Shardik (Magill’s Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature)
At a glance:
- Author: Richard Adams
- First Published: 1974
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Fantasy—mythological
- Time of Work: Post-Shardik, equivalent to the Iron Age
- Setting: The Beklan Empire
- Genres: Long fiction, Fantasy
- Subjects: Mythology or myths, Religion, Gods or goddesses, Cults, Prophecy or prophets, Hunting or hunters, Bears, Animals, Priests, Animals, dangerous, Iron Age
- Locales: Bekla (mythic), Ortelga (mythic)
The Plot
On the insignificant island of Ortelga on the outskirts of the Beklan Empire, Kelderek the hunter encounters a huge bear, identified by the high priestess (Tuginda) as the manifestation of Shardik, Power of God. A prophecy states that a man and a woman will reestablish God’s will through their association with the bear, and the Tuginda believes that she and Kelderek are those selected.
An ambitious baron, Ta-kominion, imprisons the Tuginda on her sacred island and persuades Kelderek to use the bear as a figurehead to lead the reconquest of Bekla by its ancient...
[The entire page is 939 words long]
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