Lamentation (Psalms of Isaak, Book 1)

First and foremost it should be noted that Lamentation is a good read. It is tempting to dive right in and describe the many levels on which the novel functions, but doing so would do a disservice to the work's greatest strength. Lamentation is an engrossing and satisfying novel from the first page, and Scholes propels the reader through it with swift, elegant prose and honest, well-developed characterization. Lamentation is old fashioned storytelling at its finest. It is also much more than that. Like the archaeological sites which serve as the setting for much of the novel's action, Lamentation has many layers of treasures awaiting those who are willing to take the time to dig for them. Scholes has skillfully woven together themes of medieval politics, ancient near-Eastern history, and post-apocalyptic, steampunk science fiction; and, he has done so with impressive artistry. Of particular note is the subtle way in which Scholes uses the familiar language of English biblical translations to add a sense of majesty and weight to the storyline. Other authors have tried to do this in heavy-handed or uneven ways, but Scholes manages it with just the right touch. In fact, that kind of balanced skill is evident throughout the novel. Scholes makes Machiavellian politics believable and human, never neglecting to recognize the personal and emotional impact of complicated machinations. Likewise, the complex backstory and larger world of the novel are both fully-realized and presented as logical, coherent whole. Although the idea of "Deus ex machina" takes on several amusing meanings in the context of the novel, as a literary device it is completely non-existent in Lamentation. Scholes' characters are more than capable of creating and resolving the complex troubles of the world in which he has allowed them to roam free. Whether you are looking for a good story, a thought-provoking commentary on politics and religion, or a carefully-crafted Fantasy/Science Fiction world; Lamentation could easily provide you with one of the best reads of 2009.

I tend to be very picky when it comes to speculative fiction. There are few authors I really enjoy reading. Ken Scholes has just joined their ranks. I knew that I was on to something because I had just finished Steven Erikson's new book when I picked up Lamentation. I moved seamlessly from one to the other. Typically, when I've been reading an author I really like and I try to move onto something else, there is a notable fall-off in quality, but not here. Completely different in style, it is nonetheless a first rate work of fantasy. Scholes' style is light and breezy. He doesn't get into long descriptions of scenes or situations, or even characters. You won't find any info-dumps here, or lengthy descriptions of the history of his created world. Nevertheless, you feel immersed in it. It is very real-seeming, as are the characters, with believable motivations who are never dumbed down to create dramatic situations. At times I found myself wishing for a little more detail but not for long; the story moved along at a very good clip, never slowing down. The ending leaves you wanting more, and it will be without hesitation that in the future I pick up a book with Ken Scholes' name on it, absolutely certain of the quality.

Imagine a world not too many generations removed from a great and terrible apocalypse. In this world, knowledge, reason, and understanding - the "light" that guides the known world - are cherished and maintained by the Androfrancine religious order in the city of Windwir, home to the great library. Now imagine that great city and all its inhabitants reduced to ash and corpses in a matter of seconds by an act of techno-magical terrorism. What does that do to the fragile balance of power in a world still emerging from a long period of darkness and despair? This catastrophic event opens Lamentation, the astonishingly impressive first novel in The Psalms of Isaak series by Ken Scholes. I have to admit that my expectations weren't high going into this novel. George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series has pretty much ruined me for every other fantasy author, so all I really look for in a fantasy novel any more is to be entertained for a few hours. I got more than I bargained for with Lamentation. Newcomer Scholes merges the character development and political maneuvering of Martin with the emotion and beauty of Guy Gavriel Kay, the result of which is a breathtaking mixture of A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1) and The Lions of al-Rassan (and that's about the highest praise I can possibly give). Scholes's meticulously planned world (it's easy to imagine that volumes have already been written about its history), fascinating characters and fast paced, ever twisting plot engaged my heart and my mind, and had me racing to the finish knowing full well that it wouldn't be long before I came back for a second reading. The thing that really kills me about Lamentation is that it is Scholes's first novel. His first! If the guy is this good straight out of the gate, the rest of The Psalms of Isaak series has enormous potential. I can't recommend Lamentation highly enough. If future volumes are as impressive as this novel, we're looking at the next great fantasy series. If nothing else, it will give George R.R. Martin fans another intelligent and moving fantasy series to read while waiting for the next installment of A Song of Ice and Fire.

"Lamentation" is unusual and entertaining enough to deserve the thinking reader's attention. Congratulations and thanks to Ken Scholes for his remarkable contribution to the fantasy/SciFi collective. Fantasy 'world creation' comes in a number of flavors and repetitions. Ken Scholes has brought a new bag'o tricks to bear in Lamentation. At page 1, the reader is dropped into the middle of an H-bomb like conflagration of Lamentation world's spiritual hub and largest, most important city. You begin to understand that this is curious in this 14th century-esque world. There's little to suggest the cause or motivation of the city-cide. "Now what do we do?" is the quandary of the Lamentation world and "What is going on?" is the parallel quandry for the reader. The Lamentation characters unravel a story that spans ancient myth, crafty manipulations and political machinations. Scholes' finely crafted characters are seen to work through rationalizing the past and considering their futures to find the answers required of the moment. Every author's task is to squeeze plot, character, setting, theme and style, into an enjoyably coherent narrative. Lamentation is a character based story amidst an intense, multi-leveled plot. Scholes weaves the story among the perspectives of about 10 characters. Each is progressively developed as they unfold their perspectives and place in the calamity. This technique creates a "slow start-up" feel because the reader is plunged into so much unknown. A maze of confusion is presented the reader in interesting parallel with the characters confronting their own confusion. The story and the reader are brought into focus as the characters are brought to life. Great character development makes a great story. We get refreshingly believable and memorable characters. Scholes shows how to end an `epic' volume. This reader very much appreciates Scholes expert and succinct closing. The neatly packaged ending is among the best I've seen for epic-volume closure. The book draws-in the reader ... who finally gives-in to an all night sprint read to the end. Lamentations sets up a unique fantasy/SciFi opera. The foundation for a "Great Saga" has been poured with Lamentation.