The Age of Ice

How to review The Age of Ice? It's a question that's been nagging at me since I started reading it.

This is not in any way your standard fantasy tome. It's not even your standard alternate history story. It is unashamedly literary fiction that happens to have one fantastical element to it. So I guess I would probably put it in a category with things like The Prestige and Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. So I knew going in this wasn't going to appeal to many fantasy fans. But with its focus on Russia it did sound very intriguing.

And the core idea is a fascinating one. This minor Russian nobleman who is "blessed" with an immunity to cold, the ability and the inability to die is a good start to any novel I think. But unlike adventure fiction our protagonist (you really can't call him a hero in that sense)is scared and limited by his power, rather than emboldened by it.

And we see how it shapes his life over the course of a couple of hundred years. As character studies go, that's pretty epic. Other characters don't get the same depth since this is a point of view novel and Alexander Velitzyn's understanding of other people seems very limited. Again and again we see him retreating from the world, or romanticizing their reactions to him (something that is cleverly echoed in the late stages of the book).

The description is, well I think perhaps poetic would be the best way to put it. Very vivid certainly, but more than I normally care to have to slog through. Again, that's the type of book it is. Even though we plough through several wars, there really isn't anything in the way of action, because that's not at all what this book is about.

So what is it about? Honestly I'm not entirely sure. In part it does seem to be a love letter to a long lost Russia which is described in wonderful detail. The historical research that must have gone into this both for Russia and later Persia and India is really very impressive. And the tone of the novel seems terribly Russian to me as well. It's all very grand with a feeling that ultimately it's doomed.

But in terms of the books plot? Really I'm not sure what the author was intending. The conclusion while fitting seemed to spring out of nowhere for me and while it does end the story it doesn't close the story in any way that I can grasp.

So, how to review this book? It wasn't an easy read certainly. If you like challenging and literary books this is definite worth a look. The author's skill at word smithing is unmistakeable. If your tastes run towards character based and heavy description you'll be in heaven I think.

If your tastes run more towards action? My bet is you will hate it. And I'm fully expecting to see a heavy split in reviews between those who give it 5 stars and those who give it 1 star.

For myself. I'm glad I read it. I found it interesting and I think it was worthwhile. But, I doubt I'll read it again.