This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress, Blogspot, Booklikes(maybe) & Librarything by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission.
Title: Spiderlight
Series: ——
Author: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Rating: 2.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 304
Format: Kindle digital edition
| Synopsis: |
A new dark lord has risen in the land and it is up to one intrepid group to fulfill the prophecy. Unfortunately for these said servants of the light, the means of their salvation is a servant of darkness, a spider transformed by arcane magics into a humanoid form.
Beset by fears and doubts within and without, what will this group do once they confront the dark lord and find out the secret of the ages.
| My Thoughts: Spoilers |
This was a greatly written book. If you want to try Tchaikovsky’s writings without dipping into his Shadows of the Apt Decalogue, this would be a great way to experience what he has to offer.
This is a very biting satire on the “Righteous” & the “Evil” tropes in fantasy and Tchaikovsky really turns things on their heads. More than that, he seems to be trying to advocate for a completely grey world, where there are no standards and no Law Giver. That might amuse, entertain and be in line with a lot of his reader’s thoughts, but for me, I hew to a different line.
God exists. All standards are set by what He has revealed in the Bible. They are not arbitrary but aspects of His character.
Now, some might be thinking “Goodness, Bookstooge, it is JUST a book” and I concur. But ideas are where the battle for this world are fought and won or lost and as such when an idea sets itself against God, I take it very seriously. This is obviously not some Theological Tome but neither is it just an Escapist piece of literature. I know I’m not conveying this very well and I’m struggling to quantify the “Why”. I think that it comes down to the Idea that there is No Perfect Being, not just in humanity, but in any Supernatural form either. Which means that God is just a big meany with lots of power and THAT is what I take exception to. That debate is for another time and place and probably not on a post online. Face to face.
With all of that being said, I didn’t hate this book. If I just took it as satire on some fantasy tropes I probably would have enjoyed this much more and rated it higher and not given it the Theological tag. But it pushed a wrong button for me. It has not dissuaded me from reading any more by him however and I look forward to see what other Ideas he puts on paper in his other books.
Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road 
I know what you mean with a book pushing the wrong button on theology-related issues. I have no problem reading books that come from a very different philosophical/theological place than I do, but when the main point of a book is militantly opposed to my beliefs it takes away a lot of the enjoyment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is the second review I’ve read today about an author somewhat spoiling his work by “preaching” too strongly instead of simply laying down the issues and leaving to the readers the freedom of making up their own minds. Sometimes, a little restraint might work better toward any goal…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, this sounds like something I won’t enjoy. Painting a world in shades of grey is one thing, but this sounds like it’s taking it one step too far. What are your thoughts on the Shadows of the Apt? I’ve been thinking about giving it a read for a while.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved Shadows of the Apt. Bought them all in tradepaperback.
Also, I’m going to be doing a reread of the whole Decalogue in ’17, so you’ll get some old/new thoughts from me as I peruse it with a more jaundiced eye this time around 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I understand what you’re saying- I have had serious problems with books before that are trying to (subtly or not subtly) push an agenda I don’t believe in. Often for me, it’s for more subtle things like moral relativism- I think it’s fair for a book to deal with shades of grey in terms of morality, but to say there is no such thing as good or evil is just plain wrong to me. So yeah, even from an irreligious perspective I could have a problem with things like this. That said, I’m not coming from the same perspective, so I tend to just associate books that have really mean gods with the theological ideologies of pagan religions (eg ancient Greece and Rome)- for me it just comes down to slotting things into different narratives. But I haven’t read this book so I have no idea where it slots in. Not sure if that makes sense (I started to ramble there 😉 ) Anyway, great review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rambly is good…
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review! I actually appreciate your theological touch to your thoughts on the book. Shows how much a reading experience varies from an individual to another especially because of what they believe in and what they refuse to blindly accept and pursue. Very interesting point; love the bit about having the discussion face to face. Sure would take away the whole computer screen that gives people that extra push to say things they might not even believe in for the sake of being right.
– Lashaan
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve done enough “arguing” online that I just don’t anymore. If someone really wants to discuss something I tend to move it into email, where I can consider their words and my response and hopefully they’ll do the same.
LikeLiked by 1 person