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The Wilderness of Four #1
Across the Far Mountain
Welcome to the Enchanted Dawn of Atlanton Earth. ..is the story of Borim, the gentle bear cub who, against his will, became king of his nation. You follow his apprenticeship at the hands of wise beasts and horrifying monsters, and witness his courage in the momentous struggle against the demons who would control the earth.
256 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1982
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July 16, 2013I read this, and the following two books, back in the 80s (whilst I was a teen) in my quest to find anything Tolkien-like. I do remember liking it at that time. However, by the reviews I've read, I probably wouldn't like it now. However, it was darned cute.
Also, I would DIE to pick up old copies of this edition for nostalgia sake. I have fond memories of all the fantasy and sci fi books I read as a teen and like to collect copies of the editions I read. Currently, I collect any (cheap) copy of series or individual books of the editions seen below.
Covers of other fond books from my teens that I either have one copy of or plan to get.
Also, I would DIE to pick up old copies of this edition for nostalgia sake. I have fond memories of all the fantasy and sci fi books I read as a teen and like to collect copies of the editions I read. Currently, I collect any (cheap) copy of series or individual books of the editions seen below.
Covers of other fond books from my teens that I either have one copy of or plan to get.
February 10, 2021
Cute, and I would have adored it when I was 14.
February 28, 2011
I picked up this book with moderately high hopes for the story it might tell. After all, I read the author's first series with enjoyment when I was much younger. Coming at it from a different viewpoint now, frankly I must declare myself disappointed. Across the Far Mountain began well, with a main character who seemed to have the potential to become something interesting. Borim, a bear cub approaching maturity, grows restless in the safe woods where his sow (mother) raised him. He longs to meet up with his father Dralin, a figure of adventure and mystery, whom he has met only once in his life. One day, for no reason he can explain, Borim decides that the time has come. He sets out up the mountain in search of his father. Discovering a mystic portal through the mountain, Borim ends up in the care of his father's followers and from there comes to his father's house. So far, so good.
Then comes Bern, Borim's favorite elder sibling. For me, the story falls apart when Bern catches up with Borim, and it's revealed that Bern is only a half-sibling. His real father is the mortal enemy of Borim's father. Borim persists in denying the evil that Bern does, refusing to listen to every warning that his half-brother is part of a plot against him, even ignoring the warning of his own instincts.
At the same time, the author grows increasingly enamored of the idea of cyclical fate, and he lets the technical aspects of telling a story suffer for it in the form of extended vague dialogues that fail to move the plot forward-- or even to clarify the concepts they contain, for that matter. Hancock becomes so consciously mystical that the book becomes nearly incomprehensible at times. What really disappointed me was that this same downfall could have been the book's strength, if the author could have been persuaded to part with a bit more information as a teaser for subsequent volumes of the series. Not more information about the animals' lore itself-- there's no shortage there-- but information on the world setting, about the way it worked, etc., in place of extended histories that really had nothing to do with moving the plot forward. I felt as if I were reading notes on the back-story rather than the story itself.
Point of view is a little tricky in this book also. The most jarring instance takes place at what was meant to be the climactic scene of the whole novel, where the focus was taken away from the main character altogether at a moment when his viewpoint was the only one that could have lent the scene its greatest emotive force.
Altogether, I won't say that I regret reading this book. It had the ingredients of a really solid story. Having read the previous series, I know that the world setting itself is complex enough to support many stories. Maybe one of these days I'll hunt up a copy of the second volume of this series and give it a chance too.
Then comes Bern, Borim's favorite elder sibling. For me, the story falls apart when Bern catches up with Borim, and it's revealed that Bern is only a half-sibling. His real father is the mortal enemy of Borim's father. Borim persists in denying the evil that Bern does, refusing to listen to every warning that his half-brother is part of a plot against him, even ignoring the warning of his own instincts.
At the same time, the author grows increasingly enamored of the idea of cyclical fate, and he lets the technical aspects of telling a story suffer for it in the form of extended vague dialogues that fail to move the plot forward-- or even to clarify the concepts they contain, for that matter. Hancock becomes so consciously mystical that the book becomes nearly incomprehensible at times. What really disappointed me was that this same downfall could have been the book's strength, if the author could have been persuaded to part with a bit more information as a teaser for subsequent volumes of the series. Not more information about the animals' lore itself-- there's no shortage there-- but information on the world setting, about the way it worked, etc., in place of extended histories that really had nothing to do with moving the plot forward. I felt as if I were reading notes on the back-story rather than the story itself.
Point of view is a little tricky in this book also. The most jarring instance takes place at what was meant to be the climactic scene of the whole novel, where the focus was taken away from the main character altogether at a moment when his viewpoint was the only one that could have lent the scene its greatest emotive force.
Altogether, I won't say that I regret reading this book. It had the ingredients of a really solid story. Having read the previous series, I know that the world setting itself is complex enough to support many stories. Maybe one of these days I'll hunt up a copy of the second volume of this series and give it a chance too.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews