Bodhisattva Review: 'Blade of Tyshalle' by Matthew Stover

Title: Blade of Tyshalle Pages: 800 Publisher: Del Rey 2002 Series/Related Titles: Heroes Die (1999) Matthew Stover is a name garnering a lot of mainstream attention recently due to his contribution to the StarWars universe as the author of the novelization of the record breaking film ‘Episode III: Revenge of the Sith’. I have read Stover’s rendering, which is the best adaptation thus far of any of the films, and one of best StarWars novels I have ever read. That statement isn’t admittedly that profound as in my opinion more often than otherwise most of the efforts coming out of the seemingly never exhaustive EU stable resemble such atrocious efforts like ‘Jedi Trial'. Make no mistake even though I am sure Mr. Stover is reaping his awards for his affiliation with StarWars (and no doubt an honor to be the one doing such a popular and I would imagine personally rewarding project), from a creative standpoint, Stover really did StarWars a favor, not the opposite. Anyway, off the StarWars topic and on to the subject of the review as it merits a great deal of attention and is quite profound, and that is Stover’s prior work, in this case ’Blade of Tyshalle’. I have said many times recently that Stover’s ‘Blade of Tyshalle’ is probably the last book that featured to some large extent Elves that I felt was an elite work in the genre. Not since had I read Michael Swanwick’s fantastic ‘Iron Dragon’s Daughter’ was there in my opinion a novel near so good that depicted the traditionally present elves in works of fantasy. ‘Heroes Die’ precedes the story in 'Blade of Tyshalle’, however the former does not have to be read to appreciate the absolute mastery of Stover’s brand of story-telling in the latter (by no means am I not saying not to read Heroes Die’, it’s only slightly less thought of by me, and highly recommended to read; I myself read ‘Blade of Tyshalle’ first simply because I procured it first). Like Swanwick’s aforementioned effort, I consider ‘Blade of Tyshalle’ one of the finest examples of elite story telling in recent fantasy, nothing less than a welcomed and much needed contribution to a segment of the fantasy, and more aptly speculative fiction fan base that was yearning for a work that was equally intellectually and graphically intense. The staging ground Stover creates for ’Blade of Tyshalle’ takes place in 2 distinctly different settings, which act as what can be described as parallel realms. One is Overworld, in essence a setting fans of traditional fantasy will be familiar with inhabited by human factions, elves, Gods, and magic, that serves as a source of entertainment for the "real world" a dystopic earth where actors are sent and recorded live for audiences in the real world. How was Overworld and opportunity it presented viewed? One character, Kris Hansen’s views: "It is a billion dreams come true. I burn for it. I lust for Overworld the way a martyr dreams of the arms of God." Most fans I think will feel more at home and although the idea is fascinating Stover’s vision and execution of the depiction of the real world is the grander of the two. A strict caste system, that is protected by the faceless yet ever present Social Police. As in ‘Heroes Die’ Hari Michaelson aka Caine (or perhaps the other way around) is back and through Stover gritty narrative becomes in this novel in my mind one of the most memorable characters, and character studies in recent fantasy. The beginning portions of the novel (mind you it will never be confused with a novella or filler novel it is a very dense 800 pages) go back to events before ‘Heroes Die’ and chronicle events that occur in an institution that prepares them for Overworld split into two schools, Battle Magik and Combat. We see the events that will occur and a friendship forged that will propel a flunking Hari into an Icon. Hari is a CEO at the Studio now (the Studio runs Overworld), after his wound suffered in the prior novel ended the career of the most popular character in Overworld’s history Caine. Hari lives a life with his daughter and wife (a god when on Overworld) and has a most interesting amicable relationship with who was his greatest enemy Ma'elkoth (a sovereign and god in Overworld’s past, whose memory is still worshiped there) when he stumbles upon a plan that threatens to destroy Overworld, and send his wife Pallas Ril to Overworld to stop the spread of plague wiping out the population. In doing so she becomes bait in a plan of vengeance against Caine. The story in its most basic form is about Caine attempting to save his family and Overworld I want to stress that such a simplification in explanation fails to give credence to the Stover’s writing which studies and scrutinizes from many different perspectives such topics as s, family, power and practicing in power, morality, relationships, ethics, individual philosophy, among others but most importantly an untainted knowledge of self. Did Hari just act like Caine? Or was Caine in fact the real man as we see him in his youngest form at school? Ma'elkoth’s opinion: "I fear Michaelson not at all. Michaelson is a fiction you fools. The truth of him is Caine. You do not comprehend the distinction; and so he will destroy you" Stover is able to deftly touch on subjects but with a narrative that although clever but in a way such that seems oxymoronic but very apt as it’s deftly blunt, and in your face. Like someone shooting a blind man with an arrow in the eye from point blank. It’s a novel about human weakness and human strength and how they how many elements of each are synonymous with shared by both, the difference only a thin line and circumstance. As aforementioned it’s about power; several types, and in ‘Blade of Tyshalle’ Stover will illustrate many types from the fantastic power of mages, drawn from ‘"flow", and the power of the concepts noted above, but one passage perhaps denotes the most relevant; again Ma'elkoth’s speaking of the crippled Caine: "He does have power. One power: the power to devote himself absolutely to a single goal, to be ruthless with himself and all else in its pursuit. It is theonly power he needs - because unlike the great mass of men, he is aware of his power, he is willing, even happy to use it" Within 'Blade of Tyshalle' Stover illustrates in several sequences why he is in my mind, the current preeminent describer of action sequences in speculative fiction, depicting actions that produce gruesome results with uncanny and realistic precision. As with any novel of such relevance his characters are not polarized to some senseless and truly fictional ideas of Good or Evil, they make realistic decisions and are governed by their own believable ideals that are established by Stover within the novel. From beginning to end ‘Blade of Tyshalle’ reaffirms it’s rightful status as one of the most creative, and imaginative efforts in speculative fiction. His impact is somewhat similar to perhaps my favorite current author, China Mieville, but does so in a different matter. Mieville’s work entrances and puts on a display of ideas and imagery I haven’t thought of before and shows me the possibility of the ideas and imagination itself, where Stover invokes the same powers of imagination but through means that are right in front of our face and admire because it is new to us due to the safety in our deniability. It’s a novel that deserves much more accolades than it has received; even by it’s loyal (and admittedly rambunctious) fan base. ‘Blade of Tyshalle’ is highly recommended and a immidiate purchase. Go and buy it now, do not rely on luck and happening on it at your local unstocked store, as Stover points out "Luck is the word the ignorant use to define their ignorance" Jay The Bodhisattva Bodhisattva Science Fiction/Fantasy Book Review #1: Blade of Tyshalle by Matthew Stover.