Customer Reviews

Titans of Chaos (The Chronicles of Chaos)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It is my considered opinion that Mr. Wright could use a touch more discipline in his writing. His early works, particularly the Golden Age trilogy, were incredible--absolute must reads. He has virtually created a new genre--modern mythology. If it weren't for Google, I'd have been lost in the dazzling, non-stop introduction of characters, themes, and ideas grabbed from history and polished up for a new era.

"Titans of Chaos" is the conclusion of the Chaos trilogy of which, the first volume, "Orphans of Chaos," seizes the reader from the beginning with a complex web of characters new and familiar. Five children are coming of age and realizing that they are not British subjects but rather the descendants of gods from various dimensions and realms, each of whom has particular powers that are neutralized in some fashion by a mysterious cabal that wishes to contain the powers these children represent. Though hinting at an epic confrontation of powers, the first volume came to the abrupt end all too common these days as publishers seem to be unwilling to publish one book when they can publish three.

So, in the second volume, "Fugitives of Chaos," Mr. Wright has his five protagonists make a break for freedom, which is somewhat complicated by the fact that his characters don't know who they are running from nor where they might run to. The book didn't seem to follow the same path as had been mapped out in the first volume and suffered from certain excesses not relevant here.

Yet based upon the strength of prior works, I signed up to get my copy of "Titans of Chaos" hot off the press. It is a much better work than the second volume but seems as though the author tossed off a chapter at a time without any sense of when or how things would wrap up. "Titans" is almost a stream-of-consciousness version of storytelling. Thus, the Chaos trilogy is completely unlike the Golden Age trilogy in which the ending was foreshadowed by a conversation that takes place in the very first chapter of the first book. Much of the power of the Golden Age trilogy was found in the fact that Mr. Wright knew where he was going and it was quite a ride.

In "Titans," the development of several of the characters ends as the narrative focuses much more closely on Amelia Windrose. Clues and hints to Amelia's background and purpose never quite pan out and the ultimate battle involved an entirely new character who had not even been hinted at in the first volume--it was also strangely anti-climactic. And why, after the reader has invested so much in these characters, must the author present as the ultimate ending of a story involving the interplay of gods, powers, principalities, etc.--good and evil incarnate--going to end in a tawdry, though (thankfully) implied rather than explicit, episode of adolescent fornication?

I am and remain a huge fan of Mr. Wright; however, his gifts as a writer evidence that he is capable of much, much more. Another reviewer has likened the Chaos trilogy to a Harry Potter for adults--yet what is fascinating about the Potter books is that each book adds to the prior, that the author gave out just enough hints in earlier works to make the journey endlessly inventive and interesting; they have a destination. The destination of Chaos promised to be a confrontation between powers that predated the Earth itself, or possibly a discourse on the Promethian gift that so defines humanity. It promised to be more than what it was and that has left this reviewer terribly disappointed.

Nevertheless, I recommend this work as head and shoulders above most other offerings of the genre and will eagerly await Mr. Wright's next effort.

They go to Mars. They go to Hollywood. They fight a zillion-page-long battle with every nasty and annoying thing that the bad guys can throw at them. One of them has a naked encounter with a much-older man who kisses her and makes her feel all warm and tingly. Someone else kisses her and makes her feel all wibbly-wobbly. The end.

What I liked: Some of the gods in Hollywood routine is fun. Also, the end is unsettled, which is fitting -- though perhaps too neat -- for a war between order and chaos.

What annoyed me: First, Wright continues to use his nominally British characters to put down the British and go all gooey over all things American. Definitely unsporting. Second, Wright can't decide whether he's writing a war epic, a teen sex comedy, or a handbook for young lords and ladies on gender-appropriate behavior. His desire to write the latter is the only explanation I have for his constant focus on gender. (Actually, I have another explanation, but I'd rather not go there.) Any time Amelia can choose between calling herself a "girl" or referring to herself in a gender-neutral fashion, she chooses "girl". (E.g., when she changes back from her 4-dimensional winged form into her 3-dimensional form, she never becomes "human", she becomes "a girl".) She constantly refers to the masculine qualities of Quentin and Victor (but rarely Colin), and sometimes to the feminine qualities of Vanity, when any of these could simply be treated as personal qualities. It's like a primer saying "this is what girls should be like, and this is what boys should be like." Blech. And third, we're treated to another sexually charged encounter between the crusty old headmaster and one of his underage charges. Blech.

Recommendation: Read the first novel if you care to. Read this one if you read #1 and #2 and want some closure, but don't expect too much.

This final volume in the Chaos Trilogy is a wonderful extra-dimensional Toad's wild ride for adults. TITANS OF CHAOS is absorbing fun.

Our heroes -- Amelia, Victor, Colin, Vanity and Quentin -- markedly mature (in comparison with the previous books) as they fight fantastic battles against armies of Amazons, sirens, nymphs, mechanical steeds, and maenads under the command of lord speedy himself, Trismegistus, a.k.a., the Olympian, Hermes.

Before the bloody wars commence however, the five "young people" hide away to explore and expand their individual paradigms and powers, and Wright's imagination carries us along on a nimble romp through ways to bend "reality." Among the joys: soaring with Amelia on her "superwoman" flight; the reader's freedom-seeking spirit is unleashed too. Great entertainment also is the group's impromptu space adventure; they (especially Amelia) hope to plant a Union Jack where no one has trod before. However....

TITANS OF CHAOS just bursts with the flowering of the titans' superhuman talents as the author spares no effort to describe the added geometries, spirits, physical properties, secret passages, and moral webs they perceive and harness in our humdrum 3-D world. This is gorgeous mind candy.

TITANS OF CHAOS finishes as satisfyingly as one may dare to hope. While ORPHANS OF CHAOS gripped the reader with the dizzying audacity of new concepts and a horde of gods' identities, and FUGITIVES OF CHAOS filled in some blanks and kept a forward momentum, TITANS OF CHAOS thrillingly fulfills the promises implicit in the previous books. This trilogy isn't for every science fiction or science fantasy fan, but it is a full-bodied accomplishment that some will truly adore. Enjoy the saga in its entirety now.

The cover of this book touts it as "The Fantastic Climax of The Chronicles of Chaos." Most series, in their final book, spend a decent portion on the final build to the climax, which can sometimes be a letdown for the amount of build-up afforded it. Not so here. The climatic battle to which the children have been "destined" the entire trilogy takes up a good portion of this final book. And set aside all your preconceptions of where he could have gone and what he could have done, Wright takes this book and the characters in an direction only he could conceive and direct. Imaginative and creative, heart-pounding in in its pace, this final portion of the Chronicles of Chaos is a brilliant conclusion.

The children finally get a chance to spend time focusing on developing their talents/abilities. And in the process of running and self-searching, they really do find their true selves. They transition from children to adults, and begin to step into the power that their heritages have passed down to them. When the time for that final battle comes, though not completely ready to face their foe(s), they do so with all the power at their command.

Wright's grasp of mythology and science is amazing, and the way he interweaves their contradictory realities is genius in itself. He has somehow woven a narrative utilizing perspectives or definitions of reality which are completely at odds with each other, yet, through his skillful writing, each holds its own coherently.

An aspect of how Wright develops his narrative and moves his story forward which I have come to completely enjoy and respect is that he "allows" his characters to choose poorly as they grow and mature through his stories. And their poor choices have very real consequences, and sometimes those consequences are ones which do not, in any way, affect their position or trajectory positively. It seems a more "real" way of storytelling, portraying individuals striving to do right, but sometimes not, and suffering the consequences thereof.

In all, I highly recommend not only this book, but the entire trilogy. Don't do yourself a disfavor and start with this novel, begin at the beginning and work your way through them all. Orphans of Chaos and then Fugitives of Chaos (Tor Fantasy) are excellent books in their own rights, but all three of them really stand as a single unit, and you will never get the full grasp of what Wright has developed if you start anywhere other than at the beginning.

I have just finished a week-long reading marathon with this series. I picked up "Orphans of Chaos" and wouldn't rest until I finished through to this latest installment. (I say latest because its simply too painful to think of it being over) The next thing on my to-do list is read the entire series over again but this time with a highlighter. The dialogue is superb and the descriptions are so vivid it has me wondering if John C. Wright has indeed seen the 4th dimension for himself. Wright's imagination has stretched my mind to its limits - and I'm better for it.

"Orphans of Chaos", "Fugitives of Chaos" and "Titans of Chaos" are all dazzling, sumptuous, decadent treats to be savored. I think "Titans" is the climax of that richness. The characters are a lot more mature, reclaim their old powers (with gusto!), and participate in exhilarating discourse. This series literally has it all - plot twists, intrigue, mind-bending strategy, action, humor, but MOST OF ALL - it is tempered by fascinating quantum physics, engrossing spiritual philosophy, breathtaking poetry, characters so grounded they feel real, gorgeous dialogue (especially Colin's mind over matter, the nature of chaos and the cosmos, and the nature of power)...you'd think all of this would be dry, preachy or "heady" (that has been my experience with other books) but no - it is obvious Wright is extraordinarily well-educated, but he uses all of his knowledge about myth, philosophy and spirituality to propel the story forward. It never once lags or seems out of place. Also, both Sci-Fi readers and Fantasy buffs will love it because it blends both genres together perfectly.

These books relieved me of my reading dry spell. It is so hard to find a good book these days. When I read, I want more than just a "fun ride" ("Twilight" for example; addicting but fluffy)...I literally felt better for reading these books. They have "substance"... the magic that brought "Star War"s to fame was undoubtedly "The Force"..."Lord of the Rings" could have been another story of war but it became legendary for its heart-breaking beauty and powerful allegory ... C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia possesses a haunting quality we can all relate to -that uncanny feeling that we are so much more than we know...and last but not least - Harry Potter is ultimately a story of love and courage trumping evil. It is this element that anchors this Chaos series for me - what otherwise would be just another exhilarating, witty, rollicking, laugh-out loud funny, delicious read...also gives the reader something to meditate on when finished. It's a story to keep thinking about.

This, the last book of the "Chaos" trilogy, takes what should have been the final 4 chapters of the previous installment and spreads them unbearably thin. Rather than a swift and powerful conclusion you get a shockingly long morass of increasingly obscure nonsense. Unless you enjoy trying to juggle 30 or 40 mythological bit-part characters (who often have multiple names, yay!) while the internal logic of the story is taken beyond the breaking point, give this book a pass and make up whatever ending you'd like for Amelia and crew.

Like everything John C. Wright writes "Titans of Chaos" the conclusion of the Chaos trilogy is grand and sweeping. A mixture of science fiction and fantasy the action and characters in this book really unique. Titans of Chaos is also the best book in the series. The first two books while also excellent brought the plot and the characters along, "Titans.." gives us the five orphans with a fuller realization of the powers of the various paradigms as they fight to find out what factions among the Pagan gods are working to kill them.

John C. Wright imagination is is full bloom in the ways that their various paradigms are used together and the myriad ways in which they are used. I found myself rushing through the story to get to the end and at the same time dreading finishing this unique trilogy. As you read you get totally swept along in his imagination and his ability as a master storyteller.

The Chaos Triglogy is a wonderfully written book about god and goddess-like beings in the modern age. This isn't Percy Jackson, though! It is written very much for adult reading levels, without being inappropriate for younger readers. The story line, the characters, and the vocabulary may make this book inaccessible to younger readers exploring fantasy novels. However, if you know someone who learned to read because of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, have matured beyond them, and if they have some decent background knowlege of mythology, then this trilogy would be a wonderful next step.

OK, let's assume you read the first two books in this trilogy. So here we have the third book. And it is a very, very good book with a pretty satisfying end. And there was a bit of an opening for possible other books in the series, too, so who can ask for more. Well, I guess I can. This book bogged down in ways I usually expect from a middle book in a trilogy. There was endless going on and on re battle scenes, and sometimes, I was actually tempted to just skip ahead.

But, if you can stand endless discussion about how each of the 5 hostages' powers work, and endless permutations of discussions about multidimensions, then you will enjoy this book. Once again, it is a bit R-rated, but that doesn't distract much.

One thing, however, really stood out. The author has an unusually creative imagination, and I can definitely say I'll read his other works.

The title of this book is an apt one, for it is indeed a very chaotic book. The finale of a trilogy, this book tries to wrap things up nicely, but it wasn't as enjoyable a read as the previous two books in the series. As I've mentioned in my reviews for the other Chaos books, the main character's powers are physics-related. Which can at times be very confusing to the casual reader as it sometimes seems as if the author is just making things up in his head.

The parts of the book that weren't smothered in this jargon were very enjoyable and I liked seeing the characters continue to mature, despite the focus being somewhat shifted off of the more familar characters fromt he first two books and onto new characters from mythology.

Oh well. The series as a whole is pretty enjoyable, but this entry had a somewhat weaker resolution than the others. I still deem it worthy a read. Give it a try, you won't know if you like it unless you do.