Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Del Rey (1986), Edition: 1st, 642 pages
Description
Terisa is asked to help Geraden, a young man who appears in her mirror. He babbles a story about a strange land called Mordant and asks her to help him save the land from destruction. Accepting his invitation means changing her life forever.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Mendoza
This lengthy, dense fantasy adventure is the first of the two-book sequence Mordant's Need. We are introduced to the land of Mordant, beset from without by armies and monsters and from within by plots, dissension and madness.
I considered this book to be somewhat plodding - it isn't exactly full of
I considered this book to be somewhat plodding - it isn't exactly full of
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dynamic action sequences. But it is full of internal actions and interactions between characters. A very fullfilling novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jean_Sexton
I read this long ago when it was first published. I decided to reread this classic fantasy in the hopes my memories of it wouldn't be tarnished. Oh my goodness! In the 30+ years since I read it last (yes, I have the first edition, first printing), I have grown and changed. This book continues to
When I read it long ago, I focused nearly exclusively on the story of Teresa. Now, I found myself watching the story of King Joyse as this seemingly feeble king let his kingdom go to hell in a hand basket. What was he doing? Why? How would this all end?
And yes, watching the psychologically damaged Teresa wander through the story was painful in some ways, but I could see her start to grow. That made me happy. And Geradon, what can I say? The oldest apprentice to the mages ever, his earnest caring for people won me over from the start.
The only problem with the book is that you will need the second book, A Man Rides Through, immediately. I remember reading the book the first time. I got to the last page and couldn't believe that the book ended there. I actually checked the card catalog to make sure my book wasn't missing pages. It was a WHOLE YEAR before I got to finish the story. At least now, that isn't an issue.
Who would like it? Readers of fantasy who don't mind taking their time in discovering the ins and outs of a world and its people. If you want a quick read, this series won't be your cup of tea. But if you want a fantasy with people who grow and change, a dose of political intrigue, and good people fighting the dark in the only ways they know how, then this book is for you.
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speak to me and, in the mark of a truly great book, it has gained depth as I have. When I read it long ago, I focused nearly exclusively on the story of Teresa. Now, I found myself watching the story of King Joyse as this seemingly feeble king let his kingdom go to hell in a hand basket. What was he doing? Why? How would this all end?
And yes, watching the psychologically damaged Teresa wander through the story was painful in some ways, but I could see her start to grow. That made me happy. And Geradon, what can I say? The oldest apprentice to the mages ever, his earnest caring for people won me over from the start.
The only problem with the book is that you will need the second book, A Man Rides Through, immediately. I remember reading the book the first time. I got to the last page and couldn't believe that the book ended there. I actually checked the card catalog to make sure my book wasn't missing pages. It was a WHOLE YEAR before I got to finish the story. At least now, that isn't an issue.
Who would like it? Readers of fantasy who don't mind taking their time in discovering the ins and outs of a world and its people. If you want a quick read, this series won't be your cup of tea. But if you want a fantasy with people who grow and change, a dose of political intrigue, and good people fighting the dark in the only ways they know how, then this book is for you.
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LibraryThing member puttocklibrary
It's been years since I have re-read this unusual fantasy duology from Donaldson. I found that I still really enjoy it, and as an adult (as opposed to the teenager I was when I last read it), I understood more of the layers of what was happening in the plot than in previous readings of the story. I
That being said, sometimes Terisa is a very difficult character to read about--it just takes her SO LONG to grow a backbone and start taking charge of her life. One would think that someone in such extraordinary circumstances would DO more with herself--and yet, upon this reading, I keep thinking that she does do something...its just that she does a lot more inner work, building up her sense of self (and gradually done, as I suppose in "real life" it would be) rather than outward action.
If you find this book slow reading, stay with it. I remember the second book being fantastic, and I hope my re-reading of that novel is as good as I remember it!
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still think the idea of mirrors not reflecting what is in front of them, but showing images of other places or times that the creator of the mirror can travel to by stepping THROUGH the mirror, fascinating. I find Terisa's journey fascinating for this reason--for if a place like this (so similar to our own, yet so fundamentally different) really existed, and I was translated there, could I cope even as well as Terisa does?That being said, sometimes Terisa is a very difficult character to read about--it just takes her SO LONG to grow a backbone and start taking charge of her life. One would think that someone in such extraordinary circumstances would DO more with herself--and yet, upon this reading, I keep thinking that she does do something...its just that she does a lot more inner work, building up her sense of self (and gradually done, as I suppose in "real life" it would be) rather than outward action.
If you find this book slow reading, stay with it. I remember the second book being fantastic, and I hope my re-reading of that novel is as good as I remember it!
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LibraryThing member www.snigel.nu
I did not like this series at all, but I cannot say why. Perhaps I would enjoy it more now, because I like so much of what the author has written otherwise. Excellent title, though, as usual.
LibraryThing member SunnySD
**Warning -- cliffhanger ending: you may want to track down the sequel and have it ready to start as soon as you finish.
The kingdom of Mordant is threatened. Its king is mad, and his main adviser is senile. The king's Congery of Imagers is divided, and the kingdom's borders are under attack.
In another world, Terisa Morgan is gradually fading away. Surrounding herself with mirrors is her only reassurance that she still exists. But one day, someone else looks back.
Can Geraden and Therisa survive the Congery and a mad king's favor?
I absolutely loved this book -- stayed up all night to finish it the first time I read it, and went back to the used bookstore the next morning to find the sequel. I'm not a Stephen R. Donaldson fan ordinarily, but this book, and A Man Rides Through, the sequel, were great.
The kingdom of Mordant is threatened. Its king is mad, and his main adviser is senile. The king's Congery of Imagers is divided, and the kingdom's borders are under attack.
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Apprentice Imager Geraden believes the worlds in the Congery's mirrors offer a solution.In another world, Terisa Morgan is gradually fading away. Surrounding herself with mirrors is her only reassurance that she still exists. But one day, someone else looks back.
Can Geraden and Therisa survive the Congery and a mad king's favor?
I absolutely loved this book -- stayed up all night to finish it the first time I read it, and went back to the used bookstore the next morning to find the sequel. I'm not a Stephen R. Donaldson fan ordinarily, but this book, and A Man Rides Through, the sequel, were great.
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LibraryThing member LaurieGienapp
Loved the story. Did not care for the writing style.. it was odd. Frequent interspersing of thoughts and statements, and odd placement of the reaction of others to the speaker's comments. Many sections required re-reading, to sort out what was going on.
LibraryThing member JohnFair
Although this can't be called an entirely joyous novel, it is certainly more positive than the Covenanter books (yes, I've read a couple). Teresa is a young woman from our world who has been badly mistreated by her parents - not physically to give them their due, 'just' emotionally - and she has
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difficulty thinking of herself as a real person so when a strange young man suddenly appears in her apartment through one of the multitude of mirrors glued to her walls, babbling of her being the last hope of a kingdom in peril, she's so entranced by the strangeness of the event that she says 'yes' before fully thinking things through. Taken through the mirror, she finds herself in Mordant where Imagers can do horrible things using specially shaped mirrors but neither they, or the country's king will treat Terisa as a real person and she finds herself at the centre of a power struggle she didn't understand. This book of the series sets up the problems facing Mordant so, as I indicated above, it isn't full of hope but the relationship between Terisa and Geraden is fun as is Geraden as a character and at the time it was written, the Imagers were pretty unique, and magic using mirrors isn't particularly common even now so it still read quite fresh which was quite a fun experience in its own right. Show Less
LibraryThing member Frozeninside
This was my first time reading anything by Donaldson, and I was not disappointed. There was not a dull moment in this book. I am so grateful that I have the next novel in this two book saga. With every turn of the page I was left with questions. Who to trust? What to believe?
LibraryThing member monroecheeseman
It was ok, but I struggled with the plot. Seemed like this book was unfinished, guess I need to get the second book
LibraryThing member randirousseau
I absolutely loved this book. Sweet and endearing, the "mirror" satisfies more than one person's dreams. Sucks you in and you can't put it down!
LibraryThing member meersan
Clumsy apprentice accidentally dorothies a timid nonentity to a kingdom beset by enemies with mirror magic.
LibraryThing member TheOneTree
Whenever I need to escape this world utterly, I pick up these two books (Mordant's Need) and escape, completely and thoroughly.
LibraryThing member Karlstar
Donaldson does not write cheery books. However, this one is not nearly as dark and difficult as his Covenant novels. It once again features a person from our world, unwillingly and unintentionally drawn into a fantasy world where she is desperately needed. However, figuring out what that need is,
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and what her role will be is never easy in a Donaldson book. The strong characters will draw you in and keep you interested in this book. This was Donaldson's first book after the Covenant series, if you enjoy his work, you'll like this, and if you aren't familiar with his previous novels, this would be a good place to start. Show Less
LibraryThing member justchris
I read these years and years ago and generally liked them. I had a chance to pick up the first book on super discount and swiped my querido's copy of the second, so now I have the set in my library. The only other Donaldson I've read is Daughter of Regals. According to my querido, those three books
Anyway, this is the story of Terisa and Geraden. She's in a meaningless life in New York living in an apartment full of mirrors (to reassure her of her own existence) when Geraden arrives through the mirror to ask her to help save his world. He comes from Mordant where mirrors are magical portals, but unknown enemies threaten the kingdom and the old king is ineffective and his chief advisor is insane. It's a classic fantasy adventure with plots, counterplots, plot twists, swordfights, chases, secret passages and secret plans, seduction and romance, magical attacks, and more.
I think the story is quite imaginative and character driven. It explores the morality of magic and power to some degree, and the nature of human relationships. Most of the characters are quite likeable in their separate ways: the king, the princesses, several of the Imagers (who make and use the mirrors), Geraden's family, the prince from the neighboring kingdom, guardsmen. But sometimes I just wanted to kick Terisa for her stupid existential angst and her stupidity in trusting the wrong people in the face of accumulating evidence. I understand why the author developed her the way he did--it was essential to the story--but couldn't he have done it without so much internal monologue, which made the story drag in places? Most of that was in the first book where Terisa is trying to understand what is happening and what her role is. At the end of it she has figured things out and declared herself. The second book is just a straightforward quest to defeat the enemies now revealed as the myriad characters who have a role in the outcome come together. They even have the chance to revisit New York so that she can confront her past (a childhood of neglect and emotional abuse) and put it to bed before getting on with her new, fulfilled, adult life as a survivor. And of course the traits that display her apparent weakness and victimhood turn into her strengths by the end. Certainly it is a story with many positive messages and it all works out in the end. What more can you ask for in a fantasy?
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are the only ones worth reading. Of course the Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever books were all over the bookstores for decades, but they never looked interesting enough to actually read.Anyway, this is the story of Terisa and Geraden. She's in a meaningless life in New York living in an apartment full of mirrors (to reassure her of her own existence) when Geraden arrives through the mirror to ask her to help save his world. He comes from Mordant where mirrors are magical portals, but unknown enemies threaten the kingdom and the old king is ineffective and his chief advisor is insane. It's a classic fantasy adventure with plots, counterplots, plot twists, swordfights, chases, secret passages and secret plans, seduction and romance, magical attacks, and more.
I think the story is quite imaginative and character driven. It explores the morality of magic and power to some degree, and the nature of human relationships. Most of the characters are quite likeable in their separate ways: the king, the princesses, several of the Imagers (who make and use the mirrors), Geraden's family, the prince from the neighboring kingdom, guardsmen. But sometimes I just wanted to kick Terisa for her stupid existential angst and her stupidity in trusting the wrong people in the face of accumulating evidence. I understand why the author developed her the way he did--it was essential to the story--but couldn't he have done it without so much internal monologue, which made the story drag in places? Most of that was in the first book where Terisa is trying to understand what is happening and what her role is. At the end of it she has figured things out and declared herself. The second book is just a straightforward quest to defeat the enemies now revealed as the myriad characters who have a role in the outcome come together. They even have the chance to revisit New York so that she can confront her past (a childhood of neglect and emotional abuse) and put it to bed before getting on with her new, fulfilled, adult life as a survivor. And of course the traits that display her apparent weakness and victimhood turn into her strengths by the end. Certainly it is a story with many positive messages and it all works out in the end. What more can you ask for in a fantasy?
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LibraryThing member bookheaven
Interesting but too long.
LibraryThing member dbhutch
I actually have had this book since it was first released. It was a gift from a co-worker when she made her first 250K month in sales - in the 80's. At the time I had never read anything by Donaldson, and went on to read most of his work, grabbing most of them from college libraries.
Here Donaldson
As with all of Donaldson's writings, the characters are incredibly robust, very well developed, and the reader gets an excelllent sense of what it is to be each of those players in the grand scheme. The world he has created is wonderful, powerful, and trasnports the reader right into the heart of where Terisa and Gerarden spend their time and adventures.
Here Donaldson
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creates a world in a medival setting/time, filled with power thru the use of Imagery, the ability to translate/send/pull objects/people/creatures thru mirrors. Mordrant, the kingdom where this tale takes place, was created to house people with the Imagery talents, and put them to productive, rather than destructive uses. Terisa is from our world. she is taken to Modrant thru a mirror by Gerarden, a young imager who s fiercely loyal to his King. Together they become embroiled in the struggle for Mordrant against multiple forces, all with their own agendas.As with all of Donaldson's writings, the characters are incredibly robust, very well developed, and the reader gets an excelllent sense of what it is to be each of those players in the grand scheme. The world he has created is wonderful, powerful, and trasnports the reader right into the heart of where Terisa and Gerarden spend their time and adventures.
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LibraryThing member reading_fox
A princess in her Madison towerblock. An apprentice labouring in a kingdom under attack when the king is aged and weak. Surely their fates must be together. In the opening book of this duplet it seems not, for although she is brought into his world, events conspire against them and trust is a
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fickle word. Stunning writing from a master storyteller his least dark of any of his works. Show Less
LibraryThing member SpicyCat
Another re read of an old favourite. While I could never get in to the Chronicles as I found Thomas to whiny (though I will confess it has been a good 20 years since I tried) I do like Mordant's Need. Terisa passivity and self doubt can be annoying at times but Gereden must be one of the most
I do find The Mirror drags a little at times (lots of meeting and talking), but there is lots of establishing of the situation and plot and probably very realistically lots of confusion as to who is 'good' or 'bad'.
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endearing characters in Fantasy. I do find The Mirror drags a little at times (lots of meeting and talking), but there is lots of establishing of the situation and plot and probably very realistically lots of confusion as to who is 'good' or 'bad'.
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LibraryThing member LeslieGNelson
I read this book...hmmm, about 20 years ago, and at the risk of sounding like some sort of groupie, I have to say, I still think about these characters! I love them. The characters, the plot, and setting are simply unforgettable. A masterful story woven by a true story teller. It is one of my
Highly recommended!
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favorite books ever...and I just realized it is available in ebook. Time to read it again!Highly recommended!
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LibraryThing member Debjani_Ray
This story (both part 1 and 2) is probably Stephen Donaldson's best. I often think of the king and his jester. This book is simply magnificent.
LibraryThing member sublunarie
Admittedly, I skipped over the last almost 100 pages of this book but you have to understand - I WAS SO BORED. I read the last few pages and when it was clear there was going to be no resolution to this incredibly uninteresting story, I gave it up.
LibraryThing member briandrewz
An interesting premise, though long and drawn out, with the characters exhibiting the same behavior over and over again to the frustration and annoyance of the reader. I felt like the characters weren't learning anything about their situation or themselves. To me, Terisa was extremely unlikable. I
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didn't feel sympathy for her plight at all. As I said, the premise of the book was interesting, using mirrors to translate between worlds instead of to look at one's image. Show Less
LibraryThing member ben_a
Loved this when I read it as a kid -- found it an enjoyable story, couldn't wait to read the next one. Re-read on vacation and it's dreck.
LibraryThing member kslade
OK fantasy novel. Did not read the sequel.
Awards
Prix Julia Verlanger (1990)
Science Fiction Book Club Award (Winner — 1988)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1986-08
Physical description
642 p.; 9.6 inches
ISBN
0345332989 / 9780345332981