The Prophet of Panamindorah, Book I Fauns and Filinians Corry showed up at the orphanage two years ago, unable to remember how he’d gotten there. He spoke a language no one recognized, and he was afraid of cars and planes and computers. Corry can remember snippets of another life, but no matter how hard he tries to remember, it just keeps slipping away. Then one day, he meets a fauness in an orange grove. She’s from a world called Panamindorah, and he can understand her language. In addition, Corry can read a language that no one in Panamindorah has been able to read for three hundred years; has he really been gone that long? Now he must recover his lost memories and rebuild his life, because the person who tried to kill him once is about to try again. The Prophet of Panamindorah is for listeners 13 and older.
The Prophet of Panamindorah, Book II Wolflings and Wizards
Things have gone horribly wrong for the fauns at the spring festival of Lupricasia. A princess has been kidnapped, and visiting feline dignitaries have been blamed for the kidnapping. Corry, the young wizard shape shifter who saw the kidnapping, has been sent hurdling over a waterfall at a deadly height. Meanwhile the wolfling bandits who unwittingly hold the clues that would explain the kidnapping are about to be discovered by a bounty hunter and his employer, bent on their destruction.
This is the second book in The Prophet of Panamindorah trillogy . If you haven’t listened to Book I, you might want to start there. If you need a refresher or you really want to dive in midstream. [listen to 8 minute summary of Book I]
The Prophet of Panamindorah, Book III Fire and Flood
Nothing unites old enemies like new ones. This is especially true for the inhabitants of Panamindorah as they begin to set aside their differences to fight their true enemies. In Laven-lay, wolflings and wood fauns are sharing counsel for the first time in a generation. In Danda-lay, cliff fauns and cats have joined forces in a last desperate attempt to save the city from the swamp faun invaders. In Kazar swamp, cats and their shelts have been reunited after hundreds of years of separation and abuse. But have all these answers and reunions come too late? Time is running out to stop their true enemy. The ruin of Selbis is awaking to welcome her king. Gabalon is coming home.This is the third book in The Prophet of Panamindorah trilogy. If you haven’t listened to Books I and II, you might want to start there. If you need a refresher, listen to the brief summary of Book II.
NARRATION: Such a joy! PoP is a solo read by Ms. Hilton, unlike her later Guild of the Cowry Catchers, so we are treated to a long exposure of her silky, rich and professional sounding voice. She brings an ethereal element to the mystical world she creates with the slight vibrato she is gifted with, and the slightest hint of ironic sarcasm under-toned. As Rudyard Kipling might have paraphrased, she reads it 'just so'. We can sense the rigorous commitment she makes to clear, well paced, and varied speech. A yeoman's job on a long narrations done with such excellence garners a full 20 points.
EDITING/TECHNICAL ELEMENTS: Very consistent and journeyman in nature, there were as far as we recall no error or weak links in Abbie's production efforts. Judicious uses of sound effects and music loops spice the story without over loading it. There is a very real feel that she is telling the listener the tale directly and personally, not merely reading a book to a recording devise. 20 points.
ORIGINALITY OF STORY: PoP is so admirably and energetically original, that even we are at a loss as to original enough praise to bring to task. The author creates for us a new, fresh, and fully consistent world, which exists parallel to and with the slightest contact with our reality. She not only crafts this vibrant universe, but the author populates it with multiple new and bizarre species and creatures. Half fox or cat sentients interact with their pure bred brethren and the rare human. Cultures, mores, and diets must all be generated, and they are done so believably and consistently, no mean feet for such a long story. PoP is one of those books which give one pause when finished, contemplating the creative processes and inner workings of the author's mind. 20 original flavored point for Abbie.
QUALITY OF WRITING: PoP is most definitely well written, combining wondrous scope and brilliant detail. This book is a substantial re-write of text originally written several years earlier, and the author does a great job re-assembling the story seamlessly and fluidly, not subjecting the reader to painful gaps or inclusions. Central to the story are all the novel beasts and critters, so clarity and painting a picture with words is essential in our comprehension. There are few instances where our initial image or concept of an animal are not full, complete, and correct. We did note a rare breakdown in the writing, such as when part of the troop heads to an creepy underworld, and the motivations and landscapes are not completely picture prefect, or when the young protagonist enters an alternate world where he's put to the ultimate test, where events and intents were a bit sketchy, but these minor wrinkles are more nit-picky on our part than deal breakers on the reader's part. Writing efforts pull in a near perfect 18.
WOW FACTOR: Slack jawed all but drooling wow is what we would emote to sum up PoP. Rare it is indeed when a new author can create such a vivid and fully original world, and then tell us a fascinating tale wrapped up in superb writing and narrative efforts. The tiny snippets of art enhance the experience and are again, well crafted and well presented. Plus, catch the Parsec Logo above? Finalist for 2009! Wow!! This first effort by Ms Hilton portends exceedingly well for both her writing future and our listening future. We have no hesitation awarding 20 wow points to PoP.
TOTAL SCORE: 98 points all told, and thank you Abbie for such a powerful, creative, and well crafted experience (98 to each book please, we hope you're not thinking 32.667 for each book are you, you stingy reader you). Never think for a moment that all the time and effort you put into PoP doesn't show though fully and lovingly. Now stop reading this review and whip us up some more gourmet podiobooks.
You can find out more about Abbie Hilton at her website: http://www.panamindorah.com/. She has links to her high tech and lively forums, as well as how to follow her on new media outlets like Twitter.
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