a journey to find his Anim if he is to survive in a world filled with magicians desiring the annihilation of the Animists. However, the thought of the trek frightens him especially since his friends still have a few years before they begin their quest for the animal that they will share an empathic link with for life.

Alex meets his empathic other, Mote a tiny rat, but his search also places the two of them in the middle of a war between two small nations. Along with several traveling companions he met on his pilgrimage, Alex stands in the way of a malevolent being that wants mass destruction. Only Mote manages to keep Alex from blundering to his death as the small troupe struggles to save the lives of humans and animals.

Although the twin themes of a coming of age quest and a psychic link between humans and animals have been done many times in novels and movies, the charming charcaters keep the tale fresh. The story line is entertaining and exciting as the bungling Alex and his cohorts attempt the impossible. Though the humans are fully developed and interesting, Mote steals the show as the most intriguing rat since Ben. Eve Forward succeeds in turning Alex's journey into a genial fantasy that deserves sequels.

Harriet Klausner

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A break from the norm, August 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Animist (Hardcover)

I picked up "Animist" because I wanted something other than the now-cliche' dragons, paladins, elves and heroes defeating Ultimate Evil and bringing about world peace. After a while, all the fantasy paperbacks start to resemble each other. "Animist," though, broke that model. It's a single character-focused tale that holds your attention without the need for a lot of flash and bang, magic swords, curses and the like. And the conclusion ... well, I don't want to ruin it for the next reader, but it's safe to say that I felt it was a real life - not tidy, but satisfying just the same. Eve Forward's writing skills are easily above average; the story was pleasant to consume. But her voice lacks a unique personality or sparkle that would set it apart if not for the plot and setting (her take on magic "colleges" was refreshing). She's good now, but she reveals potential that will likely develop in her next book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining, light little read., June 25, 2001

By 

Jonathan Burgoine "bookseller" (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Animist (Mass Market Paperback)

Meet Alex, an "animist." He has abilities to sense into the magickal Oether, and see spirits and magick all around him. He has graduated from the Animism college, and is going out into the world to find his "Anim," a specific animal he will bond with and with which he can open up his full potential of magickal ability. He was sold to the college as a slave, and as such, has to earn money to pay them back to earn his freedom.

Alex is a delightful character, an innocent and rather naive kid who has no concepts of some of the bad things that are out there. His adventure is remarkably funny, and I was laughing aloud at many sections of this poor kid's life. Alex bonds with a rat, Mote, near the beginning of the story, and the tale runs at a decent pace thereafter.

Forward does, however, tend to "over-fantasy" her book. There are races and bits and pieces of the world that at times make you blink in confusion, and it sometimes borders on too much. Raptor-people, rat-people, lemur-people... it starts to confuse.

It's a book I can only describe as "cute," and if you like Tanya Huff's "Summon the Keeper," the tone is similar and you'd likely enjoy "The Animist."