Shardik

After reading its prequel, "Maia," I've rediscovered Adams' spectacular "Shardik." Both novels are set in Adams' fictitious but meticulously-created Beklan empire. As a devotee of this fantasy world, I was rather disappointed with "Maia," but this has made the return to "Shardik" all the more rewarding. Adams' writing in this work shows him at the pinnacle of his art. All of the skill of "Watership Down" comes through in a story that is both a great story in itself and a remarkable allegory for its readers' lives. Kelderek Zenzuata, the humble fisherman from backwater Ortelga, finds himself chosen as a vessel of the Power of God. What he chooses to do with this knowledge gives us searing insight into the human condition: using power as a tool, letting ambition get ahead of wisdom. Kelderek abuses the power he is given, and abuses the God he claims to worship as he takes the great bear Shardik in chains to Bekla. (Previous reviewers have commented on the never-resolved question of whether Shardik actually is the Power of God or just a bear - I agree that this is one of the things that makes the novel so powerful.) Adams does make it clear that the characters in the story are subordinate to a power above themselves, though whether Shardik is that power or only its instrument is unclear. The events leading up to the end are shocking, in some cases disturbing, and always compelling. Adams leaves his readers wanting to linger in the world he has created, and considering what the story says about themselves.

I first heard about this book through Stephen King's The Waste Lands. The characters fought and killed a giant robot bear and found a label naming it "Shardik" after the bear in this book. Then I found the book "Shardik" in a second-hand book store and thought, "Hey! Like in The Waste Lands!" When I finished I thought, "that was pretty good, a little slow in parts, but still pretty good" but then as a few years passed, I found myself remembering scenes from it. I would take the book down and re-read parts I liked and parts I didn't quite understand the first time. I think that is a sign of a truly great book. One that sticks in your memory and makes you think. What makes this book so good, is that it simply tells a good story and doesn't get bogged down with its theme, characters, and the writing. Although all of these elements are superb, its really the action of the story that drives it (As with Watership Down). There are many surprising twists that change the whole course of the story, and drive the story forward until the final, stunning revelation of Shardik's purpose which is astounding in its simplicity and morality. Its more complex, more profound, and darker than Watership Down and just as exciting. A terrific novel that should and probably will go down as a classic, if its ever brought back into print, that is.

I first heard about this book through Stephen King's The Waste Lands. The characters fought and killed a giant robot bear and found a label naming it "Shardik" after the bear in this book. Then I found the book "Shardik" in a second-hand book store and thought, "Hey! Like in The Waste Lands!" It cost only a dollar so I bought it and read it. When I finished I thought, "that was pretty good, a little slow in parts, but still pretty good" but then as a few years passed, I found myself remembering scenes from it. I would take the book down and re-read parts I liked and parts I didn't quite understand the first time. I think that is a sign of a truly great book. One that sticks in your memory and makes you think. Its too bad that it is no longer in print, but it isn't too hard to find in second-hand stores, and for cheap too (Second-hand book stores are truly magical places). What makes this book so good, is that it simply tells a good story and doesn't get bogged down with its theme, characters, and the writing. Although all of these elements are superb, its really the action of the story that drives it (As with Watership Down). There are many surprising twists that change the whole course of the story, and drive the story forward until the final, stunning revelation of Shardik's purpose which is astounding in its simplicity and morality. Its more complex, more profound, and darker than Watership Down and just as exciting. A terrific novel that should and probably will go down as a classic, if its ever brought back into print, that is.

In an adult way, Adams does for faith and spirituality what C. S. Lewis does in his "Narnia" series...reveal the power of God through an animal avatar. This is no kids book, though children may enjoy it at some level. The Great bear Shardik, mystical blend of animal and God, on the one hand brute animal at its most naturalistic, on the other the palpable hand of God, stalks through the story like an Old Testament figure, avenging, redeeming, confounding human expectations for him..as God always does...until His will is done. Lives are shattered and reshaped...and a terrible, evil is ended. The villain of this book is one of the most chilling figures in all of literature. Though it drags in many places, SHARDIK is full of scenes of raw iconic power and beauty, vivid images of the power of God manifest through this great beast. This a wonderful book, one that inspires rereading, and gives one pause to think about the nature of good, evil, mankind, and the deity.