The Arm of the Stone
by Victoria Strauss
review by Chad Cottle
 
 
When I picked up a copy of The Arm of the Stone, I had no idea who Victoria Strauss was.  In the past I have been a little reluctant to pick up new books by new authors.  Recently I picked up two novels from authors I had never read before and couldn't get through fifty pages before I lost interest and put the book down.

Not so with this book.

The idea of the story was intriguing.  It had to do with MindPower and HandPower.  In the society, HandPower is strictly guarded by the Book of Limits, an elaborate list of detailed instructions on the creation of all tools.  Technological advances, you see, are considered evil.  The main character's name is Bron.  When his older brother Selwyn creates a better hoe, one that will help his mother in the garden, he finds himself in violation of the Book of Limits.  The ensuing problems this creates and how Bron deals with it I will not reveal here.  The Arm of the Stone is an organization of men and women who go about the countryside enforcing the Book of Limits.  When the Arm of the Stone comes to deal with Bron's brother, you can imagine the chaos and termoil it creates for this family.

As I read this wonderful novel, I was mesmerized by the dialoge, the characterization, the way all the people in this rich tale came together, how their personalities were so richly developed.  This is exactly the kind of story I want to write.  This is exactly the kind of story I long to find.  It is a perfect novel.  I could not resist sending Victoria and e-mail to tell her how much I appreciated this fine novel.  We swapped a few e-mails back and forth and in so doing I learned, to my immense delight,  that Victoria is just completing volume two.   And she told me it is a long book.  I love long boks.

I want to talk all day about this book, but then again I don't want to tell you any more about the story than I already have.  My "top ten" list only has six books on it.  Only six times, of the hundreds of novels I have read, have I been so mesmerized by a novel that I think about it for years after having read it.  This is one of the six books on that list.  This is the kind of book I want to write.  This is the kind of book you can't miss.  Click the image below and buy it right now.  It will be $8 very well spent.

Victoria Strauss is a master storyteller.  She came though again and again, with each chapter, fulfilling all my expectations and hopes.  This book will leave you breathless and wanting more.

You can also visit Victoria's webpage at:  http://www.sff.net/people/victoriastrauss
 

by Victoria Strauss
 

review written by Chad Cottle