On the other hand, Steel/Gray Stone Eater wants to bring the Moon completely back to Earth--colliding the two and killing all humans (possibly Earth and the Stone Eaters, too). They arent commless, mind. Its compelling enough to keep me reading, but I thought this was a step down in ambition and in characterization from the first book. no. The second strongest aspect of this book is its characters. They work both individually and in networks, and respond to orogenes. The story resumes soon after Nassun's father discovers her brother is an orogene. . The lorist who has come to Tirimo is named Renthree LoristStone. But absent any more coherentthought, and as children sometimes do in extreme situations,Nassun . I'm not entirely certain on the details since it's been a little while, but the whole of the story is reaching conclusion by way of explaining this in further detail. Fans of fantasy, science fiction, horror, alt history, and more can all find a home with us. WebSummary. The story is told primarily from the perspectives of Essun, a powerful orogene driven out of her home at the beginning of the first book, and Nassun, her adolescent daughter. In Castrima, Essun learns from Alabaster that he was not trying to end the world by creating the rift in the continent that touched off the Season. Orbit, August 16, 2016. Schaffa, Essun's former Guardian, awakens underwater after Essun's devastating counterattack during the climax of The Fifth Season. Castrima is saved, but the mechanisms of the geode have been irreparably damaged by the assault, and the comm faces starvation and suffocation if they remain. Is it worth it to keep going? The Obelisk Gate is the second installment of N.K. So where Jemisin has created a grim, realistic, almost tangible setting for these books that elevated The Fifth Season, here in the middle book of the series, her weaker characterization becomes more of a problem. Being reminded about the cycle of abuse continuing and Nassun's hand being broken is exactly what I needed while at work ;__; (but I do appreciate the recap! Insteadshe asks Nassun to sit, and then she tells stories to her smallaudience for the rest of the afternoon, until the sun makes longshadows down the valley slope and through the trees. About twenty-fivethousandyears ago, according to the lorists themselves, which most peoplethink is a blatant lie. Her life would have become slightly more interesting if a Seasonhad occurred before she left, for a Breeders responsibility inthose times is clearandperhaps that, too, is what spurred heraway. Nassun, who is just eight years old whenthe world ends. Now its just how one knows a lorist: by the lips, andby the stack of polymer tablets they carry, and by the shabbyclothes they tend to wear, and by the fact that they usually donot have real comm names. WebThe Obelisk Gate. If so, how do they apply in the books world? When Essun sees a woman raising her fist to hit an orogene child, she is reminded of the way her husband beat her son, Uche, to death when he discovered the child was an orogene. They avoid talking about what happened back in town, and Nassun looks to blame her mother for it. He confronts Schaffa and later attempts to kill Nassun. Jemisin 4.31 138,243 ratings10,720 reviews Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Fantasy (2016) THE SEASON OF ENDINGS GROWS DARKER Then, newly outfitted and with wounds patched, she set out onher own. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Exactly the refresher I needed. No.. 4. This is really helpful!! And, we care for these characters. LibraryThing Rating: 5/5. WebThe Obelisk Gate was intended as a central point, to which and through which the entire network could be utilized. She reluctantly uses her powers to turn her father to stone as well. Cookie policy. Andas her thoughts skirl about and her heart screams, she takes astep toward him. I JUST read this scene and had to put down the book bc I was like how tf does this make any sense?. The songs of theearth have always been his lullaby. He would have figured it out eventually, one way or another. WebThe Obelisk Gate (Spoiler Free) | REVIEW 3,918 views Jun 19, 2017 135 Dislike Share Save Thoughts on Tomes 63K subscribers In which I discuss my thoughts on The She tells her community members that no one gets to decide who has the right to be a person. Jija is a Midlatter mongrel,same as Essun, though his heritage leans more toward the Sanzed;hes big and brown and muscular and bald-shaven. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Castrima is saved, but the mechanisms of the geode have been irreparably damaged by the assault, and the comm faces starvation and suffocation if they remain. Sometimes, anyway. You're really asking to skirt the edge of spoilers here ;). Alas: in the Stillness, destroying mountains is as easy as an orogenetoddlers temper tantrum. She is mostlyunimportant, but there is a reason you must know of her. She cant possiblytake such a valuable gift from a child, not in exchange fora few stories and an apprenticeship that Nassun will probablychange her mind about in a few months. Jemisin won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Novel for her 2015 book The Fifth Season, the first novel in the Broken Earth trilogy, Also, I hope you don't mind that I did this recap? Nassun and her father travel further south. That helps, because he wouldnt havebelieved anything else. Perhaps thatis for the best. And he, in his apparent omniscience (I guess because he's a stone eater? Ykka, the comm's leader, is an orogene herself, and due to her influence, orogenes are permitted to live openly alongside others. . Ykka, the comm's leader, is an orogene herself, and due to her influence, orogenes are permitted to live openly alongside others. The Obelisk Gate is a 2016 science fantasy novel by N. K. Jemisin and the second volume in the Broken Earth seriesfollowing The Fifth Season, and preceding The Stone Sky. This was great). Her use of this power causes her to accidentally kill one of her classmates by turning him to stone while suffering a nightmare. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Obelisk Gate. Realizes. Her mother has taught herto be very circumspect. Chapter 7 returns to the third person point of view. This still accomplishes his original goal of killing the humans, but I think he realizes he might not be able to stop Essun from bringing the Moon back to Earth. Whenthe other two visitors get up to head home, they eye Nassun anddrop hints until she reluctantly comes with them, because thepeople of Tirimo will not have it said that they disrespected alorist by letting some child talk her to death all night. It goes forward in time to follow her and her father, Jia, as they flee from their hometown. [7], Niall Alexander, on Tor.com, by contrast, was critical of The Obelisk Gate for falling into what he called "middle volume syndrome", believing that the book.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, sacrifices The Fifth Season's substance and sense of momentum for a far slighter and slower story. One stipulation of Castrima joining Rennanis is that Castrima get rid of its orogenes. Intheory they could return to their home comms in the event of aSeason, although by profession they tend to wander far enoughto make returning impractical. The Fifth Season triggered by this event steadily worsens as they travel. (All lorists take the comm name Stone, and the usename Lorist, it being one of the rarer use-castes.) Is this just Orbit being cheap, or is there a reason why Castrima, Jekity, and Rennanis don't appear on the map? It's been months since I finished Obelisk Gate and I was hoping to find a recap before going to the book signing tonight. Although its clear that a three-way war, or possibly even more, is being waged, its not clear who is on which side. She forms a particularly strong bond with Schaffa, who is fiercely protective of her and becomes her father figure in lieu of her biological father. This power structure mimics the very, very dark sides of human nature that have recurred throughout human history. She uses the immense power of the Gate to turn every inhabitant of Rennanis to stone simultaneously. [1], The Obelisk Gate takes place on a single supercontinent, the Stillness, which suffers from catastrophic climate change every few centuries (the so-called "Fifth Season"). 6 of 8 7 of 8 FILE - Graduates walk at a Harvard Commencement ceremony held for the classes of 2020 and 2021, May 29, 2022, in Cambridge, Mass. But no one in Tirimo knows thattheres a potentially excellent diamond mine in the regionnoone, that is, except orogenes. She begins to understand that orogeny, in contrast to the teachings of her mother and the Guardians, is not just about moving heat energy from one place to another; she learns to perceive a mysterious silver energy, generated by living things, that underpins all of her orogenic powers. He turns away from this thought, too. Plus, dont you want to know happens?? The Stillness has an odd relationship with its self-appointedkeepers of stonelore. But she doesnt give Nassun an answer right away, partlybecause she thinks Nassun is cute and that her declaration is nodifferent from any other childs momentary passion. Intimidating. The Obelisk Gate May 10, 2019 alissacmiles Second Book in the Broken Earth Trilogy by: N.K. This Study Guide consists of approximately 70pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - . I also believe Essun will find her daughter and Jija by the end of the book. Following this pattern is risky because BORING. I've been searching Google for a good summary before I jump into Stone Sky. I grew more and more excited about orogeny until, at one point, it was referred to as magic. I can see how it won the 2017 Hugo Award for best novel. Concern us about our own future and well-being on this planet. The town is led by Schaffa, who has used it to shelter young orogenes during the years since he arrived. This understanding floats on the surface of Jijas mind forthe rest of the day after Renthree leaves. Initially unable to win in an outright attack, they besiege the comm by locating the ventilation shafts for the geode, intending to force them out into the open. like. She does tremble, andhe does feel her tears sliding down his skin. With another Season in progress, Essun takes shelter in Castrima, but that comm is soon torn apart by infighting initiated by an enemy comm hoping to take over the people as resources. Unfortunately, the atmosphere in Castrima, a comm that includes many orogenes, has become charged against them. We can speculate. 5. N O. I' M TELLING THIS WRONG. Every comm needs that. She cant. Were going somewhere you can be better, he says gently. Reviews on books, short stories, and magazines as well as general criticism and thoughts. In the morning she heads into Tirimo. The obelisks still exist and Alabaster has learned that this network, along with energy from the rift, can be used to draw the moon back into orbit, putting an end to the Seasons. Nassun and her father settle in Found Moon, and Nassun begins to rapidly advance through the ranks of the makeshift Fulcrum the Guardians have established. We can imagine what she thought,felt, did. Her father strikes her early in the journey, and is immediately overcome with guilt; Nassun, however, learns to harden her heart against him, and stops viewing him as her true father at all. Essun also begins understanding the potential role of the obelisks in ending the periods of winter that threaten to make humans extinct. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Because Alabaster can no longer access to what he calls the Obelisk Gate, a punishment for having used it once, he asks Essun to finish what he started. The moon due to some event caused by a past civilization was pushed out of its orbit, and is now orbiting earth in a much longer, elliptical path. (Shes right,to a degree; last month Nassun wanted to be a geneer.) She ishis little girl. He stands there, breath gradually slowing, fists graduallyuncurling, while she weeps. Why wasn't the map updated for this book? WebDescription. I think hence the term, but not nrealy I loved the reveal of Hoa as the narrator. His fists tighten, but she cannot see him as athreat. It is a significant part, however, which is why I told you of her. Pine explained the whole misunderstanding in a March 1 Esquire interview. In this installment, we learn much more about it. See all 5 answers. Finally, they reach the promised settlement: a town called Found Moon, administered by a group of Guardians, though not affiliated with the Fulcrum. The truth is beneaththe surface, a leviathan waiting to uncurl, but the waters of histhoughts are placid for now. You will then find two more screens in a small room. Theknowledge that he possesses, because the rock is indeed in Jijaspocket and theres no way Uche could have known it was there,dooms him. Is the world just too far gone? Whenyou see her, do not tell her. or ask your favorite author a question with But I don't think (though I could certainly be wrong) that Nassun actually spoke the word herself. WebIn this story of their separate journeys to find one another and to uncover the truth of their worlds terrible, cyclic wracking, Essun and Nassun face even greater challenges than they did in The Fifth Season. She is a science fiction and fantasy reviewer for theNew York Times, and you can find her online at nkjemisin.com. The Obelisk Gate is a 2016 science fantasy novel by N. K. Jemisin and the second volume in the Broken Earth seriesfollowing The Fifth Season, and preceding The Stone Sky. He is rescued by a family of fishermen on the coast. Since orogeny is hereditary, the Guardians often kill a childs entire family before taking them away. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Nassun next, then. The plot revolves around their journey to find each other again, and their efforts to discover why Fifth Seasons exist.[2]. On the other hand, what if its not as good? Schaffa, Essun's former Guardian, awakens underwater after Essun's devastating counterattack during the climax of The Fifth Season. Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is Copyright 2009-2022, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. She hears her father asking someone they meet on the road if she . Note: this is never explained, on purpose. She swallows, however, andgoes to Renthree immediately to hold out something: a darkchunk of rock, embedded in which can be seen a small, almostcubical diamond. These issues are exacerbated by the appearance of a raiding party from a rival comm, Rennanis, who have left their home further north and intend to take Castrima by force. There is no knowing what went through little Nassuns mindwhen she came home from her apprenticeship one afternoon tofind her younger brother dead on the den floor, and her fatherstanding over the corpse. They move south through much hardship, and witness firsthand the devastation wrought by Alabaster's fracturing of the entire continent further north. She knows all the ways its possible for a second book in a trilogy to fail. [15] [16] It won RT Book Reviews' 2016 award for best high fantasy novel.[17]. Im looking forward to reading The Stone Sky, the next and final book of the Broken Earth series. Nassun and her father travel further south. Relationships chisel thefinal shape of ones being. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I really wasn't sure if I was going overboard with it, but glad you appreciated it! That's so cool! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Jemisin is a crafty writer. He was an excellent knapper. Amongst other things, they made obelisks there. One with deadciv tech. But if you want a They begin preparations to set out into the worsening Fifth Season to find a new home. N. K. Jemisinis a Brooklyn author who won the Hugo Award for Best Novel forThe Fifth Season, which was also aNew York TimesNotable Book of 2015. Nassun doesnt care.) Jija gazes after her for a long, breath-heldmoment. When Nassuncomes in, theres still not enough carbon dioxide in Jijasbloodstream; hes dizzy, shaky, chilled. WebTHE OBELISK GATE is the second novel in an acclaimed new fantasy trilogy by Hugo, Nebula and World Fantasy Award-nominated author N. K. Jemisin. 448pp (Paperback) My Rating: 10/10. I'm not really sure how authors feel about these things. A stone eater stands at all times by his side. It seems like the Gate is an actual, tangible thing. Thanks so much for doing this. How did Nassun know about the word "magic"? Nevertheless, she fears her father, who now is aware she is an orogene as well. [7], Niall Alexander, on Tor.com, by contrast, was critical of The Obelisk Gate for falling into what he called "middle volume syndrome", believing that the bookWired, on the other hand, praised the book for escaping that syndrome, or what it called the typical "stalling" of middle books. Jija frowns in confusionand takes the rock, thanking her profusely after he hearsher explanation. I was equally excited to see her response. The Obelisk Gate. I am almost done with the book (75%), and I got a tons of questions. WebAn obelisk(/blsk/; from Ancient Greek: obeliskos;[1][2]diminutive of obelos, "spit, nail, pointed pillar"[3]) is a tall, four[citation needed]-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape or pyramidionat the top. Alabaster Tenring madman, world-crusher, savior has returned with a mission: to train his successor, Essun, and thus seal the fate of the Stillness forever. crystal, metal, the stuff stone eaters are made of) can hold souls. Unlikely. The Obelisk Gate was released to strong reviews and, like its predecessor in the series, won by N. K. Jemisin. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. But then Uche wakes up. r/Fantasy is the internet's largest discussion forum for the greater Speculative Fiction genre. Ask the Author. Most did not breach the surface, but it was entirely possiblethat Nassun could by chance find a diamond sitting outwhere anyone could pick it up. There is a possible end to Evil Father Earths rampage. Its a loud, sharp blurt, and Nassun jumps. The Obelisk Gate was released to strong reviews and, like its predecessor in the series, won the Hugo Award for Best Novel. . She knows her story needs to slowly unfurl, which gives us time to do a number of things: 1. Rennanis' offensive is aided by their own faction of stone eaters, who are opposed to Alabaster and Antimony's plans. (Not the seduction part; obviously Renthree likesolder women, emphasis on women. [7], The Obelisk Gate won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2017. The next puzzle is also simple. Okay, Daddy, she says, and headsto her room to pack. Nassun has skipped creche today to come and find her, andto bring an offering. Nassun has always been close to her father, due largely to her strict and unforgiving relationship with her mother Essun, who has been secretly teaching her to hone her orogenic abilities in order to avoid detection. They are taught to use their abilities to stop earthquakes and prevent the coming of Fifth Seasons a period of environmental turmoil that ravages the planet. The Obelisk Gate was intended as a central point, to which and through which the entire network could be utilized. Throughout, tensions within the society of Castrima are revealed, as the coexistence of orogenes and non-orogenic people (stills) within the community is uneasy at best. Besides, it is led by orogenes. There are two major problems with your post:. Throughout, tensions within the society of Castrima are revealed, as the coexistence of orogenes and non-orogenic people (stills) within the community is uneasy at best. [16][17] It won RT Book Reviews' 2016 award for best high fantasy novel.[18]. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Nevertheless, she fears her father, who now is aware she is an orogene as well. Here, she says, giving him the diamond rock. Hope that helps. This is a welcomed transition. He finally dies, his body turning completely to stone, after expending the last of his strength to rescue Essun from an attempt to harness the power of one of the nearby obelisks. Having no choice, the inhabitants of Castrima prepare for battle. Just finished this a few days ago - so, so good. I think hence the term, but not nrealy that simple. I honestly would never have realised this (unless you spell it out in Stone Sky, hah). Because Jijaknew stone, you see. No one carriesdiamonds for currency because they cant be sharded for changeeasily, but theyre still useful in industry, mining, and the like. View our Privacy Policyand Terms of Use. We reserve the right to remove discussion that does not fulfill the mission of /r/Fantasy. Is Mama coming, too?, Something moves across Jijas face, subtle as an earthquake. After a time, he turns to face herfully, and she wraps arms around his waist. Her abilities increase to the point where she begins to learn to draw power from one of the obelisks floating nearby, much as her mother had many years earlier. Shes not really afraid in this moment. This is becausethe sessapinae are located in that region of the brain and whenhe touches her there, she can perceive him more completely, asorogenes do. A larger neighboring comm, Rennanis is trying to take over the smaller comm so it can benefit from the resources Castrima offers. After all, a person is herself, and others. Nassun is at the hands of her crazed father in a world that is crumbling down around her, although she repeatedly performs orogeny at the horror of her father to save them from death. Thanks for the answer. Hoa doesn't bother to explain it because he already gets it and assumes the person(s) hearing Essun's story does, too, and because people who understand nuclear reactors are going to have a really hard time explaining that to people from the Middle Ages. Nassun has always been close to her father, due largely to her strict and unforgiving relationship with her mother Essun, who has been secretly teaching her to hone her orogenic abilities in order to avoid detection. Jemisin gives us backstory that goes back while also going forward. Father Earth has lost its child. This use of his orogeny ends Alabasters life and turns him to stone. You are a saint! When they arrive, they find something else entirely. Schaffa is transformed from an evil, robot-like Guardian into a thoughful and complex character. The second one doesnt have an End and requires you to follow a voice. Her use of this power causes her to accidentally kill one of her classmates by turning him to stone while suffering a nightmare. WebThe Obelisk Gate. There is something to live for. When their hunters dont come back for awhile, they notice their heads impaled on stakes at the end of their hunting grounds. Heshad vague hopes of her following in his footsteps as a knapper. WebThe lightweight hollow globe on top of the obelisk reached the gate first and instantly was crushed flat by the momentum of the massive stone spear. Thank you from someone who was too disorganised to re-read in time. Saving this post for later. These cookies do not store any personal information. But to answer the question in the recap of someone explaining why Hoa eats rocks, sans TSS spoilers --. Uche is asleep on a pallet in thesame room. Julie I JUST read this scene and had to put down the book bc I was like how tf Orogenes a subset of humans that are born with the ability to manipulate the earth, or more specifically, particles of matter are subjugated and oppressed by the larger society who sees them as dangerous sub-human creatures. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. It is an easymovement. After all, a person is herself, and others. regresses. Jija comes to the door when Renthree knocks, and for aninstant shes a little taken aback. Hes always done this,because shes always liked the gesture. Stares, as if he has never seen her before. Jemisin", "N.K. She hears her father asking someone they meet on the road if she has ever heard of the moon. Thanks! After all, a person is herself, and others. Daddy, she says. Denial is powerful. They also act as teachers and caretakers of theyoung in times when no one else can be spared for such duty,and most importantly they serve as a living reminder that othershave survived worse through the ages. Instead, Nassun meets Schaffa, her mothers Guardian who encourages Nassun to grow in her skills. Relationships chisel the final shape of one's being. The foolish dreamer part.) Is there one of these for the 5th season? [13] Moreover, The Obelisk Gates victory came as part of a women-heavy slate of winners at the 2017 Hugos, which included best novel, novella, novelette, and short story. The words, in his lisping toddler-language,are cute. I'm on the Stone Sky now and I JUST CAN'T GET OVER THIS. This is great. Her innate abilities surpass even those of her mother, and we can easily understand that she will be the focal point of the rest of the series. Thanks for this! [I do believe that Hoa wants the Moon back in its orbit around earth, which would appease Earth and bring life back to what it once was before the Seasons. The town is led by Schaffa, who has used it to shelter young orogenes during the years since he arrived.