Welcome to the Edge
The Deepwoods, the Stone Gardens, the Edgewater River. Undertown and Sanctaphrax. Names on a map.
Yet behind each name lie a thousand tales - tales that have been recorded in ancient scrolls, tales that have been passed down the generations by word of mouth - tales which even now are being told.
What follows is but one of those tales.
Edge Chronicles: My review
Weird creatures, daring adventures, flying rocks, floating trees. Viscous goblins, courageous pirates, wise librarians and devious shrikes. The world created by Paul Riddell is filled with imaginative creations and thrilling plots. Join his young heroes - first Twig, then Quint and finally Rook - as they fight the various evils that threaten the Edge.
These books are filled with adventure, but also touch on themes of loyalty (worthy and misplaced), father-son relationships, bravery and friendship. Our characters must choose sides, deciding for themselves who to trust and who to be wary of. Their choices are sometimes simple, but many times, evil wears a clever disguise.
The first three books for the series chronicle Twig's story - from Deepwoods foundling to dashing sky pirate. Twig has been raised by woodtrolls, but strikes out on his own to discover his true destiny when he does the unthinkable (for a woodtroll) - he strays from the path. In the course of the three books, this takes him to the sky's aboard Cloud Wolff's ship, out over the Edge in a quest to save his father and to the source of all life.
In the fourth book, we head back in time to meet Quint and Maris living on Sanctaphrax. A great evil has been unleashed in the center of the sacred rock, and it's up to the pair to figure out how to stop it and save the city.
Books five takes us forward in time to meet Rook Barkwater, a lowly under-librarian among the earth scholars living in the sewers below Undertown. He's chosen to become a Knight-Librarian, beginning a series of adventures that continue through book seven when the librarians and most of Undertown are forced to leave their homes ahead of a destructive force that destroys most of their goblin and shrike enemies. Dangers still lie ahead as they strive to reach a new home in the Free Glades.
We come back to Quint and Maris in book eight, where the city is under siege of a never ending blizzard brought on by the evil battled in book four. Quint has been accepted into the Knights Academy and must now test his courage by sailing out over the Edge to stop the freezing weather and save Sanctaphrax. That complete, they join Quint's father Wind Jackal in Book nine aboard ship for adventures from the Edge to the Deepwoods.
Edge Chronicles: Book 1 - Beyond the Deep Woods
Edge Chronicles 1: Beyond the Deepwoods (Edge Chronicles, The)
Amazon Price: $10.15 (as of 10/06/2008)
Paul & Chris Talk About Writing The Edge Chronicles
Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell: The Edge Chronicles
Authors Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell discuss their series, The Edge Chronicles, and how they work together to write about Twig's adventures. This production is part of Random House Childrens Books: Classroom Cast.
Runtime: 4:16
575 views
10 Comments:
Edge Chronicles: Setting
Welcome to the Edge
Edgewater River
A great stone torrent once poured over this overhanging lip of rock. The river here is broad and swollen, and roars as it hurls itself down into the misty, swirling void below, yet the origins of the Edgewater River could scarcely be humbler. Its sources lie far inland, high up in the dark and forbidding Deepwoods.
Deepwoods
Dark and deeply mysterious, the Deepwoods is a harsh and perilous place for those who call it home. And there are many who do.
Edgelands
Where the clouds descend there lie the Edgelands, a barren wasteland of swirling mists, spirits and nightmares. Those who lose themselves in the Edgelands face one of two possible fates. The lucky ones will stumble blindly to the cliff edge and plunge to their deaths. The unlucky ones will find themselves in the Twilight Woods.
Twilight Woods
The Twilight Woods are enchanting, but they are also treacherous. The atmosphere there is heady, intoxicating. Those who breathe it for too long forget the reason they ever came to the Twilight Woods, like the lost knights on forbidden quests who would give up on life - if only life would give up on them.
The Mire
The Mire is at the lower reaches of the Twilight Woods. It is a stinking polluted place, rank with the slurry from the factories and foundries of Undertown, which have pumped and dumped their waste so long that the land is dead.
Undertown
Those who do make their way across the Mire find themselves in a warren of ramshackle hovels and run-down slums, which straddles the oozing Edgewater River. This is Undertown.
Sanctaphrax
At the centre of Undertown is a great iron ring, to which a long and heavy chain - now taut, now slack - extends into the sky. Upon it, the magnificent city of Sanctaphrax has been constructed.
Stone Gardens
Sanctaphrax is a great floating rock. Like all the other buoyant rocks on The Edge, it started out in the Stone Gardens. The chain was attached when the rock became large and light enough to float up into the sky. All buoyant rocks of The Edge grow in the Stone Gardens. If left, the rocks would eventually break free and sail upwards into the open sky. However, the White Ravens tend the Stone Gardens - they monitor the growth of the rocks and signal to the academics of Sanctaphrax when each rock harvest should begin.
Edge Chronicles: Book 2 - Stormchaser
Stormchaser (The Edge Chronicles, No. 2)
Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 10/06/2008)
Edge Chronicles: Book 3 - Midnight Over Sanctaphrax
Edge Chronicles 3: Midnight Over Sanctaphrax (Edge Chronicles, The)
Amazon Price: $10.15 (as of 10/06/2008)
Edge Chronicles: Supporting Cast
Shrykes
Shrieky, viscious, war-like, sneaky. This female-dominated bird species is involved in the lowest of commerce with the slave markets and double-crosses anyone they deal with. Advantages are their single-minded focus on domination and immunity to the effects of the Twighlight Woods.
Goblins
There are several different types of goblins and in recent years they've managed to overcome some of their differences to band together as the Goblin Nations. Quick to take offense, spoiling for a fight, you want them on your side if you can get them.
Guardians of the Night
A segment of the academics who took a turn to the dark side under an insane leader. They drove the best of the earth and sky scholars underground and are looking to rule more than just Sanctaphrax.
Librarians
Evolved from the sky scholars and earth scholars, the librarians are the keepers of the scrolls that document all that is known about the Edge. In later years, they are the protectors of the Freeglade as well as information.
Earth Scholars and Sky Scholars
Long before our chronicles start, there were two general schools of knowledge represented in the academies of Sanctaphrax. Over time, there was a movement to ban the Earth Scholars and all their knowledge as being dangerous and heretical. The Sky scholars ruled Sanctaphrax for years until the Guardians of the Night made their move.
Sky Pirates
Rulers of the air above the Edge, the sky pirates provide transportation, commerce and adventure as they roam the skies, delivering items purchased in the Deep Woods to the guilds in Undertown. It takes great courage and skill to be a sky pirate, but their days are numbered when the sky sickness infects the rocks that keep their ships afloat.
Guilds
These leagues run most of the trade in Undertown, for better or worse. You can't do business there without working with one of the guilds. Beware crossing any of them and tread lightly when doing business.
Banderbears
Frequently studied, yet still often misunderstood. One of the many mysterious fauna found in the Deepwoods. Befriended by Twig and Rook, they play a critical role in ensuring the survival of our heroes.
Edge Chronicles: Book 4 - Curse of the Gloamglozer
The Curse of the Gloamglozer (The Edge Chronicles, Book 4)
Amazon Price: $10.15 (as of 10/06/2008)
Edge Chronicles: Book 5 - The Last of the Sky Pirates
The Last of the Sky Pirates (The Edge Chronicles, Book 5)
Amazon Price: $10.15 (as of 10/06/2008)
Edge Chronicles: Will There Ever Be a Movie?
The series was optioned by a British production company ages ago, but there have been few rumblings since then as to whether we'll actually get a movie version. Stewart and Riddell have said they'd prefer to see a live action movie with CGI effects. I can see where it would be cool to see live action of the ships floating, but it would be more cutting edge to do it as an animated film in the style of Riddell's artwork. Which means it'll probably take more time and be appealing to fewer people as well. What do you think?
Edge Chronicles: Book 6 - Vox
Vox (The Edge Chronicles, Book 6)
Amazon Price: $10.15 (as of 10/06/2008)
The Edge Chronicles: What's the Buzz?
- The Edge Chronicles Series
- Books By Paul Stewart. Book #1 in Series is Beyond the Deepwoods. Review by Thomas. Four Stars? Excellent. The edge chronicles is so good. I love the creatures. Like a bander bear it's an 11ft bear with very big fangs.
- the Edge Chronicles Game
- The illustrations in the book have very intricate ink work, so I simplified them considerably. Check out the Edge Chronicles Adventures You need a password: CATERBIRD Level 1: Outrun the Termagant Trog Level 2: Escape the Wig Wigs ...
- Edge Chronicles 9 Clash of the Sky Galleons Ebay Auctions!
- In the penultimate book in the Edge Chronicles series, Quint is travelling with his father, Wind Jackal, on a mission to track down and bring to justice Turbot Smeal, the man who started the fire that killed their family. ...
The Goblin Leaders - The great art by Chris Riddell sets these books apart from any others.
Edge Chronicles: Book 7 - Freeglader
Edge Chronicles 7: Freeglader (Edge Chronicles, The)
Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 10/06/2008)
Edge Chronicles: Book 8 - The Winter Knights
Edge Chronicles 8: The Winter Knights (Edge Chronicles, The)
Amazon Price: $10.18 (as of 10/06/2008)
Edge Chronicles: Book 9 - Clash of the Sky Galleons
Edge Chronicles 9: Clash of the Sky Galleons (Edge Chronicles, The)
Amazon Price: $10.18 (as of 10/06/2008)
Edge Chronicles: Would You Rather ... ?
Would you rather be a Librarian Knight or a Sky Pirate?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byLibrarian Knight for me!
andrew says:
i love to own my own little sky craft.
Posted September 05, 2008
Hajar says:
Librain Knights get the best of both worlds. No god just being a sky pirate without any knoeldge of the deepwoods. you may get stranted! you never know.And well all those barkscrolls in the Great Library fanstnate and intrege me so much!
Posted August 26, 2008
Jocelyn says:
i want to be a librarian knight and ride the storm hornet
Posted August 11, 2008
michael says:
i'd love to study whatever iwanted in the wilds of the deepwoods
Posted August 07, 2008
Ryan says:
I love the rides!
Posted July 14, 2008
Aargh! I'll be a Sky Pirate!
Gursimran says:
i want to be both because of adventure
Posted October 05, 2008
mrs.screedius says:
first sky pirate till stone sickness gets to me then, a free glade lancer!
if i got to live that long.on a privios page one of these comments was by foricule (spelling?) and i thought that was funny.
Posted October 04, 2008
bob says:
sky pirates are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i would love to kick those leaguesmens a***!!!
Posted September 24, 2008
FrostHound says:
id be a skypirate and my nickname would be FrostHound i already made my ship and its called the FrostScythe
Posted September 18, 2008
Mack Hayes says:
Sky Pirates pwon noobs all day, every day!!
Posted September 13, 2008
Edge Chronicles: On the Edge of the Web
- Official UK Site
- Check out the maps, join the fan club, find out about the lost barkscrolls.
- Kids Club
- Page from Random House with creature guide, news and more.
- Russian Fan Site
- Fanfic, fan art and more!
Edge Chronicles: Videos
Edge Chronicles: Rate it, if you dare...
Edge Chronicles: About Paul Stewart
Paul Stewart (born 4 June, 1955) is a writer of children's books, best known for the bestselling The Edge Chronicles, the Free Lance novels and the Far Flung Adventures series among others. Many of his books are illustrated by Chris Riddell. Paul Stewart lives in the Seaside town Brighton with his wife and children
Edge Chronicles: More on Chris Riddell
Chris Riddell (born 1962) is a British illustrator (and occasional writer) of children's literature, and a political cartoonist for The Observer.
Edge Chronicles: More by Paul Stewart
Edge Chronicles: More by Chris Riddell
Edge Chronicles: Have Your Say
The best books i've ever read! great for any age, any interest, you just to read them all over and over!
Posted September 02, 2008
I totaly love the edge chronicles, it is the best!! Every night i read for hours and when my mum says to go to bed i get my torch and keep on reading. The Edge chronicles is so heart pumping. I can't wait till you make more and i really want someone to make a movie out of it. By the way i want you to know my favourite edge creature...A BANDERBEAR!!!!!! They llok so cut on Beyond the deepwoods when twig helps him.
But i know they can be vicouse. It would be so fun to go to the edge and do all the thing Quint Twig and Rook did.
My favourite character is Quint because he rides a sky ship and that he has great friends like Maris and Tem.
Well thats All..
GO THE EDGE CHRONICLES!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted June 30, 2008
|
BookReview
What a fun and exciting looking series, I have never heard of this one before. Blessings Posted May 20, 2008 |
|
Evelyn_Saenz
What a great lens! Posted May 01, 2008 |
|
Barkely
Wow! I love it, welcome to the Fun For Kids group! Posted February 22, 2008 |
Postscript of utmost importance
If you buy any of the books recommended above, this page automatically makes a donation to the incredible nonprofit, Room to Read, which partners with local communities throughout the developing world to establish schools, libraries, and other educational infrastructure. All My Lenses
Like this lens? Want to see what else I've done? Here's my lensography!-
SusanVillasLewis
-
Well, probably for my mom and my husband. But I guess the rest of you won't love me just for existing. So here's more about me, links to my various lenses, thoughts on future lenses and just the general randomness that is Susan. This will forever be...
Book Bindings: See what else I'm reading
Check out Book Bindings, my book review blog to see what else I'm reading and writing about.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand by
