The Elementals

By Morgan Llywelyn

Book Overview

Morgan Llywelyn, internationally acclaimed author of "1916 and Lion of Ireland, returns with a powerful fantasy saga that sweeps from the dawn of history to our own near future. It is the story of Earth and her elements, and of the men and women whose fate lies in her hands. . . . Water. The ice caps melt, the seas rise, and Kesair, a woman of Atlantis, leads a handful of survivors on a desperate search for land - and a new beginning. Fire. All the world centers around the empire of Crete, where Meriones, a humble musician, performs before the mighty in their palaces. Until the land shakes, the volcano speaks with a voice of fire, and Meriones finds his life changed forever. Earth. Old beyond imagining, the Earth knows neither hate nor pity. And from Annie Murphy, a strong-willed New England housewife, it demands a sacrifice both unexpected and irrevocable. Air. The ozone dwindles, and the forests dies, a new plague walks the world. And on a day just after tomorrow, thousands of years after Kesair's struggle, another small party of survivors, led by George Burningfeather, comes together on a desolate Indian reservation. As the ice melts and the sea rises once more, they fight one last battle for the Earth - for mankind and hope. "The Elementals is the epic, ongoing tale of humanity's turbulent relationship with the Earth - as only Morgan Llywelyn could tell it.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312855680
• ISBN13: 9780312855680
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 303 Pages
• Weight: 1.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Environmental fantasy

What can I say that the other reviews have not? Entertaining,well written, thought provoking, and quite pertinent to this day and age. Read it, enjoy it, and think about it.

I read this whole book within 12 hours!

This book was one of three books we studied in my English Lit II class. I read the whole book in one day, and it was a great book. The Elementals combines classic myths with great fictional storytelling. The first two parts are fantastic, especially the second about the destruction of the island of Thebes, which is one of the islands belived to be the real Atlantis. The final story was a tough one for me to read, because it portrays a very disturbing end to the human race, but the book ends with a strong hope for redemption. A tremendous effort by one of the leading Celtic writers of our time.

A very powerful book with 4 stories making up the whole.

This is not a book for light reading. It has 4 stories involving 4 elements of earth. Each elemental story has a central character descended from the first, each element involves a powerful story of nature. A very good read that affected me and how I perceive what we're doing to our world, which, I believe, was the authors point.

Want chills? Read this, then watch the natl weather forecast

This book initially seems to begin as a series of rather odd short stories, until the author sneaks up behind you like a thief, stealing your breath and your heart, and you find your jaw was left on the ground about a mile back. I've never been an environmental fanatic, but upon closing this book I immediately went and threw out my aerosol hairspray cans. Well worth reading, and VERY well worth reading a second time!

One with our Earth Mother

At first it was a mystery, as to where you are being taken. As you read further and further you start get the feeling and then the connection to Mother Earth, which starts to pervade you thoughts and with the final chapter you suddenly are in awe of what Morgan has created. An equal to creation stories in the Bible but much easier to read. Fascinating and exciting and very, very well done.

Captivating from beginning to end.. to beginning.

Simply a masterpiece. What initially looks like a collection of short stories becomes a single masterful piece which brings the elements to life and leaves the reader with a sense of awe. Nobody could have done it better!