Customer Reviews

The God Box

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

 

 

Barry Longyear can be serious or funny and in this wonderful fantasy book he is both. The trials and tribulations of the main character, Korvas, as he deals with every fantasy contrivance from magicians to godesses to monsters to armies had me laughing and crying. Through it all Korvas is master of the God Box, which gives him everything he needs, whether or not it is something he wants.I loved this book and I reread it every so often. Hidden in the narrative are endless truths about real life in this non-fantasy world. A similar book, although much darker and violent, might be Longyear's Infinity Hold. Otherwise, I have never read anything like it.

One of my favorite fantasy books of all time. Good for a read two or three times a year. Really makes you think about how you approach your life. The main character is a devious but good-hearted merchant, swept into a progressively more dangerous exploits by an unassuming little box - the god box.

Charming, smart and convoluted. And out-of-print. I loaned my copy to someone who hasn't seen fit to return it. (and if I remember who, I'll pummel their pointy head - I want it BACK!)

A really nice, intricate tale that reminds its readers of the miracles that happen all around them but they never acknowledge. What you most need is not necessarily what you most want.

I love fantasy fiction, but too much of it is (understandably) derivative of Tolkein. There is an unfortunate "sameness" throughout fantasy fiction. Even some of my very favorite fantasy novels become mixed together and muddled in my recall. Not so "The God Box".

This is a unique, original fantasy. The protagonist is believable and I know that most readers should quickly be able to identify with him as their personal porthole into the story.

"The God Box" is a "quest" fantasy as well, but again, unlike the quests inspired by Tolkein, Bary Longyear's quest is one to the heart. The ultimate prize is becoming more human.

A wonderful book.

OK, it's a cracking good, well-written story, yes. But it is much more than that. It's a story of faith and trust regained, and regained, and regained again. The story is not preachy or teachy at all, but as it unfolds, you may well find something in it that will change your life forever. No doubt, not everyone comes to the book with the kind of need that you may find a solution for here. If not, you still will have read a great story. But if you need what is here, it will be life-changing--as it was for me.

The reviewer who said this book is similar to Infinity Hold got it right. In recovery we talk about making a G-d box. When I describe this book to friends in recovery, I say it is a sword and sorcery where the G-d Box talks back. The scene in the forest is a perfect discription of the 6th step, sometimes they aren't character defects to give up.("I never told you to sit up")

The types of sci-fi/fantasy that I like generally don't focus too much in the details of technology or magic, but rather use it as a tool for explaining some more complex concept.

This is one of those books. Masterfully written, it is a complex thinking-person's book that I'm very glad to see back in print!