Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell - The Edge Chronicles

[Kell]

The Curse of the Gloamglozer (Quint 1)
Author: Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
Publisher: Corgi
ISBN # 0552564251
First Published: 2001
380 pages
Rating: 9

In the floating city of Sanctaphrax, fusty old professors scheme and bicker with each other as they study the weather in minute detail - mistsifting, fogprobing, researching the air blowing in from beyond the Edge. But some experiments are best left alone...Quint is the son of a sky pirate captain. He arrives in Sanctaphrax at the request of Linius Pallitax, the Most High Academe, who needs an apprentice he can trust to carry out a series of highly important tasks. Just how important, Quint is about to find out as he and Linius's only daughter, Maris, are plunged into the midst of a terrifying adventure that takes them deep within the rock upon which Sanctaphrax is built.

Seldom does one come across an imagined world so fully formed as the one portrayed in The Edge Chronicles! This first book in the Chronicles introduces the reader to the magnificent floating city of Sanctaphrax – a place where the study of the sky and weather are of the utmost importance – and its quirky inhabitants. But the most learned and respected professor of them all – the Most High Academe – is about to take science too far in his quest for knowledge, and it is up to his daughter, Maris, and his young apprentice, Quint (the son of a famous Sky Pirate), to find out what terror he has unleashed!

This is a heady adventure and the inventiveness of the authors rivals that of Terry Pratchett. Beautiful line drawings illustrate the action, capturing characters and locations to perfection – there’s even a handy map in the front of the book! This is a must-read start to the Quint Trilogy.

The Winter Knights (Quint 2)
Author: Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
ISBN # 0552551260
Publisher: Corgi
First Published: 2005
416 pages
Rating: 8/10

In the great floating city of Sanctaphrax, blizzards howl through the streets as the Edgeworld descends into an endless winter. Quint, the son of a sky pirate, has just begun his training at the Knights Academy - training that involves heading out over the Edge on tethers to develop his flying skills. But when Quint breaks the rules and head out to Open Sky on his own, he runs into the great sky leviathan known as a cloud-eater, and must use all his skill and ingenuity if catastrophe is not to strike the Edgeworld...

Sanctaphrax is gripped in a seemingly never-ending winter and it’s up to Quint, newly enrolled in the Knights Academy, to follow in his father’s footsteps and take the helm of a great Sky Ship and avert disaster. This is every bit as exciting as The Curse of the Gloamglozer, filled with thrills and spills on every page. The illustrations are delightful and the story is so well-written that the reader is instantly transported to a world of floating rocks and strange creatures that control the weather.

Quint’s adventures will continue in Clash of the Sky Galleons.


Clash of the Sky Galleons (Quint Trilogy 3)
Author: Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
ISBN # 0385607210
Publisher: Doubleday
First Published: 2006
426 pages
Rating: 8/10

The Blurb:
Quint is travelling with his father, Wind Jackal, on a mission to track down and bring to justice Turbot Smeal, the man who started the fire that killed their family. Having left behind his studies at the KnightsAcademy, Quint is now eager to learn what it really means to be a sky pirate and to learn from his father. But Wind Jackal is consumed by his desire to capture Smeal - and his judgementis flawed. His actions endanger the lives of his crew - and his son. As they travel from the taverns and backstreets of Undertown and the wonders of the shipbuilders' yards, to the dark dangers of the Deepwoods, where Quint and Maris become separated from the rest of the crew and encounter some terrifying creatures - and finally to the mysterious, ghostly sky-wreck in Open Sky, where they discover the truth about Smeal - and face a new terror...

The Review:
The conclusion to the Quint Trilogy has been a long time coming, and greatly anticipated, so it’s just as well that it lives up to expectations! This neatly ties together all the plot twists and revelations from the rest of the Chronicles, encompassing all three of the trilogies in a very satisfying way. This is the kind of high fantasy adventure to which every kid should be treated, even if just so the adults can get in on the action for themselves. A highly enjoyable romp that will delight kids of all ages, from six to sixty and beyond!

[Liz]

I haven't read all of these books, only two of them -
Beyond the Deepwoods (Twig 1)
Stormchaser (Twig 2)

I read them when I was about 10 or 11 years old. I thought BEYOND THE DEEPWOODS was quite good - I read it in a few days and went straight on to the second one. However, from what I can remember, I sort of lost interest in the series after finishing STORMCHASER. I enjoyed reading the first more than the second, so never tried the third Twig book. I'm not sure what age group they're aimed at - maybe I was too young to fully understand the story in STORMCHASER or something.

[Kell]

I think they're aimed at about the 11-14 range, but a younger, strong reader could perhaps get to grips with them. Some of the plots could still be appreciated by mid-teens. I think they'd especially apeal to boys who like reading, as the main character in each is a lad.

[Liz]

Ah....maybe that was it then. Still, I really enjoyed reading the first one. Maybe I'll give them another go sometime and see if I get on any better with them.

[Kell]

I adore The Edge Chronicles. I'm busy reading The Lost Barkscrolls at the moment.

I also wrote a review for Stormchaser, which you can see HERE.

I think my favourite Edge Chronicle was The Curse of the Gloamglozer - the very first book in the Quint trilogy. The writers almost rival Terry Pratchett with the completeness of The Edge.

[Michelle]

I was sent The Immortals to review, which is the last in the series - it's being marketed as a good introduction to the series as well. I love the world that has been developed, and the various characters. I'm going to go back and try the earlier books, and I was wondering if anyone else had read them, and what their thoughts were?

[Michelle]

The Immortals is the 10th book in The Edge Chronicles, a series that has somehow passed me by so far. After finishing this book, however, that is about to change.. I’ve already started one of the earlier books! The Edge Chronicles are a fantasy series for older children, although it has many fans of all ages.

This book is being marketed as the final book in the series, but also as an epic stand alone read, ideal as an introduction for new readers. This was, I admit something I wasn’t too sure about - was it really possible to step into a series at the end, and not be totally confused?

It turns out that it is completely possible, and the key to this seems to be that The Immortals is set some time into the future, with a rapidly developing world, and of course, new characters.

The world that has been created for this series is so well imagined, there are so many areas, with different ways of life, and many different creatures and characters - and yet not once did I get lost or confused. This is of course aided by the wonderful illustrations found throughout the book, especially the maps. It’s a great example of how illustrations can add to and enhance a novel.

Moving on to the book itself, The Immortals tell the story of Nate Quarter, a lamplighter from the mines, as he travels from one end of The Edge to the other. It’s a story of self discovery, set in the story of a changing world, complete with battles and revolutions. The main characters are well imagined, and well developed, to the point that I was sad to say goodbye as I finished the book.

For existing fans of the chronicles, The Immortals offers a new story, and new characters, whilst also wrapping up old stories, and bringing the series to a satisfying close. For new readers, it really is a good introduction - it’s a great stand alone read, but also hints at past events, at a level just right to encourage you to go back and explore past stories.

[Kell]

You'e finished it already?! Wow! THat was fast! I'm not even halfway through yet (due to lack of quality reading time - not due to lack of enjoyment, as I'm LOVING this book!). It really is a VERY chunky read, but it's everso worth it, even at only about 1/4 of the way through!

[Michelle]

Well I did say I enjoyed it! I'm looking forward to hear how you find it, having read the rest.

[Ben]

I've heard about these, might have to keep my eye out for them!

[Michelle]

I've finished The Curse of the Gloamglozer, and have quite a few more in the series. Despite being fantasy, they are easy, relaxing reads. Having read The Immortals, and then going back, I feel that the earlier books are aimed at slightly younger readers, with The Immortals having more to offer. I don't know if that's because the series simply developed like that, or if the author is aware that the original fans are now older.

[Nessicle]

Oooh I have to look into these books!