The Forgotten Beasts of Eld

Beautiful, moving and written with a gentle and penetrating insight that glows with meaning rather than calling out its wisdom in a shrill voice. The Forgotten Beasts of Eld has a languid and mystical tone and some of the best characters in fantasy literature, and manages the singular accomplishment of making its heroes look like villains and its villains look almost heroic. In fact, every character in this book is perfectly human, and that's not an easy feat in a genre so stuffed with well-worn cliches. Magical, unforgettable, and truly a wonder to read. "The giant Grof was hit in one eye by a stone..."

This novel is great, because it has a protagonist who isn't always honest, or pure, or even nice. It's refreshing, and great, because Sybel is someone who, even with so many faults, eventually figures out that what's important in life is what's unselfish, and ultimately decides to live that way. What a message for all of us to follow!
I like the way McKillip writes, how she can reveal and describe so much with only a few words. Stream of consciousness elements work really well in this novel too. She manages to bring you into the depths of the characters' souls, which is helpful because most of the characters are animals :). Anyway, very enjoyable book, touching and thought-provoking. I highly recommend.

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld is a neglected classic of the fantasy genre. McKillip tells the story of Sybil and Coren in a setting which is beautifully realized without detracting from the developing relationships between the characters, which is what the novel is really all about. The Forgotten Beasts of Eld is refreshingy different in that the fate of the imagined world is not what is really at stake, but rather the personal realtionships of a sorceress, a nobleman and a lost prince. The Boar, Cyrin, is also one of the most memorable characters I have encountered in twenty years of reading fantasy fiction.

My grandmother is an old Hungarian woman with a number tattood onto her arm. When I was little I spent a lot of time at her house. I have never watched much TV, it bores and annoys me for the most part. My grandmother's house smelled comforting, and the basement was full of old things, old clothes, old string and yarn and buttons and bits of fabric, and even a few old books. I'd scour her house for books to feed my addiction, I loved (and still love) the smell of old books. Once upon a time and long, long ago I found a copy of The Forgotten Beasts of Eld. It still sends shivers down my spine whenever I re-read it. I loved it, then. It was sacred to me, it shaped who I am... true books you read when very young tend to do that. And then I lost it, and grew up, and the buttons and string are old and dusty, and my grandmother's house is visited less and less often. Years later I vaguely remembered the book, recalled bits and pieces and the feeling that finding it and reading it was Most Important. I couldn't even remember the title or the author. I hunted through her house, and through mine, and could not find it. My grandmother and parents didn't know what I was talking about it. It was out of print for quite a while, I believe. I scoured all the old used bookstores of New York City, and found nothing. Until one of my many trips to Strand, when I went to the fantasy/science fiction section, and the first title to hit my eye was the right one. Absolute child-like wonder. I paid for it and took it home in a sort of daze, and read it, and it was as important and true and beautiful as I remembered. It's still the book I read quietly aloud when the real world is too... well, too real for me to deal with. The only other book this has happened to me with was The Golden Key by George MacDonald. It just took me so long to figure out which books I was half-remembering, and whether or not I had merely dreamed them. ::small smile:: I just had to share that with you. I think you might understand.

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld is classed as a young adult novel - inasmuch as its writing may not strain the vocabulary like Donaldson can, or invite scholastic deconstruction like Papa Tolkien's world building, this can certainly apply. It is, however, a book which can be readily enjoyed by a broad audience - and strikes at our understanding of our own humanity with wyrd precision.
The book is written with the dreamily ethereal yet gripping style for which I appreciate McKillip's authorship: setting the book down is like waking up. Her characters are heroically human - which is to say, she expresses through tone and atmosphere a cast of persons who could easily ride from her fantasy to the court of Helfdene (of Beowulf) and be accepted. The sorcery of Eld dwells in the realm of the mind and our understanding of Self, and how this can be abrogated to another. Indeed, through her sorcery and the pale sorceress who wields it, McKillip's dream leads us not just through a compelling and delicious tale, but a solemn look at what drives us.
It has been my favourite stand-alone novel for many years now. My battered and bruised copy has survived housefires, burglaries, countless moves and far more numerous re-readings. When asked for just one (!) story I'd refer another person to read, this is it.
'The giant Grol was struck once in the eye by a stone, so that it turned and looked into his mind, and he died of what he saw there.'

I had to read this for my english college course, and I'll admit it was a pretty interesting book. It has all the elements of a great fantasy novel like love, powers, sorcery, fear and hate. Relatively short read(finished in about 2 days), but still manages to tell a great story and provides an interesting look on elements of war through someone living in isolation with great powers. Overall, this is a good book for any fan of fantasy reading.

This is a great book, combining mystical/magical animals with the all-too-human struggles and politics. The link between the 2 worlds is Sybil, a powerful wizard who, when a baby is brought to her, learns that dealing with humans can require a stronger will than dealing with powerful and dangerous animals.
If you've ever dreamed of dragons and magic or wondered about the potential costs associated with pursuing dreams, this book will be right up your alley.

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld is about Sybel who lives all alone except with the company of her creatures which she has called. Until Coren brings her Tamlorn. So she raises Tamlorn, and loves him, but then Coren comes back and wants Tamlorn back. Then Sybel thinks she loves Coren, and then she uses Coren.....
I never liked Sybel. Coren was too good for her, and she just tricked him, and then when she finally decided she wanted him, he forgave her. This book was depressing for me to read. It did end on a happy note, but it isn't good enough for me to read it again.

While McKillip tends to look down on this book and the Riddle-Master trilogy as being inferior to her later works, I disagree. True, she lacks the mastery of prose and beautiful evocation that she displays in her later works. However, this story is a moving and insightful story of a woman (and a man) who each lose themselves, then come to find themselves more deeply and become more than they ever were. A beautiful analogy of fear and love, and how they, and our choices, can shape a person. Truly a classic that is much deeper than it appears, and that I have read and re-read many times.

I really enjoyed this book. The story had a little bit of everything... romance, fighting, fantasy, love, hatred, pride. In comparison with other fantasy novels I read, it is not the best or even on my top ten. Even though I enjoyed it, I doubt I'll ever have the want to read it again. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves fantasy with a touch of romance.

I picked this book up entirely by accident. When I was done, I had to buy it. I love all of Patricia A. McKillip's books, but this one was different. She created a new and exciting plot, adding the different animals. The characters were well developed. This was an over-all great book. It had a satisfying ending. It kept me reading!

I'm pleasantly surprised to find this book in print. I read it over and over again when I was young (and when it was marketed for adults). It's a strong, exciting story and well marked for a young audience. It's a good book to have in the inbetween years. It made me feel like an adult without compromising my childhood.

I love this book. I usually dislike McKillip because her writing is descriptive to the point of being distracting and unclear. This book, however, was much more clearly written than her usual, with a much better plot. Sybel was not exactly sympathetic, but I was strongly attracted to her. Despite the well-worn plotline of the "ice queen", this book never became cliche or corny. It is best offering of McKillip that I have read so far.

I loved the book. I enjoyed the tantalyzing peeks I got inside the animal minds the most. I have probably loaned or given away 2 dozen copies to friends. Those who read it enjoyed it.
My take on the theme of the book is that revenge leads to hate, which damages the souls ability to be fearless. Hate seems to lead to other evils as well such as dishonesty.
I would recommend reading this book whenever you have a taste for something light and sweet.

Brilliant and lyrical. The opening scene is merely a recitation of lineage, and it is one of the most poetic things I have ever read. The text almost has that Old Testament power. This book is poetry for people who can't stand poetry (like me!).

I really enjoyed The Forgotten Beasts of Eld. Sybel was a very interesting character, and her gradual claim of emotion kept me reading. The history of Eld mountain and the mystical beasts Sybel kept there are very detailed and beautiful. I suggest this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy.

Even though listed as "young adult," I read this book for the first time in elementary school (ok, I was precocious). It is one of my personal all-time classics. I think I must have borrowed it from the library about thirteen times during my childhood and adolescence. I've often considered going back and rereading it as an adult. Don't know how it reads for an adult, but I highly recommend it for teens and precocious younger children.

I would definitely recommend this book for ages 10 to adult. If you like magic, wizards, and strange creatures this is definitely a book for you. I loved this book and it's up on my top 5 list. The worst part about this book is there isn't a sequel!

Patricia McKillip is in many ways a wonderful author and every bit as good as recent bestselling authors like Robert Stanek and JK Rowling. If you are intrigued by mystical and magical books this book is for you. In this wonderful book 16-year old Sybel must return to the world of men and care for a strangers baby.

A wonderful book. Full of as much magic and love as the woman who showed it to me. A good book to curl up with on those cold college nights when your roomate is blasting annoying music. Or pretty much any time, really.

The preface, written by Gail Carriger, a writer of steampunk paranormal romances, tells us that "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld" is her perfect desert island book. My stomach is not strong enough for this much treacle.

I received a review copy of "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld" by Patricia A. McKillip (Tachyon) through NetGalley.com. It was first published in 1974 by Atheneum.

A wonderful book. Full of as much magic and love as the woman who showed it to me. A good book to curl up with on those cold college nights when your roomate is blasting annoying music. Or pretty much any time, really.

I would definitely recommend this book for ages 10 to adult. If you like magic, wizards, and strange creatures this is definitely a book for you. I loved this book and it's up on my top 5 list. The worst part about this book is there isn't a sequel!

The preface, written by Gail Carriger, a writer of steampunk paranormal romances, tells us that "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld" is her perfect desert island book. My stomach is not strong enough for this much treacle.

I received a review copy of "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld" by Patricia A. McKillip (Tachyon) through NetGalley.com. It was first published in 1974 by Atheneum.

She entertwines the harsh and the gentle with grace. Forgotten creatures found through a maze so common in real life.I have read all her books, and though this is not one of my most favored, she still manages to sweep me away with the emotions of the charecters, and the magic displayed once again. Well worth the read.