The Grand Ellipse

by Paula Volsky

Book Overview

Paula Volsky, author of The White Tribunal , returns with a spectacular saga of adventure and intrigue, romance and rebellion -- beginning with a wondrous discovery that could forever alter the fate... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553108042
• ISBN13: 9780553108040
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: Spectra Books
• Length: 549 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Another worthy novel from Paula Volsky, set in the same wolrd as "Illusion" with a slight hint of WW

Throughout the history of war fire has been used as an unreliable weapon. It is dangerous and can be used to an advantage, but is nearly impossible to control, thus making it something not used in modern warfare or in large action (ie, lighting fire to an entire army) but if you could control the fire, things would be different. That's the premise of this book. In the neutral country of Lower Hetz a magician recently developed what he called sentient fire, fire that was capable of thought and responded to its master's commands. Naturally, this fire could be used as a great weapon, or for many other things (construction, clearing forests...) but the King refuses to sell or give the secret away. The people of world are a little miffed about this, particularly the people under the attack from the imperial nation of Grewland (think Germany) who know they have almost no hope of not being conquered by this extremely well equipped military nation. So one of these nations about to be under attack, Vonahr (think France) comes up with a plane. You see the King of Lower Hetz is also holding a race around the world, and the first prize in this race, this "Grand Ellipse", is a peerage in the country of Lower Hetz and a personal meeting with the King. So Vonahr sends in Luzelle Devaire, a young female adventures who write and lectures on her world travels, and happens to be in desperate need of money if she wants to retain her beloved independence. She strikes a deal with the ministry of foreign affairs-she'll run the race, which they'll pay for, and at the end, once she's won the race, she'll do anything, really anything, to try and convince the womanizing King of Lower Hetz to part with the secret of sentient fire. It sounds simple enough for Luzelle but when it turns out that her ex-fiancé is also in the race, along with the young, god like and extremely kind war hero of Grewland (and assorted other weirdoes) and his icy, do anything, really anything, to win uncle. Add in some magic from every culture on the planet, a little Indian-Jones action and some really cool cultural and landscape descriptions, and the periodic check ins' with the sentient fire where we get to see how it slowly takes over the mind of its master and we have one awesome book. It's different from "Illusion", more action packed, with less emphasis on morals and politics-more of a story novel, but still every bit as good in its own right. As a side note, while "Illusion" was obviously a fantasy re-write of the French revolution, and this book does have an overt connection to "Around the world in 80 days" I think that really "The Grand Ellipse" this book draws more subtle connections to the creation of the atom bomb. There are other obvious parallels between Grewland and Germany during WW2, so obviously this book has something to do with that period-I'm just not sure how the race fits in. It doesn't really matter, this is a fun book. Recommend for sure. Five stars.

Excellent, finally!!

After I read Illusion I found the other books by Paula Volsky to be missing the strength and depth of that book that so engrossed me when I read it. But now with the Grand Ellipse she has finally done it again!What I like the most is that in this book not only does she give you some info as to where the land in Illusion has gone but we also read about the countries from Wolf in winter, The White Tribunal etc....It was lovely to finally see all these lands contected as they have never been contected before.The characters are engaging and well done, and I feel I could have read another 200 pages of their adventures during the race.Hurrah for Paula Volsky! Now my hope is she can continue with her next book and not lose her way as she did somewhat with the books that followed Illusion.

Astounding!

In a Victorianesque world of gaslights and steam engines, where magic is a memory becoming increasingly dim with the passage of years, there exists a woman named Luzelle Devaire. Luzelle seeks to break out of the stunted world that she finds herself thrust into, because of her sex. An escape presents itself when "Mad" Miltzin IX, king of Lower Hetzia, proclaims a round the world race, with the prize of a Lower Hetzian barony and a private audience with the king.The Vonahrish government offers to finance Luzelle's inclusion in the race, so long as she uses her audience to plead with Miltzin IX to sell them the secret to "sentient fire." With the Grewzian Imperium set to take over the whole world, sentient fire may be just the weapon needed to allow Vonahr to survive. With so much at stake, Luzelle enters the race. But, surrounded by so many other contestants, each determined to win at all costs, what are Luzelle's chances?What a great book! Paula Volsky succeeds in running several storylines through a world unfamiliar to his reader, and yet succeeds in keeping me on the edge of my seat. This story has everything: 19th century equivalent technology, magic, action and adventure, moral questioning, and romance. The figure of Karsler Stornzof, Overcommander of the Grewzian Army, is a fascinating figure; can he be as honorable and chivalrous as he seems, when he is part of the Greqzian war machine?So, I must say that I recommend this book wholeheartedly. It is a great book, worth spending your reading hours on. One word of advice, though, the map in the front of most fantasy books is of limited interest, but in this "around the world in 80 days" type story, it is imperative that you keep a marker on it so you can refer to it often!

The Best Volsky Since "Illusion!"

Combining the entire map of Volsky's world with Jules Verne's "Around the World in Eighty Days" and a hint of the Imperialism of World War I and the atomic power of World War II, "The Grand Ellipse" is most likely Volsky's best book, second only to "Illusion." We follow Luzelle Devaire of Vonahr, an independent woman living in the third generation from the revolution of "Illusion." Always an adventurer, she jumps at the chance to join the Grand Ellipse - a race around Volsky's world - on the sufference of her government - who hopes that, should she win, Luzelle might be able to weasel away from the race's sponsor, the King of Lower Hetzia, the secret of the sentient Masterfire, in order to repel the advancing army of the Grewzians who are quickly taking over the land. Full of Volsky's excellent wit, an interesting romantic tangle, and lavish worldbuilding, The Grand Ellipse is a joy to anyone who has ventured into Volsky's world before, and a great primer for those who have not. Readers who are familiar with other "quest" or "travel" fantasies (see especially High Fantasy authors), will particularly enjoy Volsky's highly realistic "take" on what it means to travel. Rather than littering her pages with idealised, happy-go-lucky travelling companions who are somehow able to walk with little to no discomfort, or better, to ride without saddleburn, Volsky's characters are held-up by weather, hostile natives, and delayed trains. Finally! Unlike Volsky's previous three books, "The Grand Ellipse" involves relatively little horror or gore, and the one attempted rape scene is intense but in no way gratuitous. Those who have been leery of reading Volsky due to her post-"Illusion" books should certainly invest in her latest offering, while those who enjoyed the previous three books will still find the grand scope of this novel invigorating. Recommended *heartily* for everyone - even if you don't generally read fantasy! There are very few great authors in the market; Volsky is high among them. So why delay?!

Phenomenal! Volsky strikes again!

I have been waiting for this book since the White Tribunal came out. Luzulle, an independant young scholar, embarks on a journey around the world not only to save her country but also to prove herself to those who scoff at her ideals. Paula Volsky creates characters that you grow to love, characters you grow to hate and the whole while telling a story that speaks volumes about society and humanity in general. This is a finely crafted book that returns you to the world Volsky created with Illusion. This is a book to own!