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Magic and technology collide in the first book of the Windrose Chronicles by the New York Times–bestselling author and "fabulously talented writer" (Charlaine Harris).In a world where wizards are relegated to ghettos, it is no surprise to see one murdered in the street. But for Stonne Caris, a young warrior monk who sees the killing and gives chase to the culprit, there is nothing ordinary about seeing a murderer disappear into a black, inky portal. The Archmage sends him in search of show more Antryg Windrose—a half-mad mage who understands the nature of these passages between dimensions.
On the other side of the Void is Joanna, a programmer as mild as Caris is deadly. She has spent her life in cubicles, staring into computer terminals, as far from heroism as she can get. But when the power that is crossing between dimensions draws her through the Void, she finds herself battling to save a world she never even knew existed.
With intricate worldbuilding and complex plot twists, The Silent Tower is a compelling introduction to one of this generation's greatest female fantasy writers.
This ebook features an illustrated biography of Barbara Hambly, including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author's personal collection.
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Another 'real person crosses into a fantasy world' series. Quite different from the Darwath series though, and like most of Hambly's books, it has enough originality to make it interesting. She does seem to have an obsession with wizards though, and this is another series about wizards. Not quite as good as some of her other books, but still quite good. I enjoyed the characters and the plot twists. After a re-read in 2024, this still held up well, even though the computer terminology is dated now.
So, Windrose-
I was somewhat lost between the repetitive descriptions (which, come to think of it, may have a big reason, since it was mainly about Antryg after all and from Joanna's POV but it still absolutely sent me) and slow start, I will say, but overall a fascinating book--I was definitely very interested in the 80s magic & technology conversations happening through the book since this ~is~ a portal fantasy and there is something very funny about a 26 year old Californian computer programmer explaining, well, computers and programs to a young soldier and a half-mad wizard but also cool in conjunction with magic (Antryg describing it as predictions of hope and belief in life (!!)) because that's the point of the book and Joanna's show more whole deal. Loved electricity as magic, too; that was truly neat. At least one of the twists did actually surprise me, but it was very much a slow build to that point, and the fantasy world's very much soft loose fantasy in a way almost reminiscent of McKillip, but I think that's just a particular genre of fantasy to my brain in general. I was confused for a fair bit bc of that but that's something that just happens w this genre. Also the whole abominations thing… wild. Liked the characters? ? ?? very intriguing in general methinks. Joanna and Antryg and Caris were great (and especially Antryg I have a fondness for whatever trope of character he is). The whole thing was pretty tropey, I'd say, but I am chalking that up to old style fantasy again and it wasn't necessarily that bad to me it just meant I was like ah yeah of course when certain things happened. um. I also just never rly know how to work with older adult fantasy but, like, I did enjoy this, mostly. The fricken HAVOC tshirt was funny tho show less
I was somewhat lost between the repetitive descriptions (which, come to think of it, may have a big reason, since it was mainly about Antryg after all and from Joanna's POV but it still absolutely sent me) and slow start, I will say, but overall a fascinating book--I was definitely very interested in the 80s magic & technology conversations happening through the book since this ~is~ a portal fantasy and there is something very funny about a 26 year old Californian computer programmer explaining, well, computers and programs to a young soldier and a half-mad wizard but also cool in conjunction with magic (Antryg describing it as predictions of hope and belief in life (!!)) because that's the point of the book and Joanna's show more whole deal. Loved electricity as magic, too; that was truly neat. At least one of the twists did actually surprise me, but it was very much a slow build to that point, and the fantasy world's very much soft loose fantasy in a way almost reminiscent of McKillip, but I think that's just a particular genre of fantasy to my brain in general. I was confused for a fair bit bc of that but that's something that just happens w this genre. Also the whole abominations thing… wild. Liked the characters? ? ?? very intriguing in general methinks. Joanna and Antryg and Caris were great (and especially Antryg I have a fondness for whatever trope of character he is). The whole thing was pretty tropey, I'd say, but I am chalking that up to old style fantasy again and it wasn't necessarily that bad to me it just meant I was like ah yeah of course when certain things happened. um. I also just never rly know how to work with older adult fantasy but, like, I did enjoy this, mostly. The fricken HAVOC tshirt was funny tho show less
I had read Dragon’s Bane by Barbara Hambly some time ago and enjoyed it. A number of reviews I read, however, warned that the sequels to that book were very grim. I therefore looked for other works by Hambly that I might try and that’s how I came across The Silent Tower.
This is a fantasy of the Alice-down-the-rabbit-hole variety, involving a character from our world who finds herself in another world where the rules are different. In this case it’s a world where there is magic that only a few people have the ability to wield. The authorities (the Church) have decreed that those few aren’t allowed to use magic in any way that affects the other, not-magically-talented, people, and have even tried to convince those people that show more magic doesn’t exist. The first makes sense from a public safety standpoint, but the second seemed to me a bit perverse. I enjoyed the story in spite of that to the extent that when it ended on a cliff edge I had to rush right out and get the sequel, The Silicon Mage. Really the two books are one story arbitrarily cut in half for easier packaging. (In fact, they are now often packaged together and I recommend buying them that way to avoid frustration.)
Overall I found the magical world detailed and compelling even if the politics felt a bit artificial. Hambly’s writing has a verbal richness and poesy that I enjoyed most of the time, although some readers might find it excessive. My only problem with her writing style is that she has a tendency to over-stuff her sentences. By this I mean interrupting a sentence to insert a subordinate element, set off by commas, that is so long and involved that I’ve lost track of where the original sentence was going by the time she returns us to it. This happened often enough to be distracting but not so often as to make me stop reading - in large part because Hambly is so good with characters. I loved the mad wizard Antryg, although anyone who has any familiarity with actual mental illness must realize that he is not, in fact, mad. He’s eccentric, often hilariously so, but definitely sane. I also enjoyed Joanna, as well as all the other lessor characters. The linking of the fantasy world with our world through the villain’s sinister agenda provided a gripping source of conflict. show less
This is a fantasy of the Alice-down-the-rabbit-hole variety, involving a character from our world who finds herself in another world where the rules are different. In this case it’s a world where there is magic that only a few people have the ability to wield. The authorities (the Church) have decreed that those few aren’t allowed to use magic in any way that affects the other, not-magically-talented, people, and have even tried to convince those people that show more magic doesn’t exist. The first makes sense from a public safety standpoint, but the second seemed to me a bit perverse. I enjoyed the story in spite of that to the extent that when it ended on a cliff edge I had to rush right out and get the sequel, The Silicon Mage. Really the two books are one story arbitrarily cut in half for easier packaging. (In fact, they are now often packaged together and I recommend buying them that way to avoid frustration.)
Overall I found the magical world detailed and compelling even if the politics felt a bit artificial. Hambly’s writing has a verbal richness and poesy that I enjoyed most of the time, although some readers might find it excessive. My only problem with her writing style is that she has a tendency to over-stuff her sentences. By this I mean interrupting a sentence to insert a subordinate element, set off by commas, that is so long and involved that I’ve lost track of where the original sentence was going by the time she returns us to it. This happened often enough to be distracting but not so often as to make me stop reading - in large part because Hambly is so good with characters. I loved the mad wizard Antryg, although anyone who has any familiarity with actual mental illness must realize that he is not, in fact, mad. He’s eccentric, often hilariously so, but definitely sane. I also enjoyed Joanna, as well as all the other lessor characters. The linking of the fantasy world with our world through the villain’s sinister agenda provided a gripping source of conflict. show less
For me, this book started off really slow. I was interested in the world presented, but it took me a long time to warm up to either the characters or the story. After a while, though, my interest picked up quite a bit.
The story is set in an alternate world where magic still exists, although its influence is starting to fade. Many people aren’t sure if magic is even real, and technology is become more prevalent. A programmer from our world is kidnapped and taken to this alternate world where she gets caught up in events there. It’s too difficult to explain what those events are without spoiling the story, so I’m not even going to try.
The book starts off focusing on a character who wasn’t terribly interesting to me. The focus show more eventually shifted over to a couple other characters who I found more interesting. The story was published in the 80’s and it does have a slightly dated feel, particularly in its occasional discussions of real-world technology, but not unpleasantly so. I did think it failed to be as twisty as the author seemed to want it to be, maybe just because it relied on tropes that have become familiar to me and so it was easier for me to predict certain things.Plus I found it impossible to buy into the idea that Antryg Windrose was the real villain when a four-book series is named after him.
The ending is a complete cliffhanger. Although most of the main questions are answered, nothing is resolved, and our main characters are in jeopardy. I liked this book well enough by the end that I’m going to continue on and read the next book, so I can find out what happens. show less
The story is set in an alternate world where magic still exists, although its influence is starting to fade. Many people aren’t sure if magic is even real, and technology is become more prevalent. A programmer from our world is kidnapped and taken to this alternate world where she gets caught up in events there. It’s too difficult to explain what those events are without spoiling the story, so I’m not even going to try.
The book starts off focusing on a character who wasn’t terribly interesting to me. The focus show more eventually shifted over to a couple other characters who I found more interesting. The story was published in the 80’s and it does have a slightly dated feel, particularly in its occasional discussions of real-world technology, but not unpleasantly so. I did think it failed to be as twisty as the author seemed to want it to be, maybe just because it relied on tropes that have become familiar to me and so it was easier for me to predict certain things.
The ending is a complete cliffhanger. Although most of the main questions are answered, nothing is resolved, and our main characters are in jeopardy. I liked this book well enough by the end that I’m going to continue on and read the next book, so I can find out what happens. show less
Upon finishing this book, I was angry. I did enjoy the novel, and I really liked the characters and enjoyed spending time with them. I appreciated, understood and empathized with Joanna and her fears and her purse. But, the writing wasn't great to me - my mind wandered a lot while I read - and I didn't find it difficult at all to step away from the world. So, while I enjoyed the novel, and would have rated it a solid 3 stars, I was not completely sure I wanted to read the next in the series as I have other books calling me and I just wasn't thrilled. I was, however, encouraged by others to pick up the next one - and told it would be worth it. And, indeed, it was. So much so, that it brought my rating of THIS book up a star.
As an aside, show more I find it fascinating how many novels of this era compare computer programming and magic.
The first half of this book is really a set up for the second half, so movement is slow. The movement picks up a bit when our three heroes meet up with each other and they begin their journey together. I have wondered if I wouldn't enjoy the story more if this book and the next were not simply one novel, but, in the end, I agree with the decision to separate them. They are, indeed, two journeys taken by the same characters.
All in all, I did enjoy this story. But, be prepared with the second if you want to totally appreciate the book. show less
As an aside, show more I find it fascinating how many novels of this era compare computer programming and magic.
The first half of this book is really a set up for the second half, so movement is slow. The movement picks up a bit when our three heroes meet up with each other and they begin their journey together. I have wondered if I wouldn't enjoy the story more if this book and the next were not simply one novel, but, in the end, I agree with the decision to separate them. They are, indeed, two journeys taken by the same characters.
All in all, I did enjoy this story. But, be prepared with the second if you want to totally appreciate the book. show less
I really wanted to like this book more. The concept was intriguing and the characters were interesting. But the book has a whole was just too slow. I struggled to get through it as chapter after chapter nothing really happened. There was a lot of repetition which is something I hate and I almost dropped the book without bothering to finish it.
After around halfway though the book started improving and finally started moving forward. But it was too little, too late. By the time the good bits rolled around the book was over. And with such a long, long setup it doesn't make me want to try the sequel at all. I think the two books could have been condensed into one much better story.
A shame as I was looking forward to reading it. The idea and show more the characters were good but the execution left a lot to be desired. Can't recommend it unless you have nothing else to read. show less
After around halfway though the book started improving and finally started moving forward. But it was too little, too late. By the time the good bits rolled around the book was over. And with such a long, long setup it doesn't make me want to try the sequel at all. I think the two books could have been condensed into one much better story.
A shame as I was looking forward to reading it. The idea and show more the characters were good but the execution left a lot to be desired. Can't recommend it unless you have nothing else to read. show less
Substance: The conceit of mixing a magic-fantasy-world and our own contemporary-technological world was interesting, but the underlying rationale has major flaws.
I might read the sequel, just to kill time.
Style: Generally I like Hambly's work. This particular book, however, is so full of inconsistencies, incongruities, infelicities, and out-right plot-holes it resembled a piece of Swiss cheese. The characters were okay, but superficial.
I might read the sequel, just to kill time.
Style: Generally I like Hambly's work. This particular book, however, is so full of inconsistencies, incongruities, infelicities, and out-right plot-holes it resembled a piece of Swiss cheese. The characters were okay, but superficial.
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Bastei Science Fiction Fantasy (20239)
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- Canonical title
- The Silent Tower
- Original title
- The Silent Tower
- Original publication date
- 1986-12
- People/Characters
- Issay Bel-Caire (the Silent); Stonne Caris; Prince Cerdic; Digby Clayton; Elfwith; Gary Fairchild (show all 22); Herthe (Bishop); Emperor Hieraldus; Kanner; Lady Rosamund Kentacre; Magister Magus; Minhyrdin the Fair (Aunt Min); Nandiharrow the Nine-Fingered (the Clockmaker, Tick-Tock); Sergius Peelbone (Witchfinder Extraordinary); Pharos (the Prince Regent); Joanna Sheraton; Whitwell Simm; Narwahl Skipfrag (Royal Physician to the Emperor); Salteris Solaris (the Archmage); Suraklin (the Dark Mage); Thirle; Antryg Windrose
- Important places
- Los Angeles, California, USA; Angelshand, Empire of Ferryth; Kymil, Empire of Ferryth; the Silent Tower; Suraklin's Citadel
- Dedication
- To the memory of Judy-Lynn
- First words
- "Has the Archmage returned?"
- Quotations
- You are twenty-six years old, she told herself sharply. The odds against your meeting the boogieman in the corridors of the San Serano Bomb and Novelty Shop are astronomical.
'Funny,' he said, 'if you're a mage, they always ask you to read the future, as if knowing it will help. I think three-fourths of all prayers prayed are for two and two not to equal four.'
'No matter what the muffins are like for breakfast, I shall have to lie and say I liked them. Such a cook ought never to be flogged more often than is necessary, as the Prince says, to keep him smart.' - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Behind her, the printer chattered to itself in the darkness.
- Original language
- English
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