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Heresy (Aquasilva Trilogy)
by Anselm Audley
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Earthlight (2002-05-07)
ISBN: 0743414845
EAN: 9780743414845
Dewy Decimal #: 813
Paperback: 480 pages
Edition: New Ed
SKU: B453-1113
Condition: New
Comments: In stock - Immediate despatch from an efficient and professional leading British bookselling firm.
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Editorial Reviews
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Inquisition is as effective a second volume of a trilogy as Heretic was an opener; Anselm Audley recomplicates his take on political intrigue and the role of religion with some real understanding of the mechanics and psychology of power. His Hamlet-like narrator-hero Cathan is ineffectual because of his rational virtues, but some of the villains who walk all over him have hardly less brilliance; his friend turned fanatic enemy the Inquisitor Sarhaddon is a gifted orator whose subtle misrepresentation of historical fact, backed as it is with overwhelming brutal force, provides a goodish reason for many minor characters to capitulate to his church. The magician/emperor Orosius sneers at Cathan as he tortures him from afar for indecisiveness and respect for others--Cathan's reaction is to worry about whether his family resemblance to Orosius indicates some moral corruption yet to surface in him. Even Cathan's female allies, Palatine and Ravenna, get irritated with his reasonableness from time to time. Audley's sequence works some interesting spins on stock sf and fantasy tropes; what makes it interesting, though, is the worried sceptical tone of its narrator. Not only the plot here, but the style, are effectively character-driven. --Roz Kaveney
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Customer Reviews
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Heresy
Rating  (5)
Date: 2002-10-20
0 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
This brillient book, full of adventure, sets a new trend for fantasy books. It is just how a trilogy should be started-it leaves us with a tempory sense of satisfaction, but leaves questions unanswered.
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It is time to join the ranks of heresy...
Rating  (4)
Date: 2002-10-04
3 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
A fanatic church with power of the mind and fire, a war of faith, mages on the run and an unusual twist.
It's unusual to have people in charge actually rising to be the hero of a fantasy novel. Then again I'm not sure if I can rate it as a fantasy novel at all, some elements of science fiction have been dwarn in.
A world of submarines(mantas), satellites(eyes in the sky) and ocean probes, added with swords and magic.This book is a must if you think you've read it all. It'll challenge how you look upon fantasy, and it proves that there are still people out there who can spin a great tale. You'll notice that I only gave the author four stars, this is because in some cases I feel the use of language rips you out of the story, hvaing to plunge into it again. I don't particularly like these "breathers", but they are perfect if you don't eat a book a day like me.
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Thoroughly enjoyable and fun to read!
Rating (5)
Date: 2002-01-27
6 out of 6 customers found this reveiw helpful
I had so much fun reading this book I can't begin to tell you. I could relate to the characters and their emotions that to adults might seem overdone, but to those of age, are not. The plot was entertaining and the settings were all believable.The water world of Aquasilva was fascinating and the Heroine Ravenna was a character that I can't wait to hear more about. Cathan was charming and in the beginning of the book had a regard for work that was parallel to myself and others I've know.Palatine was an interesting twist, especially at the end. As for other reviews I have read about the improbablitity of swords and crossbows when people also have weapons like torpedos on livable submarines, I say only... isn't it obvious? In a society built around people that live on islands it's not only believable but probable that weapons used underwater are more advanced technology wise. This people has to focus on war in water, not on land. I thought this was a social quirk that strengthened the importance of water to this people.
The plot was great and Audley built different races and peoples up until I could believe them all. He even gave people in different cities different views of life and had some astute observations of what power can do to people.I can't wait for this talented teenager's next book to come out.
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Heresy -- don't believe the hype
Rating  (1)
Date: 2001-11-10
6 out of 20 customers found this reveiw helpful
We've heard all the media blurb - teenage guy writes novel, pockets a mini-mountain of cash, what a guy, etc...But does the book measure up? This is the question that screams for an answer.
In short, no it does not, not in the slightest.
Now, this is just my personal opinion, so please if you completely disagree and want to tear my hair out, I would advise you not to continue reading this. Importantly, Heresy is not terrible. In fact, there are many positive elements in the novel that are genuinely encouraging. But this does not get Mr Audley out of jail, nor does the fact that he is only nineteen. Sure, he is young, but the publishers should have thought about that before they published the book. With regards to the novel itself...it just doesn't make the grade. The concept is original in portrayal, but not in the nitty-gritty of the plot workings. Young boy sees danger, young boy tries to save homeland, etc with all the trappings that come with a young hero.
The world of Aquasilva itself is reasonably interesting, but confused. Take for example, the fact that weapons such as swords and crossbows are still in use, yet there are submarines that have 'flame lances' and torpedoes. Come again?
The prose itself is stiff, unnatural and often downright annoying, with Audley struggling to create memorable or even realistic relationships between characters. Detail is all to often lacking and many characters are introduced but left half undeveloped. Some elements of the novel are a little too 'fortunate', such as the fact that Cathan - the main protagonist - needs to undertake a desperate mission, and oh, he just happens to be a competant mage. Overall, there are just too many times when attempting to turn the page is more stressful than Cathan's own journey. This isn't a terrible book, and there are small signs that perhaps Audley is better judged on his next offering.
But there - for me at least - is the unmistakeable sign that the publishers are trying to sell the book on the basis of the author's age, which is not the way to go about things. Maybe 'Inquisition' - the next title - will show better things to come, but 'Heresy' unfortunately falls flat on its face.
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A fresh and unquie new way of writing
Rating (5)
Date: 2001-10-11
3 out of 5 customers found this reveiw helpful
A fresh and new story, which it has not been written this well in a long time. A book that can not be down. Anselm Audley writes about a new kind of world, which is both fanasting and unquie. A world which is domainated by one religon but under the surface there are several overs trying to come the surface
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