The Tangled Lands by Tobias S. Buckell and Paolo Bacigalupi is a collection of interconnected stories set in a magical land where the use of magic comes at a high cost, leading to societal destruction. The book explores themes of ruined fortunes, broken lives, and the struggles of refugees in a world plagued by a deadly plant curse. The stories are immersive, involving, and feature sharp characterizations, with a fast-paced plot that keeps readers engaged.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book includes themes of death, abandonment, and refugees, which may be suitable for readers prepared for darker subjects.
From The Publisher:
WINNER OF THE WORLD FANTASY AWARD FOR BEST COLLECTION
From award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias Buckell comes a fantasy novel told in four parts about a land crippled by the use of magic, and a tyrant who is trying to rebuild an empire-unless the people find a way to resist.
Khaim, The Blue City, is the last remaining city in a crumbled empire that overly relied upon magic until it became toxic. It is run by a tyrant known as The Jolly Mayor and his devious right hand, the last archmage in the world. Together they try to collect all the magic for themselves so they can control the citizens of the city. But when their decadence reaches new heights and begins to destroy the environment, the people stage an uprising to stop them.
In four interrelated parts, The Tangled Lands is an evocative and epic story of resistance and heroic sacrifice in the twisted remains surrounding the last great city of Khaim. Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias Buckell have created a fantasy for our times about a decadent and rotting empire facing environmental collapse from within-and yet hope emerges from unlikely places with women warriors and alchemical solutions.
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1 comment(s)
well that was depressing!
taking chapters in turn, bacigalupi and buckell tell the story of a world where every act of magic has a physical ramification
for every spell cast, a piece of bramble grows, a plant that is almost unkillable
whole cities destroy themselves by thinking their bits of magic are justified, the risk is worth it to heal this sickness, to tighten this joint, to do whatever it is the magic-doer needs done
there's a little bit of a climate-change parallel there, with refugees from cities overcome by bramble living in slums outside cities that have found a way to cope
there's no overarching plot to the stories, and no definitive ending
it's more of a meditation on how and why we choose to live in certain ways, knowing what the consequences will be
What can you read after
The Tangled Lands?
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