15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A very satisfying epic fantasy, May 27, 2009
I've always been a fan of Anderson's work, mainly the "Dune" novels that he co-wrote with Brian Herbert, but am starting to branch out into his other titles. "The Edge Of The World" is the first book of a projected epic fantasy trilogy, and it's a fast and entertaining read. Even though it's over 700 pages long, the pacing is brisk.
Anderson always populates his worlds with interesting characters. Even minor ones are endowed with enough background details to keep them from being "walk-on extras". As always, he pulls no punches. Things happen to characters that aren't always nice, and when they do, readers become aware how involved they have gotten with the tale. He skillfully weaves the many plot threads into a coherent and engrossing story that will leave you hungry for the next installment.
I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a grand adventure with colorful characters!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable read, November 26, 2010
This first book in Anderson's Terra Incognita series introduces two nations with competing religions beginning an extended conflict after each blames the other for the destruction of their joint holy city. While the religions are clearly fictional, one of the two nations bears a passing resemblance to medieval Europe while the other more closely resembles Arabic/Muslim cultures - though despite this resemblance neither culture are really portrayed as "good guys" or "bad guys". In fact the leaders of both nations are decent people forced to enter a war against their wishes due to pressure from their people, and both sides in the war commit atrocities. The story is told from the perspective of several characters, including the leaders of the two nations, as well as a sailor, his wife (who is captured by the other side early on), and an insane fanatic priest.
I don't think Anderson is really a great writer, but he is a good storyteller. He does a good job of keeping the story moving at a good pace, and provides characters on both sides of the conflict that the reader can relate to. He also does a good job of portraying how religious fanaticism leads to a series of atrocities that magnify the conflict. While I wouldn't consider this to be a masterpiece or anything like that, it's good enough that I plan on reading further books in the series.
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12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Edge of the World will keep you on the edge of your seat., May 29, 2009
The Edge of the World (Terra Incognita)
Whether you are already familiar with, and a fan of Kevin J. Anderson's other works (as I am) such as his critically acclaimed Saga of the Seven Suns series, or his collaborative forays into the legendary Dune Universe with Brian Herbert (the son of Frank Herbert), or new to his creative endeavors, you will be pleasantly surprised by Mr. Anderson's adept return into the fantasy realm.
Humans have a natural inclination to explore the world around them, to push at the boundaries of the known world, to boldly go out to the edge of the map, sometimes for wealth, sometimes for power, and sometimes just to know what is out there. It's this passion to push back the blank spaces on the maps that drove explorers like Christopher Columbus, Marco Polo, and Lewis & Clark to undertake their journeys at great personal risk, to go to The Edge of the World, and hopefully return.
The Edge of the World is the first of a three book saga that offers a complex blend of exploration, clashing cultures and religions, fanaticism, ill-fated love, and of course sea monsters. As always the author's clear and concise writing style keeps you flipping page after page, as the story unfolds a t a rapid pace, sweeping you away through the various currents of the many characters lives as we watch them try to cope with a quickly changing, turbulent environment that sets the stage for the next installment, The Map of All things (due out in the summer of 2010).
Though it is a book in the Fantasy genre, it has only a small taste of magic, no wizards and warlocks, no Orcs and Goblins, no magical creatures like unicorns. It is much closer to a historical novel, but set in a different world from our own. It is largely influenced by the Crusades and the Prester John legends from our own middle ages.
The story focuses on two nations, who both share the same common legends about how their lands were settled by Aiden and Urec , the two sons of Ondun who is creator of the world.
Over time, each of these nations developed into two completely different cultures with two completely different religions paying homage to Aiden and Urec, but shared the city of Ishalem that sits on the isthmus separating the two kingdoms. The two nations coexist in relative peace until a fire burns the holy city to the ground.
It's this incident that sets the stage for a religious war, and a desperate search to find the fabled land if Terravitae that lays somewhere across the sea, beyond the edge of the known world.
The Edge of the World will keep you on the edge of your seat.
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