Kingdoms of Light

By Alan Dean Foster

Book Overview

After the all-powerful wizard Susnam Evyndd is defeated during battle, the world is plunged into darkness. If the spell is not quickly reversed, all plants will die off from lack of sun, until everythingand everyoneis destroyed. Yet Evyndds death sets off his last and greatest spell, transforming his household pets into humans. With Evyndds instructions, the group sets out to return light to the world.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446526673
• ISBN13: 9780446526678
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Mysterious Press
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.3" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 13 years and up

Customer Reviews

A Good Read

I really liked this book. It was great fun and showed imagination. The cover is what caught my eye.

Gleaming Light

Animals come to the rescue in this great paperback by Foster. This is classic paperback reading moving fast, interesting and actually well conceived and thought out. The idea of the animals taking on human forms and all that goes with it is quite interesting. The idea of each kingdom ruled by a different color of light was innovative. What happens when you blend all the colors of the spectrum?

The Evil Horde Goes In for Black and White

Alan Dean Foster's latest adventure seems slightly inspired by the television cartoon series "Masters of the Universe." Remember He-Man's talking companion cat called Cringer? With the magical words "Claws to paws" Cringer turns into the mighty Battle Cat. The use of the color spectrum for different forms of energy for the animals turned into humans is interesting. So is their each getting used to their own metamorphous. This is gossamer stuff but good will vanquish evil in the most traditional form of light storytelling.

A veracious readers opinion

"The Kingdom Of Light" is an enjoyable read, that makes the reader wish for a sequel. The 6 heroes of the book are drafted to save their homeland by their now dead master, and they are not even sure at first if it's their fight. The enemy is evil and the heros know this, but the people they are to save are not really germane to them as they are/were pets, not humans. After much debate they decide to honor their dead masters wish and set out on an epic adventure. This book is a good summertime book with just enough thought provoking ideas to keep you thinking about it later.

Enjoyable fantasy

The Goblin horde led by warlock Khaxan Mundurucu successfully overwhelm the Kingdom of Gowdlands, killing the wizard Susnam in the process. The victors remove all color from the once peaceful realm. However, Susnam managed one last spell changing his three cats, a terrier, a bird, and a boa into humans with a quest to find the Pure Light that will return the color to the drab kingdom. As Oskar, Mamakitty, Taj, Cezar, and Cocoa begin their journey, they struggle to adapt to their new form and not allow instinct to take charge. Having to fool human and goblin alike, they cross a spectrum of colors ruling kingdoms in their obsession to complete their master's final quest. Anyone who enjoys an old fashion good vs. evil fantasy quest in which the outcome is preordained in the first few pages will want to travel on Alan Dean Foster's latest adventure. The well-written story line is often amusing even in the darkest light as the quintet of animals turned human struggle to adjust. This makes for more lighthearted moments, but never fully provide a complete character package of the five heroes or the deadly Goblin leaders. Still, Mr. Foster is a wonderful author whose latest novel KINGDOMS OF LIGHT will easily convert into a fabulous feature length animated tale.Harriet Klausner