<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: First Book in the Voyage of the Basset Series
Review: Based on the adventures of "Voyage of the Basset" by James C. Christensen, "Islands in the Sky" by Tanith Lee is the first book in this children's fantasy series created by Mr. Christensen. Other notable fantasy writers have also collaborated, including Terri Windling and Ellen Steiber (#2: "The Raven Queen"), Sherwood Smith (#3: "Journey to Otherwhere"), Will Shetterly (#4: "Thor's Hammer"), and Mary Frances Zambreno (#5: "Fire Bird"). All of these books are worth reading if you enjoy children's fantasy fiction.In "Islands of the Sky", 10-year-old orphaned Hope Glover has grown up a scullery maid in 19th century London, until she's magically taken away by a kite caught in a tree. Unknowingly, her master's spoiled son, Apollo Rivers, also tags along. Hope soon enters the world of the Basset, a flying ship occupied by dwarves and gremlins, and befriends the kind first mate, Sebastian, as well was an inept genie she finds in the sea. In this magical world full of mythical Greek creatures, she aides in the war against the cruel centaurs who intend to enslave all the wingless horses, animals the centaurs believe are far inferior to them since they only have one quality while the centaurs have two (being part human and horse). And while Hope assists Pegasus and his fellow winged and wingless horses, Apollo soon falls to the side of the enemies and is consequently imprisoned by Klatter in Centaur City. "Islands in the Sky" is a wonderful story. Older Tanith Lee fans will love it, as will young fantasy/adventure readers. Recommended for children age 9 - 12, but suitable for adults as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Long Live the Bassett
Review: First, I must admit that I am 34 years old and was thrilled to find this newest and/or continued story to James Christensen's original Voyage of the Bassett. The story goes...Darwin when out on the Voyage of the Beagle and found all earthly creatures.... The second voyage, The Voyage of the Bassett was to find all of the mythical and fantasy creatures (ie: fairies, trolls, mermaids, winged horses, etc.) I found this book at a children's book sale and was a bit skeptical since I liked the original so much. But...I was hooked after reading the first chapter. The adventures were wonderful and the imagery was beautiful. I highly recommend this book to kids and adults. Might even be good for a Parent/Child book club. Credendo Vides (By Believing, one sees)!
Rating:
Summary: Long Live the Bassett
Review: First, I must admit that I am 34 years old and was thrilled to find this newest and/or continued story to James Christensen's original Voyage of the Bassett. The story goes...Darwin when out on the Voyage of the Beagle and found all earthly creatures.... The second voyage, The Voyage of the Bassett was to find all of the mythical and fantasy creatures (ie: fairies, trolls, mermaids, winged horses, etc.) I found this book at a children's book sale and was a bit skeptical since I liked the original so much. But...I was hooked after reading the first chapter. The adventures were wonderful and the imagery was beautiful. I highly recommend this book to kids and adults. Might even be good for a Parent/Child book club. Credendo Vides (By Believing, one sees)!
Rating:
Summary: I think it deserves 4 and 1/2 stars, actually...
Review: I liked this book. But as the other guys have said, it's good to read the Hardcover book by James Christensen first. (Alot of the references are better if you follow our advice.) This is the only book I've read by Tanith Lee, But I know I got another book by her for Christmas Called "Wolf Tower" but I know that one of her books called "Vivia" seems a bit questionable. I've never read it, so it's not like I know, but I 've heard it has crucifictions and vampires and stuff...I don't think that stuff is right or good, so I find it a little strange that she could write such a wonderful cute book like this, then write trash like that.Actually, I did read an excerpt from it, so I kind of can have an opinion. Comon, Tanith, I love this book, and If you always wrote like this, I would have to put you near the top of my favorite authors. I love Hope in this book. She's a great young girl heroine, the kind of heroine that young girls need to read about more often. And Apollo turns out really nice and a great person too. So keep your standards high, everyone, and we can work together, to make great literature for the new generations. (...) ;-)I love ya, Tanith, you're a great writer.
Rating:
Summary: CREDENDO VIDES
Review: In this book, Hope Glover is a servent girl for some rich people. One day, she is climbing a tree to get a kite for their snotty son Apollo when it turns into a magic carpet and carries her to the Lands of Legend. She doesn't know that Apollo comes too. She find a genie who gets her aboard a ship called the Basset. The Basset takes her on many adventures, including things having to do with Pandora's box. Apollo on the other hand gets captured by centaurs, chased by a roc from the Arabian Nights, and goes on a mission to save the non-winged horses. This book is really good. I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but I've read beter
Review: This book was interesting and the idea was good but there was something missing, I just don't know what. Hope Glover was the typical orphan who had incredibly kind parents but is left as a servant in a nasty house hold. Apollo was mean to Hope but he is not mean at heart he was just raised to be that way. His father has drummed into his head that he will be " an important man." and that he is to keep his head up and his chest out. But from the parts of the story that are told from his point of view you see that he doesn't kwant to end up like that. I especially liked the end but I will not give anything away about that. The story begins with Hope living her usual life, when a young woman and her husband come to visit the Rivers. The young woman is Cassandra Aisling who has been on the Basset and was carried to the lands of legend years ago.( Make sure you read the original voyage of the Basset book by James c. christen first.) cassandra sees that hope will travel on the Basset soon aswell and indeed she is right. Hope gets carried away by a magic carpet/kites and takes Apollo with her without knowing it. After that both children see things that Hope had always dreamed of and that Apollo had never dared to, because of his father's instructions. I suggest you read tis bok if you are looking for something light to read if you are like me but fotr people who are not like me yo can decide whether to read it or not on your own.
Rating:
Summary: "By believing, one sees..."
Review: This is the central theme of Islands in the Sky; appropriately fantastical and thought-provoking. I'm quite fond of Tanith Lee's children's books, so despite misgivings about Islands in the Sky (I have not read the original Basset book), I decided to get it. Islands in the Sky is a very entertaining, whimsical, and often wryly witty fantasy. Tanith Lee is never less than competent, and she delivers an exciting twist of the old 'snatched from the mundane world to a fantasy land' theme. For one, Tanith Lee manages to neatly skew many familiar Greek myths. She incorporates the events of the original Basset book without interrupting the flow of the story, creates lively, likable protagonists, and in general, does a fantastic job. Islands in the Sky is recommended to all those who like fantasies from Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth, to Lloyd Alexander's The Arkadians. I'm really looking forward to reading the next ones in the series (The Raven Queen by Terry Windling, and Journey to Otherwhere by Sherwood Smith).
Rating:
Summary: Cute
Review: This isn't the best fantasy book I've read, but it does make for what Jeeves calls "light, attractive reading." Drawing on Greek mythos and legends, this book is a nice diversion -- especially when you have read the hardcover book by James Christenson. In the mid-1800s, orphaned Hope Glover is a dreamer and a fantasy-lover, among a herd of prosaic and often obnoxious people. She works as a maid at the home of the Rivers family, and is often the victim of their bratty son Apollo. But one day a mysterious couple are the guests of the Riverses, and the woman (Cassandra) speaks briefly to Hope. Soon after, she is swept magically to the Basset. Why is she there? And why is Apollo there also? Hope doesn't know until later, when she learns of a war between savage centaurs, and the beautiful winged horses (Pegasus) -- and a terrifying deed the centaurs are planning. Assisting her is the crew of the Basset, the winged horses, and sometimes Apollo.... The book is hardly flawless. The out-of-practice genii got old quick, and the idea about being wingED (you'll see if you read it) struck me as a big stretch. However, I was grateful to see a book that portrayed the centaurs as Greek mythos intended them, savage cowardly thiefs. And though the Pegasus did not speak and was not sentient, the winged horses were well-made, as was the roc. I also found Apollo's change in thought similar to that of Edmund in the Narnia Chronicles. I advise you to read the original "Voyage of the Basset" before you read this, as I didn't understand many of the references (Cassandra and her sister, for one). They do explain it sufficiently, so if you have not read VotB you will still be able to understand who these people are and what the Basset is. A cute little fantasy. Credendo vides!
Rating: 
Summary: Not authors best childrens fiction
Review: Unfortunately it is not until 100pgs into this book that it really starts swinging.
Hope & Apollo are drawn away on a magical adventure, Hope to be rescued from the demeaning life of a scullery maid, and Apollo from the dreadful influences of his awful family.
Although Apollow is snotty, he is a much livelier character than Hope who although the principal lead, is quite a bore.
I understand this is part of a series of books "voyage of the basset" wherein every book is written by a different author.
Sadly it is not Tanith Lee's best book, and although it may scrape in a bit of appeal for 9-12yr olds, there are better written childrens books around, and some of them by Tanith Lee!
<< 1 >>
|
