Rating: 
Summary: Excellent, finally!!
Review: After I read Illusion I found the other books by Paula Volsky to be missing the strength and depth of that book that so engrossed me when I read it.
But now with the Grand Ellipse she has finally done it again!
What I like the most is that in this book not only does she give you some info as to where the land in Illusion has gone but we also read about the countries from Wolf in winter, The White Tribunal etc....
It was lovely to finally see all these lands contected as they have never been contected before.
The characters are engaging and well done, and I feel I could have read another 200 pages of their adventures during the race.
Hurrah for Paula Volsky! Now my hope is she can continue with her next book and not lose her way as she did somewhat with the books that followed Illusion.
Rating:
Summary: Amusingly quirky...
Review: As always, Paula Volsky has given us something to enjoy. Consider a great race around the 'civilized' world, thru exotic lands, rich cultures, strange languages, tons of intrigue, at times very funny dialogue and more. Fans of her other works (Illusion, The Wolf of Winter, The White Tribunal) know of her quirky, Jack Vance influenced, individualistic style, those who have read her earlier works (The Sorcerer's Curse, The Luck of Relian Kru) will catch some unique self references to these fine works.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Volsky Since "Illusion!"
Review: Combining the entire map of Volsky's world with Jules Verne's "Around the World in Eighty Days" and a hint of the Imperialism of World War I and the atomic power of World War II, "The Grand Ellipse" is most likely Volsky's best book, second only to "Illusion." We follow Luzelle Devaire of Vonahr, an independent woman living in the third generation from the revolution of "Illusion." Always an adventurer, she jumps at the chance to join the Grand Ellipse - a race around Volsky's world - on the sufference of her government - who hopes that, should she win, Luzelle might be able to weasel away from the race's sponsor, the King of Lower Hetzia, the secret of the sentient Masterfire, in order to repel the advancing army of the Grewzians who are quickly taking over the land. Full of Volsky's excellent wit, an interesting romantic tangle, and lavish worldbuilding, The Grand Ellipse is a joy to anyone who has ventured into Volsky's world before, and a great primer for those who have not. Readers who are familiar with other "quest" or "travel" fantasies (see especially High Fantasy authors), will particularly enjoy Volsky's highly realistic "take" on what it means to travel. Rather than littering her pages with idealised, happy-go-lucky travelling companions who are somehow able to walk with little to no discomfort, or better, to ride without saddleburn, Volsky's characters are held-up by weather, hostile natives, and delayed trains. Finally! Unlike Volsky's previous three books, "The Grand Ellipse" involves relatively little horror or gore, and the one attempted rape scene is intense but in no way gratuitous. Those who have been leery of reading Volsky due to her post-"Illusion" books should certainly invest in her latest offering, while those who enjoyed the previous three books will still find the grand scope of this novel invigorating. Recommended *heartily* for everyone - even if you don't generally read fantasy! There are very few great authors in the market; Volsky is high among them. So why delay?!
Rating:
Summary: The Best Volsky Since "Illusion!"
Review: Combining the entire map of Volsky's world with Jules Verne's "Around the World in Eighty Days" and a hint of the Imperialism of World War I and the atomic power of World War II, "The Grand Ellipse" is most likely Volsky's best book, second only to "Illusion." We follow Luzelle Devaire of Vonahr, an independent woman living in the third generation from the revolution of "Illusion." Always an adventurer, she jumps at the chance to join the Grand Ellipse - a race around Volsky's world - on the sufference of her government - who hopes that, should she win, Luzelle might be able to weasel away from the race's sponsor, the King of Lower Hetzia, the secret of the sentient Masterfire, in order to repel the advancing army of the Grewzians who are quickly taking over the land. Full of Volsky's excellent wit, an interesting romantic tangle, and lavish worldbuilding, The Grand Ellipse is a joy to anyone who has ventured into Volsky's world before, and a great primer for those who have not. Readers who are familiar with other "quest" or "travel" fantasies (see especially High Fantasy authors), will particularly enjoy Volsky's highly realistic "take" on what it means to travel. Rather than littering her pages with idealised, happy-go-lucky travelling companions who are somehow able to walk with little to no discomfort, or better, to ride without saddleburn, Volsky's characters are held-up by weather, hostile natives, and delayed trains. Finally! Unlike Volsky's previous three books, "The Grand Ellipse" involves relatively little horror or gore, and the one attempted rape scene is intense but in no way gratuitous. Those who have been leery of reading Volsky due to her post-"Illusion" books should certainly invest in her latest offering, while those who enjoyed the previous three books will still find the grand scope of this novel invigorating. Recommended *heartily* for everyone - even if you don't generally read fantasy! There are very few great authors in the market; Volsky is high among them. So why delay?!
Rating: 
Summary: Plenty of action in this wild fantasy ride
Review: Following a devastating revolution Vonahr's government has gone to seed and finds itself reduced to skeletal defenses and unable to meet the threat by an overlord of Grewzland who threatens war, destruction and world dominance. Bordering Vonahr is a small country Lower Hetz, traditionally neutral and governed by a mad king whose sole focus in life is his fixation upon food, his hormones and diversion. A court alchemist has discovered an arcane tool of mass destruction that could be used to save the world. But the king, Miltzin, is deaf to all entreaties. In his pursuit for pleasure he designs a race called the Grand Ellipse with the prize a baronecty, lands, mansion and wealth. A beautiful, headstrong, independent young Vonarhrish woman scholar takes up the quest in her desperate need to secure financial resources to continue her research into other cultures and societies. This is an engaging story of her journey through the challenges, and the tribulations that she and other racers encounter. A tantalizing love triangle develops between the heroine Luzelle and a high ranking officer of the enemy Grewzland. Also in the mix is a former fiance sent by her government to shadow and protect her even though she is unaware of the government's intervention. The story is quite entertaining, although at times it does drag a bit over the course of the race itself. However, the author's gift for brilliant dialog, sly humor and convoluted machinations of both saboteurs and opponents that are expressed through the vividly drawn characters can deliver a lot of delighted chuckles and keep one"rooting for the girl" along the journey. There are a few loose ends that I would like to have seen resolved or given a clue about by story's end. Yet, overall I found this tale of triumph and travail typical of Paula Volsky's ever fascinatingly skewed world view and an enjoyable way to spend some time on her imaginary mystery tour.
Rating:
Summary: A Rousing Ramble
Review: From the inventive imagination of Paula Volsky comes "The Grand Ellipse", a science fiction novel set in a near-Earth in a timeframe equivalent to the early Victorian period, with steamships, railroads, and hot air balloons figuring amongst the modes of travel. Magic, never apparently too prevalent, still exists but is fading in importance. However, a clever mage has discovered Sentient Fire, and many rival countries are striving to possess its secret. Why should this be? Well, essentially the events of World War II are being played out, with Grewzland (read: Nazi Germany) ruthlessly expanding across the known world. And Sentient Fire is basically the atomic bomb, albeit under the control of a whimsical monarch in the mold of Ludwig II of Bavaria, a ruler who controls the stand-in for neutral Switzerland. Given his country's heritage, he has no intention of getting involved in any conflict, and doesn't want to turn over the Sentient Fire to any combatant. Fortunately for all concerned, this same king is sponsoring a mammoth race, the Grand Ellipse of the title (he was going to call it the Big Oval, but thought better of it), and one of the prizes is a chance to personally meet with him. Hence, a few of the racers are competing for the chance to use the audience to advance their country's plea for the powerful weapon, the only hope of stopping the Grewzians. Chief amongst the competitors are Luzelle Devaire and Girays v'Alisante, both from Vonahr (a combination of post-Revolutionary France and pre-WWII England), and Karsler Stornzof, an acclaimed officer of the Grewzian army. Luzelle and Girays were formerly engaged, but their relationship foundered in the clash between his high-bred conservatism and her need for independence and adventure. Now, circumstances bring them back together, and Luzelle, the main protagonist, finds herself alternately attracted to her former suitor and to the dashing and noble Karsler. In the mad dash across exotic locales, the novel is naturally reminiscent of Jules Vernes' "Around The World In Eighty Days". Part of the fun comes from figuring out which fictional country is meant to represent which real-Earth nation. There are counterparts for Russia, India, and the Middle East, along with others. And the resourceful racers have recourse to myriad means of travel, including hang-gliders, rickshaws, bicycles, carriages, and zombie-borne palanquins. Along with other nice touches, Volsky ably provides characters major and minor with interesting differences in speech patterns and dialects, showing the difficulty of stumbling across a globe riddled with various languages and customs. She also makes certain that Luzelle confronts her fair share of obstacles that are thrown in her way simply on account of her gender, especially in the more repressive countries. Luzelle also encounters again and again the repression of the conquering Grewzian forces, awakening in her a desire to win the race for more than just personal reasons. On the whole, this is a well-crafted and clever novel with often witty dialogue. However, the last chapters sag rather badly, with an unsatisfying conclusion which renders the tribulations of preceding pages somewhat moot. After all of the previous adventures, this stumble at the end is a bit disconcerting. Nevertheless, "The Grand Ellipse" remains a journey worth undertaking.
Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal! Volsky strikes again!
Review: I have been waiting for this book since the White Tribunal came out. Luzulle, an independant young scholar, embarks on a journey around the world not only to save her country but also to prove herself to those who scoff at her ideals. Paula Volsky creates characters that you grow to love, characters you grow to hate and the whole while telling a story that speaks volumes about society and humanity in general. This is a finely crafted book that returns you to the world Volsky created with Illusion. This is a book to own!
Rating: 
Summary: Too Long, Too Boring
Review: I quit reading Fantasy/SF at the end of '97, and have only read Tolkien since (for the 5th time), but was inexplicably captured by this title at the library. I have a few of Volsky's older books which I had always wanted to read, but never got the chance, so I thought I would try the Grand Ellipse.
The book works on a few levels - as a comment on Hitlerian Naziism, progress, and - especially - as a travelogue. The Sentient Fire may be viewed as anagolous to Nuclear technology.
However, knowing who would win the race, who would end up with whom, and what use the Sentient Fire would be put to left no room for surprizes. The Book could have also used some serious editing. In these times of overstuffed books, it would be nice to see one with a more pared, sleek, approach; especially, considering the contents of most of today's stories - including The Grand Ellipse - cannot sustain such a verbose narrative. Also, due to the overt resemblance to 19th Century Earth, little seemed fantastical or alien. The lack of a religion for the western nations was also incomprehensible.
Overall, I am sorry I wasted my time on this title, and am more entrenched in my position of not bothering to read popular contemporary fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Thing I've Encountered in a Long While
Review: I was dazzled, shocked, transported out of this world...I had almost forgotten that that was what fantasy was supposed to do. In a nutshell, do yourself a grand favor and get this book. The heroine is Luzelle Devaire, a beautiful young woman who also happens to be a seasoned traveler, an authoress, and lecturer of some note. All of this brings her to the attention of her rather desperate government. The acknowledged superpower of the day is bent on expansion at any cost and Luzelle's homeland appears to be the next target. Luzelle is recruited to enter a race called the Grand Ellipse that is the latest scheme proposed by a neighboring king of a neutral country...a country that holds the key to the greatest discovery of the age...living fire that obeys every command of its master. Luzelle's mission is to win the race, which will bring her to the king's attention, and then woo the infamous skirt-chaser into selling her the secret of Masterfire. Luzelle is looking forward to the adventure, but it turns out to more than she had expected. As she travels through marvelous lands of beauty, intrigue, and danger, she will face her greatest fears and then some and make some of the hardest decisions of her life, not the least of which is between the two men who have touched her heart, a love from the past and a soldier from an enemy army... Take the Amazing Race, throw in politics, murder, deceit, desperation, war, danger, and romance and you have the Grand Ellipse. The world building is enough to blow you right out of THIS world. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly good
Review: I will admit, I very rarely read fiction written by women. It is not a sexist comment, just that I find it difficult identifying with female main characters. However, Ms Volsky does a wonderful job of making her protagonist real, flawed, feminine and interesting at the same time. The book is pure fun, written in a descriptive yet simple prose. Moreover, the prose is so well written that one can easily start reading and then notice they have flown through 100 pages. The book is set in another world where the heroes and villians compete in a race set on a world where the 19th century meets magic, rationalism confronts mysticism. It may be said that this is another "Around the World in 80 Days", but there are grander themes and international conspiracies that range throughout the text, political intrigue and adventure. There is more depth to this book than Around the World. This is the perfect book for summer reading and you will not be unhappy.
|
