I first read the first book in Anne Bishop’s The Others series, Written in Red, for book club over two years ago and found it to be an engaging, fuzzy, and warm story and so last year I decided to read more. While the rest of the series is very enjoyable, Anne Bishop definitely found the limits of her prophetic and physically weak protagonist.
The Others series is set in an alternate Earth where powerful creatures known as the terra indigene (Latin for earth native) rule most of the planet. Terra indigene range in form from classic Western monsters such as werewolves and vampires to more Dungeon and Dragons-like creatures such as Wind and Earth elementals. There are even some classic variations on Greek monsters like Medusa, but the most powerful of the terra indigene are the things that reside deep in the wild, formless and hungry. In the world of The Others, humanity is merely smart prey, kept alive only because they amuse the terra indigene with shiny new things like computers and telephones. In exchange, humanity is allowed to rent land from the terra indigene and people who live deep in these enclaves find it easy to forget what lives beyond the borders and to resent the many controls imposed on them. The conflict between the arrogant ignorance of humanity and the desire of the terra indigene to protect nature forms the core of the global stakes.
The main characters in the series are Meg Corbyn, a young woman who can see the future through the act of cutting herself, and Simon Wolfgard who is the leader of the local terra indigene group. In the first book, Meg escapes a group of humans who want to profit off her prophecies and becomes the human liaison for Simon’s Courtyard (what they call the complex where the terra indigene live). As the humans and the terra indigene try to figure out whether or not humans and terra indigene can work together, Meg and Simon learn to work together and fight to keep Lakeside where they live from being wiped off the map because of various attacks on the terra indigene.
Overall, I liked the stories. Despite being physically much much weaker than the terra indigene like Simon, Meg stills holds her own against the odds, and her desire to save everyone including the terra indigene keeps the Lakeside Courtyard focused on working with the humans instead of against them. I particularly like some of the personalities in the Courtyard such as the leader of the vampires, Erebus, and Simon’s nephew Sam, who spends the first book stuck in wolf form. My favorite image from the books is Erebus and Sam watching cartoons together. As the second protagonist, Simon is always trying to figure out how to deal with Meg and the other humans, and he has a few good moments here and there as well. Overall, the idea of a world where huamnity lives int eh shadow of much stronger creatures drew me in.
Unfortunately some points of the story are a little weak. By book 5 Etched in Bone, the idea that humans would be willing to constantly try to go toe to toe with the terra indigene even though both recent and ancient history made it clear that the terra indigene could wipe them out got harder and harder to stomach. It was pretty clear that every time humanity though of something cool, they would try to use it against the terra indigene, get the stuffing kicked out of them, and get their shiny toys and lives taken away. Also by book 5, I found the constant gender jokes to be rather tiring. Human females are apparently the most confusing creatures on the planet, despite the fact that Winter can just stop in for tea if she feels like it.
Despite that I recommend The Others series, particularly if you want something light to read. It’s not pushing the envelope at least not now in 2019, but the books are a solid read overall.
Admaeus Speaks 