What if science and mythology were the same thing? A classic fantasy quest where 3 siblings find themselves in a world of fairies, dwarf, and stranger things, trying to get home.
In our world, science and mythology are mortal enemies. But what if a world existed where they were the same thing?
In this first volume of The Relics of Errus, Flight of the SkyCricket, three sisters-Eli, Anna, and Rose Hoover-stumble through a window in the wine cellar of an old Victorian house and find themselves in Errus, a world where natural disasters give birth to mythological creatures-some harmless, some horrific. Caught up in a quest involving impassable deserts, dangerous jungles, dark mountainous caverns, and a menagerie of dwarfs, fairies, knights, and quirky scientists, they search for the mythical Well of the sea goddess Therra, which seems to be their only way home.
Trapped in a world that births fairies from windstorms and dwarfs from earthquakes, everything rests on finding the lost Well... if it even exists. Both the pious and skeptic make their case along the way, but belief may not always be something you choose-sometimes it is something that happens to you.
Professional Reviews
Amazon Review by J Matthews
I was fortunate enough to read an advanced copy of this book, and I loved it. I am a big fan of Brian Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss, and Orson Scott Card, and, in my opinion, Gordon Greenhill has that kind of potential.
First of all, let me say that while young adults will love this book (this is my eight-year-old daughter’s favorite book), it is not a children’s book. Or rather, it is a children’s book in the sense that Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Ender’s Game are children’s books. Children can read them and enjoy them, but there is a richness to the characters and the narrative that will engage the serious adult reader. Like the above-mentioned series, there is a vivid, well-developed world with its own history and multiple cultures. Additionally, the book presents hard questions about science, religion, and mythology, without succumbing to patronizing answers.
The book follows the adventures of three young girls, Eli, Anna, and Rose, who discover an ancient, mysterious artifact that leads them to the world of Errus. In Errus, they meet a host of interesting characters, each one lovingly developed with their own quirks and trappings. I won’t spoil the surprise by divulging any secrets about the characters, but each reader will almost certainly find a voice that echoes his or her own personality. Some of these characters are strictly natural, but some are potentially supernatural. The longaevi, who are the traditionally magical creatures like fairies, dwarves, and mermaids, are firmly rooted in scientific principles and are considered a normal part of life, but they retain the supernatural attributes that are generally associated with them. Additionally, the emissaries are an interesting SOMETHING Errus. Depending on which character is speaking, the emissaries are perhaps the forces of nature, or the servants of God, or gods themselves. The mythologies of Varro, Plato, and Homer are all presented with equal validity, and the stage is set for these architypes to shape the story in ways the reader cannot begin to guess.
The plot revolves around the girls trying to find their way back home, using the mysterious artifact as their guide. The solution seems to be tied up in the legend of a mystical Well, a well that was supposedly created by one of the emissaries. The existence or non-existence of the Well is a major point of contention among the characters and provides much of the foundation for the development of the science/mythology of Errus that makes the world so interesting. Add to that the political wranglings of nations engaged in a centuries-old war, a web of betrayals and broken promises, an absolute disregard for the distinction between science and myth, and a surprise twist that causes both the ardent scientist and the religious fanatic to question everything they thought they knew, and this book both delivers a riveting and powerful story and sets the stage for far more world building in the books to come.
And that is one of the key things about Errus – it is a well-built world. This book is an introduction to a whole new reality, and the astute reader will catch glimpses of things to come in the later books. Hints about significant historical events or scientific-mythological conundrums yet to come abound throughout the story, providing both a satisfying depth to the texture and raising frustrating questions that one hopes will be answered in the subsequent books.
Overall, this is an excellent first effort that includes great promises of things to come. It does not fit cleanly into either science fiction or fantasy but puts a foot firmly in each tradition and unapologetically forces them together. It is risky, but it is well-executed and developed, providing an experience that will appeal to both audiences.
Amazon Review by Bruce Abernathy
Flight of the SkyCricket tells the adventure of three sisters, Eli, Anna, and Rose who are facing a difficult time in their lives. Moving into a new old house leads to them discovering a passage to a new world a new adventure in the world of Errus.
Here they will meet and engage with a variety of people - some old and wise sages, an eccentric Professor Lambient inventor/tinker, a brave knight, a feisty fairy, a loyal dog, and many other friends and foes. Add to this some very unfamiliar lands, cultures, mythology, philosophy, politics, and some otherworldly technologies that are at once antiquated but also futuristic in some really interesting ways. The SkyCricket itself is a great example of this - a steampunk-ish skyship that is as Rube Goldberg as it is functional.
To accomplish the sisters' goal of returning home they will need to make allies and work with many others. These others are on their own quests and have their own motivations - and not everyone they face wants them to succeed. Through their adventures together. Each sister surfaces their unique gifts and strengths which are all required to survive and succeed with the life-or-death challenges they now face together.
Audible Review by Eric Karloski
I'll be the first to admit that I don't read a lot of fantasy. My wife does. Occasionally I read fantasy books to stay conversational with her. My heart (and booklist) really lies in theology, philosophy, and mythology. Luckily for me, Flight of the Skycricket is a perfect conversation partner between the three.
Mr. Greenhill has managed to create a book that also defies the typical book categories. Is this book for children, pre-teens, teenagers, adults, all four? I believe the book is simple enough for some preteens and complex enough for adults. However I believe one of the book's strength lies in it's ability to capture the heart of all people who are willing to suspend disbelief and who have the desire to live in a world where imagination might get you closer to non-fiction.
If you want simple pulp science fiction or fantasy, don't look here. The characters are engaging. The world is well created. The plot is riveting. The audiobook and Mr. Greenhill is in a league with only a small handful of audiobook readers.
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