Customer Reviews

God Stalk

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am surprised GOD STALK is out of print--but Hodgell's other great works are available, and it is only a matter of time, given its excellence, that GOD STALK will be back. I became totally engrossed in Hodgell's darkly colorful writing, her vivid characterizations, and found her wonderful heroine particularly appealing. This is among the best in the Sword and Sorcery genre, with plot complications that pull one in further and further--delighted to enter the labyrinth with Hodgell as guide. I love books that are fully-embodied worlds you hate to leave when you come to the last page. Bravo.

I bought the book club edition of this book on a whim years ago and can't believe that P.C. Hodgell (Patricia) isn't better known for her skillful writing (although brevity is not her forte) in a genre that often sees some of the worst writing possible. I've been searching for a copy of "Seeker's Mask", the third book in the series, on and off for years, having missed the limited production run when it first came out but am afraid I will have to wait until her current publisher re-runs it. Hodgell has not been terribly prolific (there have apparently been lots of obligations on her time in her personal life in the last few years); perhaps this is why a publisher has not been more eager to pick her up.

Hodgell writes with descriptive flair, a dark mood, and with a sense of humor that will be appreciated by anyone with a taste for the ironic. Her labyrinthian plot-lines recall her studies in Victorian literature. Her heroine Jame's issues range from amnesia, that most venerable of plot-devices, to a serious tussle with the nature of honor. (The Kencyrath -- Jame's people -- are so honorable it often kills.) She is an able fighter who has maintained her honor without being a comic-strip superhero. Hodgell is a wonderful world builder -- her city of Tai-Tastigon is as fully realized as any society and city in the genre.

I have noted that the second book, "Dark of the Moon", and, judging from the reviews I've found, "Seeker's Mask," are definitely continuations of the story begun in "God Stalk" rather than stories that may stand alone, so I would not recommend that readers begin with the second or third in the series. Most of the characters are not as fully fleshed out in the second book and I understand that this is more so in the third book. There are also some short stories that are connected with the stories of the Kencyrath and Jamethiel Priest's-Bane published in various anthologies and in limited runs by her smaller publishers -- some of them are available in out-of-print specialty stores.

Anyone working in the publishing industry reading this, I plead with you: please please please try to contract this series!

Jamethiel of the Kencyrath is one of a triple people, created long ago by the Three-Faced God (Torrigon--Creation; Argentiel--Preservation; Regonereth--Destruction) to defend against the encroaching evil of Perimal Darkling. When the Three-Faced God abandoned the Kencyrath thirty milennia ago, all things connected with divinity became shunned and hated: the reason that Jame, branded as god-gifted by her silver eyes and ivory claws, was driven out of her home as a child, abandoned to vanish into the haunted wilderness beyond the keep's walls.

The story of "God Stalk" begins ten years later as Jame reappears in the Ebonbane Mountains, her last memory of her banishment from her home, her only thought to find her missing twin brother Tori. Instead of Tori and her family, however, she finds the city of Tai-Taistigon: a darkly colorful and fascinating place full of gods, demons, and the occasional trade war. In defiance of everything she has ever learned, the young Kencyr enters the Thieves' Guild under the tutelage of the Master Thief Penari, dances the sacred, spellbinding Senetha in a local inn, the Res aB'tyrr, and tests the limits of her monotheism in her wanderings through the Temple District of Tai-Tastigon. She encounters vivid characters such as Penari, the Master Thief (senile three-quarters of the time, but who's counting?), Loogan, priest of Gorgo the Lugubrious God (whom Jame first destroys and then resurrects. Oops), and the enigmatic Bane, a Kencyr like herself who gives up his soul to redeem his honor. And even the dead are active characters here.

This was one of the best fantasy novels I have ever read, and that's saying plenty, as I am a voracious reader. Tai-Taistigon is a compelling, complex world, full of adventure aplenty, darkness, humor, and even snatches of romance. A thirty-milennia history of the Kencyrath serves as a backdrop to Jame's actions, while the Holy (some might say god-ridden) City of Tai-Tastigon has its own complicated past, all linked to the present of the story by Jame's own awakening powers. The characters are three-dimensional and believable; even the people you hate have motives and reasons for what they do. Ishtier, the renegade priest, and Men-dalis, ruthless power-seeker in the Thieves' Guild, are self-serving and hateful characters, but even they are not cardboard cutouts. And Jorin, Jame's blind ounce (something like a leopard) is one of my favorite feline characters ever.

"God Stalk" and its two sequels, "Dark of the Moon" and "Seeker's Mask" are currently quite hard to find. ("God Stalk" and "Dark of the Moon" are out of print, while "Seeker's Mask" was never picked up by a major publisher.) All three can be found, however, as well as a collection of short stories about Jame; all are well worth the reading. The world of "God Stalk" is a little-known but excellent one, high fantasy at its finest, the book finely-written and entrancing.

Read it.

This is more story than review but... I read "God Stalk" when it first came out. It hooked me in a big way, with vivid images and a highly memorable heroine. I craved more and every time I went into a bookstore for several years afterward, I would religiously look to see if Hodgell had come out with a sequel. Eventually I gave up looking, with deep regret. Years later I discovered, to my intense delight, that there had been several sequels. (Apparently they weren't distributed to the bookstores I frequented.) Bottom line, "God Stalk" was a favorite of mine. I know of other people on whom it made just as strong an impression. Reading other reviews, it is apparent that not everyone responds to the novel this way. So no guarantees. But if it hits the spot for you, it may hit it just right. Excellent.

I'm not sure how I missed this author until now but glad another book's intro mentioned GODSTALK. Sure this story is fuzzy and vague at times - it's frequently lost in the magic vagueness that this class and era of books suffers from. Bursts of light - moments of action that can't be conveyed as frenetic and explained fully at the same time. It is impressionistic. But the depth of detail which Hodgell has backed this story, city & world with anchor it well enough. It called to mind Mary Gentle's GOLDEN WITCHBREED in the incredible history built to establish this story and lead on into a series. I think the central question of 'does god create man / does man create god' is what held me. Like any chicken/egg dilemma, its left open-ended but it's handled well here. Jame's testing of faith's fabric, origins, purpose and what it's bent to in the hands of good and bad people are all well illustrated in Tai-tastigon. The Feast of Dead Gods is particularly sharp as a notion, following a sort of 'energy can neither be created nor destroyed' path of logic. Looking forward to more of Hodgell's work.

God Stalk (1982) is the first fantasy novel in the Kencyrath series. The Three People -- Arrin-ken, Kendar, and Highborn -- had been united by the Three-Faced God to resist and -- hopefully drive away -- the Perimal Darkling. The Kencyrath had been fighting against the Outsider for thirty thousand years. But three millennia ago, Ganth Grey Lord had turned against their God and joined with the Primal Darkling for the gift of immortality.

In this novel, Jame Talissen came out of the Haunted Lands with a bitten arm and dead pursuers. She comes to the open gates of Tai-Tastison on the Night of the Dead Gods and first believes the city to be abandoned. Then she is attacked by some of the Dead Gods.

Tori is Jame's twin brother. She is determined to go to him. She has fled the ruined keep of her father to find him.

Penari is the most famous thief in Tai-Tastison. On the Night of the Dead Gods, he is attacked by two thugs, but is rescued by Jame. When she introduces herself, Penari misunderstands and thinks she is a boy named Talisman.

Tubain is the owner of the Res aB'tyrr Inn. He is a good host, but anything unusual causes him to flee to the cellars. Jame's entrance into the inn almost sends him down to check his inventory, but her immediate collapse stirs his hostly habits.

Cleppetty -- the Widow Cleppetania -- is cook and housekeeper of the Res aB'tyrr Inn. She is an adept at small household magics. She helps nurse Jame back to health and soon becomes a mentor and friend.

Marplet sen Tenko is the keeper of the Skyrrman Inn. He has started a private war against the Res aB'tyrr Inn. Since Marplet has the ear of Harr sen Tenko of the Five, Tubain and his staff are afraid to strike back against him for the harassing incidents.

Theocandi is the Sirdan -- Guildmaster -- of the Thieves' Guild. He is Penari's younger brother. Theocandi's apprentice is Bane, a strange man with unusual skills.

Dally is an apprentice thief who becomes her friend. He is the younger half-brother of Men-dalis, rival of Theocandi for the position of the Thieves' Guild Sirdan. Other apprentice thieves soon follow Dally into Jame's clique.

In this story, Penari offers Jame a position as his apprentice. After recovering from her loss of sleep and her haunt-wound, Jame belatedly tracks down Penari in his home within the Maze. The residents of Tai-Tastison are dedicated to mazes, but Pernari's Maze is so confusing that the architect was lost within it and his body never recovered.

Jame had delayed so long because the Kendyr are inherently honest. They only speak the truth and generally do not steal. But the Three-Faced God has given her permission to join the Guild through the mouth of Ishtier, his priest in Tai-Tastison.

As Pernari's apprentice, Jame is the subject of anger and envy. Many younger thieves had tried to become his apprentice, but he refused all offers. Now she will learn all his secrets and never share them with anybody else.

Jame is a mistress of the Senetha -- a dance form, a martial art, and a means of collecting energy -- so the Thieves' Guild apprentices soon learn to not anger her. Besides, many of the apprentices notice the number of followers that she has attracted and refrain from harassing her. Still, Scamp insists on scorning her skills, but is repeatedly proven wrong.

Jame also gains followers within the Kingdom of the Clouds. Prince Dandello tries to push her off a roof, but she pulls him off instead. From then on, Jame is welcomed on the rooftops of Tai-Tastison.

One day Jame rescues a feline from a bag at the bottom of the river. After reaching the shore, she has a confrontation with the servant who had tossed the weighted bag into the water. Jame is told that the ounce cub is blind and that she can have him, but don't expect the servant to confirm her claim. She names the cat-like animal Jorin.

This tale pushes Jame into Tai-Tastison politics, not only within the Thieves' Guild, but also among the Five. She is steadily, yet quickly, learning the skills of a thief, but she only steals trinkets. She may be promoted to journeyman much sooner than the other apprentices.

Jame does have a problem, however. Too many people around her are dying. Since she is a Shanir -- a conduit of God powers -- Jame blames herself for their deaths.

This reviewer first read this novel several decades ago. It was a Science Fiction Book Club offering, but it proved to be confusing. Upon rereading the book, the story seems less muddled, but still very strange.

The story starts off slow and mysterious, but quickly gains momentum. The mystery never fades, but rather becomes even stronger. When Jame leaves Tai-Tastison, the city will be irredeemably changed. The next volume is Dark of the Moon. Read and enjoy!

Recommended for those who enjoy tales about meddling gods, political intrigues, and strong friendships.

-Arthur W. Jordin

as has been noted, godstalk only a little above average-- but it's different then anything else around that i've read, and it's the first in a beautifully dark and strangely twisted series that only improves with each new addition. this is where jame learns how to handle the world, and where she makes all the decisions that will both help and haunt her through all the rest of the books. this is also where all the things / people that matter later happen or are introduced-- the book, the knife, gerridon, ganth, tori, bane, the haunts, the basics of the kencyrath. it is almost a stand-alone book, different from the others in that it's simpler and more separated from them, but to read the others you need to have read this one, and it is far from unreadable. jame is intriguing and complex and not the usual fantasy heroine, the people around her are strange and human and run from utterly charming to totally hateful, and the city itself is a wonder of old gods and strange forces.

read it. you won't regret it. and immediately devour all the other books in the series. it's worth it.

The book is simply delightful. P.C. Hodgell's wonderfully believable characters in a wonderfully believable world create a depth of reality rarely matched. Can be read as a swift read on a rainy Sunday afternoon (but much will be missed) or can be slowly consumed to ensure no nuance is lost. Do the latter, this book deserves it.

This story is almost believable with the imagery the words bring to life. Is this book, I expected a tough hard-nosed woman hero. But I was much happier with what I found. Instead of a woman, It was a girl of about 18. Someone who was real an unexpected. If I could I would recommend this book for every creative writing award known to man. Jamethiel is a character so powerful and real you'd actual wonder what city this person is living in.

I was idly searching in the back corner of a small used book store when I found the book God Stalk. Feeling bored, I decided to buy it and started reading. I didn't put it down until I had finished it at exactly 12:00 that night. God Stalk is one of those books that you can't put down, with a world that is rich in color and adventure. Imagine my dissapointment when I found that there were no other books that I could find by him (one of these days I'm going to find The Dark of the Moon).