The Weavers of Saramyr - Chris Wooding Gollancz The Weavers of Saramyr, Chris Wooding's first outing into the world of adult fantasy, is an immensely gripping, vivid tale, and one of epic proportions. Set in the land of Saramyr, a society built on a strict caste system where the nobility is separated from the peasants by different modes and inflection of the same language, a blight is corrupting the land, creating tension and discord amongst nobles and peasants alike. The Weavers, masked aides to the high families, seek out and destroy children with special gifts or physical deformities, known as Aberrants; those who are most despised in the whole of Saramyr. The Weavers also have the power to communicate with each other across the vastness of the Weave, and use it to spy on anyone they wish, making them indispensable to the high families, who are always vying to be on top in the complex world of Saramyr politics. It is the Weavers themselves who have turned the whole empire against the Aberrants, spreading rumours that they are the cause of the blight, but are they as evil as the Weavers claim, or are the Weavers themselves hiding something?
The story centres primarily around Kaiku, a young woman belonging to one of the high families; Lucia, daughter to the Blood Empress of Saramyr; and those whom they meet on the Braided Path - the metaphorical journey to their destiny. Such characters include Mishani, an old friend of Kaiku's, belonging to one of the most prestigious Saramyr trading families; Tane, priest of the Goddess Enyu; and Asara, Kaiku's handmaiden, who mysteriously saves her life when she dies. This doesn't give anything away however, since Kaiku dies right at the very beginning of the book, within the first few lines. This book definitely starts as it means to go on, with a fantastic opening which simultaneously hooks and confuses the reader right away.
As the story draws you in, the world of Saramyr itself becomes akin to an intricate tapestry, where there are always new details to notice, making the title of "The Braided Path" extremely fitting. Wooding's use of description is one which must surely be an envy of writers everywhere, as he creates a vibrant oriental culture, whilst avoiding the typical fantasy clichés, including those of the recent surge of oriental styled fantasy novels. Wooding himself is a master weaver, creating an exciting, turbulent world full of complex characters, beautiful locations, complex sexual politics, and its own rich and ancient history.
Weavers, however, for all its beauty and complexity, and the pure joy contained in the reading of it, is not the kind of book you'll put down with a smile on your face. More likely you'll be forced to stop reading just to absorb the enormity of the information you've just taken in, or to ready yourself to be shocked once more. Some have labelled this novel a dark fantasy and Wooding is by no means afraid to tackle serious issues, examining fundamental human flaws and highlighting the darkness that resides in every human being. This is not a story where the hero is powerful, fair and handsome, possessing a huge amount of compassion, who always fights for good in the face of evil, and accordingly, the villain is not a polar opposite to the hero, with barely a shred of humanity to his name. In this book, the characters are far more real. The ones we think of as being on the side of 'good' are capable of cruelty, deviousness, malice, and lust. They make mistakes, and are not completely selfless. By the same token, there are characters who are by no means "good guys" but who possess true emotions, and positive facets to their personalities, making them seem all the more real to the reader. The reading is hard at times, for the more squeamish, but ultimately makes extremely rewarding reading. This is a story where you're likely to scream "No!" before going back and re-reading the section several times over, to make sure you read it right the first time.
The Weavers of Saramyr is a thoroughly worthwhile read, whether you're a fan of fantasy, suspense thrillers, or general fiction. It is an extremely rewarding read, and I recommend it highly.
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