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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Astounding!, February 18, 2001
In a Victorianesque world of gaslights and steam engines, where magic is a memory becoming increasingly dim with the passage of years, there exists a woman named Luzelle Devaire. Luzelle seeks to break out of the stunted world that she finds herself thrust into, because of her sex. An escape presents itself when "Mad" Miltzin IX, king of Lower Hetzia, proclaims a round the world race, with the prize of a Lower Hetzian barony and a private audience with the king. The Vonahrish government offers to finance Luzelle's inclusion in the race, so long as she uses her audience to plead with Miltzin IX to sell them the secret to "sentient fire." With the Grewzian Imperium set to take over the whole world, sentient fire may be just the weapon needed to allow Vonahr to survive. With so much at stake, Luzelle enters the race. But, surrounded by so many other contestants, each determined to win at all costs, what are Luzelle's chances? What a great book! Paula Volsky succeeds in running several storylines through a world unfamiliar to his reader, and yet succeeds in keeping me on the edge of my seat. This story has everything: 19th century equivalent technology, magic, action and adventure, moral questioning, and romance. The figure of Karsler Stornzof, Overcommander of the Grewzian Army, is a fascinating figure; can he be as honorable and chivalrous as he seems, when he is part of the Greqzian war machine? So, I must say that I recommend this book wholeheartedly. It is a great book, worth spending your reading hours on. One word of advice, though, the map in the front of most fantasy books is of limited interest, but in this "around the world in 80 days" type story, it is imperative that you keep a marker on it so you can refer to it often!
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Volsky Since "Illusion!", January 9, 2001
Combining the entire map of Volsky's world with Jules Verne's "Around the World in Eighty Days" and a hint of the Imperialism of World War I and the atomic power of World War II, "The Grand Ellipse" is most likely Volsky's best book, second only to "Illusion." We follow Luzelle Devaire of Vonahr, an independent woman living in the third generation from the revolution of "Illusion." Always an adventurer, she jumps at the chance to join the Grand Ellipse - a race around Volsky's world - on the sufference of her government - who hopes that, should she win, Luzelle might be able to weasel away from the race's sponsor, the King of Lower Hetzia, the secret of the sentient Masterfire, in order to repel the advancing army of the Grewzians who are quickly taking over the land. Full of Volsky's excellent wit, an interesting romantic tangle, and lavish worldbuilding, The Grand Ellipse is a joy to anyone who has ventured into Volsky's world before, and a great primer for those who have not. Readers who are familiar with other "quest" or "travel" fantasies (see especially High Fantasy authors), will particularly enjoy Volsky's highly realistic "take" on what it means to travel. Rather than littering her pages with idealised, happy-go-lucky travelling companions who are somehow able to walk with little to no discomfort, or better, to ride without saddleburn, Volsky's characters are held-up by weather, hostile natives, and delayed trains. Finally! Unlike Volsky's previous three books, "The Grand Ellipse" involves relatively little horror or gore, and the one attempted rape scene is intense but in no way gratuitous. Those who have been leery of reading Volsky due to her post-"Illusion" books should certainly invest in her latest offering, while those who enjoyed the previous three books will still find the grand scope of this novel invigorating. Recommended *heartily* for everyone - even if you don't generally read fantasy! There are very few great authors in the market; Volsky is high among them. So why delay?!
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Around the World in 80 Days.....it seemed like a year!, June 14, 2001
Okay, maybe not a year. I remember the first time I saw "Around the World in 80 days." I was quite young and thought it was wonderful. Many years later, I saw the movie again and realized that it was a travelogue with brief incidents in a variety of countries rather than a real story about real peopel. "The Great Ellipse" is alot like that...fun but no real substance. Don't get me wrong...I love fun! But even in a fun book, you've got to like your heroine - and you end up dismissing Luzelle. The story begins well with Luzelle defying her monster father. Unfortunately, Luzelle is a self-proclaimed intellectual and explorer and her thoughts and actions are too air-headed to make this assessment reality. Throughout the entire book, Luzelle's adventurous past comes through for her only once. She is much more likely to act out of pique because someone gave her unwelcome news or sensible advise. She feels she MUST win and proceeds to pull some nasty stunts on the other racers. Our hero, Girays, Luzelle's ex, is clearly far more competent, honest, and likeable than the man Luzelle describes or Luzelle herself. You must, therefore, take Luzelle's character with a large grain of salt which diminishes her stature in the eyes of the reader. Girays makes a more logical focus for the plot but he doesn't appear as much as Luzelle. The real oddity in the story is a golden god of a man who is racing for the enemy, Karsler Stornzof. Luzelles thinks he's just 'gorgeous' and you wait to find he has feet of clay. Well, he doesn't. He is all the things he's supposed to be: kind, loyal, honorable, brave, smart, talented...he just happens to be representing the local equivalent of Nazi Germany. The story progresses and Karsler becomes more and more torn by his own loyalties as his country destroys, tortures, bullys it's way across his world. It is his character, the only one with any depth, that is the biggest weakness of the book. His tortured soul makes every other character a comic book cutout, which is hard on a plot centered around another character. So, what is the bottom line on the "Grand Ellipse?" It's "Around the World in 80 Days" with Hamlet in a supporting role.
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