Elephantasm

Book Details

Library

Author

Tanith Lee

Category

Fantasy/Horror

Editor

Reference #

Contributor

Location

Translator

Status

Publisher

Headline Book Publishing

Owner

Country

Great Britain

Personal

Language

Read it

Yes

Year Published

1993

Date Read

22/02/2006

ISBN

0747278970

Personal Rating

 6/10

LCCN

Purchase

Edition

Purchase Date

10/02/2006

Printing

Acquired from 

Marlborough Library

Binding

Book Club Edition

Price

$1.00

Pages

310

Value

$0.00

Overview

Annie Ember lives in abject poverty with her sister Rose... until she discovers the mysterious shop where she buys, for one penny, a tiny and ancient ivory elephant. Soon afterwards a grisly murder leaves Annie without home or family - but employment is found for her in a country house far away.

Sir Hampton Smolte made a fortune in India, and has brought back not only his wealth but also an obsessive hatred of that conquered land. His mansion is fanciful and extraordinary, like a raja's palace set down in green English parkland.

Annie drudges as a scullery maid in this house full of stuffed animals, eccentric servants, and the even more peculiar Smolte family. But soon she catches the eye of the handsome Rupert, who like his father is fascinated with India. Entranced, she succumbs to his attentions, till one night she discovers in disgust and terror just his lovemaking entails...

Annie's fear and helpless fury provide the catalyst that turns this dream-house into a vortex of panic and the impossible - letting in all the power of the jungle, and unlocking the darkest secrets of Hampton Smolte's beginnings.

Comment

Tanith Lee writes very dark fantasy, and she writes it in such a way that you read more slowly - you really soak the story in.

The main character, Annie, is completely detached from her surroundings, and the other characters are compelling but sketchy - you know enough about them to know whether or not you like them, but that's all.

I like Tanith Lee's style. Having grown out of complete fantasy (alternate worlds like the Forgotten Realms books), I like the balance between fantasy and reality.