Bloodtide (Hardcover)

by Melvin Burgess (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Based on the first part of the 13th-century Icelandic Volsunga saga, this searing novel by the author of Junk combines a gory and incestuous revenge story with a futuristic premise that recalls The Island of Doctor Moreau. The result is a page-turner, a shocker and a resonant piece of writing. Post-apocalyptic London is populated by halfmen and humans; the former are slave-composites of people and animals, achieved through genetic engineering; the latter are prejudiced, power-hungry rulers, crippled by economic depression. Two warring human gangs have dominated the city for years, and now attempt to unite by marrying 14-year-old Signy to "King" Conor of the opposing crew. Treachery ensues, and innocent Signy soon becomes a vengeful deceiver: "I'll open my legs with a loving smile.... If I have to bear his children, I'll do that too, just so that I can slit their throats before his eyes," she says. People are eaten alive by a pig halfman, others are hung by their heels until dead; Signy and her twin brother have fairly graphic sex while she is inhabiting the body of a shape-changing creature, and the resulting baby is cloned; the dead are resuscitated; Signy's hamstrings are cut in two; and cyborg/animal gods control people's fates. Narrated alternately by various characters and by an omniscient narrator, the storytelling may challenge less proficient readers; yet without a doubt, Burgess's bleak and breathless vision will spark imaginations and discussions. Ages 14-up.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
In a far future, two warring gangs, the Conors and the Volsons, rule the ruins of London. When the leader of the Volsons gives his daughter Signy in marriage to the leader of the Conor family, the stage is set for a tale of vengeance and tragedy. This postmodern retelling of the saga of the Volsungs from Iceland by the author of Smack does not stint on graphic portrayals of violence. Twin themes of love and death provide an inexorable tension in this dark dystopian fable. For most fantasy or general fiction collections.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books (November 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765300486
• ISBN-13: 978-0765300485
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,453,172 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent storytelling, November 1, 2001

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

By the beginnings of the twenty-third century London is in ruins with warlord like gangs ruling over segments of the city. A wall similar to that built during the Roman period is constructed around the decimated metropolis more for keeping the riffraff inside and isolating the genetically engineered vermin known as halfmen out of the city. This leaves many decent folks trapped in a dangerous environs.

The Volsons and the Conors, two of the strongest gangs, agree to merge through the marriage of their children. However, the groom betrays his future in-laws during the ceremony killing all but two, the bride and her brother. The Halfmen feast on the bodies of the Volsons. Signy, the fourteen-year-old bride, thirsts for vengeance, but has few avenues if any to succeed as she now struggles to survive. However, Odin followed by Loki and his daughter appear. Are they the real Ancient Greek Gods or a hoax and if genuine will they aid Signy in her quest?

Based on the first part of the classic Icelandic Volsunga Saga, BLOODTIDE is an exciting futuristic epic tale that will thrill adult and young readers alike. The plot is loaded with action and turns believers of readers that the "history" and the "current events" occurred. However, the tale belongs to the key cast members who rotate first person narration enabling the audience to understand their motives. Though tagged a children's novel, fans of all ages of epic fantasy will fully enjoy Melvin Burgess' powerful story of a horrific future that makes the world feel as if it has gone full circle.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scary, chilling and very very good, April 5, 2006

By	A. Weston "Adrian Weston" (Brighton, UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Bloodtide (Mass Market Paperback)

I've not previously read Melvin Burgess - I don't really know why. I've certainly read a lot about him and admire a children's writer who puts so many difficult and gritty issues into the headlines. Perhaps I didn't read him before because I was worried that he would be too issue-driven. Any way, finally, I've read one of his titles....

Bloodtide is utterly terrifyingly addictively readable and not a little shocking. I take my hat off repeatedly but also am somewhat mazed by the idea that any writer (even one as unflinching as Burgess clearly is) should think of the bloody and despoiling Icelandic sagas and find in them the inspiration for a children's book. Well - Burgess did and more power to him - as it springboards him into the most breathtaking showpiece. Bloodtide pecks vulture-like at almost every element of human emotion and gnaws wolf-hound style at the moral dimensions thrown onto the book's exceptionally violent battle ground. As you'd expect of a post-apocalyptic saga blood lust, ambition, greed, lies lay much of humanity to waste. A certain frisson is added by a bit of matricide here, some incest there, cloning, genetic engineering, oh you name it - but also some ill-fated trust and love.

Burgess plays with his characters - some mutant by dint of scientific tinkering, others mutated by simple human inhumanity - in an appropriately god-like fashion. And he plays his readers expertly too.

In short: I was gripped, sickened and exhilerated by bloodtide and think Burgess to be one of the most impressive writers I've encountered this year. I am positively jealous of his skill.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bloodtide review, February 16, 2004

By	Wes. Wang (Flushing, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bloodtide (Mass Market Paperback)

Bloodtide is a novel that will horrify ordinary readers, and make them feel quite disgust. However, the appalling plot of the novel is what made it so intriguing. The novel is unlike any other published works ever on Earth. I think the purpose of the novel is to portrait most of the human being¡¯s evil side of nature, and the unthinkable achievements. Throughout the novel, many morbid human nature are shown, such as hatred, vengeance, greed, and selfishness

The entire novel is about future London and the most important conflict between the two gangs that took over control of London. The two gangs have been fighting each other for many years over this parsimonious city with no real successes. Just when the leader of Volson (one of the groups) tried to appease the conflict and to unite London by betrothing his own daughter to his enemy¡¯s son; a dramatic twist occurred. One thing the Volson did not notice is that his nemesis is actually planning on something far more nefarious as ever¡­