Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Mini-Review: Antiphon by Ken Scholes

Antiphon by Ken Scholes is the third book in The Psalms of Isaak series (Book Depository, Powell’s Books, Indiebound) – a planned series of five. In Antiphon things really take off, which means I can’t say too much about it without completely spoiling events in the first two books – which would really be a shame with the way Scholes slowly reveals answers only to leave more questions in their place. Combined with my rather hectic life of late, I’ve decided to keep my review rather short and sweet. This really is a rather good series and something with a bit of different flavor than the usual fair, so I suggest checking my reviews of Lamentation (Book Depository, Powell’s Books, Indiebound) and Canticle (Book Depository, Powell’s Books, Indiebound).
In Antiphon Scholes continues with his strategy of slowly revealing mysteries and takes it step further by revealing other truths behind mysteries previously revealed as the series continues forward. What you think you know is probably wrong, and with Antiphon probably wildly so. The science fiction flavor to the fantasy of The Psalms of Isaak really comes out in surprising form at the same time that fantasy aspects wrench it up another level. Through this Scholes shows us both what is great and not-so-great about genre as he expands the possibilities of his writing and lets it get away from him in the end.
Frankly, while Antiphon is good, it was a bit of a let-down in quality following Canticle. However I can say that after the events in Antiphon, I have no idea where Scholes is going to go with things, but I’m sure it’s going to be extraordinary. 7.5


2 comments:

D-man said...

I'm about halfway through Canticle and it's a nice continuation from what started in Lamentation. Scholes' writing seems to have improved for this second book, as the pace is much crisper and forward-moving (at least from what I remember from the first book).

Glad to hear you enjoyed Antiphon. Can't wait to pick it up later in the year.

Neth said...

Canticle is a great step up. Antiphon continues this, though with a few hiccups I hint at in the not-quite-a-real-review.

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