Status
Available
Call number
Call number
F Vol
Genres
Collection
Publication
Spectra (1992), Edition: 1st edition, 577 pages
Description
The Exalted classes have ruled over Vonahr and have ignored the needs of the lower classes and only realizes that this is a mistake when the red tide of the revolution sweeps aside all distinctions of rank, home, and family.
Subjects
Original publication date
1991
User reviews
LibraryThing member Stewartry
Illusion. The cover comes first, because that was the reason I bought the book in the first place, and it was the first of PV's books that I read. Michael Whelan, bless his brushes, is still my hero. This is nothing short of magnificent, and I'm still proud that I had coffee with the man
Anyway... the book echoes the French Revolution (except that the Queen isn't exactly Marie Antoinette - hated like she was, though), and follows both Eliste - Exalted lady-in-waiting to the Queen, spoiled but clever and thoughtful when she bothers - and the leaders of what becomes the Reparation movement, the bourgeousie, the "canaille" - the commoners, the serfs and tradesfolk who are being taxed literally to death to support their betters, who are no more than property or servants in the eyes of those "betters"...
One can't help but think about conditions here and now, and wonder about the possibilities of another revolution here and now. I'm not about to pick up a torch or a pitchfork... but I can see how it could happen.
Many of Volsky's books call up echoes of classics, and for Illusion the echoes are (somewhat obviously) A Tale of Two Cities - and, less obviously, The Diary of Anne Frank. It's a beautiful, unexpected book.
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once.Anyway... the book echoes the French Revolution (except that the Queen isn't exactly Marie Antoinette - hated like she was, though), and follows both Eliste - Exalted lady-in-waiting to the Queen, spoiled but clever and thoughtful when she bothers - and the leaders of what becomes the Reparation movement, the bourgeousie, the "canaille" - the commoners, the serfs and tradesfolk who are being taxed literally to death to support their betters, who are no more than property or servants in the eyes of those "betters"...
One can't help but think about conditions here and now, and wonder about the possibilities of another revolution here and now. I'm not about to pick up a torch or a pitchfork... but I can see how it could happen.
Many of Volsky's books call up echoes of classics, and for Illusion the echoes are (somewhat obviously) A Tale of Two Cities - and, less obviously, The Diary of Anne Frank. It's a beautiful, unexpected book.
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LibraryThing member clarasayre
I. LOVE. this book. Read it many times throughout middle school and high school...just found a copy online a few weeks ago and read it again. Fabulous fantasy retelling of the French Revolution...mastery command of the English language (it's the kind of book where having a dictionary close at hand
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is helpful, but through her skillful storytelling, you can usually infer what the words mean)...incredible character development (especially the lead character, Eliste vo Derrivalle...her shallow beginnings belie the revolutionary within) and overall fantastic story that is hard to set aside. I've ordered a few more of her books from Paperback Swap and I look forward to reading those also... Show Less
LibraryThing member Equestrienne
Unfortunately I have to list this book as a DNF. The writing was fine but I just couldn't get myself to pick it up and read it. I expected something with some magic and fantasy: but this book is a retelling of the French Revolution with a couple of parlor tricks thrown in. I really dislike "feel
Maybe someday after I have read a couple of inventive, magical flights of literary fantasy I will try it again.
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bad' novels full of suffering and social injustice and that's pretty much all I have read so far. The actual non fiction books I have read about the French Revolution were more compelling and interesting than this. Maybe someday after I have read a couple of inventive, magical flights of literary fantasy I will try it again.
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LibraryThing member ragwaine
I loved Volsky's The Grand Ellipse, so I had high hopes for this. Unfortunately it just dragged and didn't really get anywhere. I gave it 160 pages, but after 2 or 3 reading sessions that all ended in me wanted to start skimming in hopes of getting on with the story, I gave up. Her writing is
I would give other books from her a chance, but this one I couldn't finish.
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beautiful, but in this case, everything just took twice as long as it should. The "French" names were also problematic because I couldn't pronounce most of them and there were way too many of them, so I immediately lost track of who was who.I would give other books from her a chance, but this one I couldn't finish.
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Pages
577