REVIEW: Hammerfall by C.J. Cherryh

 

Hammerfall by C.J. Cherryh


Publisher:  Harper Voyager (July 2002)
Format: eBook, 464 pages.
ISBN-10: 0061057096
ISBN-13: 978-0061057090
Copy: Purchased on-line
Reviewer: Victoria


What is said. . .


Brought before the powerful ruler known as the Ila, the madman known as Marak receives a command to seek out the silver tower of his mad dreams and return with the knowledge of what the tower holds. Marak discovers, however, that reaching his destination is only the beginning of a greater and more dangerous journey. Cherryh's latest novel introduces a new universe of fallen technologies and warring interstellar empires, divine madness and world-shattering weaponry. The author of Fortress in the Eye of Time begins a new series with a powerful story that features a hero marked by his visions to save or destroy his world. - Library Journal






I was excited to read this book.  I have been reading a lot of C.J. Cherryh's work in the past year and have yet to be disappointed.   All of the previous work I have read by Cherryh was fantasy, so I decided to check out her science fiction.  While she has much longer science fiction series, I decided that Hammerfall would be the best choice, since it was the first book of a duology.  This way I was not locked into a long series that I may not like.  I have found from experience that not all authors have the capability of crossing genres, so while I might have liked Cherryh's fantasy, I might very well not like her science fiction.


First off, the story was incredible.  The landscape, the environment and the culture of the people in the novel were fully fleshed and lovingly created.  While I do not have any experience with deserts, the way in which Cherryh treated a desert people and their environment seemed realistic enough to me.  I was fascinated with the culture which permeated the story in such a subtle manner that made for smooth reading.  Not once was I confused, even when native terms and words were used.


From my previous experience with Cherryh's novels, I love her prose.  It is dense, yes, but it is littered with imagery to die for.  I was expecting the same here, but I found myself to be unfortunately disappointed.  This novel was ruined by massive chunks of description. Mind you, it was not description of the landscape that bothered me, but the constant description of characters' movements and going ons.  Cherryh decided to tell us about everything instead of showing us.  Consequently, there was hardly any dialogue or conversation between characters, which created a wall between them and me, the reader.  I never once really felt for any of the characters because I never got to know them.  I just knew that they got up onto their camel-like mount or down, or were thirsty or were having a mad fit.  I never got into their inner workings, their motives or their desires.  The characters really fell flat.


The world building and the story of Hammerfall are great and those are two aspects I really enjoyed.  Unfortunately, there was a sore lack of style and because of that the characters suffered.  I expected a lot from this novel and maybe that is why I feel so let down by it.  I will read the sequel, Forge of Heaven, for completion's sake, but not in the near future.


Plot:  8
Characters: 6
Style: 4


Overall Rating:  6.5/10