Master of Whitestorm

Janny Wurts

O.R.S.

Follow the resourceful, indefatigable protagonist Korendir as he goes from captive on a slave ship to the titular Master of Whitestorm. Accompanied by his sidekick and foil, the smith Haldeth, Korendir takes on and overcomes a series of impossible, near-suicidal requests made by denizens in his world. A kind of Spartacus-meets-Perseus (of the Clash of the Titan ilk) romantic adventure, told through primarily Korendir and Haldeth’s third person perspectives.

How much did you like it overall?

I really enjoyed this book–on the surface, it follows a very familiar, traditional storytelling structure, wherein Korendir goes on a series of quests, positioned as impossible, and overcomes each one through grit and determination, not unlike an Arthurian or Roman tale, and yet, through its kind of repetitive structure, the stakes it’s also a strangely meta-feeling novel about self-destruction and self-denial masquerading as heroism. It’s not even subtext, as Haldeth, the foil, pointblank calls Korendir out on it.

What did you like most?

The feeling of the novel is very appealing–if you’re not up for tracking a cast of thousands, this is the book for you, it’s got adventures, but they’re almost episodic. Korendir inevitably emerges triumphant, and yet there is progress and evolution. And at least for the most part, Korendir shows some ingenuity in solving his quests beyond sheer brute force.

What did you not like about it?

One could argue that Wurts never resolves the internal struggles that Korendir experiences–or provides a particularly satisfying ending that would’ve elevated this from an enjoyable adventure with depth into something even more rich. Also, there are a few moments where Korendir pulls off the impossible through muscles, where you would’ve hoped for more brain than brawn.

Any favorite moments?

Usually, the opening is where the author gets you in the “first novel”–the introduction of the world, the characters get to flaunt a little. But in this case, Korendir’s middle adventures, where he gets in over his head and starts to flail about–and gets rescued by Haldeth, his less capable, human companion–for example, with the wereleopards in the cave.

Where do I put it on The Shelf?

Solidly middle shelf–it’s almost A S Byatt or Italo Calvino-esque in its episodic, Modernist structure and obsession with fable storytelling. But I think could’ve been pushed further in terms of the internal contradictions of the character

Any closing thoughts?

I could be wrong, and all this depth reading could be my misinterpretation of a shallow plot and simple book, but I think there’s something here beyond the telling of a hero on an adventure. And it’s a fun read!

418p