Mists of Everness

by John C. Wright

Book Overview

The Chronicles of Everness continue. Young Galen Waylock is the last watchman of the Dream Gate, beyond which the ancient evils wait, hungry for the human world. For a thousand years, Galen's family has stood guard, scorned by a world that dismissed the danger as myth. Even Galen's father deserted their post. Discarding his belief in the other world, he left Castle Everness and the lonely coast of Maine to travel the world as a soldier. But the warning...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 076535179X
• ISBN13: 9780765351791
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 421 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Pagan/Christian Apocalype Fantasy

Ok. Yeah, you're gonna have to read the first book, but this pair of novels is heads and sholders above the fantasy pack. Lots of action and plenty of imaginative ideas. The author does seem to let a wee bit of right wing/libertairian ideas knock about. And I sort of got the feeling toward the middle of the book that this was turning into a Christian Apocalypse idealization, (which almost made me put it down) but the sense of fun and myth as well as a equal dose of pagan spirit won me over by the end. I think the author has done a good job stiring up old and diverse mythos into a tastey new cocktail.

John C. Wright does it again!

This is the conclusion of the story begun in The Last Guardian of Everness. There is no easy way to summarize the plot, but the struggle to prevent the Darkness from taking over the Earth without calling in the Armies of Light (thus creating a "perfect" pastoral and static world), continues. Peter, Raven, Galen, Wendy, a brave little mouse, and other unlikely characters, all learn new things about what they are and aren't capable of. (Raven also discovers the great advantages of consulting a librarian, but nobody cares about that so I won't mention it at all.) Oberon and Titania get their licks in, and Wendy's finally puts in an unambiguous appearance, scrambling to prevent the start of a nuclear war in the Pacific and then to prevent (or undo) a coup by the tools of the Power of Darkness in Washington. And those aren't even the important battles. It's all very exciting, and, as always with Wright, very beautifully written-wonderfully easy to lose yourself in. Highly recommended.

Batman Returns?!

I'm in awe of Mr. Wright's ability to toss off a summarization of just about every mythology I've ever heard of and probably a few new ones that he snuck in for laughs. This guy could make a plumbing manual interesting. This book is, of course, a sequel. The first Everness book was amazing--the characters just kept coming and they were good ones as well. Be warned, a careful reading of the first novel is necessary to understanding what in the heck is going on. Nevertheless, Wright has a gift for action--his plot never drags. The Everness books are a fine reminder that we speak a language of story, that our modern entertainments are built upon their predecessors. Who would have imagined Batman as Merlin's heir? How about a Clancyesque American coup d'etat plot based upon seal-men wearing coats of Congressional skin? What would Prometheus do if he were stuck on an aircraft carrier for a couple hours? How about designing an ultra superduper nuke? Inspired. Mr. Wright joins my automatic purchase list. Nothing this man has written has disappointed in the slightest. The Everness books will become a staple of the genre.

Rousing fun

A delightful fantasy, part lyrical fairytale, part rousing pulp action, Mists of Everness takes place in modern America and culminates in a roller coaster of dramatic events, during which the heroes and their magic weapons, accompanied by the US military, face off against a dread ancient force from the forgotten dreaming. The characters are charming, particularly Wendy, Raven, and Peter, and even small characters, such as Raven's father or Meadow Mouse (nod to Little, Big there) are well-delineated. I must disagree with the previous reviewer. I do not see this book as a satire. While it is quite different from many contemporary works in its field - not being in the tradition of Tolkien and the pastoral fantasies - I do not believe the differences are intended to mock or poke fun at other writers. Rather, the story is a marriage of fairytales, myths, and 1940's pulps, offering a tribute to these earlier works, while still standing on its own. Over all a very amusing and worthwhile read.

A fantastic epic fantasy

For a millennium, the Waylock family has served as vigil guardians at the dream gate Everness to insure that evil never enters this world. However, the malevolent forces are mounting their strongest assault in centuries with the goal to take over the reality world of those awake. The current gate guardian Galen Waylock, who was forced too young to take over when his father abandoned his post, has fallen into a coma (see THE LAST GUARDIAN OF EVERNESS). In the Pentagon, Azrael de Grey, who is an important government official, performs summoning rites as part of his plan to take control first of the Everness gate, next the evil forces of the dream world beyond the gate, and ultimately both planes. The evil begin penetrating into this world with an epic sea battle rivaling World War II in the Pacific as the US Navy skirmishes with wraiths and krakens. Apparently, in spite of Galen's sire returning to aid his son, Azrael has succeeded in bringing apocalypse now. MISTS OF EVERNESS, the sequel to the fun THE LAST GUARDIAN OF EVERNESS, is an amusing epic fantasy with religious overtones. The satirical story line concentrates on spoofing the Books of Revelation and Daniel. This serves as a two sword of Damocles with plenty of humorous exciting scenarios, but none of the characters except somewhat Galen's cousin (a wheelchair bound Nam vet POW of the evil forces) fully developed. Instead the key players are ironically overwhelmed by the lampooning of converging religion and fantasy. Still well written and thought provoking, John C. Wright provides an interesting tale for fantasy readers who enjoy cutting edge satire starring flatlined heroes and villains. Harriet Klausner