Anyone else read Garth Nix's old kingdom series? They're good book, I like them a lot, but at the same time I can't help but feel they could have been so much better. In particular, the books make use of all sorts of symbolism regarding order, freedom, duty, stability, progress, conservation (That is to say, the conservation of institutions - kingdom, abhorsens, clay, etc.), etc. But it doesn't really go anywhere with it, or make a very strong, clear message. It's kind of like he's recycling these cause he saw other people using them, without having a strong grasp on what they mean or what he wants to communicate with them. :/
@Angle I love Sabriel and I adore the world but I find the construction of the following books really lacking in some of the ways you’ve identified.
@tux_kate Mmm. I'm really partial to Lirael, but yeah, I can see a lot of ways the series could have been way better. having a consistent philosophical underpinning is just one of them.:/
I adore Lirael as a character and the library of the Clayr is my DREAM PLACE and the Dog! Oh, the Dog!
But I find that "Sabriel" as a self-contained book seems to be the best constructed novel of the series.
I really wish there were more depth to the questions of legacy and knowledge and loss and change and dealing with international relations and so on, but yeah. I also find Sameth tiresome, which makes "Lirael" and "Abhorsen" something of a slog.
@Angle @tux_kate I hadn’t actually thought about it as much as that, but I think you’ve put a finger on some of what bothers me about those books. I suspect Nix did the worldbuilding and then just thought about Adventure, but that’s not really enough.
And here I’d thought that it was mostly that I’m tired of fantasy about restoring or maintaining a monarchy. (Though I’m sure that’s part of it.)