1 Nov, 2011
Title: Runescape: Return to Canifis
Genre: Fantasy Adventure, 547 Pages
Author: T.S. Church
Publisher: Titan Books
Fans of the RuneScape universe, rejoice because there’s even more books for you to enjoy. However, if casual fantasy readers are looking for print material to slake their thirst upon, give this book a pass. Set heavily in a world where the author assumes the audience already has a general background in RuneScape, there’s little explanation of what or where things are. Actually, there isn’t an explanation at all, unless a new character happens upon the scene.
Admittedly, I’m not the biggest RuneScape fan in the world. However, this book will be quite the enjoyable read if you are someone who really loves light fantasy-action with a little spin of something like strange romance. You must be someone who can roll with the punches though, as you move from one setting to another without much of an explanation except, “Strange name went to see strange name here. And they spoke of these things that you have absolutely no background of; except this character seems to be very important, because everyone has heard of her, and they respect her.”
Church does an excellent job of developing his characters though, however haphazard it might seem at first. Perhaps this wasn’t an intentional mistake that Church makes, but he does assume that the general audience of this book are readers of his previous novel, Betrayal at Falador. One thing is apparent in this book: it won’t have anything deeply philosophical to offer, but it also won’t have long songs about battles of old, drinking, or how many ancestors a particular group of people really should have. Thanks, Tolkien.
The story itself follows mega-heroine (and apparently all around saviour) Kara Meir in her journeys. Or rather, it follows those of herself and her party members. In one chapter, we follow Kara Meir in her hunt for dangerous outlaws. In another, we follow the stories of a young girl who eventually comes to know Kara Meir. And yet in another, we find fan-favorite Theodore of Falador shaking babies, kissing hands, and trying not to be stuck in a love triangle that could have him lose faith in the world. Eventually, the story does actually kick off and the rag-tag group of heroes make it to their destination.
The biggest problem with this book is, again, the jumping around. For the first half of the book, it seems there is no direction. Moving from one person’s perspective to the next, we’re given a glimpse of how everyone feels towards each other. In between the constant shift of emotions, we realize that there are bigger things happening like the goings-on of a capital city under siege by giant flying baby-snatching-things, dangerous bandits on the loose, and something about werewolves. No self-respecting fantasy book would be complete without a war between vampires and werewolves these days, but Church does do a good job at making werewolves appear to be the neutral party, with one such character as a protagonist. Imagine that, in a fantasy-novel world where vampires are usually the good guys. It’s a refreshing change.
Return to Canifis is a great addition to the Runescape canon. T.S. Church demonstrates his exceptional knowledge of this universe in writing this book, giving nods to important cities in the world and important events. Ultimately, this book isn’t very accessible to those outside the RuneScape universe, which is just fine. It accomplishes its goal of extending the stories of people’s favorite game, and does it amiably. Short and exciting action sequences are aplenty, and if readers are willing to endure the endless shifting of character perspectives, this book does eventually become a great read. That is, if you can make it past the first half of the novel.
It’s highly recommended that readers looking to pick up this piece should read Church’s previous novel, Betrayal at Falador, before jumping straight into Canifis‘ pages.
The Good
Short and sweet action sequences don’t bog down the pages with silly descriptions. Characters are fleshed out without the aid of fifty-page-long songs.
The Bad
Leaves general readers out in the cold with only their skivvies on. First half of novel is very slow to start.
RuneScape: Return to Canifis is currently available at all major booksellers.
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