Good things come in threes
[Books]
By Daphne Lee
STARTING today, Kinokuniya Book Store will launch Tri-lurgy, a month-long celebration of the trilogy. Throughout November, readers may purchase the second and third books of each set at 25% off the retail price. (To qualify, one needs to buy the first book at the normal price. See below for further discounts.)
The best thing about trilogies, I feel, is that, after you’ve read and enjoyed one book, there are still two to look forward to. One of my favourite trilogies is Philip Pulman’s His Dark Materials, which, I’m happy to say, is included in Kinokuniya’s promotion. Sadly, another favourite, Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast Trilogy, has been left out. Maybe next time...
The Lord of the Rings is here too, never mind that it’s not actually a trilogy, but a single work published in three volumes. In fact, J.R.R. Tolkien divided the book into six books and five appendices! However, it’s pretty hard these days to find a single-volume edition of this title.
To give you an idea of what the 10 selected trilogies are all about, here are synopses:
THE LORD OF THE RINGS
By J. R. R. Tolkien
Publisher: Collins
The books: Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
THANKS to the movies, most people know what these books are about. Of course, if you’ve actually read LOTR, you will know that Tolkien never describes Arwen writhing on her bed while she dreams about her beloved. Indeed, her relationship with Aragon is barely mentioned in the book. And no, she does not save Frodo from the Ringwraiths.
If you have, somehow, managed to go through life without the slightest idea of what LOTR is about, in a nutshell: Frodo Baggins has to destroy a magic ring before it falls into the hands of evil forces.
THE EAGLE OF THE NINTH TRILOGY
By Rosemary Sutcliff
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
The books: The Eagle of the Ninth, The Silver Branch and The Lantern Bearers.
THIS trilogy, set in Roman Britain, charts the life of a young officer, Marcus Flavius, and his descendants, from the peak of Rome’s influence in Britain to the fall of the great empire.
HIS DARK MATERIALS TRILOGY
By Philip Pullman
Publisher: Yearling
The books: The Golden Compass (aka Northern Lights), The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.
THIS trilogy has been described as a reworking of the Christian creation myth, and the story of man’s fall from grace. Ignore the references to William Blake and John Milton’s Paradise Lost and you’ll find a spell-binding tale of a young girl and boy’s search for the truth in confusing and perilous multi-verse.
THE SURYA TRILOGY
By Jamila Gavin
Publisher: Egmont Books
The books: The Wheel of Surya, The Eye of the Horse and The Track of the Wind.
A Punjabi family is torn apart as a result of civil war. Jaspal and Mavinder, separated from their mother, journey to England in search of their father and have to cope in a new and hostile environment. But time brings an unexpected change of heart and, when the family are finally reunited in India, some of its members find that their loyalties are divided and their priorities have changed.
THE SNOW SPIDER TRILOGY
By Jenny Nimmo
Publisher: Egmont Books
The books: The Snow Spider, Emlyn’s Moon and The Chestnut Soldier.
THE magic and mystery of the Welsh countryside is brought vividly to life in this trilogy, which deals with loss, guilt and self-discovery. Gwyn must come to terms with his sister’s disappearance, as well as the knowledge that he might be a magician.
THE WIND ON FIRE TRILOGY
By William Nicholson
Publisher: Mammoth Books
The books: The Wind Singer, Slaves of Mastery and Firesong.
THE people of Aramanth are ruled by Morah, an evil spirit lord, and the Zar, an army of blood-thirsty zombies. Once a peaceful city, Aramanth is now subject to a cruel caste system determined by an endless series of academic tests. Kestrel, daughter of a prophet, rebels against this system and, with her twin brother, escapes and goes in search of the Wind Singer, a legendary instrument that can supposedly restore peace and happiness to the Manths.
THE ARTHUR TRILOGY
By Kevin Crossley-Holland
Publisher: Orion Books
The books: The Seeing Stone, At the Crossing-Places and King of the Middle March.
ARTHUR is the son of a medieval English knight. His dearest wish is to be a squire and, when he finally gets his heart’s desire, he is obliged to leave his family in order to accompany his master to the Crusades. Arthur is given a magical “seeing stone” which shows him episodes in King Arthur’s life.
These episodes either mirror events in his own life or else hint at what is to come, and so King Arthur acts as both an inspiration and a guide for the boy. This trilogy is written in the form of a journal, which gives the descriptions of life in the middle ages a realistic and personal touch.
THE OLD KINGDOM TRILOGY
By Garth Nix
Publisher: Harper Trophy
The books: Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen
THE Old Kingdom is a land ruled by the Charter, a magical rule book that has dominion over all things living and dead. In this land, the living may cross into the land of the dead, and vice versa. Necromancers take advantage of this situation, making use of the newly dead, as well as ancient evil spirits, to create unrest.
It is up to the Abhorsen to keep the spiritual peace and health of the land. This trilogy describes a period of particular turmoil and how it affects the Old Kingdom as well as the lives of various individuals whose fate is to fight the rising tide of evil.
THE OUTLANDS TRILOGY
By Jackie French
Publisher: Harper Collins
The books: In the Blood, Blood Moon and Flesh and Blood.
THE Outlands comprise a series of virtual societies, a complex of Utopias created by linked minds. This futuristic world is populated by genetically modified humans and animals, including Danielle, a virtual engineer with a knack for solving mysteries. Vampires, werewolves and zombies are all part of the landscape in this trilogy, making it one dark and bloody sci-fi adventure.
THE BROMELIAD TRILOGY
By Terry Pratchett
Publisher: Harper Trophy
The books: Truckers, Diggers and Wings.
THE nomes are tiny creatures who live under the floorboards of a department store and have no knowledge of the outside world. When the store is demolished the little people embark on a journey of survival that they hope will take them back to their true homeland in the stars.
Daphne Lee was a cheerful three-year-old before she became a grumpy old lady whose idea of heaven is curling up in bed with a good book, her husband, their two sons and a plateful of sausage rolls. You can e-mail her at daphne@thestar.com.my and check out her blog at daphne.blogs.com/books
For a 25% discount on Fellowship of the Ring (ISBN: 000712970X); The Golden Compass (0440418321); The Eagle of the Ninth (0374419302); Wheel of Surya (0749747447); The Snow Spider (1405211385); The Wind Singer (0749744715); The Seeing Stone (0752844296); Sabriel (0064471837); In the Blood (0207197792); and Truckers (0060094966), present this page at the cash register when you buy the book/s at the Kinokuniya Bookstore in Suria KLCC. This offer is valid (while stocks last) until Nov 13.
By Daphne Lee
STARTING today, Kinokuniya Book Store will launch Tri-lurgy, a month-long celebration of the trilogy. Throughout November, readers may purchase the second and third books of each set at 25% off the retail price. (To qualify, one needs to buy the first book at the normal price. See below for further discounts.)
The best thing about trilogies, I feel, is that, after you’ve read and enjoyed one book, there are still two to look forward to. One of my favourite trilogies is Philip Pulman’s His Dark Materials, which, I’m happy to say, is included in Kinokuniya’s promotion. Sadly, another favourite, Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast Trilogy, has been left out. Maybe next time...
The Lord of the Rings is here too, never mind that it’s not actually a trilogy, but a single work published in three volumes. In fact, J.R.R. Tolkien divided the book into six books and five appendices! However, it’s pretty hard these days to find a single-volume edition of this title.
To give you an idea of what the 10 selected trilogies are all about, here are synopses:
THE LORD OF THE RINGS
By J. R. R. Tolkien
Publisher: Collins
The books: Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
THANKS to the movies, most people know what these books are about. Of course, if you’ve actually read LOTR, you will know that Tolkien never describes Arwen writhing on her bed while she dreams about her beloved. Indeed, her relationship with Aragon is barely mentioned in the book. And no, she does not save Frodo from the Ringwraiths.
If you have, somehow, managed to go through life without the slightest idea of what LOTR is about, in a nutshell: Frodo Baggins has to destroy a magic ring before it falls into the hands of evil forces.
THE EAGLE OF THE NINTH TRILOGY
By Rosemary Sutcliff
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
The books: The Eagle of the Ninth, The Silver Branch and The Lantern Bearers.
THIS trilogy, set in Roman Britain, charts the life of a young officer, Marcus Flavius, and his descendants, from the peak of Rome’s influence in Britain to the fall of the great empire.
HIS DARK MATERIALS TRILOGY
By Philip Pullman
Publisher: Yearling
The books: The Golden Compass (aka Northern Lights), The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.
THIS trilogy has been described as a reworking of the Christian creation myth, and the story of man’s fall from grace. Ignore the references to William Blake and John Milton’s Paradise Lost and you’ll find a spell-binding tale of a young girl and boy’s search for the truth in confusing and perilous multi-verse.
THE SURYA TRILOGY
By Jamila Gavin
Publisher: Egmont Books
The books: The Wheel of Surya, The Eye of the Horse and The Track of the Wind.
A Punjabi family is torn apart as a result of civil war. Jaspal and Mavinder, separated from their mother, journey to England in search of their father and have to cope in a new and hostile environment. But time brings an unexpected change of heart and, when the family are finally reunited in India, some of its members find that their loyalties are divided and their priorities have changed.
THE SNOW SPIDER TRILOGY
By Jenny Nimmo
Publisher: Egmont Books
The books: The Snow Spider, Emlyn’s Moon and The Chestnut Soldier.
THE magic and mystery of the Welsh countryside is brought vividly to life in this trilogy, which deals with loss, guilt and self-discovery. Gwyn must come to terms with his sister’s disappearance, as well as the knowledge that he might be a magician.
THE WIND ON FIRE TRILOGY
By William Nicholson
Publisher: Mammoth Books
The books: The Wind Singer, Slaves of Mastery and Firesong.
THE people of Aramanth are ruled by Morah, an evil spirit lord, and the Zar, an army of blood-thirsty zombies. Once a peaceful city, Aramanth is now subject to a cruel caste system determined by an endless series of academic tests. Kestrel, daughter of a prophet, rebels against this system and, with her twin brother, escapes and goes in search of the Wind Singer, a legendary instrument that can supposedly restore peace and happiness to the Manths.
THE ARTHUR TRILOGY
By Kevin Crossley-Holland
Publisher: Orion Books
The books: The Seeing Stone, At the Crossing-Places and King of the Middle March.
ARTHUR is the son of a medieval English knight. His dearest wish is to be a squire and, when he finally gets his heart’s desire, he is obliged to leave his family in order to accompany his master to the Crusades. Arthur is given a magical “seeing stone” which shows him episodes in King Arthur’s life.
These episodes either mirror events in his own life or else hint at what is to come, and so King Arthur acts as both an inspiration and a guide for the boy. This trilogy is written in the form of a journal, which gives the descriptions of life in the middle ages a realistic and personal touch.
THE OLD KINGDOM TRILOGY
By Garth Nix
Publisher: Harper Trophy
The books: Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen
THE Old Kingdom is a land ruled by the Charter, a magical rule book that has dominion over all things living and dead. In this land, the living may cross into the land of the dead, and vice versa. Necromancers take advantage of this situation, making use of the newly dead, as well as ancient evil spirits, to create unrest.
It is up to the Abhorsen to keep the spiritual peace and health of the land. This trilogy describes a period of particular turmoil and how it affects the Old Kingdom as well as the lives of various individuals whose fate is to fight the rising tide of evil.
THE OUTLANDS TRILOGY
By Jackie French
Publisher: Harper Collins
The books: In the Blood, Blood Moon and Flesh and Blood.
THE Outlands comprise a series of virtual societies, a complex of Utopias created by linked minds. This futuristic world is populated by genetically modified humans and animals, including Danielle, a virtual engineer with a knack for solving mysteries. Vampires, werewolves and zombies are all part of the landscape in this trilogy, making it one dark and bloody sci-fi adventure.
THE BROMELIAD TRILOGY
By Terry Pratchett
Publisher: Harper Trophy
The books: Truckers, Diggers and Wings.
THE nomes are tiny creatures who live under the floorboards of a department store and have no knowledge of the outside world. When the store is demolished the little people embark on a journey of survival that they hope will take them back to their true homeland in the stars.
Daphne Lee was a cheerful three-year-old before she became a grumpy old lady whose idea of heaven is curling up in bed with a good book, her husband, their two sons and a plateful of sausage rolls. You can e-mail her at daphne@thestar.com.my and check out her blog at daphne.blogs.com/books
For a 25% discount on Fellowship of the Ring (ISBN: 000712970X); The Golden Compass (0440418321); The Eagle of the Ninth (0374419302); Wheel of Surya (0749747447); The Snow Spider (1405211385); The Wind Singer (0749744715); The Seeing Stone (0752844296); Sabriel (0064471837); In the Blood (0207197792); and Truckers (0060094966), present this page at the cash register when you buy the book/s at the Kinokuniya Bookstore in Suria KLCC. This offer is valid (while stocks last) until Nov 13.
posted by 9T9 at
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