Customer Reviews

Earth Logic: Elemental Logic: Book 2 (Elemental Logic Saga)

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

 

 

What separates Laurie Marks' Elemental Logic books from so many fantasy novels is the culture/world she creates. It's the harsh, unforgiving landscape of Shaft'al that shapes the characters and the story of both books. Ms. Marks is a master of worldbuilding and her characters and the elemental magic they use flow seamlessly from that.

This is no Lord of the Rings clone, the magic here feels 'real', just another tool, another 'talent' the indigenous people of Shaft'al have mastered to help them survive in a harsh environment. The story is epic, but it is the 'shades of gray' epic of real life: wonderful, noble, flawed characters trying to do the right thing.

Ms. Marks is a wonderful storyteller and I think I actually enjoyed Earth Logic even more than its predecessor, particularly the perspective of the weary, conflicted Sainnite invaders. I noticed someone compared Ms. Marks work here with Ursula Le Guin, which I think is accurate. Like Le Guin, Ms. Marks creates a complete world and a compelling, epic tale without getting mired in too much detail. Her writing is lyrical and sharp, much like the citizens of Shaft'al.

I have to admit one of the things I love about this series makes some uneasy: the egalitarian society. There is no sexism, racism, or homophobia, but it is far from a utopia. It feels pragmatic, as if the deadly winters have stripped them to the bare essentials. Or maybe it's the Elemental Logic that's the great equalizer. In any case, it works. All of it.

If you loved "Fire Logic," this next book in the series will blow you away! If you weren't sure about "Fire Logic" . . . well . . . "Earth Logic" will blow you away! EL makes FL look like a five-finger exercise, with Marks now coming into her full tremendous power as a world-builder, myth-maker and geographer of the human heart.

I know that Ursula K. LeGuin is a fan of Marks' earlier novels - I don't know if she's started reading the "Elemental Logic" series, but I believe that fans of LeGuin who've read her books ragged will find a new author to love in Laurie J. Marks.

I found a book called Earth Logic it is the second in the series by Laurie J Marks. It is very 'different'. First I found it amazingly easy to read (thou the book had probably less than 5 word errors that I noticed, which I don't normally care.). Lately I noticed a lot of 'men' in books no matter the genre you see tons of men. I was hoping for a change, and I found one. This book had lots of women characters be they farmers, soldiers, etc. I am still astounded that there were so many women in this book. I of course read it in a little over 24 hours. Again I have to mention it was easily read. I cannot place exactly anything about this book. Except I would suggest it to anyone to pick up at a book store and read a few lines or pages to see what I mean about easily read. The only warning I have is this: There is same on same relationships. (You do not have graphic sex, just something that happens 'behind the scenes' type of thing.) Flawlessly done I might say, with extreme taste.

I rarely give book recommendations since I know what is like to be disappointed by a book. I have a pecular, at least some days I think so, taste. I recommend this book thou, but like I said read a few pages first to see if you like the way it is wrote. I sure did.

sweet

First read Fire Logic and then Earth Logic. The next is Water Logic (and I hope soon) Air Logic. Great Fantasy Sc Fi Up there with R. Jordan and T Goodkind.

Unfortunately, I couldn't ever get into this book. I liked the protagonist well enough, although her actions and motivations were as puzzling as her eclectic group of friends. I couldn't quite make sense of why one of the characters had to die--other than having the feeling that they should! And the events that happened as a result never fell into place for me, either.

Now, I do understand that Things Were At Work and Needed to Happen That Way and it was all subtle and marvelous--I'm not THAT dense! But I just never related to any of it: The world, the characters, the events, the motivations...

It's not badly written. I'm sure others may find this an enjoyable book. I can't in conscience give it a very low mark because of my own odd lack of interest. I must say that it is rare that I don't 'grok' a book, but it happens.

... I did like the cover painting a lot! I think it is by Rowena--one of her best.

When the Sainnites left their homeland and marched into Shaftal, they came as conquerors, believing that the barren, mostly cold kingdom would be easily taken since it had no standing army. Battles were fought, lives were lost and after thirty five years the Sainnites believed they were in control of the land. The Palladin force consists mostly of Shaftal farmers that are not strong enough to destroy their enemy especially since at heart they are a peace loving people.

Although the Sainnites believe they have destroyed the mages and it no longer exists, it has just been hidden waiting for the right time to surface. Karis the new G?deon is an earth witch who has the power to heal the land but she chooses to stay in the background, helping her people in small ways until the right moment comes to make a stand. Even then the Sainnites must be willing to live in peace with the Shaftal and that will take a miracle since they see no need to lay down their arms to a conquered people.

Aside from the talking ravens that let Karis and her group spy on the Sainnites, the magic in EARTH LOGIC is muted because it would just get in the way of trying to find a way to peace. Karis is a good leader, a smart technician who is approachable to those close to her but keeps others at a distance so readers don?t really feel like they know her. Laurie J. Mark?s fantasy novel is exciting because of the clash between two different cultures and this differentiation makes this book a fascinating look at a world in flux.

Harriet Klausner

If you read FIRE LOGIC and liked it you will probably feel the same way about EARTH LOGIC. EL is the continuation of the story although it picks up some five years after the end of the first volume. Shaftal is still occupied and the rightful ruler still in hiding however that is about to change.

I can?t say that this one riveted me. Slightly more interesting than the first volume it still has many of the same flaws FIRE LOGIC was prone to. The sexual orientation of what seems to be the entire population is still very much non-straight and seeing how children figure prominently in the story line I am still baffled as to how they even came about let alone can have a major impact in this alternate universe. Anyway the romance portions of this book are still decidedly one-sided and just as dull. Maybe this was intended to be a gay targeted work, if so more power to her but it makes it a bit of a yawner for the rest of us.

Not much in the way of character development. A few new ones are introduced but they are really just duplicates of the ones already there; a super masculine female and an extremely effeminate male, nothing new.

The plot itself was good enough to hold my attention for at least long as long as it took me to read it. I can say it beats watching TV so I?ll RECOMMEND it but it wouldn?t be my first choice.