Midnight over Sanctaphrax ANNOTATION
Twig, a young sky pirate captain, is the only one who can save the floating city of Sanctaphrax from the Mother Storm.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Far over the Edge, a mighty storm is brewing - a whirling vortex of immense power and unimaginable ferocity that is essential to the survival of the Edgelands. In its path is Sanctaphrax - a magnificent city built on a floating rock and tethered to the land by a massive chain. Sailing over the Edge and into the maelstrom itself, Twig - a young sky pirate captain - is the only Edgelander to learn of the approaching danger. But the perilous voyage destroys his sky ship, hurling his crew far into - and beyond - the Deepwoods, and robbing Twig of all memory.
Setting out for the Deepwoods, Twig is determined to gather together his lost crew. But will his journey help unlock his memory too? For if no action is taken, Sanctaphrax will be at the mercy of the Storm, the Edgewater River will cease flowing - and a stagnant darkness will spread out like a vast fungus over every inch of the edgelands.
Brilliantly illustrated and filled with highly original characters - from trogs and goblins, to savage cloddertrogs, treacherous shrykes and gruesome waifs - Midnight Over Sanctaphrax can be read as a single action-packed adventure or as the final triumphant tale in a magnificent fantasy trilogy.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Midnight Over Sanctaphrax: The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell is the third title in the series. Here, Twig, the teenage sky pirate from the earlier titles, and his crew of elves, goblins and other creatures find Twig's father after braving a weather vortex. They are then entrusted with a quest that will save the lands of the Edge. Of the series' launch title, Beyond the Deepwoods, PW said: "The narrative will cast a spell over readers from the beginning with its utterly odd, off-kilter sense of logic and a vocabulary that is equal parts Dr. Seuss and Lewis Carroll." Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
School Library Journal
Gr 5-9-The young sky-pirate Captain Twig has been sent on a quest by his father Cloud Wolf. To save his world, he must sever the Anchor Chain of the floating city Sanctaphrax-home to academics and alchemists-before the Mother Storm arrives to reseed Riverrise with her rain. Unfortunately, Twig's memory of his father's instructions is gone, and his crew is scattered. Accompanied by Cowlquape, a Sanctaphrax apprentice, he scours the lands below for his crew and clues to the memories he has lost. Midnight is peopled with complex characters like woodelves, who can read minds; and wigwigs, fuzzy, Tribblelike creatures that happen to be carnivorous. Riddell's illustrations perfectly complement Stewart's text, but could mistakenly lead those perusing the book to assume it is for younger readers. It is not. Violence occurs, and characters die, some deservedly, others not. Stewart tackles issues of slavery and class structure while still maintaining a good adventure story with a very Hobbit-like feel to it. Readers unfamiliar with the series will have no trouble following this story, but expect a demand for Beyond the Deepwoods and Stormchaser (both Random, 2004).-Lisa Prolman, Greenfield Public Library, MA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
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