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Journeys of the Catechist #2
Into the Thinking Kingdoms
An adventure of epic proportions continues as a man bound by honor travels through exotic and perilous lands on a quest to find and protect a beautiful princess he has never met.
Hardcover
First published April 1, 1999
14 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
About the author
Alan Dean Foster
498 books2,034 followersBestselling science fiction writer Alan Dean Foster was born in New York City in 1946, but raised mainly in California. He received a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA in 1968, and a M.F.A. in 1969. Foster lives in Arizona with his wife, but he enjoys traveling because it gives him opportunities to meet new people and explore new places and cultures. This interest is carried over to his writing, but with a twist: the new places encountered in his books are likely to be on another planet, and the people may belong to an alien race.
Foster began his career as an author when a letter he sent to Arkham Collection was purchased by the editor and published in the magazine in 1968. His first novel, The Tar-Aiym Krang, introduced the Humanx Commonwealth, a galactic alliance between humans and an insectlike race called Thranx. Several other novels, including the Icerigger trilogy, are also set in the world of the Commonwealth. The Tar-Aiym Krang also marked the first appearance of Flinx, a young man with paranormal abilities, who reappears in other books, including Orphan Star, For Love of Mother-Not, and Flinx in Flux.
Foster has also written The Damned series and the Spellsinger series, which includes The Hour of the Gate, The Moment of the Magician, The Paths of the Perambulator, and Son of Spellsinger, among others. Other books include novelizations of science fiction movies and television shows such as Star Trek, The Black Hole, Starman, Star Wars, and the Alien movies. Splinter of the Mind's Eye, a bestselling novel based on the Star Wars movies, received the Galaxy Award in 1979. The book Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990. His novel Our Lady of the Machine won him the UPC Award (Spain) in 1993. He also won the Ignotus Award (Spain) in 1994 and the Stannik Award (Russia) in 2000.
Foster began his career as an author when a letter he sent to Arkham Collection was purchased by the editor and published in the magazine in 1968. His first novel, The Tar-Aiym Krang, introduced the Humanx Commonwealth, a galactic alliance between humans and an insectlike race called Thranx. Several other novels, including the Icerigger trilogy, are also set in the world of the Commonwealth. The Tar-Aiym Krang also marked the first appearance of Flinx, a young man with paranormal abilities, who reappears in other books, including Orphan Star, For Love of Mother-Not, and Flinx in Flux.
Foster has also written The Damned series and the Spellsinger series, which includes The Hour of the Gate, The Moment of the Magician, The Paths of the Perambulator, and Son of Spellsinger, among others. Other books include novelizations of science fiction movies and television shows such as Star Trek, The Black Hole, Starman, Star Wars, and the Alien movies. Splinter of the Mind's Eye, a bestselling novel based on the Star Wars movies, received the Galaxy Award in 1979. The book Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990. His novel Our Lady of the Machine won him the UPC Award (Spain) in 1993. He also won the Ignotus Award (Spain) in 1994 and the Stannik Award (Russia) in 2000.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 31, 2014
Continuing his quest to fulfill the charge laid on him by the dying Tarin Beckwith, Etjole Ehomba now travels through more dangerous lands still: civilization. The skills that serve him so well in the wild struggle to adapt to the peculiarities of each little kingdom through which he travels. But travel he must, ever northward, ever growing closer to the ultimate confrontation with Hymneth the Possessed.
The title is at once serious and a bit of a pun; the Thinking Kingdoms are, indeed, titled that, but they are also Etjole's first real excursion deep into the lands of men. The array of civilizations is diverse and impressive, with a lot of variety in society and particular social malfunctions. The opening of the book also provides the first close look at Hymneth and the kingdom to which Etjole is ultimately bound.
Once again there are a few humorous side stories slipped into the main narrative, though none with such a jarring shift to first person as happened in the first book. It is hard to tell if Etjole has any idea of what disaster his innocent acts of kindness tend to wreck on evil minds, but as Simna points out, "coincidence" follows Etjole awfully closely.
As a sequel to a strong first novel, this holds up very well. There are a few places in the beginning where Etjole's habit of pulling a magical solution out of his baggage is rather overdone, but the surprises that he keeps dishing out are always entertaining. And there was one bit at the end about the color of the beach pebbles that bothered me, because I'm pretty sure the first book said they were grey. Overall, though, there's no lag in the story or the characters. I rate this book Recommended.
The title is at once serious and a bit of a pun; the Thinking Kingdoms are, indeed, titled that, but they are also Etjole's first real excursion deep into the lands of men. The array of civilizations is diverse and impressive, with a lot of variety in society and particular social malfunctions. The opening of the book also provides the first close look at Hymneth and the kingdom to which Etjole is ultimately bound.
Once again there are a few humorous side stories slipped into the main narrative, though none with such a jarring shift to first person as happened in the first book. It is hard to tell if Etjole has any idea of what disaster his innocent acts of kindness tend to wreck on evil minds, but as Simna points out, "coincidence" follows Etjole awfully closely.
As a sequel to a strong first novel, this holds up very well. There are a few places in the beginning where Etjole's habit of pulling a magical solution out of his baggage is rather overdone, but the surprises that he keeps dishing out are always entertaining. And there was one bit at the end about the color of the beach pebbles that bothered me, because I'm pretty sure the first book said they were grey. Overall, though, there's no lag in the story or the characters. I rate this book Recommended.
August 22, 2008
I don't read much of this type of book - sort of science fiction/fantasy. I enjoyed this trilogy, though don't think it'll be particularly memorable. I found the author's universe compelling and interesting and the characters cheesy, but not overly so. There were a few moments where the author's morality picture sort of overwhelmed the story (e.g., a dig at TV and its ability to inculcate too much GroupThink), but mostly the story flowed along nicely. I don't think the second two books would stand alone very well -- better to read the trilogy in order.
June 27, 2024
I’m just amazed at how much these intrepid heroes can get into the problems and then out!
I am unable to put these three books down! They have captured me and will not release me! Alan Dean Foster has become my new best friend and I will be forever grateful for him for his writing such a wonderful story!
I am unable to put these three books down! They have captured me and will not release me! Alan Dean Foster has become my new best friend and I will be forever grateful for him for his writing such a wonderful story!
October 31, 2020
This series feels so familiar yet is entirely different from anything else. I can't wait to get into the final book!
February 6, 2022
An exciting read with surprises at every turn. The one near the end was amazing. Rather than tell you about it, I suggest you read it. Recommended.
January 14, 2017
Review
Good book. Not as good as the first one in the series, but still it was very entertaining and enjoyable
Good book. Not as good as the first one in the series, but still it was very entertaining and enjoyable
January 6, 2010
Again, this book is filled with so many delightful flights of fancy. In this one there is a chapter from the viewpoint of flowers at war that is perhaps better than the ant war. Ehomba always has exactly the right item to get him out of trouble,which in lesser hands would quickly become annoying, but each solution that Alan Dean Foster writes is so creative that I don't mind how easily the characters avert danger.
February 6, 2020
I really enjoy Foster's books. In this series, Etjole is on a quest. The lands he passes through are all unique and strange. The people he meets are interesting. Some are good and honest, others not so much. Foster's imagination is amazing. At times he uses words that are new to me. He puts lots of detail when describing places and people. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy.
September 28, 2014
The story has continues in a very promising fashion. Mr. Foster always seems to come up with a new twist to solve the problems encountered by the main characters of the story. He even added a new character that will be interesting to see how it develops in the conclusion of this great tale.
September 19, 2010
More re-reading of some of my fav series:
More advntures with Etjole Ehomba, a reluctant hero. He continues to trek through the world even after being told his quest will only end in death...
More advntures with Etjole Ehomba, a reluctant hero. He continues to trek through the world even after being told his quest will only end in death...
November 12, 2010
Lots of fantastical things. Better character development. Ehomba is an intriguing protagonist. The story is picking up speed. Nice ending, or non-ending. Now I need to read the final book.
November 16, 2020
The Odyssey-like trek continues with the three characters discovering more opposition as they come to regions more densely populated.
December 30, 2014
Two of three
I finally managed to find all three of this series again. Thought provoking and fun.
Hope you enjoy them too.
I finally managed to find all three of this series again. Thought provoking and fun.
Hope you enjoy them too.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews