Fugitives of Chaos

by John C. Wright

Book Overview

John C. Wright established himself at the forefront of contemporary fantasy with "Orphans of Chaos," which launched a new epic adventure.Wright's new fantasy, continuing in "Fugitives of Chaos," is... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765314967
• ISBN13: 9780765314963
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 319 Pages
• Weight: 1.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Do not read until you've read Book One

Book two of the Chronicles of Chaos, Fugitives of Chaos, begins moments after the first book ends and continues the story of five boarding school students trying to discover who they are and which universe they inhabit. I've already reviewed book one, Orphans of Chaos, and this book continues the same themes and is every bit as enjoyable. The main characters make further progress in their quest for escape, going from orphans to fugitives from their Olympus overlords in the process. Along the way they continue to discover and explore their inner latent power as well as their budding sexuality. The second book is as meaty with mythology and science as the first installment, going even further to flesh out how the two are related and intertwined. I'm greatly looking forward to the third and final book of the series, Titans of Chaos.

Choas ontinues...and amazingly so!

Wright is an amazing writer. Period. You cannot pick up any of his books without realizing so - usually shortly after the realization that you have been completely swept away with the story he has woven. Fugitives of Chaos is nothing less than another brilliant work - but it should only be read in the context of Orphans of Chaos and Titans of Chaos (The Chronicles of Chaos), because the trilogy of books forms one complete story, each picking up almost exactly where the previous book left off. Fugitives of Chaos picks up within a few days of the (seeming) defeat of the chaotist team of orphans/children. Amelia retains more of their escape attempt than the others, but Quinten, Colin, Vanity and Victor have all had their memories hidden from them. But even as forces known to them work to keep them captive, other forces, also unknown scheme for their freedom at the same time as others plot their utter destruction. This is not a book which just moves a story from point A to point B. The narrative which unravels within more than doubles the stakes revealed in the first portion of the trilogy. The cosmos itself is at stake, and the freedom the children desire and strive for will be the very thing which destroys all they know and love. If you are a fan of any level of fantasy or even of science fiction, this is a must-read. One could take a fraction of Wright's vision for this book and create an entire series from the potentials therein. Just stop wondering about it and grab yourself a copy!

Great Fantasy Read! Great Author!

I loved the Golden Age trilogy (was HIGHLY recommended by a friend) and I LOVE this series! His range and depth is truly impressive. Take the leap and enter the mythos! -bigbirdtommy

More Powers, More Dangers, & Orphans On the Loose. AMAZING!

SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST BOOK IN THE TRILOGY--ORPHANS OF CHAOS-- AHEAD: If you read part one, Orphans of Chaos, then you already have an idea of what mythy delights, brainy goings on, teenage angst, sea monster & Colin sex-on-the-brain subplots, super suspense, life-and-death battling awaits you in part two of the Chaos Trilogy: Fugitives of Chaos... When last we left our intrepid orphans-who-are-not-orphans, or even human, for that matter, they had been foiled in their daring and delicious attempt to escape from the British boarding school-that-is-no-mere-school and the menacing staff-who-are-also-not-made-up-of-humans. We got to follow the youth-who-are-but-are-not-really-young through the sometimes humorous, sometimes scary, always fascinating discovery of their identities and powers. But, having been foiled, they have had their memories of the previous weeks erased. Fortunately, our plucky and fast-thinking narrator, Amelia, who is really Phaethusa (daughter of Helios and Neaera), and who can see and pass into the fourth dimension--and see such things that will blow your reading wee mind--well, Amelia is not long for the land of amnesia. And good thing, too. Because it wouldn't do to have her forget all the amazing stuff she found out in part one. To catch you up to speed: The headmaster Boggins is really Boreas, the North Wind, who, when he spreads his wings in his pirate pants is something of a sexy bad boy. The staff includes a siren, a witch, a Cyclopes, an Atlantean, and Grendel (yeah, that Grendel, as in BEOWULF). And they are all keeping the "orphans" as hostages, pawns in a Cold War of sorts between Olympians and Titans. As long as the Olympians hold the kids hostage, the Titans do not make a move on Earth or Olympus. But the kids are sick of being hostages. They want to go home. If they go home, all heavens and hells and dimensions break loose. Oh, isn't your mouth just watering? Note: A review of the Greek mythological stuff you learned in school--or that I hope you learned in school--would not be amiss, particularly the stories relating to the Titanomachy, the war of the Titans. The names comes fast and furious in part one, and if you have forgotten your Hesiod or Homer or Bullfinch's or Hamilton or etc, you may have to read slowly to get your bearings. But once you do, part two is a snap. John C. Wright's prose is clean and brisk and brimming with pertinent dialogue, so you'll be oriented soon enough. So, our brave and gifted would-be-aviatrix Amelia, at the close of book one, manipulates the chemical with which she's about to be injected so that it has free will. Yes, the chemical intended to blank her memory of knowledge and escape and capture is now able to decide what it will do within Amelia's body. ENTER BOOK TWO, wihch for some reason doesn't have the glossy cover like book one. What up with that? "I was dead for about half a day." Amelia reawakens, memory gone, so much that it's quite suspicious. Then, "Her a

excellent fantasy

The ORPHANS OF CHAOS quintet of students ("Primus" Victor Triumph, "Secunda" Amelia Windrose, "Tertia" Vanity Fair, "Quartinus" Colin FirBold, and Quentin Nemo) were imprisoned in the isolated British boarding school. However, they banded together to learn just who they really are and succeeded for the moment on their quest. Still the Headmaster Reginald Boggin and his staff manage to recapture their only students and steal away their memories once again. However, this time the Staff allows Amelia, who can observe and influence the physical world in several dimensions, to know the truth so she can explain what is happening to the others under the watchful eyes and ears of Headmaster Boggin. Still these teens reject adult supervision as they plot to escape again using their powers. Vanity locates hidden passages in locations where none seemingly existed before her finding them. Quentin is a warlock with a familiar, Apsu a walking stick. Colin employs magic by mentally picturing what he wants to achieve and willing it to happen. Victor uses his mind to telekinetically control matter. Meanwhile Staffer Grendel Glum makes plans to have his way sexually with Amelia, either willingly on her part or rape. Book two of the Chaos trilogy is a terrific entry that late teens and adults will fully appreciate as the "battle" between the Staff and the students continues. As the one who sees all, Amelia tells the tale that grips readers from the start as everyone including the five superpowerful teenagers want to know why they were abduction and, forced to have harsh training more like an incarceration than a school (stay tuned to find out). FUGITIVES OF CHAOS delightfully merges a coming of age first loves with terrific references to classic mythology (my favorite- Beowulf included) as John C. Wright's epic continues to spellbind fantasy fans. Harriet Klausner