Ender's Game & Ender's Shadow

Title: Ender's Game
Original Title: Ender's Game
Author: Orson Scott Card
Publisher:  Tor Books (1986)
ISBN: 9780812533552
Pages:  368 pages
Original Published Date: 1985
Awards: Hugo Award for Best Novel (1986), Nebula Award for Best Novel (1985)



Title: Ender's Shadow
Original Title: Ender's Shadow
Author: Orson Scott Card
Publisher:  Tor Books (2000)
ISBN: 9780812575712
Pages:  469 pages
Original Published Date: 1999
Awards: ALA Alex Award (2000), ALA's Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults (2000)


Welcome to Ender's universe

These two books are not necessary a sequel/prequel. They are first to their own series, The Ender's Saga and The Shadow Saga which follow two amazing children soldier, Andrew Wiggins and Bean (aka Julian Delphiki) in their quest of surviving childhood while saving the earth in the year of 2170-ish. These books are just happened to be in the same universe, and later in the story, in the same Battleschool and the same battlefield when this two boys cross paths. It said that they was a companion books. It was really interesting to see the same events but entirely from two different point of views, and how both boys had their own opinion of each other, sometimes loathing sometimes longing for one another attentions.

Ender

In Ender's Game we first introduce to the earth in not-so-distance future. Human has master the interplanetary spaceflight when they found The Formics, an insectoid alien force, had been scouting the earth to made it its nest. Putting aside all political problem, the three major force of the earth, i.e Hegemon, Polemarch, and Strategos decide to fight together, and so in the second invader war, a spaceflight captain name Mazer Rackham succesfully defeat all enemy ships. To prevent the worse of these wars, all genius children from around the world has been taken asked to join International Flight (IF) organisation where they can be educated to be the best soldier that could be.

Here come Andrew (Ender) Wiggins. He was the third child (there is limitation of 2 children on each family) that was specially permitted because his brother and sister was slightly off marks of being selected to join Battleschool. They both off the charge strategic geniuses, but he was too aggresive (a chaming sociopath, reminds me of Dexter, really) while she was too submisive, so hopefully, the third one would be spot on. And he was, except for one thing, he scared to death of his eldest brother, which made The IF questioning his fighting will. But when Ender decide to face Stinson, the bully of his class, just to made his future peace, IF put off the hesitation and quickly hasten him to the orbit.

“...Kicking him in the groin, kicking him repeatedly in the face and body when he was down—it sounds like you really enjoyed it.”
“I didn’t,” Ender whispered.
“Then why did you do it?”
“He had his gang there.”
“So? This excuses anything?”
“No.”
“Tell me why you kept on kicking him. You had already won.”
“Knocking him down won the first fight. I wanted to win all the next ones, too. So they’d leave me alone.”

From the the first moment in the Battleschool, Ender was made to be alienated. One reason was because of his always almost perfect test mark -although he was the youngest cadet- the other was because The Commander of the School thought it was the best way to bring all he's got. Once he stay long enough to made some friends, it was time for him to be promoted to the higher class. Always like that until he was 9 when he was choosen to join the Salamander Army, lead by a punk name Bonzo Madrid. Not knowing -or rather not wanting to know- Ender's best strategic brain, he sent him to be a motionless bait in the school war game. Ender responded by having his own extra practices which attracted much attentions from many of students and teachers.

Bean

Around this time, there is a new launchy name Bean. In Ender's Shadow, we followed his past life as a street kid in Rotterdam, where he survived hunger and bullying with the help of a girl called Poke. When Poke was killed in order to protect him, he was found by Sister Carlotta -- she's like IF scouting agents, recruiting kids from everywhere to be tested and, if sufficient enough, to be sent to join IF-- who was totally amazed by his intelligent mind and perfect memory. When she wanted to sent Bean to the orbit, IF denied it of his age. Bean was 4 year young. So Sister Carlotta took him under his wing for another year and teach him everything she knows (but with Bean's mind, a year of well fed and studying was like 5 years in school, or in Sister Carlotta's case, a seminary, where he studied not just math and english, but also French, Latin, history, biology, physics, etc,  etc, including memorize all the Bible passage she recite). In this time, Bean origin became more and more interesting to her. So when Bean finally enter the Battleschool, Sister Carlotta gone for a mission of finding Bean parents and his birth process.

Bean, more or less, has the same treatment as Ender's. The different was, Bean was always alone, so loneliness doesn't had any impact to him. It became his weapon. From the first day, his habbit from the street life made him wondering around, finding out his surround environtments, measuring the social strata, lurking for each and every strength and weakness of everyone, students and teachers, knowing his way out of every situation given. Not that the teachers did not knowing about his extraculiculer activity, but because he absolutely avoiding any psyco-analisys tools, they thought it was as good as one. Bean also get promoted as quickly -if not quicker- as Ender was. So when it's Ender time to have his own Army, Bean more than ready to choose 40 of the best underrated young student, including himself, to join in.

Dragon Army

When two giants colided, who's gonna cursed inside. Well, in this particular case, no one, except some ego got bruised in the process. I really like this part of the story. I mean I read EG, then ES, but then I read them both simultaneously just in these chapters, to see how Ender's and Bean's mind assess each other while they were -most of the time- totally wrong towards one another. Bean always thought that Ender, just like everybody else, took him just as a cute little boy, making silly remarks of his size. But Ender actually just after 10 minutes with his soldier, had picked up Bean as the  smartest of them all, and try to make everybody else respect him for this and this only. Ender though Bean being the smartest sometimes questioning his decisions. But Bean, more just than that, had suspected the teachers playing the whole another game with Ender, that they put more and more pressure and try to broke him at his limits.

Ender's POV He woke up feeling good, jogged on out to take his shower, and did not notice the piece of paper on his floor until he came back and started dressing in his uniform. He only saw the paper because it moved in the wind as he snapped out the uniform to put it on. He picked up the paper and read it. PHOENIX ARMY, 0700 0700, said the paper, and it was already 0630. Some of his boys might already be heading for breakfast. Ender tossed his uniform aside, grabbed his flash suit, and in a moment stood in the doorway of his army’s barracks. “Gentlemen, I hope you learned something yesterday, because today we’re doing it again.” It took a moment for them to realize that he meant a battle, not a practice. It had to be a mistake, they said. Nobody ever had battles two days in a row. He handed the paper to Fly Molo, the leader of A toon, who immediately shouted “Flash suits” and started changing clothes. “Why didn’t you tell us earlier?” demanded Hot Soup. Hot had a way of asking Ender questions that nobody else dared ask. “I thought you needed the shower,” Ender said. “Yesterday Rabbit Army claimed we only won because the stink knocked them out.” The soldiers who heard him laughed. “Didn’t find the paper till you got back from the showers, right?” Ender looked for the source of the voice. It was Bean, already in his flash suit, looking insolent. Time to repay old humiliations, is that it, Bean? “Of course,” Ender said, contemptuously. “I’m not as close to the floor as you are.” More laughter. Bean flushed with anger.

Bean's POV Everybody expected to have at least a week to strut around and brag about their perfect won-lost record. Instead, the next morning at 0630, Wiggin appeared in the barracks, again brandishing battle orders. “Gentlemen, I hope you learned something yesterday, because today we’re going to do it again.” All were surprised, and some were angry—it wasn’t fair, they weren’t ready. Wiggin just handed the orders to Fly Molo, who had just been heading out for breakfast. “Flash suits!” cried Fly, who clearly thought it was a cool thing to be the first army ever to fight two in a row like this. But Hot Soup, the leader of D toon, had another attitude. “Why didn’t you tell us earlier?” “I thought you needed the shower,” said Wiggin. “Yesterday Rabbit Army claimed we only won because the stink knocked them out.” Everybody within earshot laughed. But Bean was not amused. He knew that the paper hadn’t been there first thing, when Wiggin woke up. The teachers planted it late. “Didn’t find the paper till you got back from the showers, right?” Wiggin gave him a blank look. “Of course. I’m not as close to the floor as you.” The contempt in his voice struck Bean like a blow. Only then did he realize that Wiggin had taken his question as a criticism—that Wiggin had been inattentive and hadn’t noticed the orders. So now there was one more mark against Bean in Wiggin’s mental dossier. It’s not as if Wiggin didn’t have him tagged as a coward. Maybe Crazy Tom told Wiggin about how Bean contributed to the victory yesterday, and maybe not. It wouldn’t change what Wiggin had seen with his own eyes

I also loved to see while Ender was busy tried to train his Army to the definite win, Bean was busy watching Ender's back -- from the teachers hidden agenda, the Salamander's Army and its leader's minions, even from the questioning remarks came from within the Army himself. Ender as a Commander did not waste time to explained everything he did to them, so more than once it may seems that he did a foolish moved, but Bean as a unexceptional strategist himself see through these moved and did just that.

But most of all, I loved when they finally admitted that they need each other. Ender asked Bean to be his special weapon toon leader and gain his trust to command the entire Army, and Bean at the end realize that he was the only one as close as a friend could be in the lonely Ender's universe.

He understood what this feeling was, welling up in him, filling his throat, making tears stand out in his eyes, making his face burn, forcing a gasp, a silent sob. He bit on his lip, trying to let pain force the emotion away. It didn’t help. Ender was gone.
Now that he knew what the feeling was, he could control it. He lay down on the bunk and went into the relaxing routine until the need to cry had passed. Ender had taken his hand to say good-bye. Ender had said, “I hope he recognizes what you’re worth.” Bean didn’t really have anything left to prove. He’d do his best with Rabbit Army because maybe at some point in the future, when Ender was at the bridge of the flagship of the human fleet, Bean might have some role to play, some way to help. Some stunt that Ender might need him to pull to dazzle the Buggers. So he’d please the teachers, impress the hell out of them, so that they would keep opening doors for him, until one day a door would open and his friend Ender would be on the other side of it, and he could be in Ender’s army once again.

A year after

Ender trained solely with Mazer Rackham himself. He knew now his future duty, half of the secret IF held so deeply, that only a handful of people knew the truth. Bean trained with a bunch of the Army Commanders from school. With his wit only he managed to find out the other half of the secret IF held so deeply. So now IF put their best effort that the two never meet, not until they gained the success with their more-than-hundred-years-old plan. But that day coming rather sooner than later. The Third Invation was finally came. So ready or not, Ender had to face his destiny, and Bean had to do what he did best, watching Ender's back while he's facing the ultimate enemy. And maybe more.

***

Oh but this storyline does not cover half of it. There are more, like the story of Locke and Demosthenes, the political strategist on earth that turns out to be the Wiggins siblings. I like to read how Peter analize the world's power alliance just by reading pieces of news in the internet (and how their father eagerly praise Locke writting in newspaper not knowing it was Peter's, lol). Peter Wiggins gave the phrase "reading between the line" the whole new meaning.
And Sister Carlotta investigation bringing issues like human life, eugenetics, DNA alterations, humanity and faith to the test. I was really-really-really glad it turn out to be a happy ending for Bean (for now at least). In the Battleschool, it's fun to read how Ender playing _God and Bean playing ^Graff in the system and how the students and teachers reacted to them. Furthermore, in IF organization, the morale dilema of pushing over intelligent kids soldier to their limit, and then tried to protect them all with just a sheet of umbrella of ignorance was interesting. Always sapid to watch Graff, Anderson and Dimak quarreling about Ender and Bean.

Lastly, the story ended with one remaining question. Do we ready to extinguishing an entire race just because our own human race MIGHT be in danger. Where is humanity and compassion and affection and unprejudice and all that fancy words stand against all this. Andrew Wiggins end up looking for the answer for more than a lifetime journeys, but how about us.

This is a trully epic story, or rather an episode of bigger epic story. Ender's Saga will continue for three more books and three side-story books while Ender's shadow have five more. And I planned to read them all.

***

Ps: I could only think that Orson Scott Card is the only person who could write about solitude and loneliness through out a series of books so beautifuly. I first noticed it in Stonefather, a novela in The Wizard anthology, and ever since, I always struck by his writing. A little melancholic maybe, but not full by sadness or tears. It's more about self contentment. People just had to do what they had to, and do it their best.

And I admire him for that.

Eon - Eona

Title: Eon: Lahirnya Sang Punggawa Naga
Original Title: The Two Pearls of Wisdom
Author: Alison Goodman
Publisher:  Mizan Fantasy (2012)
ISBN: 9789794336724
Pages: 577 pages
Original Published Date: 2008
Awards:  Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel & Nominee for Young Adult Novel (2008), ALA Best Book for Young Adults (2009)

Title: Eona: Punggawa Naga Terakhir
Original Title: The Necklace of the Gods
Author: Alison Goodman
Publisher:  Mizan Fantasy (2012)
ISBN: 9789794336731
Pages: 672 pages
Original Published Date: 2011
Awards: ALA Teens' Top Ten Nominee (2012), Norma K. Hemming Award Nominee (2012)


Kedua buku ini benar-benar memuaskan sebagai bacaan YA Fantasy. Penceritaan yang mengalir dan penuh adegan laga, intrik politik dan kekuasaan, karakter-karakter kuat yang tidak hitam-putih -- dengan beban, ambisi dan keraguannya masing-masing -- semua dibalut dalam budaya dan mitologi oriental yang kental. Dan para pecinta makhluk bernama Naga, di sini bukan hanya menemukan satu, dua atau tiga Naga, tetapi ada Duabelas, iya 12 Naga sekaligus, yang masing-masing melambangkan siklus tahunan yang sering kita sebut Shio. Awalnya sedikit aneh sih, menyebut Naga Tikus, Naga Ayam atau Naga Anjing. Maksudku, Naga ya Naga, Tikus ya Tikus. Tapi dengan meminggirkan pikiran aneh itu, ceritanya sangat asyik dinikmati. Petualangan bocah kasim pincang bernama Eon, yang sebenarnya cewek bernama Eona, yang menjadi Punggawa Naga Kembar, lalu terjebak dalam perebutan tahta antara Sang Putra Mahkota Kygo dan pamannya, High Lord Sethon, serta kebimbangannya untuk memegang kekuatan Naga secara murni seperti yang ditawarkan Punggawa Naga Tikus, Lord Ido, atau menyerahkan kesetiaannya pada seorang Kaisar yang baru. Tentu saja kisah ini tidak lengkap tanpa adanya cinta segitiga yang terjalin diantara masa-masa pergolakan tersebut.

***

Eon

Kisah diawali di tahun Naga Tikus, saat siklus tahunan berputar. Punggawa Naga Tikus, Lord Ido, akan memegang tampuk kekuasaan di Dewan Naga, dan Sang Naga Tikus akan memilih seorang kandidat untuk menjadi muridnya. Eon, adalah salah satu kandidat ini. Harapan satu-satunya dari seorang Master yang telah jatuh miskin dan sakit-sakitan. Sayangnya, meskipun Naga Tikus cukup tertarik pada dirinya, akhirnya Sang Naga memilih seorang kandidat yang lain. Tapi kekecewaan Eon berubah menjadi ketakjuban karena ternyata ia malah membangkitkan Sang Naga Kembar yang telah menghilang seratus tahun lamanya.

Sementara Eon masih belum sadar atas status barunya ini, intrik istana sudah melingkupinya. Sang Kaisar dengan cepat memasukkan Eon dalam perlindungannya dengan harapan mampu mengimbangi timbangan kekuasaan antara dirinya melawan saudara tirinya, High Lord Seton-seorang Jendral yang memegang kekuatan militer kerajaan- yang dibantu oleh Lord Ido. Masalahnya, Eon bukan saja belum tahu cara mengendalikan kekuatan Naganya, kontrak penyatuannya dengan sang Naga bahkan belum lengkap, karena Eon belum mengetahui nama Naga Kembar yang baru bangkit tersebut. Sang Naga adalah pemegang kebajikan kebenaran, sedangkan seluruh keberadaan Eon adalah kebohongan besar.

Keadaan ini menjadi semakin rumit saat Lord Ido mengetahui rahasia Eon sebagai seorang gadis, yang ternyata merupakan kunci dari sebuah manuskrip hitam yang memegang rahasia kekuatan mutlak Naga-Naga. Belum lagi Eon mampu memecahkan masalah ini, timbangan kekuasaan yang beberapa waktu stagnan, kembali bergolak dengan wafatnya sang Kaisar. Lord Sethon dengan cepat menggunakan tentaranya menguasai Ibukota dan Istana, memaksa Pangeran Mahkota Kygo melarikan diri. Waktunya Eon untuk memilih, pilihan yang akan menentukan nasib seluruh kerajaan.

Eona

Eona - dulu Eon - telah memutuskan bergabung dengan pasukan pemberontak. Para Punggawa Naga dan murid-muridnya semua telah tewas, kecuali Lord Ido -yang disiksa di penjara- dan Dillon, muridnya yang menghilang sambil membawa manuskrip hitam. Agar Eona dapat sepenuhnya memahami kekuatan Naga, ia membutuhkan Ido untuk mengajarinya, sehingga -dengan bantuan Kygo- Ido berhasil dibebaskan dan bersedia menjadi guru Eona dan mendukung pasukan Kygo. Namun di balik itu Ido memiliki agendanya sendiri. Kekuatan mutlak. Kesetiaannya bukanlah pada Sethon maupun Kygo, tapi pada pengendalian kekuatan 12 Naga sekaligus yang rahasianya disimpan dalam manuskrip hitam yang dibawa Dillon.
Sementara pertempuran pamungkas Kygo dan Sethon semakin mendekat, Eona sekali lagi dihadapkan pada pilihan-pilihan sulit. Pengkhianatan dan cinta segitiga leluhurnya seabad lalu, seakan-akan hadir kembali saat ini antara dirinya, Kygo dan Ido. Bukan itu saja, manuskrip berikat mutiara peninggalan leluhurnya juga membuka rahasia lebih dalam tentang kekuatan sesungguhnya dan keselamatan para Naga. Pilihan yang diambil Eona mungkin mengharuskannya mengorbankan nyawa Kygo....

***

Yang paling kusukai dari kedua buku ini (terutama di buku keduanya) adalah kemampuan pengarangnya untuk menciptakan karakter-karakter yang bukan saja sangat manusiawi tapi juga bertindak 'sangat dewasa'. Tidak bodoh-tak berpikir tak bertanggung jawab-pokoknya aku cinta padamu kan kulakukan semuanya untukmu. Tidak pula menjengkelkan, sangat ambisius sampe gak punya hati. Pada Kygo dan Eona, Kygo sebagai calon Kaisar pemegang kekuasaan tertinggi sebuah kerajaan, tidak serta merta percaya mati pada Eona. Saat ia membuat Eona harus membuktikan bahwa Eona tidak memiliki kuasa pengendalian atas dirinya seperti pada Ryko atau Ido, itu moment kritis yang benar-benar bagus. Sangat menyakitkan, tak mengenakkan, tapi benar-benar perlu. Demikian pula Eona. Rahasia kekuatan mutlak para Naga yang dipelajarinya dari Ido tetap dipegang rapat-rapat dari Kygo. Bagaimanapun Kygo sedang berperang, dan kekuatan mutlak dapat membuat siapapun gelap mata. Walaupun demikian, mereka berdua sama-sama sadar akan akibat dari ketidakpercayaan ini terhadap hubungan mereka dan memikulnya walau menyakitkan. Tanggung jawab terhadap kerajaan versus keinginan pribadi. Dan sepanjang buku, jalinan romansa yang bisa dibilang berdasar pada ke(tidak)percayaan ini sangat menarik untuk dinikmati. Belum lagi ditambah ada sosok Ido di tengah keduanya. Kharismatik, pengendali Naga Tikus yang sangat mumpuni dan ambisius (baca: sexy bad boy antihero ;) ). Haus kekuasaan dan tidak ragu-ragu bertindak. Meski begitu, ia juga mampu mengorbankan satu-satunya kesempatan melarikan diri dari penjara Sethon demi menyelamatkan Eona. Apa motif sesungguhnya, sampai akhir hanya dapat diduga-duga.

Jalinan cinta lainnya, antara Ryko si Pengawal Bayangan dengan Lady Dela, juga amat sangat-sangat-sangat tidak biasa, melewati batas-batas adat, status sosial, gender, fisik, kehidupan dan entah apa lagi, membuat saya hanya dapat berkata, "yeah beibi, luve is everywhere. let them be." Karakter Lady Dela ini benar-benar mengagumkan. Seorang contraire yang cerdas, cerdik, cantik dan sanggup menerima kehidupan dengan segala jungkir baliknya nasib dengan tetap tersenyum, namun teguh pada apa yang diyakininya. Eona sangat beruntung Kaisar lama membuat Lady Dela sebagai pembimbingnya. (what is contraire you asked? just read...)

Karakter-karakter yang lain juga lumayan kompleks. Bangsawan Brannon, Guru Eona dengan nasib yang sedikit menyedihkan. Dengan kemiskinan dan kondisi fisiknya yang tergerogoti, dan demi ambisi menjadi master seorang punggawa Naga, ia mampu menyakiti Eona seperti itu. Tapi jika tidak terjadi demikian, apakah Eona dapat menjadi kandidat punggawa Naga? Ditambah lagi penyesalan seumur hidupnya yang hanya bisa diutarakan pada Chart. Menyedihkan. Sama menyedihkannya dengan Rilla, pelayannya yang setia, ibu tunggal dari seorang cacat, yang membuatnya terikat selamanya pada kebaikan hati tuannya. Lalu ada pula Tozay, si nelayan yang ternyata adalah Jendral para pemberontak. Yuso, pengawal kepercayaan Kygo yang pada akhirnya harus memilih antara Tuannya atau nyawa putranya. Dillon, murid punggawa naga yang awalnya sangat bersahabat namun akhirnya mabuk kekuasaan. Dan tentu saja High Lord Sethon. Pangeran tertua, kakak dari Kaisar lama, namun tak berhak menjadi Kaisar karena terlahir dari seorang selir.

Meskipun demikian, beberapa tokoh tampak terlupakan. Tokoh yang paling tidak tergali, tentu saja Vida, putri Tozay. Di awal buku 2 dikisahkan bahwa tunangannya terbunuh saat desa nelayan diserang para Naga yang mencari Eona, dan oleh karenanya ia benar-benar tidak suka pada Eona. Tapi di tengah-tengah, tiba-tiba saja ia menjadi pendukung setia Eona. Tidak dijelaskan sedikitpun perubahan sikap ini kenapa atau untuk apa. Lah, kalo gitu mending dari awal gak usah dipanjang-panjangkan kisah hidupnya. Ada juga ibu Eona (aduh sapa ya namanya, sampe lupa). Munculnya hanya sekilas, tidak penting dan tidak ada kelanjutan ceritanya sedikitpun, tapi keberadaannya disebut-sebut dari awal cerita. Hmm.....

***

Edisi terjemahan bahasa Indonesia terbitan Mizan Fantasi ini enak dibaca. Beberapa istilah diterjemahkan bebas tapi lumayan pas. Punggawa Naga ternyata berasal dari kata Dragoneye sedangkan Naga Kembar berasal dari Mirror Dragon (coba kalo diterjemahkan jadi Matanaga dan Naga Cermin, kan aneh sekali jadinya!). Typo tidak terdeteksi (kalaupun ada pasti kelewatan karena serunya pengkisahan) ;)

Ilustrasi covernya kereeeeen. Naganya OK dan Eona tergambarkan baddass sekali (jadi teringat Milla Jovovich di Ultraviolet). Sebenarnya cover-cover inilah yang pertama kali membuatku tertarik membacanya, tapi kalau disesuaikan dengan setting dalam ceritanya yang lebih ke kostum klasik tertutup kok jadinya kurang sesuai ya....

Noblesse

Title: Noblesse
Original Title: 노블레스 Noblesse
Author:  Son Jae Ho (Story), Lee Gwang Su (Illustrator)
Publisher: Naver
ISBN Season 1 Boxset: 9788901130118 (Chapter 1-92 --- 820 pages)
ISBN Season 2 Boxset: 9788901139173 (Chapter 93-154 --- 600 pages)
Season 3 Chapter 155-199
Season 4 Chapter 200-238
Season 5 Chapter 239-258
Season 6 Chapter 259 - (?)

Current Publication: Season 6, Chapter 291 (12/08/2013)
Original Published Date: Free Weekly Webtoon from www.naver.com (2010 - now)
http://comic.naver.com/webtoon/detail.nhn?titleId=25455&no=1&weekday=tue

Noblesse (노블레스) is an online manhwa written by Son Jae Ho and illustrated by Lee Gwang Su. It is a story about a powerful Noblesse, Cadis Etrama Di Raizel, who slept for 820 years and woke up one day in South Korea in an abandoned building. With the help of his faithful servant Frankenstein he enrolls in Ye Ran high school where he befriends Ikhan,Shinwoo and Yuna. The series follows the group's often dangerous adventures against a secret organization while uncovering Rai's past.

This is the first webtoon I ever read, and unexpectedly addictive. Really like the colorful graphics and how the illustration go back and forward between full color and greyish tones to set the mood of the story. I like the simple graphic lines. And I also (suprisedly!) like the simple rectangle-landscape-format panellings. The story itself was started a little slow in season 1, but then picked up pace. The endings (season 1-5) were always good and promised to have a lot of steam for the next season to come.

=============

Season 1 (Awakening/Human World/Union)

In this first installment, we meet Cadis Etrama di Raizel - or Rai as the girls would called him-, a noblesse that found himself awaken after slumbering for 820 years. While wondering this new modern world he encounters his faithful servant, Frankenstein - now a principal in an elite private high school in Seoul - and thus befriend with some -not so- regular highschooller, Shinwoo the extraordinare jog, Ikhan the hacker, and Yoonah the pretty. In the mean time, a secret organization called The Union sent some of their men to retrieve Rai casket, not knowing what it trully been held. This organization was the same one that entagled with noblesse fate centuries ago and for a looooong time has been experimenting to make enhanced super humans. When some of these experiments broke loose and threaten human lives, Rai dan Frankenstein must stood up and protect the civilization as their noblesse oblige, eventhough that would mean to uncover their own secrets peaceful live.

Like I said before, this manhwa was reeaaaaaaly addictive since the first panel. The side stories of how Rai adjust himself to new technology (cellphone, videogame, automatic door,etc) was amusing, and that Rai and ramen stuff was really-really-really ludicrous, awkwardly-silly but funny, made me lol everytime, so were those manuals Frankenstein wrote for him. (he despreatly need manual for food other that ramen!!). But then again, the main story about him, his past and present life, and the organization was equally exciting. Above them all, the red string of all the characters here was about trust, friendship and loyalty that goes beyond indiscrimination of what you are or how strong you are, but more about who you really are (and Rai was the symbol of it) and I think this is the most advantageous point compares to the other seinen manga/manhwa out there.

btw: This season does not explain what is Noble/Noblesse aniway? Frank truly hasn't elaborated it clearly.... secretive, hasn't he?

=============

Season 2 (Visitor/DA-5/Dr.Aris)

Second season, more nobelesse visitor came lurking at Rai and Frank and more enhanced men from the organization came after them. Again, the ending -especially for Takeo and Tao- was very nice, the same with M-21 in the previous season. The repetition of mind-erasing process to the 'innocent humans' was a little boring, at this point of the story, I wonder how many times more do they have to endure that kind process if they keep around the noblesse.

=============

Season 3 (Nobility/Lukedonia/Static)

In this third season, Rai and Frank must go to Lukedonia and confront their past and clear Rai's name of conduct of betrayal that have been done by the Five Clan Leaders. Eventhough Frankenstein clearly said that only him would go with Ray, but of course who could stop Takeo 'n friend from infiltrating their plane. Little do they know, Frank actually plans to blew it up and jump down with his Master. Like that wasn't enough, Rai's Mansion now is considered forbad and guarded by special forces.

The plot was totally absorbing, made me hold my breath again and again. No repetitives ideas like in the previous season 2, a lot facts and backgrounds were given, the story was progressing rapidly, a bunch of interesting new characters, the fight scenes were awesome(!!!!) and of course, -like always- a very nice ending. The end speech by the late Lord, about humanity, how human became human because they are always changing, moving forward..., not static like the noblesse, was very moving. Almost made me overlooked my desire to become noblesse myself. #eeaahh
If something were lacking, that was the usual ice breaker: the witty-silly conversation and Rai's calmed ignorance face-expressions, which in this season didn't have much due to the seriousness of the story line.

Notes 1: Ooohhh... so now we knew what 'Noblesse' mean. Fascinating.
Notes 2: Wait..., if he -the peacock, that is- was human, how... who....what did.... oh whatever! He's immensely amazing anyway. *blushing* ^^V
Note 3: I read the last few chapters twice, but I still do not understand what happened when the old Lord died. Who betrayed who and why and how? Annoying cliff-hanger!!

=============

Season 4 (KSA/Cerberus/Elders)

So Rai and all RK-5 (btw, luuuuuuuv when Rai's blushing coz Frank tell him about the RKs and what RK means) back on our known earth after dipsy-daisy on Lukedonia. While the union's problem still at lenght, another threat came from the country instead. Two KSA agent lurking at school tried to scouting potential future agents. Even if Principal Lee aka Frankenstein aka The Peacock ^_^ try his best to protect the kids, he ends up jeopardizing all of them when the agents turns out to be enhanced humans. The danger became more hazardious when 12th elder sent his personnal bodyguards -Cerberus- to investigates the death of Dr. Aris and the rest of DA-5. So began the battle between the RKs, KSA agents and, 12th elder and 13th elder....

Not bad, but compared with 3rd season, I liked #3 more. But here opens more secrets about the treachery within the noble clan leaders long time ago, the one that made Rai disappeard for 820 years.

=============

Season 5

Whoaa... Best. Season. Yet!!!

***spoiler*** [eventhough through reading it my heart can't stop pounding and fear that writer-nim will have the heart to make another "Dumbledore's death moments". TG it was a happy ending - if u know what I mean.]

The story progress quite quickly, an now the enemy now have faces and open agenda to coup with. Great development with the RKs (plus bonus how Tao manipulate Rael to help them fight *ROTFL - I think Tao hang around Frankenstein too much, slyness is contageous - ROTFL* ). Love Rajak and Rael and Karias (when he call the Lord Noonim, epic response :D) Love the KSA agents Ahn and Na's characters. Love the fighting scenes. Love the ending. Do NOT love the waiting for season 6!

For all the RKs characters, I always had soft spot for M-21. I thought he was the most complex personnel, and in this season, his relationship with everybody was tested by the appareance of M-24. I felt so sorry for him and really-really-really despise Dr. Crombel for it.
I wish you the best ajusshi -- no Oppa, I'll call you Oppa. ^_^

I wonder what happened to Rai and Frankenstein long-long-long time ago. How could he be so loyal to him... well, I know -despite his ignorance face- Rai is a very good person with a verrrryy big heart and unbelieveable power, but to have someone like Frankenstein unwavered for hundreeedssss of years must had a lot more in its foundation. Hope writer-nim will elaborate more in the next season.

Prince of Thorns

Title: The Prince of Thorns
Series: Broken Empire #1
Author: Mark Lawrence
Publisher: Ufuk Fantasy Pbl (2011)
ISBN:9786021834930
Pages: 512 pages
Original Published Date: 2011
Literary awards: David Gemmell Morningstar Award Nominee (2012), Goodreads Choice Award Finalist for Best Fantasy (2011)

RULE BY THE SWORD

Looking at the reviews' page of this book, clearly that this is whether LOVE it or HATE it kind of book, no medial rating. For me, after pass through the shocked of first few pages, I completely drawn in his rage and ambition. If Jorg is one badass 13 year old boy warrior, so be it. He had his reasons, very good ones too. If his ambition subdues his willingness to repent, lets just see how far it would take him. Part of me wanted him to be death, burned in all eternity for all his impious cruelty, but larger part of me call for the best wishes still exist for the young prince. D*mn you Jorg!

Jorg, Katherine, Sir Malkin and The Nuba
Taken from enife.deviantart.com

For the story sake, it was great that it gave no time to waste for reasoning for his nasty behaviour. His mother and brother slayed, his father made their death a comodity. That made him thirsty of avenging, a frenzy madness that made him see no different of killing one people or few hundreds, burning fields after fields, in return of victory. No lingering explainations. That just it. Period. If there was an explaination, it was for his action -which he gave to his brothers one time or another- and that just to add terror in his resume.

I also liked the twists near the end. That thing his father did to him, well, didn't expected that, I thought it's gonna be the other way around.  [**No, take that back, if a king could turn his queen and son's death into bargain of war, what stop him to do it again with his other son. I should have seen it came miles away.**] Jorg was filthy, his father was filthier. And that last turned with the necromancies and what they've done in the kingdoms, it set the story to whole other direction. Wonder how it's gonna fit with Jorg's big scheme. King by 15, Emperor by 20.


One thing that I found a little off in this story was that mechanical voice guarding the big door under the red castle. I mean, it's a bit ludicrous and certainly out of place. Name and Password. 1111 years. In the land far far away? Then, it was a useless jest, because the door was unlock??!? oh, plueeaaasseee..... --> *Luke Jorg, I am your father.* *whoops, wrong dream* T_T

So, Jorg, you obviously well educated and quick wit, strong will and never waver, sometimes a poet on you even emerged, a suitable material for such an Emperor. But like that glowing leucrota kid said, you'll need a reason to fight your war. I hope you'll find a good one, and sit on your throne without too much darkness behind you. It's been a while since I found such a worthy antihero. I'll see you again in the next book.

         

Ranger's (no longer) Apprentice

Title: The Sorcerer in the North
Series: Ranger's Apprentice #5
Author: John Flanagan
Publisher: Random House Australia
ISBN: 9781864719086
Pages: 336 pages
Original Published Date: 2009

Title: The Siege of Macindaw

Series: Ranger's Apprentice #6

Author: John Flanagan

Publisher: Random House Australia

ISBN: 9781864719093

Pages: 328 pages

Original Published Date: 2009

"So what do you plan to do now?" said Malcolm.

"Now, we head back to the forest," Will said, giving in to the inevitable.

Xander looked at him curiously. The young Ranger seemed to be admitting defeat, but there was a note of grim determination in his voice. Xander knew that this matter was a long way from finished.

"What then?" he asked.

Will turned to face him. The deep cowl of his cloak hid the top part of his face in shadow. Xander could see only the mouth and the determined set of his jaw.

"Then," he said, "I'm getting Alyss out of your damned castle — if I have to take it apart stone by stone to do it."

Will, now a full fledge Ranger, had assigned to his own fief, a nice tranquil fief with nice comfy hut on his own. But even that quite environment had its own problems. He hadn't even got to his fief when he had the taste of  it in a form of a dog was lying three-quarter death in the side of the road. *this dog had a different eye colors, brown and blue. funny that heterochromia has been a theme on few of the novels that I read, people, dogs, cats. Oh, I'm mumbling again. Sorry....* With this he heard his first issue, John Buttle. Hadn't have the change to tidy this thing up, another wave came hitting. Now in the faces of Skandian wolf ship home for 30ish hungry skandian sailor in their last raiding party before winter. But he wouldn't be a ranger if he couldn't deviously walked his way out in one nutty swap.

And while these things haven't even cooled down, Alyss came with his new hush hush mission. He had to post as a joker and found out what happend on Macindaw Castle, up in the north. Macindaw might be small, but it had great importance of guarding the boundary with the Scotty. So, the Lord of Macindaw was severly ill, could be poisoned, and his son was the suspect and his nephew looked like very decent heir. But, what is a good adventure without a little twist, yeah, it was the other way around with that son and nephew. So Will had to take refugee to the forrest, in the hand of Malcolm the Sorcerer. The thing was.... that silly Lady Gwendoline was left behind in the castle, and Lady Gwendoline was actually Alyss undercover. 

To help Will, Crowley and Halt sent *who else* Horace. Added to this duo, 25 Skandian as soldier of fortune. Alyss, now held in the tower, acted as their eyes from inside. And lastly, Malcolm the Sorcerer and his deformed people complete the mix. That's all thay had to take down a castle, get the girl and prevented the Scotty for drawing a new border line.

***

In my personal opinion, these installments are the best of the series. I mean, it's very pleasant to watch Will -and Horace- in their mature life. Will always had his determination, but from time to time, its overshadowed by Halt's authority. Now he's like blossoming out of his master's silk. That thing he's done with the Skandian in the shore of his fief, that's epic. I can totally imagine him calmly -but deathly- threatening Gundar, "It's hard thing to do with only ten men!" *applaud* And in the end of the previous book, when he said he'd rescued Alyss even if it means to tore Macindaw Castle brick by brick, I truly believed that he would. *more applaud* *encore... encore* More than that, I think it also very adult thing to admit that he needed plans, he needed help and he needed more time to do all that. He knew there was other things in stake here, and... he also trusted Alyss that she could take care herself for the time being. He did not do a reckless and sudden moved that -I believe- he would do if the setting were two or three years before (like in Skandia, where he just jumped and tried to save Evanlyn from the Temujais). No. He'd still had his head cool even though we know how his heart in rage. One more thing, when he decided to leave Shadow with Trubar, just because Trubar needed her more that he did, that's really made my heart melt. Oohhh...... *standing ova*

Horace, unexpectedly, was more mature and sensitive than what I had him taken credited for. His battle and strategic ability was of course out of question. It was how he handle his relationship with Will, and how he's supporting both Will and Alyss that made me admire him. He definitely not stupid war machine he always said he was. But it also deligthful and so natural to see him and Will, not just watched each other back, but also acted childish and picking on each other. 

As for Halt and Crowley, they just watched their boys worked from behind the scene now, but omg, their scene were hillarious. It's nice to see Halt out of his serious grave mask and relaxed a little bit.

If I had just one thing that annoyed me, it was the constant remainder of how ranger's cloak could camuflage them, made the melt in the environment *daa...* and how the rangers could walk without sound in the forrest, made them could sneak behind you unnoticed *we know*.  You don't have to write it down every time they move. Oh yeah... one more thing. We also constantly reminded that Rangers was this closed tight bound of an elite individual that knew each other by faces and names. But WHY when Will met that other ranger, they need to introduced to one another? Not in very friendly manner even. Why.... why.....

Uglies

Title: Uglies (Uglies Series #1)
Original Title: Uglies
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Publisher: Penerbit Matahati (2010)
ISBN: 9786028590129
Pages: 432 pages
Original Published Date: February 2005

Di dunia yang luar biasa rupawan, setiap orang adalah buruk rupa

Membaca premis awal buku ini, sebenarnya saya sudah tidak terlalu berminat. Apa sih yang mau digali dari dis-utopia operasi plastik? Ada orang yang gak mau dioperasi? Terus kenapa?? Apalagi saat saya pertama melihatnya adalah tepat setelah trilogi Hunger Games. OK, it's not for me, I had enough with YA dys-utopian worlds, move on. Beberapa bulan kemudian, kebetulan mendatangi obralan penerbit Matahati di kantornya yang entah di mana itu, dan yaah... karena dijual sangat obral jadi tergoda juga untuk membelinya. Jadilah seri ini menghuni timbunan dosa cukup lama dan baru sekarang sempat terbaca.

Ternyata lumayan juga ceritanya. Apalagi diceritakan dengan sangat mengalir dan sama sekali tidak berat. Ada bagian yang sedikit terlalu memaksakan tentang kepedulian lingkungan (tidak separah Max Ride yang terakhir itu) sih, tapi tetap saja terasa.

Jadi, menurut setting kisah ini, sekitar 300 tahun lagi, dunia yang kita kenal sekarang (struktur ekonomi, politik, teknologi bahkan kehidupan) sudah benar-benar hancur. Ketergantungan 'orang-orang Rusty' terhadap sumber daya minyak menjadi pemicunya dan karena ada sejenis kuman yang menyerang minyak bumi, menjadikannya tidak stabil dan mudah meledak, maka terjadi kekacauan hebat dan peradaban kembali ke titik nol. Dari situ dibangun kembali peradaban baru di mana hanya digunakan sumber energi yang dapat diperbarui dan dilakukan pembatasan jumlah penduduk. Selain itu, untuk menghilangkan diskriminasi dan menyamakan kasta semua orang, maka begitu seseorang berulang tahun ke-16, dilakukan operasi plastik total yang menjadikannya rupawan menurut standar tertentu. Jika semua orang sama, maka tidak ada lagi kebencian, iri, rasa cemburu, deelel deesbe. Ditambah lagi, karena majunya teknologi yang dimiliki, kaum rupawan ini semua kebutuhannya dipenuhi, jadi tidak perlu bekerja, dan hanya perlu bersenang-senang seharian. Memang sih masih ada beberapa profesi yang terbuka, seperti dokter, pengawas atau penjaga lingkungan, namun itu semua tidak wajib.

Di sinilah titik awal perbedaan premis buku ini dengan semua buku dis-utopian lain manapun yang pernah saya baca. Meskipun di negeri para rupawan ini masih ada komite ala Big Brother, namun semua warganya hidup cantik sempurna, senang, gak makan ati, boleh berpesta seharian, lapar tingal minta apa saja, mau baju dikasih selemari, minta mobil disediakan di depan kamar, malah hiburan dan kesenangan itu wajib hukumnya. Kalau begini dunia dis-utopianya, kan gak ada salahnya to? Ngapain memberontak? Itu juga pikiran saya awalnya, tapi kemudian dipikir-pikir, kalau saya yang hidup di situ, pasti banyak hal yang ingin saya lakukan, membaca seharian, belajar sekian banyak bahasa di dunia, belajar menggambar, bikin keramik, membatik, traveling, berkebun, pergi memancing, apa saja selain 'hanya' berpesta seharian. Tapi itu saya yg sekarang dan mungkin bukan saya yang dulu saat berumur 16 tahun *(kapan itu? sekitar 10 tahun yang lalu..?!? Wakaka, you wish!)*  *lalu terkejut lihat umur sendiri di ktp* ^_^'    Nah, kenapa kaum rupawan ini tidak melakukannya?

***

Tally Youngblood, nyaris berumur 16. Umur ketika seseorang berubah dari kaum buruk-rupa (Uglies) menjadi dewasa dan diterima di dunia rupawan baru (Pretties). Namun sekian hari sebelum hal itu terjadi, sahabat barunya, Shay menolak di-rupawan-kan dan malah minggat ke sebuah pemukiman antah berantah bernama Smoke. Tally mendapat mandat dari Dr. Cable, pimpinan Special Circumstances, untuk mencari tahu letak Smoke sebenarnya dan membawa Shay pulang, sebelum ia dapat di-rupawan-kan. Tally memang kemudian tanpa banyak halangan dapat menemukan Smoke, tapi di luar dugaannya, ia juga menemukan David, seseorang yang benar-benar lahir dan dibesarkan jauh dari kota-kota kaum Ugly/Pretties. Orang tua David, Maddy dan Az, keduanya dulu adalah dokter-dokter yang melakukan operasi rupawan, namun kemudian mereka menemukan rahasia sebenarnya dari proses operasi itu. Proses yang bukan saja merubah tampilan fisik seseorang, tapi juga mengubah pola pikir mereka menjadi dangkal, penurut dan tidak memikirkan hal lain kecuali kesenangan semata. Menghilangkan rasa ingin tahu mereka, emosi, ambisi, bahkan kemampuan untuk menganalisa dan mengambil keputusan. Hal-hal yang membuat mereka jadi lebih mudah diatur. Semua hal yang membuat seorang manusia... manusiawi.

Lalu sebelum Tally mampu mencerna ini semua, pemukiman Smoke telah dihancurkan, semua warganya tertangkap atau mati, termasuk Shay dan orang tua David. Tally dan David lolos dan bertekad untuk membebaskan warga Smoke yang ditahan sebelum mereka dirubah menjadi rupawan. Namun selama ditangkap, Maddy malah berhasil menemukan hal lain yang lebih mendesak, proses perubahan pola pikir itu ternyata dapat dibalikkan. Namun itu semua hanya teori. Harus ada bukti. Harus ada sukarelawan...

***

Fiiuuu.... akhirnya menggantung sekali. Sepertinya ini lebih layak dibilang satu kisah panjaaang yang dipotong menjadi 3 bagian. Potongan pertamanya cukup solid, tapi belum ada satupun konflik yang terpecahkan, malah lebih banyak pertanyaan yang timbul dari beberapa halaman terakhir buku.

Karakter utamanya, Tally Youngblood ini, sebenarnya cukup tangguh, tapi terlihat masih belum terlalu matang, masih bisa disetir ke kiri ke kanan disuruh ini itu. Juga meskipun beberapa kali memperlihatkan pendiriannya, lebih sering ia bertindak karena tuntutan keadaan. Ia pergi mencari Shay karena itulah yang harus dilakukan untuk dapat menjadi rupawan. Ia membantu David menyelamatkan warga Smoke karena merasa bersalah. Ia bersedia menjadi rupawan karena ingin membantu Shay (lagi). Bukan ia melakukan sesuatu karena ia memang ingin melakukan itu. Titik. Berbeda denga Shay yang dari awal memang sudah lebih berani dan berlaku suka-suka gue. Meskipun, seperti kata David, ia masih suka berubah-rubah pendirian, namun kekuatan karakternya sudah ada dalam dirinya. Baik saat berjuang bersama kaum Smoke maupun saat ia jadi pion Dr. Cable. Argumentasinya saat menolak pengobatan Maddy sangat masuk akal, bahkan jika diucapkan oleh seorang rupawan. Ia juga tergambarkan cukup pandai untuk melihat fakta-fakta yang ada dan mengambil kesimpulan yang tepat, seperti pada kejadian sarung tangan dan kedatangan kaum Specials. Seharusnya Shay saja yang jadi tokoh utama, lebih seru. #disabethovercarft

Untuk David sendiri, haduuuhh... dari mana saya harus memulai. Dari awal tokoh ini digadang-gadang jadi penyelamat kaum Ugly yang ingin lari ke Smoke. Di Smoke sendiri ia jadi salah satu pemimpin tidak resminya. Cakep, rupawan dalam ketidakrupawannannya, jago hidup di alam bebas dan seterusnya dan seterusnya. Tapi, begitu bertemu Tally, langsung menye-menye, kehilangan daya pikir logis dan gak mampu melihat kenyataan yang sudah di depan mata. Plis deh. Bahkan Croy saja bisa menghitung jumlah bekal yang tersisa di ransel Tally. Belum lagi masalah liontin yang jelas-jelas cerita make-believed yang lebih dikarang David daripada Tally sendiri. Terus tentang penghancuran Smoke, ya secinta-cintanya sebodoh-bodohnya David, mosok ya ga ada secuilpun rasa curiga terhadap warga pendatang yang paling baru di pemukiman itu?? Orang kayak gini yang mau jadi pimpinan kaum pemberontak melawan kaum Specials? Eya nanti dulu.... Mau tahan berapa lama sebelum dilumat habis sama Dr. Cable yang super licik plus manipulatif itu. Melihat tingkah lakunya David di sini, saya malah jadi teringat dan 100 kali lebih menghargai Gale dan Peeta #TeamGale #always #eaaa

Sedangkan karakter antagonis-nya, Dr. Cable, hanya muncul di dua-tiga bab saja, sangat kurang sering menjengkelkan untuk jadi tidak disukai. Semoga di bagian 2 dan 3 nanti lebih kejam dan jahat lagi.

Jadi, dari semuanya, 3 bintang buat pembuka seri Uglies ini. Benar-benar pengin tahu lanjutannya dan bagaimana hidup Shay dan Tally di dunia Pretties nanti.

        

Nb: Eiya, saya bener-bener suka sama ilustrasi ketiga cover buku di seri ini, apalagi kalo dijajarkan seperti di atas. Tampak jelas perkembangan wajah si tokoh sesuai dengan ceritanya.

Dragon Keeper Trilogy

Title: Dragon Keeper Author: Carole Wilkinson Publisher: Penerbit Matahati (2008) ISBN: 9789791141192 Pages: 412 Original Published Date: 2004	Title: Garden of the Purple Dragon Author: Carole Wilkinson Publisher: Penerbit Matahati (2008) ISBN: 979114124x Pages: 422 Original Published Date: 2007	Title: Dragon Moon Author: Carole Wilkinson Publisher: Penerbit Matahati (2009) ISBN: 9789791141321 Pages: 410 Original Published Date: 2007

Entah kenapa, membaca buku pertama rasanya mengingatkan pada sepenggal kisah Eragon, waktu Eragon pertama kali melarikan diri dari desanya bersama Brom. Ya mungkin karena latar ceritanya mirip seperti itu: anak muda, tidak berpengalaman, ragu-ragu, gak tahu apa-apa, berjalan bersama seekor? seseorang yang sangat tahu dunia, pernah jadi yang sangat hebat tapi sekarang sudah tua, lemah dan sedikit terluka. Tapi Ping bukanlah Eragon, dan Danzi bukanlah Brom+Saphira. Dragon Keeper jauh lebih ringan dan konfliknya bisa dibilang satu dimensi saja. Settingnya yang di jaman Cina kuno tidak banyak memberikan nilai tambah. Meski demikian alur ceritanya lancar mengalir dan sangat enak dibaca. Ada juga detail cerita yang tidak biasa, ternyata si naga bisa nyamar jadi kakek-kakek ;). Lumayan juga, kalau digolongkan sebagai cerita fantasy anak-anak. Semoga sekuel-sekuelnya masih cukup menarik untuk dinikmati.

Sebenarnya mau ngasih bintang 2 saja, tapi saya suka sekali dengan ukiran/gambar timbul naga warna keemasan di sampul buku ini. Jadi tambah satu bintang hanya untuk cover-nya. *_*


***


Berbeda dengan Dragon Keeper yang sangat simpel, sequelnya, Garden of the Purple Dragon jauh lebih kompleks dan menarik. Karakter-karakternya sudah tidak lagi hitam-putih, dan Ping banyak belajar tentang kebohongan dan pengkhianatan, tentang keinginan-keinginan yang saling bertolak belakang dan juga tentang rasa cemburu. Emosi-emosi yang tidak pernah dikenalnya dalam hidupnya yang lurus dan sederhana.

Menyambung alur kisah beberapa saat setelah Danzi dan Hua pergi ke Pulau Penuh Berkah, Ping memutuskan untuk membesarkan Kai -sekarang sudah jadi anak naga yang usil dan penuh rasa ingin tahu- di lereng-lereng Gunung Taisan yang terlarang. Setelah beberapa bulan yang damai, Ping mendapati datangnya teman-teman dan musuh lama. Diawali dengan kembalinya super-Hua (yang diantar seekor Burung Phoenix), kemudian munculnya kembali si Necromancer, sampai pertemuan kembali dengan Sang Kaisar. Keadaan tampaknya masih baik-baik saja, bahkan Kaisar sudah memaafkan Ping dan memberikan jabatannya sebagai pengasuh Naga kembali, juga memberikan taman Pondok Ming Yang dengan nama Taman Naga Ungu. Tapi kemudian Ping nyaris terlambat menyadari bahwa Kaisar kini sudah terobsesi pada kehidupan abadi dan itu mendatangkan bahaya pada Kai. Kejutan-kejutan di akhir kisahnya cukup tak terduga. Tipu daya Kaisar. Pertemuannya kembali dengan keluarganya. Keputusan Putri Ming Yang. Kematian Dong Fang Suo. Keputusan Jun. Nasib Hua dan tikus-tikus Istana *serasa dongeng cinderella* #eaaa.
Yang pasti, setelah mengecap pahitnya pengkhianatan, Ping kemudian belajar pula tentang memaafkan dan rasa persahabatan. Ending yang sangat pas dan memuaskan. Bukan hanya Kai yang tumbuh besar, Ping juga sekarang sudah lebih dewasa.

[Yang sedikit mengganggu adalah plot mengapa Kaisar harus perlu bersusah-susah membuat sandiwara penangkapan si Necromancer. (1) Dia adalah Kaisar yang memegang kekuasaan mutlak, kenapa peduli tentang keinginan Ping (2) Apa tujuannya? Agar Ping mau mencari pengurus naga lainnya? (Bukannya Ping sudah berkali-kali meminta hal itu sendiri) Biar Ping keluar dari lingkungan Pondok Ming Yang? (Sekali lagi, Ping sudah berkali-kali minta untuk keluar mencari pengurus naga lainnya) Untuk memisahkan Ping dan Kai? (Lah, dianya kan Kaisar, tinggal perintah saja to?) Lalu kenapa ya? Aneeh...


***


"Sekarang kau menyesal, setelah terbaring di sini, dalam kegelapan, jauh dari para pelayanmu, dekat dengan maut yang masih siap menjemputmu. Kau tidak akan semenyesal ini setelah nanti kembali ke istanamu!"

Gooooo.... Ping!!!
Puas sekali mendengar (eh membaca maksudnya) Ping mengomeli Kaisar seperti itu. Dan aku merasa kata-kata itu pas sekali. Memang penyesalan selalu datang terlambat. *eh jadi alay jablay gini ripiunya* ;p Kebawa mood-nya Sang Kaisar siihh...
"Aku juga bukannya menawarkan pekerjaan padamu. Aku.... menawarkan hatiku." *Gubraaaaks...* *HAALAAH!!*


Hehehe.... Ya, tapi ini masih cerita Ping dan Kai, si naga kecil. Meski sedikit beralay-alay di awalnya, Ping tetap pada keputusannya untuk membawa Kai ke surga naga. Berbekal peta berteka-teki dari Danzi, Ping menelusuri wilayah kekaisaran dari Beibai terus ke barat, melewati Tembok Besar, menyeberang ke wilayah-wilayah padang rumput, kembali ke wilayah kekaisaran, dan terus mengurai petunjuk arah Dataran Tinggi Naga. Dalam perjalannya Ping kembali dipertemukan dengan Jun, yang sekarang sudah tumbuh tinggi besar dan menjadi saudagar sutra kaya, namun tetap masih merasa bersalah dan berhutang budi padanya. Dengan pertolongan Jun, Ping dan Kai berhasil menemui 8 naga yang masih tersisa. Namun Kai ternyata tidak dengan mudah dapat diterima oleh para naga tersebut, mengingat ia lahir di kandang Kaisar dan memiliki pengasuh seorang perempuan.

Mirip dengan buku pertamanya, buku ini lebih mengkisahkan tentang perjalanan Ping dan seekor naga asuhannya. Jika di Dragon Keeper ada Danzi, maka di buku ini ada Kai, anak Danzi. Bedanya di buku pertama, Ping dan Danzi menemui beberapa musuh yang mengejar-ngejar mereka, sedangkan di buku ketiga ini Ping dan Kai malah bertemu beberapa teman lama dan beberapa teman baru yang membantu perjalanan mereka. Cerita juga lebih difokuskan pada bagaimana Kai mendapatkan tempat di antara para naga, bagaimana Ping juga membantu Hei Lei si naga Halilintar Hitam meninggalkan kepedihannya terhadap manusia dan bagimana Ping merelakan perpisahan yang harus terjadi. Mengharukan memang, tapi tetap harus terjadi dan meninggalkan kenangan indah. *alay lagi*

Aku suka bagian Ping di Istana Beibai di bawah perlindungan Bangsawan Yan yang berakal sehat. Aku suka bagian Ping menemukan Kaisar yang terluka. Aku suka bagian Ping diselamatkan Hou Yi dan bangsa Ma Ren. Aku suka saat Jun membantu Ping dan Kai. Dan aku suka saat Ping membela Hei Lei dengan mengatakan bahwa lebih baik ia yang mati daripada melihat seekor naga lagi menemui ajalnya. Tapi yang paling aku suka adalah bagian di mana kisah ditutup dengan percakapan tentang masa depan antara Ping dan Jun. Tentang rumah yang nyaman dan daun-daun mulberry yang tumbuh subur dalam hujan yang turun. Dibandingkan "lamaran" sang Kaisar yang rada alay, tawaran Jun sederhana dan sungguh-sungguh terdengar tulus.
"Kai sudah berada di tempat yang seharusnya-di dunia para naga. Sekarang sudah waktunya bagimu untuk mengambil tempatmu si dunia manusia."
"Aku tidak pernah punya tempat di dunia manusia. aku sudah mengurus naga-naga sejak umurku empat tahun."
....
"Kau suka mulberry?"

Dan Ping-pun menemukan tempatnya di dunia walau masih bermimpi tentang seekor naga yang berpendar lima warna. TAMAT. #sigh

nb: sayang ya, cover buku ketiga dari terbitan Matahati ini tidak seperti dua buku sebelumnya, yang didominasi ukiran gambar timbul naga berwarna emas dan perak. Meski font judulnya masih sama dan image naganya juga serupa dengan buku-buku sebelumnya, tapi tetap tidak serasi jika dijajarkan seperti di atas itu :p

Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Title: Dari Asap dan Tulang
Original Title: Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Author: Laini Taylor
Publisher: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama (2012)
ISBN: 9789792287813
Pages: 488 pages
Original Published Date: 2011



Pada zaman dahulu,
seorang malaikat dan iblis jatuh cinta.
Kisah cinta mereka tidak berakhir indah.

Karou adalah seorang gadis mahasiswa jurusan seni di Praha. Meski nampaknya normal, namun ia punya kehidupan ganda sebagai pesuruh Brimstone, seorang/seekor/sebuah makhluk Chimaera untuk membeli berbagai jenis gigi dari berbagai tempat di dunia, yang didatangi lewat sebuah portal 'pintu ke mana saja' (mungkin Chimera berteman dengan Doraemon #eh #dikeprukgadingmamoth). Suatu ketika, saat Karou sedang berada di Marakesh, ia bertemu dengan seorang/seekor/sebuah makhluk Seraph, yang oleh Iziz si suplier gigi, di sebut Malak alias Malaikat. Seraph ini, Akiva namanya, dan teman-temannya yang lain, sedang menandai setiap pintu portal di dunia manusia, yang digunakan Chimaera untuk keluar-masuk mencari gigi-gigi tersebut. Mereka bertarung tapi Karou berhasil lolos berkat Hamsa-nya (tato berbentuk mata di kedua telapak tengan). Kembali ke tempat Brimstone, Karou yang lagi kumat kepo-nya, melanggar aturan dan melihat dunia Brimstone yang sesungguhnya. Ini membuat Brimstone murka dan mengusir Karou dari toko.

Di dunia yang lain itu ternyata sedang terjadi pertempuran antara Seraphim melawan Chimaera. Malaikat dan Iblis. Para makhluk tampan melawan para makhluk bengis setengah hewan. Dan di dunia itu, Brimstone adalah seorang penyihir yang mampu membangkitkan para prajurit Chimaera yang tewas dengan perantaraan gigi-gigi. Di dunia itu pula, dulu sekali, Brimstone pernah punya murid bernama Madrigal. Namun Madrigal sudah mati. Dan Akiva juga. Jiwa Akiva sudah mati bersama kekasihnya.

Sekarang Akiva bertemu Karou, manusia dengan Hamsa Chimera di tangannya.

***

Selesai membaca. Taruh buku. Masih tidak yakin apa yang terjadi. Apalagi berapa bintang rating yang akan diberikan.
....
....
....
....
....
Oke, begini masalahnya.
Cerita dibuka dengan bagus sekali. Karakterisasinya sangat menarik. Settingya di kota Praha yang eksotik dan digambarkan dengan unik. Penulisannya mengalir lancar dan asyik, kadang-kadang malah sedikit jahil. Beberapa bab pertama membuat buku ini sulit sekali diletakkan kembali.
Lalu...
Dua pertiga bagian buku dibaca dengan sangat cepat.
Lalu...
Selesai!

Jelas ada yang salah dengan pengaturan alur ceritanya. Dongeng 500 halaman ini, tidak ada klimaksnya!!



Cerita praktis selesai di hal 314, saat Karou pergi meninggalkan Akiva bersama Liraz dan Hazael. Atau bahkan jika mau sedikit quick-pace, di halaman 167, saat Karou dicampakkan ke luar toko oleh Brimstone. Keseluruhan bagian ketiga -kecuali 2 halaman paling akhir- merupakan flash-back kehidupan yang lalu Karou. Kisah cinta yang endingnya sudah dituliskan di bagian paliiing awal pembukaan cerita.

Bukannya kisah pada jaman dahulu..., dst, itu nggak penting. Penting sekali malah. Itu adalah tulang punggung premis keseluruhan cerita. Tapi karena cerita itu memakan hampir setengah buku (bagian akhirnya pula) ya jadinya keseluruhan novel ditutup dengan dataaaaaaarr sama sekali. Tidak ada pertempuran dahsyat. Tidak ada belokan-belokan cerita yang tak terduga. tidak ada apa-apa. Memang sih ada kejutan (bagi Karou) tentang apa yang telah dilakukan Akiva pada Brimstone, tapi itupun bukan rahasia bagi pembaca, karena darimana lagi Akiva bisa punya buku sketsa Karou kalau bukan dia yang datang ke tempat Brimstone, dan pintu yang terbakar, dan Kishmish jaga mati terbakar. Akiva yang selalu memancarkan panas. Karou seharusnya bisa menduga apa yang terjadi!!.

Untuk kisah Seraph dan Chimaera sendiri, yang diartikan Malaikat dan Iblis di sini, saya merasa bukanlah sebagai penghujatan terhadap agama manapun, namun lebih sebagai bentuk dongeng yang dirajut makhluk manusia terhadap perca-perca kebenaran tentang sebuah dunia lain. Dongeng-dongeng yang berbeda namun serupa juga dirajut oleh Chimera dan Seraph terhadap perca-perca legenda mereka. Bagi para Seraph, mereka adalah makhluk yang diciptakan dari cahaya yang diberikan 100 bintang, sedangkan Chimaera adalah makhluk yang diciptakan dari kegelapan bayangan. Di sisi lain, Chimaera beranggapan mereka adalah anak-anak penyesalan dari air mata bulan sedangkan Seraph adalah anak-anak kemarahan dari darah matahari.

Dan seperti yang sudah saya singgung di atas, saya suka sekali karakterisasi dan setingnya. Laini Taylor mengambil tema Romeo dan Juliet, memberinya dunia-dunia baru (bukan saja dengan Romeo yang tampan tapi juga dengan Juliet perkasa yang bersenjatakan 2 belati bulan sabit dan tidak berkedip menghadapi todongan senapan!). Untuk penulisannya, cerita mengalir lancar dan indah. Bab-babnya pendek dan masing-masing diberi judul yang kadang lumayan puitis, kadang ironis. Bagian awal kisah beralur maju, namun setelah pertengahan, alurnya maju-mundur dan berulang yang terasa sedikit menjengkelkan. Dan terutama di bagian ketiga, karena settingnya (Loramendi, di Dunia lain) dan karakternya (Madrigal dan Chiro dan Thiago) sangat jauh berbeda dengan bagian pertama dan kedua, saya merasa seperti membaca kisah yang lain, meski masih ada hubungannya.

Meskipun demikian, dengan menyimpan segudang pengharapan dalam kantong ajaib Doraemon, saya bertekad memberi buku ini rating 4 bintang dengan S & K berlaku, rating ini masih dapat berubah, jika sequelnya ternyata mengecewakan. Kisah ini (katanya) dimaksudkan sebagai sebuah trilogi, maka mungkin buku pertama ini hanya sebagai pembuka jalan saja. Semoga saja buku kedua dan ketiga tidak harus ditunggu terlalu lama, dan semoga saja yang tiga tidak menjadi empat, lima, enam, tujuh. Dalam penutupan kisah, memang masih banyak pertanyaan yang belum terjawab, dan kalau mau dibilang, misi perdamaian masih belum dijalankan sama sekali. Jadi mungkin seru-seruannya masih disimpan untuk nanti-nanti. Semoga....

***

Note untuk edisi terjemahan Bahasa Indonesia:
(1) Ilustrasi sampulnya BAGUS sekaliii, paling bagus dari cover semua edisi yang lain. Saya suka sekali gambaran yang pas untuk sehelai bulu putih yang panas membakar karena sangat dinginnya. Cantik sekaligus tragis??

(2) Seperti layaknya hasil kerja GPU, terjemahannya enak dibaca dan typo-nya kalau gak salah cuma nemu 2 biji, entah di mana. Sip.

***

Buku kedua serial ini berjudul Days of Blood and Starlight dan dijadwalkan akan terbit 6 November 2012. Kira-kira kapan ya, edisi Bahasa Indonesia-nya terbit?

The Alchemist and the Angel

Title: The Alchemist and the Angel
Original Title: The Alchemist and the Angel
Author: Joanne Owen
Publisher: Ufuk Publishing (2011)
ISBN: 9786028801850
Pages: 360 pages
Original Published Date: 2010




Meskipun ceritanya sangat standar YA Fantasy, tapi saya sangat suka buku ini. Mungkin karena mood saat membaca yang lagi baik, atau memang ceritanya asik, ringan walau sedikit gelap, dengan aura sihir dan petualangan yang kental.

Cover
Ilustrasi sampulnya unik, sebuah ilusi optikal. Kita bisa memilih untuk melihat gambar 2 orang bocah, dua buah pohon, sebuah ampul cairan eliksir dan sederetan nisan (dan banyak detil-detil lainnya), atau kita bisa melihat sebuah tengkorak. Ya, tengkorak (sudah lihat? kalau belum menjauhlah sedikit dari layar, dan lihat bentuk dari kedua pohon, matanya pada gambar kedua anak dan gigi-giginya pada nisan...).

Ilustrasi-ilustrasi 
Dalam cerita banyak ilustrasi-ilustrasi lain yang tidak kalah unik. Yang jadi favoritku adalah gambar Mandrake dan gambar kupu-kupu dalam botol. Sayangnya, tidak seperti Abarat yang full color, semua gambar di sini hitam putih.



(lengkapnya lihat di sini)

Side Stories
Walau banyak yang bilang terganggu dengan side stories di buku ini, saya malah menyukainya. Kisah-kisah pendek sebagai selingan. Tidah ada hubungannya dengan cerita utama, tapi lebih menjelaskan setting atau sumber inspirasinya. Beberapa sudah saya kenal sebelumnya, seperti kisah Hera dengan burung merak dan seribu mata pada masing-masing ekornya. Yang lainnya adalah dongeng baru yang sama ajaibnya dengan kisah utama.

Alur cerita
Bersetting di Vienna dan Praha abad 16, kisahnya berkisar tentang kehidupan para alkemis yang sibuk mencari rahasia kehidupan. Cara mengubah benda menjadi emas dan cairan eliksir yang mampu memperpanjang umur manusia. Juga tentang wabah pes yang melanda kota-kota di Eropa saat itu. Suka kelokan ceritanya, terutama tentang ambisi Greta, tapi sedikit kecewa karena Croll ternyata benar-benar orang baik. #eh :p
Gak sukanya karena endingnya terlalu mudah. *ya iyalah, ini kan YA Fantasy, bukan Grotesque!*
Dan kemudian mereka berdua live happily ever after.
#jyaaahhh....

Lemari Benda-benda Aneh Raja Rudolph
Wunderkammer sering disebut-sebut dalam kisah ini tapi sedikit sekali dijabarkan detil-detilnya. Jadi pengin tahu lebih banyak....

Ini dari wikipedia
Ini dari homepage Wunderkammer

Dan ini kira-kira gambaran tentang Wunderkammer