Customer Reviews

Clouds End

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

 

 

Which might speak for itself, but Cloud's End is a piece of work that would probably need a discerning reader. In other words, it doesn't seem to be just for anyone.

Sean Stewart explores a new world very similar to Le Guin's Earthsea this time around, with islanders for people. The concept, although I've seen before, is still refreshing in many ways, and again the writer manages to show character and emotion better than most I've seen. The story is about a girl, Brook, who was 'twinned' by a creature called Jo. It gets somewhat more complicated as she tries to find a way out of it by going on a journey with her friends, and her lover, Rope.

Again, as it seems to be Stewart's style, there can be a bit more sexual stuff here than normal, and a lot of humor that never fails to make me laugh aloud for one second. Nothing that'll split your sides, but that's why you're not reading fantasy anyway, right?

It just doesn't seem enough, that's all...this story, I mean. As much as I like the characters there seems to be a lot of things that aren't resolved in the end.

Plus, it's not plot driven. Like most of Stewart's stuff, it's character driven. But the problem with this story is there's so many characters, and he uses so many points of views, that it becomes confusing at some points. Plus, because two of the views happen at such different places, the action gets suspended somewhat and you just feel like skipping the whole section on said characters at the time.

It's still a good book, but don't expect to be wowed or have a good, fuzzy feeling at the end. In fact, I wanted to throw it against the wall after reading it, but not because I HATED it, there was just something about it (hint: ROPE) that I wanted to peel apart. But that's a personal thing. It's still a gem among the rest of the fantasy out there. If you're sick of all the cookie-cutter books you've been reading so far, drop them all and pick this one up, and several by Sean Stewart as well. You won't regret it.

This is an unusual book, with a delightfully different take on a fantasy story. While the author claims on his website that the story outline is based on Tolkein, the characters and action are vastly different from the "elf-opera" that usually results from following Tolkein's lead. This is a refreshing change. The Cloud mythology and the characters, both human and inhuman are fascinating, and the adventure tale is intriguing without being obvious, unbelievable, or overbearing. I've never seen a similar scheme shown in a fantasy book. This is a truly original work.

That being said, I notice that some reviewers didn't like it at all. It's not a book for action fans. The plot is slow, and the story minimalist. This is one to be read more comtemplatively, looking for small jewels. It gets four stars because:

1) I almost never give 5 unless it's a classic

2) It was a little TOO slow in spots

Think Le Guin meets Goblin Market meets Tolkein and you get a little bit of the effect of Cloud's End.

In the world of the book, the Mist hangs at the edge of all things and calls to people who live in the more solid world. The spirits of things can take human form, and while occasionally helpful are always dangerous. There are oracles and seeings and journeys and predictions and heroes who fight with living fire. One of the best things about this book is its emotional complexity. The characters may have the feel of myth, but they do not think like myths. I appreciated the psychological realism quite a bit. Real toads in imaginary gardens, and all that.

So why not five stars? This is the second Stewart novel that I have read, and while I enjoyed both of them I have also felt like they were missing something. In fact, despite liking it so much while reading it I find myself wondering if I even want to keep the book. The lightness of it is one of its main virtues, but it also keeps it from having real emotional weight. I also was not crazy about the ending, but that is more of a taste issue.

Do not let my minor quibbles dissuade you from reading the book-- it is still better than most of the fantasy out there. I will certainly keep reading Stewart and looking for his perfect book.

Clouds End succeeds where few have in revisiting the "There And Back Again" fable perfected by J.R.R. Tolkien. This story resonates with history and magic, yet its true power lies in the connection we feel with the emotions and conflicts in the characters Stewart has created. This world is as textured and believable as Middle Earth, but manages to remain unique on its own terms.

Stewart is fearless in probing the psyche and nightmares of his creations, and the reader constantly has the feeling that he is peering into a true, fully-realized world through the eyes of the author. A rare treat in the SF/Fantasy genre. Highly recommended!

Laced with the dappling beauty of language, Clouds End is a Stewart masterpiece, glittering in metaphor and ripe with adventure. In a world evocative of Ursula K. LeGuin's Earthsea, Stewart weaves the lives of islanders together like the braids of a rope... and draws the reader into the weave with his tender writing style. He's the best there is at setting the intracacies of mood, and in Clouds End he's at his best doing it. A marvel you wish you could touch, and a fable you wish were true

Stewart is capable of evocative description, using uncommon words. He also incorporates the argot of sailing into his tale. This fantasy work tells the story of an island people in conflict with a land people with a mix-in of ghosts and heroes. In actuality the plot line is often obscure. Excessive use of dialog makes the story drag. In fact, I gave up after page 136. The writing is picturesque but the plot is slow-moving and obscure.

sci-fi/fantasy readers will be asking if clouds end is an history of earth in the past or in the future..other readers new to the genre will be hooked, but not caught..i want a sequel..fly like an eagle and buy this book..it is bittersweet yet somehow positive..love is at the heart of this tale..the big picture sometimes not realized by an individual is oftimes accomplished by some being or force we don't see or believe in.most people don't see this..in this tale a person sees the pain and anguish others miss..sad..sad in so many ways..i only give clouds end 4 stars and not 5 because i want more..next time you see and hear a seagull ask yourself, is that a cry or a mocking laugh...READ!

A wonderful, haunting story that ultimately gets to the heart of what fantasy--and stories--are all about.

Sean Stewart is a talented writer, and his novel Nobody's Son is excellent. Cloud's End is therefore more of a disappointment. The action is very slow. Nothing much happens. All the characters seem indistinguishable from each other. Very dull reading, with no rewards.

I had to read this book for a book group. I found it unreadable. It seemed like it was written by someone in high school who would be better destined to be butcher. I picked it up several times and truly wanted to finish because of my book group, but I could not go further than page 75 before totally giving up on the book. Although the five other members of my group did finish reading the book and said that they enjoyed it, we spent time in the group pointing out some of the particulary badly written passages.