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Summary: Obernewtyn is formidiably imaginative.
Review: This pearl of a book uses common ingredients in an uncommon combination, with spectacular results. The characterization is vivid, the writing fluid, and the plot good enough to keep you guessing. But best of all is that this book has sequels which only get better...
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Summary: Amazing
Review: I loved this book! Im 16 and dont usualy read fantasy books but normally prefer realist. But when i started to read this book i just couldn't put it down! I am currently reading the sequal 'the farseekers' while im loving it, i am excitidly looking forward to starting the 3rd book 'Ashling'. Id reccomend this book to anyone, anyage!A must read for anyone who knows how to read! My friends enjoyed it and even my mum has read it!
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Summary: A science fiction wonder- after the ultimate holocaust
Review: Carmody introduces Elspeth, the main character to us in Obernewtyn. Elspeth is a 'misfit', a person with mental abilities in a world, after the holocaust- an atomic holocaust. Elspeth,an orphan is sent to the mysterious institution in the mountains called Obernewtyn, a place all Misfits dread for reasons they do not know. It is there in the mountains, that her destiny lies, it is up to her to use her powers at the right time in order to free the misfits. But she has the evil Council and Herders to deal with, not to mention the seldom seen, but often talked about Doctor- Master of Obernewtyn. Having read the four books which make up the Obernewtyn Chronicles so far, I can thoroughly recommend this book, knowing that the next three get even better. The tale is original and intrigueing to read- told from the view of Elspeth.
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Summary: If you don't read this book, you're crazy!
Review: This book must be one of my favourites of all time (after Ashling, before The Farseekers). A must read for all fantasy freaks...or anyone! I am new to the series, as I only read Obernewtyn at the start of 1998, but I now own all the books so far released (including the recent 'The Keeping Place'). What more can I say? I am awaiting the 5th book anxiously (yet sadly, for it will be the last)
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Summary: Absolutely great! no one is better than Carmody!
Review: It's a must read book, once your hooked you won't be able to get enough of these fantastic Carmody books. And Obernewtyn is her best! The story is about our futre, after the majority of the world has been destroyed by a nucleur war. In a small land, controlled by 'The Council' and the fanatical 'Herder Priests' misfits of strange potential arise. Abilities such as telepathy etc evolve, and the seeker comes, one who is the most powerful of all, the one who will find the Beforetime weapons, and destroy them.
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Summary: WHERE'S MAD MAX?
Review: Elspeth Gordie has grown up in a world much different than ours. After a nuclear war called "The Great White" which made much of the world unliveable, only the most remote areas were spared. As refugees poured in from the radioactive areas, these people banded into a powerful confederation called The Council and slaughtered any contaminated humans. Even those killings weren't enough, for later, babies were born mutated, and to overcome the revulsion of killing the infants, a religious order was founded, The Herder Faction. As happens in human history, religion is used to hide atrocities and horror. The Herders over time make people believe that The Great White and all its horrors were punishements visited down by God, or as the call him, Lud. They forbid all the technology and customs of the old world. Any who oppose them are branded Seditioners and burned. A new problem has arisen in that there are secret mutants walking among them. Ones whose powers do not show themselves. Elspeth Gordie is one such hidden mutant. She has extremely powerful telepathy, allowing her to read minds,to even control other people if she wills it, and even talk to animals. She has to conceal them though, especially since her brother is trying to fit into the Herders. They are already seen as suspicious since their parents were put to death for Sedition. A problem arises with the arrival of Madame Vega. She is a keeper at Obernewtyn, a remote mountain facility where supposedly hidden mutants, or Misfits, can be cured. The scary part about it is that noone ever returns from Obernewtyn. In a dumb mistake, Elspeth reveals her powers, and is forced to go there. It is there that she will learn the truth about the past. She will also learn how to save the future. I enjoyed this book. The setting was pretty imaginative and the characters were excellent. It's pretty timely for our world too. I mean you can't help seeing Islamic Jihadists in the repressive and terroristic ways of the Herders. The world of Obernewtyn is a world not allowed to go forward because they reject their past. When religion becomes a tool of fear, you know the culture is in trouble. It also reminded me of the Spanish Inquistion and atmosphere of the Salem Witch Trials. All religions have known their savageries.
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Summary: Great read.....(I read the Starscape young adult version)
Review: Obernewtyn is the first in a series of books written by award-winning Australian writer Isobelle Carmody. It is a postapocalyptic story set on an earth in which many children are born with enhanced mental abilities.
Those with these abilities are termed Misfits and are sought for either extermination or service in Obernewtyn. The story follows Elspeth Gordie, a young girl with the gift to read minds and communicate with animals. Discovery of her powers by members of the Council lead to banishment to Obernewtyn where Elspeth must learn to control her powers in order to save her friends, and herself, from the evil being wrought there.
Ms. Carmody's books have just recently made their way across the shores and are among a number of books that are following a recent trend: being printed unabridged in both children's and adult versions. My initial impression was that the book was slow but by the time I finished the first chapter I was really into the story and finished the book in a day. The story moves along at a pace that keeps you interested in what is about to happen without being overwhelming. Ms. Carmody allows the reader to get to know her characters in such a way that you are interested in their respective fates. This is an appropriate story for children aged 10 and above but is by no means a "kid's" story. I believe that the success of the Harry Potter novels has encouraged publishers to market books like the Obernewtyn Chronicles to children as well as adults. I would give the book 4 and 1/2 out of 5 stars...
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Summary: Outstanding Fantasty/Mystery/Science Fiction Blend
Review: A dream book for fans who love multiple genres, particularly those in the fantastic/speculative section of the spectrum. "Obernewtyn" is a detailed, fully constructed 'imaginary' world with its own culture, biophysical characteristics, and social idiosyncracies like a great Fantasy novel but clearly descended from 'our' own world by means of an immense global catacylsm and the subsequent decay and rebuilding of civilization, comfortably co-existing as a Science Fiction standout. Long after the 'Great White' that destroyed the previous planetary civilization, some people are being born with special powers that usually manifest years into life. Called Misfits, they were once all killed off, but in the timeframe of the novel, "all but the most horribly afflicted" are being rounded up and used as glorified slave labor, resulting in Misfits generally trying to keep their natures hidden. It is to an 'orphanage' for such individuals - the titular Obernewtyn - that the novel's main heroine Elspeth is sent, and the dark, mysterious and foreboding nature of the place conjures up images of another genre - a subtle, older-styled horror movie or novel. Add to this plentiful drama, and Elspeth and her allies - including a highly intelligent cat named Maruman who Elspeth can communicate with telepathically - and you have a first-rate novel, descriptively written with flair and equally driven by characters and concept. Superb first volume of a saga, with welcome suspense and originality.
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Summary: a woderful book
Review: Obernewtyn is the start of a fantstic series by Isobelle Carmody. The theme and setting of the book is original and thought provoking. The characters have depth about them and are not usually what they seem. Elspeth (the main character) does not reveal much about herself in this book, but she does when she is older in the following books.
If you like Obernewtyn you will love the next three books in the series. This is because the other books are better written as Isobelle Carmody stared writing this book when she was 14. However, it is a great start to a fantastic series. Please read it as it will change your life!
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Summary: Obernewtyn - entery into another world
Review: I love this book! i read it first a couple of years ago and... WOW!
since then i've read it thw whole series twice over and they are my favourite books!
these are suitable books for the whole family, though the language might baffle some of the younger audiances!
this is a great book and i highly recomend it to all readers!
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