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Title: A Whisper of Wings (Volume 1) by Paul Kidd, Terrie Smith ISBN: 1-887038-04-3 Publisher: Vision Books Pub. Date: 01 October, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.64 (22 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Fairie tale with an Australian twist
Comment: Where at first I found this book a standard fairy tale, as the story unfolded I liked it more and more. The Kashran culture is described in detail at the beginning of the book, in context, with a minimum of narrator explainations to slow down the text. I found the use of an Australian lexicon quite refreshing, with the characters hunting emus and kangaroos as opposed to your usual deer & Boar. The whole European fantasy genre has been mined so extensively, it's nice to see something different. The simplicity of the story works well with the fairy tale mood Kidd seems to be working, with the love and attention being devoted to the characters and cultural details. The imiagery is quite colorfull and emotions are painted across the story in primary colors. The book is elegant enough to catch and hold the attention of adult readers, but the content is suitible for teens also, I would rate the book a PG. Overall, this is a fine book, the first I've read by the author, and I'd be interested to read the following books in this series.
Rating: 5
Summary: A unique and engaging story
Comment: This book is one of the best books I've read in a long time. In fact, it may be among the best in my collection. From the moment the characters revealed their unique personalities, I fell in love with them, and I was driven to find out how the story of their lives would unfold; I wound up reading the entire book in two sittings.
On the surface, the story seems rather simple, like your classic fairy-tale. But that face eventually vanishes; no fewer than five times during this book, I found myself thinking, "I knew EXACTLY how the story was going to end...until I read this last page..." And with every shift in the plot, the story becomes more engaging, more real than it was before.
Spread through the book are illustrations by artist Terrie Smith. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, and in this case it could be true. Though they aren't numerous, the simple yet beautifully composed drawings add marvelously to the story, fixing in the reader's mind images of the people, and the landscape of this world. The cover illustration, pictured above, is one of my favorites, and I've always been impressed by how alive Terrie can make her drawings seem, simply by the expressiveness in the characters' eyes; no mean feat in flat black and white.
For any fan of fantasy, this book is as close to a "must-read" as I could ever claim. The proud but declining society of the Kashran, quiet yet expressive Shadarii and her ambitious sister Zhukora, and all of the lives they touch, weave together into a story of love and war, of hope for a brighter future, and fear of the damage the transition could bring. I can't praise this book enough, nor explain how highly I recommend it without revealing too much of the story.
Rating: 4
Summary: Read. Don't look.
Comment: In a fit of curiosity, I found out that author Paul Kidd wrote for television shows. That figures. While not being the most profound novel in the world, his "Whisper of Wings" is indeed sweeping, emotional, clever, and addictive on the level of the best television miniseries or cinema, rendering itself semi-profound.
The characters take their place in Kashran society just about believably; though, I doubted Shadarii's muteness would be a negative asset to her - seeing how she's the equal of her fellow Kashran every other way, it could make her endearing. I couldn't help but be reminded of 1990's-era Munchkin syndrome; society led by drop-dead gorgeous girl persecutes cute girl who for a few blemishes just doesn't fit in. Zhukora's chew-up-spit-out attitude was sufficient enough reason.
As a military buff, Kidd spins tales of power plays and battles to make Brian Jacques envious; the well-meaning, yet Hitlerian machinations, rise and rule of Zhukora, the protectivist manipulations of Traveesha and the court of Prakucha (In fact, all leading organizations portrayed, even Shadarii's Positive Deity-aided flower-power extension, are at least a tad slimy, whether well-intentioned or not.) too And, Kidd predicts the moral of California and Minnesota's gubernatorial situation - celebrity for achievement in amusement does equal power, here.
The flow of action in the story is wonderful, full of plot twists, including two I never expected. Still, every character's actions are perfectly believable in the muddle they're in.
However, I had a problem with an extravisual aspect of "WoW", as much as others here liked it. Terrie Smith's art, while good, is a notch to four cuter than the tone of the story. Totally stark drek ain't necessary, either, but its jarring, seeing generically adorable, appealing creatures in the heat of reading a smoldering battle. I never realized the awkwardness, until seeing it here. Smith's pinup history reares its head, too; some of the characters seem to breathe, open-mouthed, in deep ecstasy.
Otherwise, this thing's got the tricks and skills to pay the bills and more. I never regretted paying full price. While reading it, I kept seeing...
A Whisper Of Wings! Thirteen-part miniseries, on Cartoon Network!
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Title: The Rats of Acomar (Tales of the Mornmist) by Paul Kidd, Lynn Abbey, Ed Greenwood, Robert J. King, Terrie Smith ISBN: 1887038051 Publisher: Vision Books Pub. Date: 01 October, 2000 List Price(USD): $9.99 |
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Title: Descent into the Depths of the Earth by Paul Kidd ISBN: 0786916354 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: 15 June, 2000 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: The American Journal of Anthropomorphics (Book 4) by Vision Books, Darrell Benvenuto, Terrie Smith, Michele Light, Shane Fisher, Eric Blumrich, Joshua Kennedy, Jim Burns, Jill Bauman, Kathryn Bolinger-Un ISBN: 1887038019 Publisher: Vision Books Pub. Date: 01 January, 1997 List Price(USD): $10.00 |
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Title: The Blood Jaguar by Michael H. Payne ISBN: 0812566750 Publisher: Tor Books Pub. Date: October, 1999 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: White Plume Mountain by Paul Kidd ISBN: 0786914246 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: 15 November, 1999 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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