Das Land im Spiegel

by Graham Dunstan Martin

In Tethesta, the laws of the universe no longer operate. Human emotions can turn shiny like glass and as hard and resistant as rock. Fear and pain can create an impenetrable wall, standing in the middle of a forest, advancing out of it across the plain and threatening to overwhelm the world.
The souls of men are controlled by a single consciousness, a single selfishness who seeks to become a God, and despises the other human beings of whom his world is formed. For Lithran, a frightened Isolate , trapped in the prison of King Kosmion s will and forced to imagine everything that he most hates and dreads, there seems for a long time no escape; for what escape can there be from a power which can enter the very minds of men to direct them from within. Yet the more absolute the power, the more glaring its weakness. Kosmion, Lord of the World, may at last be defeated - or rather half defeated.
The Soul Master is an exciting and intriguing tale. Its pages ring with the sounds of swords, battles, music and difficult loving. Through them simple unmagical men and women seek to overcome black sorcery, the sorcery of Power.

Genres: Fantasy

318 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1984

About the author

Graham Dunstan Martin (Leeds, Reino Unido, 21 de octubre de 1932). Es un escritor, filólogo y profesor universitario británico. Se licenció en la Universidad de Oxford en Filología Francesa, y tras varios años dando clases en colegios, comenzó a enseñar poesía, literatura y filosofía en la Universidad de Edimburgo, donde permaneció desde 1965 y hasta su jubilación en el año 2000.

Su obra es conocida por públicos muy diversos, puesto que ha escrito novelas de fantasía tanto para niños como para adultos, además de haber realizado trabajos de crítica literaria, algunos ensayos filosóficos y traducciones profesionales de poesía francesa.

Reviews

[Karl Drinkwater · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this when I was a kid, and read it a few times over the years. Recently I read it again after a twenty year gap. And this time, my experience was different.

Firstly, my impressions as a teen were positive. I loved the way the book wasn't a standard "party runs around fighting goblins". It was both nastier and more philosophical. A villain who is both underwhelming and pitiful and sadistic. A protagonist who is both a dick and a relatable person. Strands of music, perception, selfhood and human nature run through the book. I was fascinated by the ideas of interspaces.

But today, although I could still enjoy those things, I was a bit more critical. Sure, there is some nice language in there, but also sometimes clunky author intrusions. I was also more questioning of the rules of how the interspaces worked. The following is a spoiler.

The premise is that there are regions of the world that Leuth cannot see. So when he controls someone neither he nor the possessed body (Guardian) can see them. More, they can't enter them - so when they try to, they appear instantaneously on the other side of the space. But anyone not possessed can see the spaces and enter them. So here's the thing. When a Guardian encounters one, they teleport across. Their clothes aren't left behind, implying anything in skin contact is transported too (even though objects aren't affected by Leuth's spell). But what about the horses they ride - why do the horses (which can see the interspace as they aren't possessed) also teleport? Why would a carriage of non-possessed people and the hordes pulling it teleport across the interspace? In reality, within the convoy, the Guardians at the front would teleport, but the carriage of prisoners would enter the space and just apparently disappear. Of course, when you analyse the concept and see the true implications, it would make it harder for the author to tell the story, so he glosses over these issues. Likewise when Guardians shoot into a space, why do their arrows teleport? The arrows are not in contact with the Guardians, are not possessed, so would just enter the space as normal. Again, it is a plot convenience to skip over this. But when you stop to think about the rules presented, then how they aren't applied consistently, it is a negative point.

Would I recommend the book to people who like philosophical fantasy? Yes. It still entertains and gives us some things to think about. Just be aware that there are imperfections, and don't get too hung up on them.