The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip

We Rate It9.5-stars

Rate and review The Forgotten Beasts of Eld! | What does everyone else think?

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld book cover
Summary A must read, a real delight.
Buy Now!

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld was first released in 1974 and has become one of the most endearing and enduring fantasy novels of the past fifty years. Patricia McKillip has written a book that is amongst many fantasy readers’ favourite possessions. The Forgotten Beasts of Eld won the World Fantasy Award for best novel in 1975.

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld is a magical tale set in a time of war. The story centres on Sybel whose story begins when, at the age of sixteen, she is given a baby to care for. Born and raised on the titular Eld Mountain, Sybel knows little of mankind, magical creatures summoned by wizardry having been her main source of companionship. The arrival of the baby takes Sybel out of her comfortable life and into realms unknown.

This novel has everything that a fantasy novel should, swords, sorcery, intrigue, betrayal and love. There is a clear sense of good and evil within this elegantly written tale, the narrative evokes a sense of wonder and magic that makes this book special. This is a book that stays with the reader long after the final page has been turned and placed back on the bookshelf.

The characterisation is excellent, creating well-formed, sympathetic and most importantly, realistic characters. The Forgotten Beasts of Eld is reminiscent of Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea masterpiece, the writing of this generation contains a magic that few modern authors have managed to successfully retain. This is a beautiful, thought-provoking book that will stay with the reader forever.

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld is a timeless classic that can be enjoyed by all ages and readers of all genres. A wonderful, moving read that is a must for all fantasy fans around the world.

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld (Fantasy Masterworks) (Amazon.co.uk)

Author: Patricia A. Mckillip
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 336
Publication date: 2005-11-10
Publisher: Gollancz

RRP: £7.99
Lowest new price: £1.47
Lowest used price: £0.83


THE FORGOTTEN BEASTS OF ELD (FANTASY MASTERWORKS) (Amazon.com)

Author: PATRICIA A. MCKILLIP
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 336
Publication date: 2005-01-01
Publisher: GOLLANCZ

RRP:
Lowest new price:
Lowest used price: $2.36


You Say

Submit your own mini-review

Let people know what you think about The Forgotten Beasts of Eld. You can write your own mini-review and give the book the rating that you think it deserves. Your reviews will go towards giving The Forgotten Beasts of Eld its overall rating that will decide where The Forgotten Beasts of Eld finishes in the top 100 fantasy books of all time.

Your first name
Your mini review
Where you live
Book
Your rating (out of 10)

Books you may also enjoy...

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Alice in Wonderland was Lewis Carroll’s first novel and its fantasy plot, humorous rhymes and brilliant use of nonsense was revolutionary. Nineteenth-century children’s writing usually served moral or educational purpose, but Alice was written firmly and purely for the amusement of children. Critical response was lukewarm, but the book was still a great success, and remains a hugely influential classic of children’s literature. ... read the full review

Summary: Its fantasy plot, humorous rhymes and brilliant use of nonsense was revolutionary.

Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll

Through the Looking-Glass was published in 1971, and is the famous sequel to Alice in Wonderland. Like the first Alice book, Looking-Glass is a brilliantly plotted, wonderfully inventive nonsense story, full of humour, riddles and rhymes. The two books were revolutionary: while most children’s novels had been written to educate and instruct, Carroll’s two book were produced firmly to amuse. ... read the full review

Summary: Brilliantly plotted, wonderfully inventive nonsense story, full of humour, riddles and rhymes.

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

The great modern classic and prelude to The Lord of the Rings. Also known as There and back again, this tale was written for Tolkien's own children and has become one of the most loved children's fantasy's books of all time. ... read the full review

Summary: The Hobbit is fondly remembered by all who read it, a real delight.

Also in this sub-genre...

Image: Dust of Dreams book cover

Book of the Month

Dust of Dreams by Steven Erikson
On the Letherii continent the exiled Malazan army commanded by Adjunct Tavore begins its march into the eastern Wastelands, to fight for an unknown cause against an enemy it has never seen. The fate awaiting the Bonehunters is one no soldier can prepare for, and one no mortal soul can withstand - the foe is uncertainty and the only weapon worth wielding is stubborn courage.

Previous winners of Book of the Month

An image of author Alex Bell

Latest interviews

Interviews plus question and answer sessions with authors, narrators and publishers.

Image: A Game of Thrones book cover

Must-reads

The following reviews are of books that begin the very best fantasy series available.

Special Feature: Fantasy Book Review talks to the Book View Cafe

Book View Cafe is a cooperative site created by a group of writers - including internationally renowned authors Katharine Kerr, Ursula Le Guin and Vonda N. McIntyre - who want to take advantage of the internet's possibilities for reaching a wider audience and to distribute their work directly to their readers. The Book View Cafe is a place where you can find free, original fiction plus the authors' best and out-of-print work for a fee. Fantasy Book Review spoke to Book View Cafe member, science fiction author and memoirist Chris Dolley in February 2010.

Special Feature: Understanding the author of Alice in Wonderland

Image: The Mystery of Lewis Carroll book cover

Lewis Carroll, the elusive author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, has been the subject of enduring fascination for the past hundred years. The destruction of many major documents about his personal life by his descendants has only magnified the mystery. Jenny Woolf's biography, published to coincide with the release of the new Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland film, lays waste to the myths and suspicions that have obscured Carroll's reputation by placing him firmly in the context of his own time.

Top 100 fantasy books Young adult fantasy books Children's fantasy books Image: Fallen by Lauren Kate book cover image The Wonderful Wizard of Oz eBook

News

The Bell At Sealey Head review

Karen Tableiou reviews the latest release from Patricia McKillip. World Fantasy Award-winning Patricia A. McKillip's newest novel, "The Bell at Sealey Head," is the tale of a seaside fishing town that...

World Fantasy Awards 2008 nominees

The 2008 World Fantasy Awards will be held in Calgary as part of the World Fantasy Convention between the 30th October and the 2nd of November. The Lifetime Achievement Award winners have already been...

Fantasy Masterworks

Fantasy Masterworks is a collection of some of the greatest, most original, and most influential fantasy ever written. These are the books which, along with Tolkien, Peak and others, shaped modern fan...

Penny Arcade’s Love Affair with Patrick Rothfus

One of the better webcomics on the internet is Penny Arcade, written and drawn by Tycho (Jerry Holkins) and Gabe (Mike Krahulik). They’re the masterminds behind not just a great comic but also PAX, th...

Limited Edition Neverwhere Edition

For Neil Gaiman fans this will be some good news. Subterranean Press have just notified us that copies of the “Signed Limited Edition of Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere” are “enroute to our warehouse.” The...

The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Man from Hell by Barrie Roberts

The world’s greatest detective returns in a story that forms part of a new series entitled The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. In The Man from Hell Barrie Roberts creates a perfect emulation ...

Harriet Wilson joins HarperCollins Children's Books

Harriet Wilson is to join HarperCollins Children's Books as Editorial Director. She will commission and develop authors and series across the fiction list with a particular focus at the younger end. ...

First edition of The Wind in the Willows a star lot at Bonhams

A first edition of the much loved children’s classic, The Wind in the Willows, inscribed by Kenneth Grahame to the daughter of the man who inspired the character of Ratty, is among the star lots offe...

Templar Publishing to publish 10 fiction titles in 2010

Templar Publishing has launched into fiction with a commitment to hardback publishing and distinctive formats. The company plans to publish 10 fiction titles this year, ranging from early readers to y...

Julia Donaldson to visit Burnley this Friday

Children’s author Julia Donaldson will be giving a talk at Burnley Youth Theatre on Friday 19 March at 2pm. The event, which is being run by Mid Pennine Arts, provides a rare opportunity for people l...