Fire Sea is a 1991
fantasy novel by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, the third in the seven-volume
Death Gate Cycle. Here, Haplo travels
to the subterranean world of Abarrach, a dying realm in which the Sartan
remnant has turned to the forbidden art of necromancy.
This is easily the best novel in the series thus far. The authors
use their striking atmosphere – a third distinct and captivating world – to tell
what is essentially a horror story. It certainly helps that the novel depicts a
scenario that’s extremely horrific.
Fire Sea also
starts to give us some real insight into the questions raised in previous
novels, particularly the burning question of what happened to the Sartan on the
other worlds. At the same time, the authors introduce compelling new questions
while simultaneously ratcheting up the stakes for all concerned.
We also get some nice character development for both Haplo
and Alfred, with Haplo beginning to make the obvious move from antihero to a
man with a conscience, and with Alfred beginning to maybe grow a pair. Both
characters can, from time to time, feel like one-note caricatures, so this
evolution is welcome, even if their moody self-questioning can be a little
much.
In short, Fire Sea
is a compelling blend of horror and intrigue, one that is full of bold promise
for the rest of this series.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
