Customer Reviews

Beyond the Hanging Wall

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the kingdom of Escator, medical apprentice Garth Baxtor learns how to apply his gift of the healing touch and use of herbs under the tutelage of his father physician Joseph. Every year Joseph treks to the Veins to provide health care to the condemned prisoners working the mines instead of paying taxes. Garth accompanies his father on the trip.

Garth notices one of the incarcerated has the tattoo of the mythical Manteceros on his arm; a tattoo of this beast is restricted only to two people, the king and his heir. It does not take mush thinking to conclude that this prisoner has to be Prince Maximillian, who vanished almost a decade ago. Garth says nothing, but upon returning home, he quietly investigates the tattoo, the Manteceros, and a weird rhyme the prisoner recited. Joined by Ravenna of the marsh, and the regally faithful Abbott Vorstus, Garth knows the rightful monarch toils in the mine while an imposter rules Escador.

Though the story line flows in an obvious direction, fantasy readers will enjoy this delightful tale. The story line is loaded with action so the audience rarely has a moment to breathe. The champion trio seems genuine even as they step over the edge risking everything in a heroic effort to right a wrong. Sara Douglass provides a strong tale that displays why the Australian audience thinks she is one of the top fantasists writing in the past decade.

Harriet Klausner

I have enjoyed some of Douglass' books, but I found this one to be a disappointment. There was never any character development - the main character was the same at the end as he'd been at the beginning. There was never any suspense - the outcome was never in doubt for a second. For example, when proof of the prince's identity is needed, someone shows up within minutes (it felt like that short a time, at least), with the only object that could prove the prince's identify in his pocket.

While the book kept me busy for a couple hours it didn't have me riveted to my chair. I kept hoping that there'd be some real action, or some reason to actually care what happened next, but nothing ever really developed. I was sorry I'd spent money on it, as I doubt I'll read it again. Save your money and wait for the paperback if your library doesn't have this book on the shelf.

It's really a good book. This is the only book I have read from Sara Douglass so I may not know much about her style but this is definitely good. Must-read.

Like his healer father, Garth Baxtor is gifted with the Touch, he can feel sickness and encourage healing just by laying his hands on the afflicted. By royal decree the physicians of the of the industrial kingdom of Escator must tend to the criminals sentenced to endless labor in the Veins, the mines of Escator and, at fourteen, Garth is old enough to accompany his father on this mission.

He is excited by the prospect, but is not prepared for the thousands of men he sees enslaved in horrid conditions. And when he lays hands on the prisoner known as Lot No. 859, Garth discovers he is Prince Maximilian, the missing heir to the throne of Escator, and this is a secret that can throw the kingdom into rebellion.

I must say that I liked this book a whole heck of a lot better than I though I would when my younger brother insisted that I read it. Young Garth is a great protagonist in this story about a lost prince who is finally found. And Ms. Douglass really made me believe in her fantasy world. Super, just super writing. Praise can't get any higher than that.

Sara Douglass is such a great author. As a "prequel" to her later DarkGlass Mountain series, it's a great eye opener. I read DarkGlass Mountain 1 and 2 before I read this, and it made me go aha! in several places. Plenty of action and dialogue that doesn't weigh the plot down. Definitely recommended to anyone who likes Mercedes Lackey or Melanie Rawn.

Having read most of Sara Douglass's novels, Beyond the Hanging Wall proved to be a fine, stand-alone novel absent of the melodrama and lurid sex which had marred a few of her other stories. The protagonist, Garth Baxtor, a young man gifted with the "Touch," an ability to assess and probe illnesses, travels with his father to the Veins--a gloomy, squalid series of mines where gloam is harvested--to administer healing to the prisoners. During his three week soujourn, Garth discovers, much to his delight and surprise, that one prisoner, Lot no. 859, is in actuality a prince thought to have died seventeen years ago. Although the prisoner denies his true identity, bemoaning that there is "nothing beyond the hanging wall," Garth embarks on a quest to free the true heir to the kingdom. Garth enlists the aid of a marsh witch and a brotherhood committed to the line of the true royal family. He also pursues the mystery behind the mythical dream creature called the Manteceros, which is inextricably linked to Lot no. 859. Mystery, suspense, with some mayhem are thrown together to produce a rousing adventure tale that you just can't put down.

While on a medical mission in the prison-mines, physician apprentice Garth Baxtor discovers the heir to the throne of Escator. The discovery transforms Garth's life--makes him seek out evidence of the crime that was committed, and the magical tests that could restore the true king to the thrown. But Prince Maxamilian fears the outside world and doubts his own identity. In a world where the longest lifespan is one or two years, Maxamilian has survived for seventeen--but much of his identity is now lost. How can a young apprentice hope to overcome the entire governmental organization--when his prince doesn't even want to be helped?

Fortunately, Garth stumbles across help. A swamp woman's daughter offers powerful magic. A monk searches the library for clues. And a mysterious order dedicated to the royal family of Escator hears of Garth's quest and volunteers to help. With a quick turnaround from Maxamilian and some powerful magic, order can be restored in the kingdom.

Author Sara Douglass. Adolescent Garth will appeal to younger readers and Douglass's smooth writing makes the fairly linear plot seem more interesting than it would in less skilled hands.

BEYOND THE HANGING WALL isn't Douglass's strongest story but it lacks the genocidal bent to some of her other stories. Fans will definitely want to add this one to their collection.

Beyond the Hanging Wall is an independent novel. In the kingdom of Escator, a vibrant and beloved young prince is lured away from a royal hunt and ambushed by a group of masked men. These men cannot kill the prince, for he is protected the royal tattoo on his arm, but they brand over the tattoo and haul the prince away to perpetual captivity.

In this novel, seventeen years later, Garth Baxter is an apprentice healer learning his trade from his father. When Joseph is called to serve his annual term as a healer within the Veins, Garth asks to go along with his father. First, however, the pair visit the king to treat the festering of his royal tattoo.

When they reach the deep mines of the Veins, Garth finds a man -- lot 859 -- far below who has a royal tattoo buried under the hideous scar on his arm. Recognizing that lot 859 must be Maximillian, the lost prince, Garth first tries to get the man to respond to his name, but has little success. After returning from the Veins, Garth spends the next few months trying to find out more about Prince Maximillian and the tattoo.

His questions brings him to the attention of others who join with him in the quest. Among these is a monk of the Order of the Persimius and a pair of marsh witches. Eventually they plot a rescue of the prince.

Some of the most poignant scenes occur deep within the mine. The stench of sulfur and the tang of saltwater overlay the odour of unwashed humanity. The ever present dust coats the skin and is drawn into the throat and lungs with each breath. Overhead is the hanging wall of the tunnels, holding back millions of tons of rock and dirt. Darkness oppresses the mind of many, but is a well-known friend to the prince.

In many respects, this story can be compared to those of Patricia McKillip. It reads like a fairy tale, with a sense of destiny driving the plot and sustaining a touch of the mythical throughout. The witches perform mist magic and the monks cloud men's minds with their arts. Then there is the heraldic beast of the royal tattoo, the Manteceros, who dwells within the Dream World. Definitely a fascinating fantasy.

Highly recommended for Douglass and McKillip fans and for anyone else who enjoys contemporary fairy tales.

Beyond the Hanging Wall by Sara Douglass is a stand alone novel set in the same world as her Wayfarer Redemption series. Although, from reading the back cover, it is on the other side of a sea. So, while elements are similar you don't have to have read the previous books to understand this novel. In fact, this is the first book by Ms. Douglass that I have read and after finishing I promptly went out and purchased the first five books of the Wayfarer Redemption series.

The plot of this book is very well contained. Ms. Douglass is able it add many elements, without the plot going out of control and getting confusing. The main plot of this book is the story of a young prince, once thought dead and the process of those faithful to him to bring him back to the throne. There are also several subplots scattered throughout that book. Subplots such as the growth of one of the characters from a simple apprentice to a widely regarded healer, as well as political positioning, and something akin to a prophecy which, I think adds depth to the novel. On the surface, the plot is simplistic in nature and quite linear. However, this book doesn't profess to be anything that it is not. Being a stand alone novel, it is allowed to follow a rather simple path. However, once the reader is into the story a rich world appears and the pace of the story is almost perfect.

The characters are very well done as well. There are many memorable characters in this book; from Garth and Cavor to Ravenna and Vorstus they all add something to the story, yet at no time does one character `steal' scenes or dominate an entire section. There is a very nice balance between the characters. In term of the character Garth, there is a great deal of character development. All of his character development follows a logical path and makes sense as well. It's not characters development strictly for the case of development, which seems to be the case in some fantasy being released right now. There was only one character I was disappointed with, and that was Maximilian. For lack of a better word, he seemed shallow and I wasn't really that interested in his character. The rest of the characters more than made up for that though.

The one complaint I had with this book is what I just mentioned, the character of Maximilian. For as important of part that he plays in the story, I would have hoped for more from him. He just didn't fir with the other characters very well. It was almost like two different authors.

Some positives about this novel. It's a stand alone book - it seems the fantasy gene as a whole is going away from stand alones so it was nice to find this one. The world is rich with history and details, it's well conceived. The idea of the Touch is a very interesting idea, I enjoyed how that worked. Ms. Douglass' prose is simple, efficient, but well done. It moves the story along and doesn't try to be too much.

If you are a fantasy fan looking for large scale battles and wizard duels, then you should probably consider a different book. This one is on a much smaller scale, but really held my interest. I think most fans will enjoy this book, in fact I encourage most fantasy fans to take a look at this one. Ms. Douglass is an author that I had never heard of before, and after reading this book I have no idea how she slipped past my radar. I plan on reading her other works and I will be recommending this book to many people.

I feel like almost every fantasy I pick up these days is a massive epic. Sara Douglass' Beyond the Hanging Wall was a joy to read because it was so simple.

Without giving to much away: The story follows a doctor's son who must go with his father into the prison mines to tend the sick as an apprentice. But after he learns more about the prisoners and their treatment (especially one prisoner in particular), he must choose to act or let the evils of the world be as they are.

The story's not too exciting, it's not too epic and it's not too great. It's just a good fun weekend read for just about any light fantasy lover.