The Edge Chronicles

Ranked #347 in Books, Poetry & Writing, #15,990 overall | Donates to Room to Read

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. Welcome to The Edge Chronicles.

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.

(A note on images. All images on this page are taken from the first Edge Chronicles book and are used under the fair use section of copyright law.)

The Edge Chronicles: Book 10 - The Immortals

Three times the size of any of the others. Which is fine. Three times the adventure, right?

The Immortals: The final book in Edge Chronicles (The Edge Chronicles No. 10)

Amazon Price: $10.59 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $19.99
Used Price: $4.72

Kindle Version:

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Paul & Chris Talk About Writing The Edge Chronicles

Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell: The Edge Chronicles
by RandomHouseInc | video info

63 ratings | 13,247 views
curated content from YouTube

Edge Chronicles: Book 1 - Beyond the Deep Woods

Edge Chronicles 1: Beyond the Deepwoods (The Edge Chronicles)

Amazon Price: $1.27 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $12.95
Used Price: $0.01

Kindle Version:

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

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

Edge Chronicles: Stormchaser (The Edge Chronicles)

Amazon Price: $3.50 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $6.99
Used Price: $0.27

Kindle Version:

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Edge Chronicles: Book 3 - Midnight Over Sanctaphrax

Edge Chronicles 3: Midnight Over Sanctaphrax (The Edge Chronicles)

Amazon Price: $2.75 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $12.95
Used Price: $0.01

Kindle Version:

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Edge Chronicles: Supporting Cast

Twig, Quint and Rook couldn't do it all by themselves. Heck, in the Edge, humans can't do it all by themselves. Here are a few of the types of characters you're likely to encounter as you travel the edge.


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

Edge Chronicles 4: The Curse of the Gloamglozer (The Edge Chronicles)

Amazon Price: $7.00 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $14.99
Used Price: $4.63

Kindle Version:

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Edge Chronicles: Book 5 - The Last of the Sky Pirates

The Last of the Sky Pirates (The Edge Chronicles, Book 5)

Amazon Price: $0.99 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $12.95
Used Price: $0.01

Kindle Version:

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Edge Chronicles: Book 6 - Vox

Vox (The Edge Chronicles, Book 6)

Amazon Price: $1.00 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $12.95
Used Price: $0.01

Kindle Version:

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

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. I've been checking once again now that Book 10 is out, but still nothing. Apparently there is quite some trouble getting the financial backing for this one.

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?

Loading poll. Please Wait...

The Goblin Leaders - The great art by Chris Riddell sets these books apart from any others. 

Edge Chronicles: Book 7 - Freeglader

There was an error connecting to the Amazon web service. Please try again.Sorry, there are no results available from Amazon.

Edge Chronicles: Book 8 - The Winter Knights

Edge Chronicles 8: The Winter Knights (The Edge Chronicles)

Amazon Price: $4.76 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $12.99
Used Price: $3.79

Kindle Version:

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Edge Chronicles: Book 9 - Clash of the Sky Galleons

Edge Chronicles 9: Clash of the Sky Galleons (The Edge Chronicles)

Amazon Price: $7.74 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now
List Price: $12.99
Used Price: $5.34

Kindle Version:

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Edge Chronicles: Would You Rather ... ?

Would you rather be a Librarian Knight or a Sky Pirate?

Loading Fetching blurbs now... please stand by

Librarian Knight for me!

Elaine says:

I would love to be a Librarian Knight because I would love to live in the Deepwoods, surrounded by banderbears, all the fauna and flora and the beautiful landscape. And you get to meet Xanth, my favourite character! And all those scrolls, it would be heaven for me.

rookisawesome says:

Would I rather risk my life by being sucked into giant vortex storms or charge into battle kicking bad guy butt? Librarian Knight for me!

Gordon says:

Librarian Knight!

BIGAustin says:

Librarian Knights are far better

Alex says:

librarian knight all the way

Aargh! I'll be a Sky Pirate!

Alex says:

Always a sky pirate for me! Aargh!!!

keris barkwater says:

I like being free and feeling the wind on my face. I am not afraid of danger.Also
I would love to fly!But I would only be a skypirate in Quint and Twigs time.

clarence says:

i like freedom...

ben says:

sky pirate totally.

Alice says:

it is WAY cool to be a Sky Pirate! sailing in the skies? who wouldnt love that?!

 
view all 261 comments

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!
Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
Official website for this pair of writers with info on all three of the series they write as a pair.
The Edge Chronicles Wiki
News and information about the series.

Edge Chronicles: Videos

The Edge Chronicles: Beyond the Deepwoods - Needs
by voldemeg | video info

32 ratings | 7,289 views
curated content from YouTube

Edge Chronicles: Rate it, if you dare...

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Edge Chronicles: More by Paul Stewart

Loading

Edge Chronicles: More by Chris Riddell

Loading

More on Chris Riddell

I love his work so did an entire separate page on him. See his political cartoons and more of his work outside of The Edge.
Loading

More Books and Series You Might Like

Loading

Edge Chronicles: Have Your Say

submit
  • Reply
    ENWehr Feb 4, 2012 @ 12:48 am | delete
    The Edge Chronicles should be made into a game with a format similar to how Skyrim operates. nuf said.
  • Reply
    Emma Jul 19, 2011 @ 6:52 pm | delete
    I find these books lifechanging. I want to live on the Edge! I want to stray from the path, fly through the sky with skypirates, build a skycraft, explore the stonecomb, train a prowlgrin, but most of all I want to go to Riverrise. The characters and stories created by both Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell are so relatable, but still in a completely different world. To have the imagination to create this world, and to draw it, its a gift, and we've been lucky enough to have it shared with us by these two amazing people.
  • Reply
    JonBurgess Apr 3, 2011 @ 12:29 pm | delete
    Chris Riddell is a genius, and so prolific. It must be great to have the scope that the stories give him to create weird and wonderful characters. A very comprehensive lens I think.
    cheers,
    Jon
  • Reply
    Joe Nov 24, 2010 @ 5:11 am | delete
    I never really enjoyed fantasy fiction until I was introduced to Artemis Fowl, and now the Edge Chronicles are just as good. Once I read the first page of the first book I knew i couldnt put it down until i finished it!
  • Reply
    Michelle Benavides Nov 20, 2010 @ 1:00 pm | delete
    I work in a library and often have a hard time getting the young boys to read. I always make this series the first one I hand to them. I have yet to have one who didn't love it and read all the books next. Once you get a boy to read one thing and they trust your suggestions, you can go from there. One of my favorite things to do is to make a child read something they love and turn them into readers for life. And the Edge Chronicles do that.
  • Load More

Postscript of utmost importance


If you buy any of the books through the links 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.

by

SusanVillasLewis

Idea hamster. Design lover. Makes things happen. Random crafter. Voracious reader. Liberty lover. Marginal shooter. Singer. Writer. Marketer.

Me on...
more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!