Carnivores of Light and Darkness (Journeys of the Catechist) (Vol 1) [Hardcover]

Alan Dean Foster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1998 | Series: Journeys of the Catechist (Book 1)

Part I of a major new fantasy trilogy.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A shipwreck victim's dying words become an inescapable duty for Etjole Ehomba, a herdsman known for his sense of honorAand for his unquenchable curiosity. Armed only with his spear, his star-metal sword, and an unshakable belief that every question has an answer, Ehomba embarks on a journey into unknown lands to rescue a captured princess from an enemy he has never met. Foster's (The Spoils of War, LJ 4/15/93) latest fantasy series combines the flexibility of a picaresque adventure with the simplicity of a folktale as his Gulliveresque hero survives encounters with talking serpents, walking trees, sentient storms, and a host of other wondrous creatures. This promising series opener by a veteran of both sf and fantasy belongs in most libraries.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

First of a fantasy trilogy, from the author of Mid-Flinx (1995), etc. The tall herdsman/warrior Etjole Ehomba of the Naumkib tribe lives by the sea. When a number of strange warriors wash up dead on the sand, only the nobleman Tarin Beckwith survives long enough to whisper a dying request: It seems that the Visioness Themaryl of Laconda has been abducted by Hymneth the Possessed and carried off to the remote land of Ehl-Larimar. Etjole accepts the dead man's entreaty to rescue her, and sets off on a very long journey. Etjole speaks the languages of animals, his bearing is courteous, his aspect modest and reasonable, and he solves problems by negotiation. A friendly snake provides him with an immunity to poison. He acquires a sidekick, the garrulous treasure-hunter Simna Ibn Sind. He outfaces a sentient tornado to save Ahlitah, a large black cat that, feeling obligated, joins the expedition. Finally, after various adventures involving floating ponds, dolphins, tiny warriors, a hostile animated sand dune, the mirage-palace of a soul-eater, and a gigantic walking wall, he's menaced by the evil, light-eating eromakadi; fortunately, being an eromakadi himself (one who eats darkness), Etjole simply inhales the eromakadi. Inventive and packed with flavorsome incident, but lacking propellant: a pleasant but far from compelling saunter. -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 344 pages
• Publisher: Aspect; First Edition first Printing edition (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446521329
• ISBN-13: 978-0446521321
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,764,665 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alan Dean Foster's work to date includes excursions into hard science-fiction, fantasy, horror, detective, western, historical, and contemporary fiction. He has also written numerous non-fiction articles on film, science, and scuba diving, as well as having produced the novel versions of many films, including such well-known productions as "Star Wars", the first three "Alien" films, "Alien Nation", and "The Chronicles of Riddick". Other works include scripts for talking records, radio, computer games, and the story for the first "Star Trek" movie. His novel "Shadowkeep" was the first ever book adapation of an original computer game. In addition to publication in English his work has been translated into more than fifty languages and has won awards in Spain and Russia. His novel "Cyber Way" won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990, the first work of science-fiction ever to do so.

Foster's sometimes humorous, occasionally poignant, but always entertaining short fiction has appeared in all the major SF magazines as well as in original anthologies and several "Best of the Year" compendiums. His published oeuvre includes more than 100 books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Story telling at its best..., August 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Carnivores of Light and Darkness (Journeys of the Catechist , Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Alan Dean Foster, possibly the greatest science fiction and fantasy writer of all time, author of dozens of best selling novels, short stories and horror, has once again created a work of simple excellence that will spellbind and enchant its readers for years to come. "Carnivores of Light and Darkness" is such a book. This is a story of the just and innocent against the dark and unjust, a story that has been told many times before, in many forms, shapes, and ideals, set in a world where there is no concept of the impossible, and the greatest weapons one can possess are one's own morals and honor. This is a world of monsters, talking animals and tales of both good and evil, a world of endless possibilities. An injured outsider washes up on the beach of a small tribe of herdsmen, simple down-to-earth people who marvel at the stranger's clothing, and wonder why he has decided to wash up on their beach of all the beaches in the world. So when the outsider's last words "Save the Vishoness..." were spoken to a "simple" herder Etjole Ehomba, the hero of the story decides that he is about to go on a very long journey. Etjole leaves his community with only a sword, a spear and a bag of gifts given to him by his village. His future is an uncertain one as he goes in search of a way to cross the great sea, a feat never even comprehended by his people before, let alone tried to save a woman he has never seen before and fight an evil that is

darkness incarnate, all because a dying man passed it on to him in a fit of dying panic. To do any less would bring dishonor on his name. Etjole doesn't have much in his life in the way of riches, houses, or servants, but he does have his family and his honor. In his journeys Etjole has many adventures, meets many people and stops many injustices. He also acquires two very special travel companions: Simna ibn Sind the greedy (yet secretly good at heart) swordsman and the great Lita (a sort of cross between a cheetah and a lion) Ahlita who follow Etjole because they believe that he is more than he seems, after all only a great wizard would dare the trip across the world that Etjole has chose to undertake, a great wizard, or a great fool. Here is a tale of good against evil in its purest form. Read this great work of honor, courage and adventure, reminiscent of the fairy tales told at story time as a grandfather tucks his grandchild into the world of slumberland, knowing that his stories will evoke dreams of knights in shinning armor, dragon's fire and the virtue of a true heart. "Carnivores of Light and Darkness" is book one of the "Journeys of The Catchiest" and is published by Aspect books. Book two "The Pale of Overthinking" will be available in April of 1999 from Aspect books.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed reaction -- Has some merit, March 14, 2007

By 

Patrick J. Callahan (La Crosse, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carnivores of Light and Darkness (Journeys of the Catechist , Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

This novel is not a conventional sword/sorcery novel; such novels are set in an imaginary world, but their authors try to depict events in a credible and consistent way. Rather, this novel is more like Aladdin and the Lamp, or Alice in Wonderland, or Lovecraft's "Dream Quest of Unknown Kaddath." That is, it seems like a dream fantasy -- unfolding with all the associative confusion of someone's dream. The country appears to change from chapter to chapter, there are embedded folktales, and the fantasy is beyond extravagant at times. Even so, I was willing to grant Foster his premise-- but there are problems. Is Foster laughing at his readers?

Foster damages our willingness to "buy into" the story by interjecting strange passages that may (God help us!) reflect his sense of humor at our expense (I hope not!). Example: midway through the book, the lead character is swimming a river. He looks up and meets a talking frog wearing scuba gear. Yup -- flippers, mask, snorkel, the works. The conversation is brief and insignificant. The frog soon disappears -- but readers MUST wonder how they can possibly "suspend disbelief" when the author is indulging himself in such a foolish way. Let me assure you, Foster's putting the frog into present-day scuba gear garb is in NO WAY connected with anything else in the story.

On the plus side, there are some imaginative and rather original monsters, to include wind and earth elementals, as well as a "living wall" -- perhaps the oddest of all, but fun! And heck, there's that favorite of sword/sorcery novels, a magic sword!

I liked best the way Foster developed the warrior lead character -- a man understated, self-depreciating, humble -- but an impressive man and powerful wizard or magician to boot. He appears to be so much more than his own modest account of himself. I'm eager to see what Foster will do with him. I have to admit, I am curious to follow the adventures of the brave threesome into the next book.

I might add, on the level of the sentence and paragraph, and for vivid portrayal of a strange world, it stands up with the best of them.

But is it all just Foster's joke at our expense? -- remembering the frog in scuba gear, just for one example. Some authors have written almost too many books -- they are burned out, and don't appear to take seriously what they are doing any more.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As allways, January 5, 2001

By 

"wyrminarrd" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carnivores of Light and Darkness (Journeys of the Catechist , Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Once again Alan Dean Foster brings us a great and original storie. It is a bit repetative but that does not make it anyless fun to read. I must say that when I was reading this I got a strong feeling that this book was ADF's way of putting many fun and good ideas he as on paper, ideas that aren't worth there own books. This book really is more or less a collection of short stories but to gether into one novel( 3 actually), but don't get me wrong this is not a short storie collection. Some ot these situation that the heroes get them selves into are hilarious and remind me a bit of ADF's spellsinger series. The over all plot isn't what this book is about and people should'nt worry to much about them, just kick back and let the stories flow over you and enjoy the ride.

A must for all of Fosters fans.