Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Barcelona Obelisco 2002
Description
Fiction. Science Fiction. HTML: The moment ten-year-old Ivan stumbled upon the clearing in the Carpathian forest, his life was forever changed. Atop a pedestal encircled by fallen leaves, a beautiful princess lay still as death, but a malevolent presence nearby sent Ivan scrambling for safety. Years later, Ivan is an American graduate student, engaged to be married. Yet he cannot forget that long-ago day in the forest nor convince himself it was merely a frightened boy's fantasy. Compelled to return to his native land, Ivan finds the clearing just as he left it. This time he does not run. This time he awakens the beauty with a kiss�??and steps into a world that vanished a thousand years ago. A rich tapestry of clashing worlds, Enchantment is an original novel of a love and destiny that transcends centuries and the dark force that stalks them across the ages.… (more)
Media reviews
School Library Journal
The youthful protagonists, the elements of fantasy and romance, and Card's imaginative, humorous storytelling make this a winner for young adults.
Library Journal
Combining modern sensibilities with ageless, mythic truths, Card's latest novel is highly recommended.
User reviews
LibraryThing member souloftherose
An interesting retelling of the Sleeping Beauty and Baba Yaga fairy tales, set in modern day and 9th century Ukraine. Ivan Smetski, a modern day Jewish Ukrainian-American, has been drawn to and afraid of a clearing in the woods near his uncle's Ukrainian farm all his life. On a trip back to the
Except this Sleeping Beauty speaks proto-Old Church Slavonic and isn't at all interested in having a 21st century scholar as a husband, she needs a 6-foot knight with a sword to lead her people into battle to defend her kingdom from Baba Yaga. Ivan can speak proto-Old Church Slavonic but he can't even lift a sword and now he's awakened the princess he has to accompany her back to her kingdom or the spell temporarily protecting them from Baba Yaga will be broken and neither of them will be safe.
Card has done a really good job of making the 9th century kingdom of Taina seem real and believable despite the magical elements. It doesn't feel like the generic medieval fantasyland unfortunately so common in some fantasy books. The discomfort Ivan feels trying to adjust to a completely different culture is also well done as is the discomfort Princess Katerina feels when she travels back to Ivan's time with him.
In some ways I felt there were some missed opportunities with this book though. Ivan is Jewish and travels back to a very Christian 9th century Ukraine. The differences are mentioned, Ivan has to get baptised for example, but nothing much is really made of this. If Ivan had been Christian (or of any other belief/religious system) instead of Jewish the book would have been fundamentally the same. Why not make him an atheist? That could still have brought up issues surrounding baptism. Why was he Jewish? It just frustrated me a little.
So it was a very enjoyable read but I felt it lacked the sort of depth that could have made it a great book. Recommended if you're interested in fairy-tale retellings or Russian/Ukrainian culture.
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Ukraine to do some research for his PhD he decides to return to the clearing to face his fears and ends up awakening Sleeping Beauty. Except this Sleeping Beauty speaks proto-Old Church Slavonic and isn't at all interested in having a 21st century scholar as a husband, she needs a 6-foot knight with a sword to lead her people into battle to defend her kingdom from Baba Yaga. Ivan can speak proto-Old Church Slavonic but he can't even lift a sword and now he's awakened the princess he has to accompany her back to her kingdom or the spell temporarily protecting them from Baba Yaga will be broken and neither of them will be safe.
Card has done a really good job of making the 9th century kingdom of Taina seem real and believable despite the magical elements. It doesn't feel like the generic medieval fantasyland unfortunately so common in some fantasy books. The discomfort Ivan feels trying to adjust to a completely different culture is also well done as is the discomfort Princess Katerina feels when she travels back to Ivan's time with him.
In some ways I felt there were some missed opportunities with this book though. Ivan is Jewish and travels back to a very Christian 9th century Ukraine. The differences are mentioned, Ivan has to get baptised for example, but nothing much is really made of this. If Ivan had been Christian (or of any other belief/religious system) instead of Jewish the book would have been fundamentally the same. Why not make him an atheist? That could still have brought up issues surrounding baptism. Why was he Jewish? It just frustrated me a little.
So it was a very enjoyable read but I felt it lacked the sort of depth that could have made it a great book. Recommended if you're interested in fairy-tale retellings or Russian/Ukrainian culture.
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LibraryThing member sedelia
While staying at his Cousin Marek's farm Ivan comes upon a clearing in the Carpathian forest. On top of a pedestal encircled by leaves a girl lay as though she were dead. After a closer look, Ivan realizes that she is only sleeping. However, as Ivan moves closer a monster stirs and sends the
This book is fun to read and Card puts an interesting twist to the Sleeping Beauty story. I liked how realistic the conflicts in the story were. Many authors don't fully think about what sort of problems time-traveling would create, but it is clear that Card did. I recommend this book to anybody who is looking for a good retold fairy tale, or to anybody who likes time-traveling stories.
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ten-year-old boy running. Years later, Ivan becomes an American graduate student and is engaged to a girl named Ruth. Still he can't forget the day in the forest when he saw the sleeping girl. On a research assignment on fairy tales, Ivan goes back to his native land, Russia, and soon finds himself playing the part of the prince in a twisted Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. The only scary part is - it's real.This book is fun to read and Card puts an interesting twist to the Sleeping Beauty story. I liked how realistic the conflicts in the story were. Many authors don't fully think about what sort of problems time-traveling would create, but it is clear that Card did. I recommend this book to anybody who is looking for a good retold fairy tale, or to anybody who likes time-traveling stories.
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LibraryThing member craso
This novel is a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale. Katerina is a 10th Century Ukrainian princess that has been put under a sleeping spell by the evil witch Baba Yaga. Ivan is a 20th Century doctoral student doing research in Russia for his thesis on Russian folklore. On his way back to
The first half of the story takes place in the village of Tainia in the year 900 C.E. Ivan must learn the customs of the time so the people will accept him as the princess’s husband. Even though he is considered an athlete in our time, the king’s men regard him as a puny weakling because he isn’t strong enough to fight with a sword and shield. Latter on Katerina finds herself out of place in our world, but she adapts better than Baba Yaga who is mesmerized by our modern technology.
This was a very well written novel. I haven’t read Card in a while and had forgotten how good a writer he is. His writing style is a joy to read. The characters are well crafted. And even though this is a take-off on a fairytale, it is an adult novel. There are mature themes and realistic plot points about life, death, religion, and family relationships. I recommend this book to fans of the author as well as those who enjoy fantasy novels.
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American he stops to visit his cousin Marek in the Ukraine. He first saw Katerina when he was ten years old. She was lying asleep upon a pedestal surrounded by a chasm in the middle of a clearing in the forest. He visits the clearing again as an adult and she is still there.The first half of the story takes place in the village of Tainia in the year 900 C.E. Ivan must learn the customs of the time so the people will accept him as the princess’s husband. Even though he is considered an athlete in our time, the king’s men regard him as a puny weakling because he isn’t strong enough to fight with a sword and shield. Latter on Katerina finds herself out of place in our world, but she adapts better than Baba Yaga who is mesmerized by our modern technology.
This was a very well written novel. I haven’t read Card in a while and had forgotten how good a writer he is. His writing style is a joy to read. The characters are well crafted. And even though this is a take-off on a fairytale, it is an adult novel. There are mature themes and realistic plot points about life, death, religion, and family relationships. I recommend this book to fans of the author as well as those who enjoy fantasy novels.
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LibraryThing member panchopiggytron
I have not read any other works by Orson Scott Card except an anthology that he put together called "Future on Ice". However, this book has created a thirst in me to read some of his other books.
"Enchantment" is somewhat difficult to describe without giving the entire plot. The book retells the
This book deals with cultural identity as well as the good versus evil. What I enjoyed the most were the instances of blunt humor. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a good laugh or loves fairytale stories.
"Enchantment" is somewhat difficult to describe without giving the entire plot. The book retells the
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story of Sleeping Beauty but with a twist, as a young Russian Jewish boy finds her. He is frightened by the monster that is protecting her and runs away. Once Ivan is grown up he returns from America to his homeland to work on his dissertation. Curious, he returns to his cousin's farm and finds the sleeping damsel once again except this time he fights the monster (a bit humorous). Of course, Ivan has no idea what he is getting himself into.This book deals with cultural identity as well as the good versus evil. What I enjoyed the most were the instances of blunt humor. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a good laugh or loves fairytale stories.
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LibraryThing member Foxen
I liked this book a lot. Orson Scott Card is simply brilliant at portraying cultural conflict. He shows you how two people or groups can come to the table with different assumptions, how different people can have utterly dissimilar worldviews. This seems like it should be easy to do, but it's not,
That said, this book isn't actually the best sample of that in his work, but it was still what caught me most about it. This is the story of if fairy tales were true. Kind of. I've tried summarizing the plot to several people and it invariably sounds kind of stupid out of context, so I won't try here. Essentially, a Ukrainian Jewish folklore scholar gets immersed in his folklore, and it's not as "happily ever after" as one would be lead to believe. It's a great exploration of cultural identity, and great fun if you're familiar with Russian folklore (or folklore in general, but the Russian/ Ukrainian specifics are what gives it life). I was very nearly a folklore grad student, so I really loved it.
A few caveats. This wasn't Card's best work. Fun, but the plot had inherent weaknesses. The action at the end was a bit weak. Also, if you're not familiar with Russian folklore (Baba Yaga, etc.) some things just wouldn't make sense. It's pretty key to already know that Baba Yaga is supposed to have a house that walks on chicken legs, for example, which is not something you'd know just from Disney fairy tale knowledge. Still, if you're even a little familiar, it's great. The strength is in Card's ability to portray the cultural oddity of even one's own cultural identity. Very good, even if it can be a bit silly.
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because no one does it as well as Orson Scott Card.That said, this book isn't actually the best sample of that in his work, but it was still what caught me most about it. This is the story of if fairy tales were true. Kind of. I've tried summarizing the plot to several people and it invariably sounds kind of stupid out of context, so I won't try here. Essentially, a Ukrainian Jewish folklore scholar gets immersed in his folklore, and it's not as "happily ever after" as one would be lead to believe. It's a great exploration of cultural identity, and great fun if you're familiar with Russian folklore (or folklore in general, but the Russian/ Ukrainian specifics are what gives it life). I was very nearly a folklore grad student, so I really loved it.
A few caveats. This wasn't Card's best work. Fun, but the plot had inherent weaknesses. The action at the end was a bit weak. Also, if you're not familiar with Russian folklore (Baba Yaga, etc.) some things just wouldn't make sense. It's pretty key to already know that Baba Yaga is supposed to have a house that walks on chicken legs, for example, which is not something you'd know just from Disney fairy tale knowledge. Still, if you're even a little familiar, it's great. The strength is in Card's ability to portray the cultural oddity of even one's own cultural identity. Very good, even if it can be a bit silly.
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LibraryThing member Carl_Alves
I had some doubts prior to reading Enchantment. I have read a few other Orson Scott Card, and didn't especially care for them. Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised to read Enchantment. Our story's hero, Ivan, is a Ukranian living in the United States, where he is a grad student. He is
Ivan must prove his worth in a society where almost everyone doubts him, and some are plotting against him. I also thoroughly enjoyed the portrayal of Baba Yaga, a seldomly used character of legend. All of the main characters in this story resonate. They are very well drawn and likeable, even the villainous ones. Ivan is a thinking man's character. Although athletic and intelligent, he doesn't possess the characteristics that are valued in ninth century Russia. Still, he uses his smarts and his talents to really make himself an important person to the people. He proves his heroism. The relationship between him and Katrina came alive as well, and was quite believable. The storytelling was strong. This was a good novel, well worth reading.
Carl Alves - author of Blood Street
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mysteriously transported to ninth century Russia while going through the forest and finds a sleeping princess. The story becomes a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. The princess has been bewitched by Baba Yaga, and is guarded by Bear, who is a Russian deity. Although Ivan is immediately taken by Princess Katarina's beauty, they don't mix well at all initially. Ivan and the princess return to her people, where everybody looks down upon him despite his act of heroism. I really enjoyed how Card mixed in the modern day Ivan into the old settings. It was done is a very realistic manner. As a writer, I appreciate the thought process that went into this integration.Ivan must prove his worth in a society where almost everyone doubts him, and some are plotting against him. I also thoroughly enjoyed the portrayal of Baba Yaga, a seldomly used character of legend. All of the main characters in this story resonate. They are very well drawn and likeable, even the villainous ones. Ivan is a thinking man's character. Although athletic and intelligent, he doesn't possess the characteristics that are valued in ninth century Russia. Still, he uses his smarts and his talents to really make himself an important person to the people. He proves his heroism. The relationship between him and Katrina came alive as well, and was quite believable. The storytelling was strong. This was a good novel, well worth reading.
Carl Alves - author of Blood Street
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LibraryThing member SharonGoforth
Enchantment is the story of Ivan, a Jewish boy living in the Ukraine, who accidently stumbles upon a beautiful woman asleep on a pedestal, surrounded by a moat full of leaves, hiding a chasm containing some sort of monster. Ivan runs off, but never forgets this encounter. His parents decide to move
One thing I learned is that there are several sub-genres within fantasy, including mythology, fairy tales, and folklore. All three provide context for this book, along with various religious traditions. Gods from Russian mythology work with figures from Russian/Slavic folk tales. It is also a reworking of the fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty". But mostly it is a straightforward tale of good (represented by Christianity) versus evil (the folklore character Baba Yaga and paganism). Who will win?
With the exception of some issues I had with elements of time travel and some seemingly unanswered questions, I thought the book was very interesting and well-written. Card also has fun with his characters (Baba Yaga and her husband Bear are the bad guys you love to hate). I didn't agree entirely with the way the plot played out, as it seemed everyone relied entirely too much on magic which took away freedom of choice. But then, the story is fantasy after all.
Overall, it was a very entertaining read.
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to the United States where Ivan grows up and receives his education in languages, the same as his father. When he returns to the Ukraine to do research, he finds once again the place in the forest with the beautiful sleeping woman. This time, he fights the monster (who is a bear), kisses the girl (who is a princess), and awakens her from the spell she has been under. They then return to her world, which is the 9th century in the kingdom of Taina (later to become Ukraine). Unbeknownst to Ivan, he has set in motion events that will profoundly affect the course of history. The wrath of the evil witch Baba Yaga is unleashed, and Ivan and the Princess travel back and forth between the 9th and 20th centuries in order to figure out how to prevent her from gaining complete control.One thing I learned is that there are several sub-genres within fantasy, including mythology, fairy tales, and folklore. All three provide context for this book, along with various religious traditions. Gods from Russian mythology work with figures from Russian/Slavic folk tales. It is also a reworking of the fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty". But mostly it is a straightforward tale of good (represented by Christianity) versus evil (the folklore character Baba Yaga and paganism). Who will win?
With the exception of some issues I had with elements of time travel and some seemingly unanswered questions, I thought the book was very interesting and well-written. Card also has fun with his characters (Baba Yaga and her husband Bear are the bad guys you love to hate). I didn't agree entirely with the way the plot played out, as it seemed everyone relied entirely too much on magic which took away freedom of choice. But then, the story is fantasy after all.
Overall, it was a very entertaining read.
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LibraryThing member Rubbah
This book has everything; fairytales with a modern twist, time travel, romance, magic, adventure... Overall a great read.
LibraryThing member daddy-dude
A wonderful retelling of the Russian version of the Sleeping Beauty tale with a wonderful twist on Prince Charming, who never held a sword until after the rescue. It is not for children, but rather for adults that want a modern fantasy that takes place in the past AND the present.
LibraryThing member Neale
Audio book - Highly recommend. I've been a sci-fi reader for decades and haven't really delved into fantasy only LOTR. I read Harry Potter so I could discuss it with my kids but the magic didn't make sense to me. This has started my conversion to fantasy at least OSC version of fantasy. This was a
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great story with lots of twists and action. The magic didn't overpower the story and mostly made sense to me. It was well read by both readers and was an enjoyable experience. I looked forward to the drive to work and home. Show Less
LibraryThing member Katya0133
A fun take on a classic fairy tale. Plus, you can't go too far wrong with a linguist as your main character.
LibraryThing member erinclark
A fun read - this author sure knows how to tell a good story! Recommended.
LibraryThing member hoxierice
What a great book. It is a modern/historical time-travel, fantasy, fairytale.
Ivan studies folklore and fairy tales, wakes the sleeping princess and tries to become the prince the kingdom needs. Is the simplistic overview. I espicially liked that while this is Ivan's story the princess is strong,
I also realized that perhaps why I am drawn to science fiction and fantasy is that I love fairy tales, legends and myths. I love their stories, but I am also interested in their history, how they came about, how they change, how to make a story of magic is born from a more true to life tale. This book has all that and more.
Ivan studies folklore and fairy tales, wakes the sleeping princess and tries to become the prince the kingdom needs. Is the simplistic overview. I espicially liked that while this is Ivan's story the princess is strong,
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smart, independent, loyal... and it is not her story, but still she is a good female character. I also realized that perhaps why I am drawn to science fiction and fantasy is that I love fairy tales, legends and myths. I love their stories, but I am also interested in their history, how they came about, how they change, how to make a story of magic is born from a more true to life tale. This book has all that and more.
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LibraryThing member maailmaniag
This was a really good book; I particularly loved the whole Slavicness in general.
LibraryThing member petersfamily
This book is a wonderful retelling of a classic Fairy-Tale!
It is very different from Orson Scott Card's other fiction, it is truly delightful and full of symbolism.
It is a "Sleeping Beauty" set in modern Russia- yes Baba Yaga pays a visit.
The characters are absolutely fascinating!
This is a
It is very different from Orson Scott Card's other fiction, it is truly delightful and full of symbolism.
It is a "Sleeping Beauty" set in modern Russia- yes Baba Yaga pays a visit.
The characters are absolutely fascinating!
This is a
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really good read if you like good clean fantasy. Show Less
LibraryThing member vanedow
Enchantment. A retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, this story is set in modern times. Ivan is wandering in the forest when he stumbles upon the sleeping Katerina, a princess from a world that vanished ages ago. As Ivan and Katerina encounter the absolute strangeness of each other's worlds,
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they also try to decide how they feel about each other. Rating 4 of 5. I love retold fairy tales and the way this one worked in several different stories. The characters are great, too! Show Less
LibraryThing member deslivres5
This take on the Sleeping Beauty story by Orson Scott Card was wonderful! I enjoyed the Slavic folklore/history explored as an integral part of the storyline. All the characters, good and bad, were entertaining - I could see this tale working well on the big screen.
LibraryThing member RRHowell
I like this best as an audio- book. I like what he does with the fairy tale, which is fairly straightforward science fiction. But I also like the ways he works in discussions about waiting for sex until after marriage.
LibraryThing member ohdani
What a great book! One of those stories I could read a hundred times and not be bored.... and one that will stick with me even in between readings.
LibraryThing member Jenson_AKA_DL
Vanya/Ivan is a son of two worlds. Born and raised Russian, his family converts and as Jews they give everything up and travel to the United States. Growing up American, Ivan is determined to follow in his father's footsteps and become a professor of languages. Before this can be done Ivan knows he
This is a story that, on many levels, incorporates themes I am unfamiliar with, such as religion and politics from a point of view other than an American one. Despite my unfamiliarity and usual predisposition to avoiding these issues, here I found them fascinating. Probably because they were simply there as part of the story. The author uses these differences and character opinions to drive the story, not preach to the reader. In addition, the character interactions, the resolutions and the epiphanies that weave throughout the story I found to be all quite satisfying. This is probably one of the best fairy tale adaptations I've ever read. There are things which seemed intriguingly familiar, like the comparison of Baba Yaga's home to Howl's Moving Castle and ideas that touched me in a very personal way (noted in my comments). This is one of the few times where my enjoyment of the story outweighed my investment in the characters themselves. Not that they weren't likeable, but it was the overall story that mainly enticed me.
This is certainly a diverse and intelligent fantasy that I enjoyed on many levels and I would highly recommend it.
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must return to his native land to gather the information for his Master's Thesis. While at the home of his Uncle Ivan finds himself drawn to a clearing in the woods he had run from as a child. A clearing that contains a beautiful, sleeping princess and the horrible monster that guards her. Suddenly Ivan finds himself becoming part of the fairy tales he had once studied and that the first kiss to wake a maiden doesn't necessarily instantly ensure a happily ever after. Instead, it is the beginning of a life altering journey to the past and a destiny he had never prepared for.This is a story that, on many levels, incorporates themes I am unfamiliar with, such as religion and politics from a point of view other than an American one. Despite my unfamiliarity and usual predisposition to avoiding these issues, here I found them fascinating. Probably because they were simply there as part of the story. The author uses these differences and character opinions to drive the story, not preach to the reader. In addition, the character interactions, the resolutions and the epiphanies that weave throughout the story I found to be all quite satisfying. This is probably one of the best fairy tale adaptations I've ever read. There are things which seemed intriguingly familiar, like the comparison of Baba Yaga's home to Howl's Moving Castle and ideas that touched me in a very personal way (noted in my comments). This is one of the few times where my enjoyment of the story outweighed my investment in the characters themselves. Not that they weren't likeable, but it was the overall story that mainly enticed me.
This is certainly a diverse and intelligent fantasy that I enjoyed on many levels and I would highly recommend it.
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LibraryThing member mmillet
I love fairy tales (espcially sleeping beauty), I love Russian history, and I love a good story. This novel just happens to combine all three of my favorites into one of the best novels. What WOULD happen if Sleeping Beauty woke up in modern times? Would she find her prince charming and could he
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safely take care of her and release her from the curse? Ivan is up to the task and the resulting story is nothing short of magical. Show Less
LibraryThing member Karlstar
A modernized, Russian version of Sleeping Beauty. As usual with Card books, this is about people and relationships, particularly family relationships. I really enjoyed this for the story and the way that the characters grew into it, without really changing. Its a bit different for Card, but still
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excellent. Show Less
LibraryThing member amcguinn
Ivan discovers a sleeping beauty, Katerina, in the forest. Ivan and Katerina travel through time and share many adventures such as avoiding an evil's knights plans and confronting a power hungry Baba Yaga. Ivan and Katerina have children and live happily ever after.
Card hooks the reader with the
Honors and Awards: None
Card hooks the reader with the
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spin he puts on the tale of Sleeping Beauty. I especially enjoyed the part where Ivan battles the magical bear in order to rescue his princess. The story has a universal appeal in that it is based on a well known fairy tale. Readers who are not the usual fans of fantasy will enjoy this one.Honors and Awards: None
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LibraryThing member sungirl23
Summary: Enchantment is the story of a Ukraine-born, American grad student who finds himself transported to the ninth century to play the prince in a Russian version of Sleeping Beauty. He and his cursed princess contend with the diabolical witch Baba Yaga to save the princess’s kingdom.
Opinion: The book is slow at times and wordy. The best part is the time-travel experiences, in which both Katerina from the 9th century and Ivan from the 1990s experience each other’s world.
Objectionable material: Has some crude wordings and some offensive language, and a non-explicit love scene between two married characters. Religious confusion (mostly between Christianity and Judaism) and disbelief in God. Religion seems to be a mere formality, with Ivan easily casting away his Jewish “faith” to become a Christian because that’s what is expected of him. In the end, only real power comes from witches.
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Enchantment is a time-hopping tale that is part love story, part adventure. Opinion: The book is slow at times and wordy. The best part is the time-travel experiences, in which both Katerina from the 9th century and Ivan from the 1990s experience each other’s world.
Objectionable material: Has some crude wordings and some offensive language, and a non-explicit love scene between two married characters. Religious confusion (mostly between Christianity and Judaism) and disbelief in God. Religion seems to be a mere formality, with Ivan easily casting away his Jewish “faith” to become a Christian because that’s what is expected of him. In the end, only real power comes from witches.
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LibraryThing member cattriona
A unique twist on a common fairy tale, with a variety of unexpected plot elements. Set amongst the folk tales of Russia, this story features a strong heroine with an equally strong, if not knightly, hero. I thought this would be a very predictable tale, but was wrong -- it kept me engaged from
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start to finish. Highly recommended. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
P.E.A.R.L. (Nominee — Science Fiction — 1999)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1999-04-06
Physical description
471 p.; 24 cm
ISBN
9788477209003