The Memory of Stone

Short Stories (Michelle Sagara West) #6

by Michelle West

Novella of 21k words.

The Guild of Makers has long been the most powerful guild in the Empire. Gilafas ADelios, the man who rules it, is therefore one of the most powerful men in the land.

But he has never been confident in his ability as an Artisan, and he is unprepared for the newest entrant into the Guild of Makers — a young girl from the Free Towns whose is so profoundly talented she may rival the legendary ability of the guild’s founder.

On the eve of the failure of the two great artifacts given the Kings centuries past, the fate of the Empire rests on the shoulders of an uncertain man and a girl who can hear the voice of the stone in the tower of Artisans—if they survive.

This story takes place in Averalaan, in the Empire of Essalieyan, the universe of Michelle West’s novels.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction

ebook

First published August 5, 2011

About the author

See also:

Michelle Sagara West
Michelle Sagara

Michelle is an author, book­seller, and lover of liter­ature based in Toronto. She writes fantasy novels as both Michelle Sagara and Michelle West (and some­times as Michelle Sagara West). You can find her books at fine booksellers.

She lives in Toronto with her long-suffering husband and her two children, and to her regret has no dogs.

Reading is one of her life-long passions, and she is some­times paid for her opinions about what she’s read by the venerable Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. No matter how many book­shelves she buys, there is Never Enough Shelf space. Ever.

She has published as Michelle Sagara (her legal name), as Michelle West (her husband's surname), and as Michelle Sagara West (a combination of the two).

Reviews

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was short, only a novella, and revolved almost entirely around two characters: Gilafas, the bitter guildmaster forever on the cusp between Artisan and mere maker, and Cessaly, a poor farmer's girl who turns out to be the most 'powerful' Artisan since the founder of the guild.

And by the end I was crying, not just tearing up, but full-on crying. They had found each other, and understood each other, like a father and daughter, and had to be separated for the fate of the world and I completely understood his desire to take her back instead of the sword/rod when the Winter Queen gave them the choice. And his despair at the end, and the devastation when he tells her mom (and I loved their family and how giving her up was the very last thing they wanted, they loved her even if she was a little odd and all they wanted was for her to be safe even if they couldn't keep her safe. And it turned out she wasn't safe even after that terrible choice to give her up to the Makers Guild).

The ending with the worked butterflies and birds in his studio was beautiful - still a tragic end, but at least with a little bittersweetness that she is alive and making, even if unreachable on the winter road. And now I desperately want Cessaly to show up again in the main series but know it is unlikely to be so, making me even sadder.

All from a novella!

Honestly this just reminds me, though West has a lot of writing tics that I can find irritating, when she hits she absolutely hits my heart, which is why I love her work.

[Estara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad we get an insight into the Maker/Artisan mindset for once, after having admired the descriptions of their works in the novels.

Because it's Michelle West this novella doesn't just show them at their work but a critical time during the Sun Sword series - and that's why there is love and enormous sacrifice.

I'm so thankful for the butterflies and birds at the end. I can so feel with the Guildmaster's dilemma, and then to be ambushed by what is basically love, too... - and Cessaly isn't even allowed to put all her powers into a working of her own making - I find that part of the story completely tragic, no matter that she at least doesn't have to pay with her life. I hope she had the chance later on of doing another major work of her own making.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Artisans are mentioned many times in this series but this is the first time we get to meet them. Cessaly has been creating amazing things since she learned to walk and when she is almost a teenager her mother brings her to the maker's guild to be tested. Gilafas, the only currant Artisan and not a strong one at that instantly knows what she is and the guild takes her in. We get to watch as she creates great and beautiful things as she slowly goes insane because of her power.
This is probably the story that is most detached from the main series but it's such a fascinating look into the Artisan's and the weapons that the kings carry.

[Amélie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this story is useful to better understand what are the Artisans and the Makers. Here, the master of the guild receives a special commission and discovers a new talented apprentice. (I loved Duvari cameo appearance.) However, I found that the story was a bit confusing at times and that we could have been given a bit more details about Fabril and his halls.

I would like to have a chance to find more about what happen to Cessaly at the end after she has made her choice. It would be great if we could see her make an appearance in the series.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Sagara's work and she's one of my all-time favorite authors, but this story fell a little short. It was enjoyable, but it was also very choppy and at times confusing - I had to go back and read what I had already read to make sure I knew what was going on. I wonder if this had been a longer novella or part of a bigger work if it would have worked better.

[Erina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great characters and world. Doesn't get 5 stars because it is unnecessarily long.