| Title | : | Gregor and the Code of Claw (Underland Chronicles, #5) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 043979143X |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780439791434 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 412 |
| Publication | : | First published April 3, 2007 |
Everyone in the Underland has been taking great pains to keep The Prophecy of Time from Gregor. Gregor knows it must say something awful but he never imagined just how awful: It calls for the warrior's death. Now, with an army of rats approaching, and his mom and sister still in Regalia, Gregor the warrior must gather up his courage to help defend Regalia and get his family home safely. The entire existence of the Underland is in Gregor's hands, and time is running out. There is a code to be cracked, a mysterious new princess, Gregor's burgeoning dark side, and a war to end all wars.
Gregor and the Code of Claw (Underland Chronicles, #5) Reviews
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Gregor and the Code of Claw (Underland Chronicles, #5), Suzanne Collins
Gregor and the Code of Claw is a children's novel by author Suzanne Collins, best known for her Hunger Games trilogy. It is the fifth and final book of The Underland Chronicles, and was published in 2007.
The novel has been praised especially as a conclusion to The Underland Chronicles. In its description of the novel, as part of its "Recommended Books" award, the CCBC states, "Although Gregor and the Code of Claw works as a stand-alone story, readers will want to start with book one and work their way through to this final volume." An audiobook version was released in 2008, read by Paul Boehmer.
Only a few hours have passed since the closing of Gregor and the Marks of Secret, when Gregor returns from the Firelands to warn Regalia of an impending gnawer attack. As the novel opens, Gregor is numb with shock from the Prophecy of Time's apparent prediction of his death. He and his bond Ares disobey Solovet and return to the Firelands to find the terribly ill Luxa, Aurora, and Howard. Upon his return, Solovet orders Gregor locked in the dungeon as punishment for this insubordination. He is eventually released by Nerissa to help his sister Boots while the toddler works to fulfill the Prophecy of Time by deciphering the rats' "Code of Claw". ...
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز بیست و چهارم ماه جولای سال2014میلادی
عنوان: تاریخ اعماق زمین - کتاب پنج - گریگور و رمز سرپنجه؛ نویسنده سوزان کالینز؛ مترجم عاطفه احمدی؛ تهران، ویدا، چاپ اول و دوم سال1392؛ در323ص؛ شابک9786002910356؛ موضوع: داستانهای علمی خیال انگیز از نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده20م
همگان، در دنیای زیرزمینی، تلاششان را کرده اند، تا متن پیش‌گویی زمان را، از «گریگور» پنهان کنند؛ «گریگور» می‌داند، که پیش‌گویی، باید از رخداد وحشتناکی، خبر دهد؛ اما در خیالش هم نمی‌گنجید، که مرگ آن جنگجو، چیزی باشد، که از آن حرف زده شده است؛ حالا او، باید با شجاعتش، به جنگ سپاه موش‌های صحرایی، برود؛ جنگی که پایانی، برای همه ی جنگ‌هاست، و کشف یک رمز، نتیجه ی آن را، آشکار می‌کند؛ سرنوشت دنیای زیرزمینی، در دستان «گریگور» است، و زمان بسیاری نیز دسترس نیست؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 18/12/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 15/11/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی -
Instead of beginning back in New York, a few months after the previous novel, the fifth, and final, book in The Underland Chronicles takes place almost immediately after Marks of Secret. After declaring war against the rats and their hitler-esque leader, The Bane, the Underlanders are preparing for the mighty war that Sandwich predicted. Gregor, Boots and the gang (joined by a surprise member of Gregor's family) rush to decode the Code of Claw according to the final prophecy. FIlled with nonstop action, Gregor and The Code of Claw is a wonderful and thought-provoking ending to the series.
I can honestly say that this book shook me. After spending so much time with Suzanne Collins' amazing characters, I was quite sad to see them go. I was perhaps more dissapointed that for most of them, there was no happily ever after, no perfect ending. Despite all they have done, Gregor and Luxa are still preteens at the end of this book, so their stories cannot have an ending. They have growing up to do, new struggles to face, and as much as I crave a happy ending, I do respect Collins for not slapping it on there, because to do so would cheapen the novels. I believe that his experience with the Underland has made Gregor into a perceptive young man who is able to see beyond the traditional presentation of right and wrong. Being in The Underland allows Gregor to think more critically, and to make his own decisions, instead of just blaming fate or a prophecy. I also believe that reading this book has helped me to challenge some of the things I once believed and to more thoroughly explore both sides of any issue.
I highly recommend this series to young readers and older readers alike because I think it is a well-written, thought provoking series. I hope that Suzanne Collins will at least consider continuing the Underland Chronicles (perhaps through a prequel or spin-off series, I'm not sure a sequel to Code of the Claw would be wise), or, at the very least, work on a new series that captures some of the elements that made this one outstanding. -
In this last book in the Gregor the Overlander series, Suzanne Collins achieves the impossible. She made me cry over the reported death of a rat. It is a testament to her skill at writing these characters in such a way that they seem so real, so believable, so sympathetic. She does a fantastic job of painting each creature in shades of gray. There is no one that is all good or all bad. Perhaps that is what makes them seem so real. I fought tears for the entire last half of this book. I'm sure part of it was because it did feel very final. But more of it was because I could feel the pain contained in the story and relate so easily to the suffering described. Gregor has grown from an impudent child to a mature emissary, struggling with issues of right and wrong; war and peace; justice and injustice. You can't help but like him.
I read the first Gregor book on a recommendation from my sister-in-law. I wasn't all that impressed with the first one, although it was entertaining enough that I wanted to give the rest of the series a chance. I am so glad I stuck with it. I didn't sob aloud for the tragedy in this book as I did when reading of a certain Hogwart's funeral, but I love these characters. I am so sad that there are no more stories about them. Collins' writing improved markedly with each book and I hope she continues to write many more. -
I liked this series a lot, and I liked this book for the most part. I think that I'd give it a 3.5 if I could. The ending didn't give me the closure that I'd like.
SPOILER ALERT - - - - SPOILER ALERT - - - -
I felt like Gregor's connection with the Underland after the final battle wasn't clear. You're not sure if he's moving, if he'll ever go to the Underland again, if he'll ever see Luxa again, how he'll handle trying to be a normal 12 year old again after all that he has been through and all the death/killing, how he's supposed to act normal and not like he's riddled with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and how he'll explain the fact that he's covered in scars from head to toe. Essentially, I didn't have to have all of that explained, but I needed to have a tad more closure than I got. Considering that this book is geared toward juveniles, I can't imagine them going with the "Cast Away" type ending that you god here.
All that being said. This series was totally worth reading! -
I loved this series! Suzanne sure has a way with her characters and I loved so many of them here. Especially Ripred - I cried when I thought they had lost him. Deep down I figured he would make it out okay. And the ending - It left me wanting more, but that's because I wasn't ready to let these characters go. I do feel they will be alright and that Gregor will return to the Underland some day. I just can't see him not going back to Luxa and his friends. Great story! :)
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"If you hit bottom, there's a whole lot of people here to help you up."
°•*⁀➷
What an epic end to this series. This book felt a bit slow in the beginning, but once it gets going it doesn't stop. And I loved it. I loved experiencing this world through Gregor and cannot believe it took me so long to get to it. Suzanne Collins, I love you.
This entire series has been full of such incredible lessons that I think this one felt slow only because it was the conclusion, when all of those lessons need to put into action and followed through on. Gregor found it very difficult to trust, to fight for people that don't trust him, and to fight a war he didn't necessarily believe in either. Let me tell you that when I was 11... I wasn't fighting a war. But he was, and it's kind of a metaphor for when you come to an age when you need to start taking in information and doing something about it.
We saw him confused, struggling with grief and expectation, and all while taking care of his entire family. There's one point where he flat out says that he's the parent, and he was, and in the end his parents tell him he has to get used to having parents again and I just don't know if he'll be able to. I like that it was included because the reader can jump out of it and appreciate their parents just a little more, and all the hard work they do. I don't think a lot of us really get to see how hard are parents work for us. It's nice to sort of have it thrown in your face.
I can't wait to share this with kids like I do Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. It's right up there with one of the best middle grade series I've ever read. I wish I had read it then, but I'm so glad I've read it now.
- Paige -
*No spoilers*
I always judge series endings way more harshly, otherwise it would've maybe been a 5 star. It was a great ending filled with action and battles and a large amount of bloodshed, but I personally think the battle between Gregor and the Bane was over too quickly. I also think they killed off someone else rather unspectacularly. The last chapter was nice, but not what I wanted to happen. Or perhaps a nice little epilogue with Gregor going back to Underland would've done it for me. I love me an end of series epilogue :)
I cannot stress enough how much I have loved this series as a whole though. It deserves a way bigger fanbase than it has. I dare say that I love it as much as The Hunger Games. I'd struggle to pick a winner of the two - it enthralled me that much. It has been a nonstop adventure from the first page of Gregor the Overlander and I will definitely reread this series.
Lastly, sh*t gets real with this quote from the penultimate page..."People all over the world were suffering, starving, fleeing, killing one another as they waged their wars. How much energy they put into harming one another. How little into saving. Will it ever change? He thought of Luxa's hand pressed into Ripred's paw. That's what it would take. People rejecting war. Not one or two, but all of them. Saying it was an unacceptable way to solve their differences. By the look of things the human race had a lot of evolving to do before that happened. Maybe it was impossible. But maybe it wasn't."...I'm like dude you're 13, you're more deep and thoughtful than I am at twice your age :') -
Okay, I'm not sure what to rate this...maybe 4.5? It was just as wonderful and thoughtful as all of the books in the series, but the ending was SO unsettling and disturbing to me. I can't help but be plagued by the question: "What happened next?" There was also quite a lot of violence and sadness (neither of which was unexpected, given the way the series progressed). I would love to have had an epilogue or revisiting of the characters several years after the events of the book. I didn't feel quite satisfied at the end of the series not knowing what happened next, although I can definitely see why the author would think a neat, tied-up, happy ending wouldn't work for this sobering series.
SPOILER:
I was near tears through much of the last section of the book, but I think the saddest thing of all was the state of Gregor at the very end. Yes, he was more grown up and had learned some important lessons, but, although he had been bad off at the beginning of the series, he seemed SO MUCH worse off emotionally and physically at the end. At least his family was together, but how would they manage? Would health and happiness return for them? Would they ever be able to get by financially? Would Gregor EVER see the friends he loved in the Underland again? Was it fair (or healthy) for Gregor to fight so hard for the Underland and then never know what happened to his friends after he left? Gregor was such a good, decent kid throughout all the horrific events that unfolded in these books--didn't he deserve a little peace and happiness at some point?! -
I plan on owning this entire series. I want all my kids to read it. I loved the 5th book SO MUCH...I give it 5 stars!!! The combination of humor, tragedy, suspense, adventure, mystery, drama, and romance had me glued to each page, staying up WAY TOO LATE because I couldn't put it down. I'm so sad the series is done. I would LOVE to see some more books about Gregor and his Underland friends.
The ending was my favorite kind: Bittersweet. Lots of sadness and tragedy (I admit I cried several times throughout the book!!!) but lots of sweetness and hope as well. The ending was terrific, it really pulled everything together fabulously. I was just so sad that Gregor and his family didn't stay permanently in the Underland, but everything the author did was well done; it all had a concrete purpose. My opinion of her writing and her storylines just sky rocketed! (This gave me great hope for a spectacular 3rd intallment in the Hunger Games Trilogy)
The ending really made me think. The themes of this book are war and peace, revenge and forgiveness, hope and despair...submission, service, and self-sacrifice. Luxa and Gregor's memories, hopes, dreams, and nightmares will haunt me for a while. It's the kind of haunting I like, though. I like endings that really stick to you, really make you feel deeply. It's this kind of ending that makes the entire series so great. To me, it's a classic. -
A great ending to the series! Ripred rocks!
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This is THE best middle grade series I have ever read. I am literally at a loss for words. I don't think I have ever read something so profound and thought-provoking and real in my entire life. I just need everyone to read this. Like I mean everyone. All of you reading this, this series better be on your tbr.
I don't even know where to start. This book is the darkest, saddest, most depressing book in the series. It takes the whole "main character is the hero of the story" and makes it realistic. I find a lot of books don't delve much into the emotional and mental aspect of a character's development. Considering everything Gregor has gone through, his thought process, his reactions, his anxiety, his PTSD...just everything, felt right, realistic, and true to not just his character but the situation as a whole. How many times have we read a book where a character goes through all these horrible things and then the book ends with "and they lived happily ever after"? This series doesn't do that. It not only shows the difficult decisions and choices that need to be made, but it also leaves the reader thinking at the end.
The last half of the book was a series of stabs to my chest. Everything was a mess, there were so many sad and precious moments, so many deaths. I'm still not over the words "I'm okay", not just because Gregor is only 13 years old and has had to go through so much, but also because they're the same words I find myself repeating sometimes when things are really ba. The last chapter itself was classics Suzanne Collins. I love perfectly resolved happy endings, but in reality, those don't happen so frequently. And just like in the Hunger Games, we're left wanting more closure, wanting to know what will happen next, how the characters are going to cope, etc. etc. That last chapter was worse than death. I swear if I had it in me, I would have been bawling my eyes out on the bus. I even contemplated writing fanfic. It affected me that much.
Besides everything that happens in the last chapter, we're given a lot of moments when Gregor reflects on what he's gone through and how that is going to affect him afterwards. He applies everything he's learned to the Overland, and we sort of get an idea where we might see his character in the future. That being said, there were so many questions I had. And while I can totally imagine what might have happened, I wish Suzanne would continue this series. It is better than anything I have ever read and I can't stress enough how important this book is.
I don't really want to go into the plot or the other characters too much. Luxa has grown a lot throughout the book and I'm really happy with how things ended. Ripred is my man. I love him so much. THE DEATHS. Will always pain me for the rest of my life. Except for one .
Also, Suzanne has a way with poems and riddles. I don't know how she does it, but it's amazing. And the whole Code of Claw too.
The last couple sentences in the final chapter were so precious and pure and I absolutely love Boots and she can now say Gregor properly and I seriously just want to die cause it was too good -
Gregor didn't know how to tell his father that he didn't even want to go back to New York. That the boy who had fallen down the air shaft on a hot summer's day was gone, replaced by someone who could never find a home anywhere.
There's never a day that goes by where I don't get teary eyed by the ending of this book. I've reread this entire series like 9 times and in never fails to amaze me. This is a middle grade novel, yet here I am, enjoying it like it's the first time after so many rereads.
Code of Claw is honestly one of the most brilliant series finales I've ever read. Its got sacrifice, war, plenty of deaths, fighting, humor, avenging, team ups you never expected, perfect endings for each of the characters, loose end tie ups, a little bit of love, a battle to the death that doesn't disappoint, a slightly open ending that'll keep you guessing, and an amazingly accurate depiction of children dealing with a broad spectrum of emotions that are thrust upon them.
Each book in this series focuses on an important issue (or multiple issues) that we as humans have a hard time dealing with. And each one does a spectacular job of describing those issues in a way that young readers can comprehend, and adults can enjoy and be impacted by as well.
Gregor the Overlander- capture, betrayal of loved ones, what really starts a war, racism, etc
Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane- the impact of first impressions, segregation of species/races, alienation, the effects of trauma on prisoners of war, etc
Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods- biological warfare, war crimes, sacrifice, the idea of war versus peace, the effects of brutal crimes on insanity, the unnecessary deaths of loved ones during battles, etc
Gregor and the Marks of Secret- genocide, shock, overwhelming mass murders, torture and imprisonment, etc
Gregor and the Code of Claw- PTSD in children, full frontal war, brutal death and dismemberment, the aftereffects of mass murders and attempted genocide, refugees, panic attacks, autism, etc
I honestly could go on and on and on and on about everything that's brought up and written about in this series, but that would be a whole book on its own. The first time I read this series (especially the third, fourth and fifth books) I was constantly going to my mother, teachers, and other adults and asking them questions well beyond what I was learning in school. Suzanne Collins knows how mature children can be when treated right, and she isn't afraid to bring up such controversial topics like racism and genocide for children to learn about. Of course, she explains these issues in such a way that these children are capable of digesting them on their own, but this is definitely a series that parents should read as well so that they can talk about these things.
Code of Claw takes every thing- every singular plot point- from the previous books and ties them all together in an unforgettable final climax. All of the characters that we've met and lost have their time to shine in the end battle, with plenty of death scenes being heart wrenching and tear jerking. The relationships that were formed over the span of four books are tried and tested, and some are broken for good because of necessary decisions made for the protection of that specific character or the whole population. Gregor realizes that actions do have consequences, and consequently has a hard time digesting the fact that he has set in motion a- quite frankly- inevitable war to end all wars.
This book doesn't shy away from the mental side of warfare either. A lot of people don't seem to realize that younger human beings suffer from this kind of shit as well. Gregor has SEEN HORRIBLE THINGS. He's had friends killed in front of him, he's seen the Underland's verison of gas chambers while they're in use. He's learned that humans are more the monster than actual monsters at times, and he's seen what said humans are capable of during crisis. Obviously, he's not going to come out of this unscathed, if at all.
"It's okay," Gregor whispered to himself. "It's okay." A feeling of peace slowly descended on him. He realized his death was not only okay, it was for the best. He was never going back to New York, anyway. How could he go back after all that had happened? Where would a twelve-year-old kid, a warrior, a killer, ever be at home? Because no matter how much the humans loved him during a war, who would want him around on a regular basis?
And, on top of Gregor's PTSD, we've got his younger sister Lizzie with her severe anxiety attacks when she's forced underground due to her father's declining health.
There's the Bane's insanity, a product of having his mother AND father brutally murdered before his eyes as a baby and growing up with a godlike complex while being trained to believe that all the species of the Underland hate his own kind.
There's Luxa's inability to trust anyone besides her bat Aurora after her parents are killed by rats, her best friend and cousin betrays her for the rats after the promise of being king, and her grandmother is the person blamed for using biological warfare. With the title of queen thrown on her head before she's even 10, she never gets to enjoy any semblance of childhood.
Baby Hazard's entire family has all been killed in various methods because of this war, and he has to learn to hold those he's loved in his heart and believe that they're watching over him.
Hamnet went insane because he was pushed by his own mother to commit heinous war crimes and he watched innocents washed away in a flood of his own causing. He had to fucking flee to the jungle to escape his own family before he would decide that killing himself was the only way to be free.
I mean, I could honestly go on, but you get the idea. The diversity of these characters and their personalities is INSANE, and I love each and every one of them with all of my heart.
I will never shut up about this series, because it is EXTREMELY underrated for its brilliance. My verdict, even after yet another reread:
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Did I love this more then Harry Potter and Percy Jackson? Not quite, but I have to admit, I've really enjoyed myself with this entire series. Not only was it action packed, suspenseful and has some really great humor, but it's also a fun creepy world that you can't help but get lost in, even though reading about giant rats and bugs still gave me the willies here and there.
Gregor and The Code of Claw was an excellent ending to a wonderful series. It's not quite the happy ending that I admit I was hoping for, but lets face it, this is one of Collins books so I guess I shouldn't have been shocked. I cried, and that's all I'm gonna say about that. Still, I thought the ending was very well done and it's something I can actually say I'll miss.
Gregor, his friend and his family are just amazing characters and I was thrilled to share there experience by reading these awesome adventures.
A must read for any fan of Collins and any fans of fun fantasy that is like no other!
My Applause! -
Bu son neydi Suzanne? Oldu mu böyle? Hem Ares... 😢
Serinin son iki kitabı kangren eden İsmek kayıtlarının açılmasını beklerken okudum. Sitenin açılmamasının verdiği sinirin ve uykusuzluğun üzerine çekilecek bir final yazılmamıştı. Daha ayrıntılı ve uzun, geçiştirimemiş final yakışırdı bu seriye.
Yazar her ne kadar son kitapta olayı çocuk kategorisinden taşırmış olsa da bu türde yazmaya devam etmesini canıgönülden isterim. 👌 -
I enjoyed the plot and characters just as much as the previous books, but I was a little disappointed in the ending.
It's an ok ending for a book in the middle of a series, but not complete enough for the end of a series - I'd be much happier if she'd write another book to answer the questions she left at the end. I mean, she makes such a big deal about Gregor and Luxa not being able to stand the idea of being separated earlier in the book, and then at the end it's like, oh we'll just go our separate ways after all, hum de dum? They didn't work through the issue at all. (Although isn't 12 a little young to be in love anyway?) And is Gregor's family moving or not? Because it seems like it'd be a pretty big deal if they'd still live close enough to access the Underland. And Collins points out how Gregor no longer fits in the Overland, and then oh well, in the last couple of pages she just wraps up the story and he'll just figure out how to move on with his life even though we don't see how he does it? Why not just leave him in the Underland if there's not going to be any denouement?
Oh, and one other complaint - it was a little too convenient how Gregor had a whole new theology introduced to him right before he's going off to face what he thought was his death. We've got the whole book predicting his death, he's trying to resolve himself to the fact (even though we all know he's not really going to die), and now conveniently Ripred says, by the way, you don't really have to believe Sandwich's prophecies. Here's a nice, non-messy way out of a contradiction the author has been stringing us along with the whole while - Gregor's death. Not quite believable.
All right, I'm done with my rant, but other than these two complaints, seriously, I did enjoy the rest of this book as much as I enjoyed the earlier ones - it was still a fun read. -
I think people would have been prepared for Mockingjay if they had read the Underland Chronicles first, especially this book.
And I remember people complained about the epilogue in Mockingjay, and well...at least it got an epilogue. :(
I had a couple of questions about the ending, and I planned on listing them in this review. But I think I probably just need some time to really think about it and figure it out. (Use my imagination. What Suzanne Collins would probably say to me if I asked her these questions. :p)
Anyway, great series! Wonder what her next book or series will be about. -
A very strong finish for this series. Honestly, I think that the first book was the weakest, and that's really a shame, because I fear it may turn some people away from finishing the series. One thing is for sure, this little series is not nearly as popular as it deserves to be. I hope to recommend it a lot in the future, because it has slowly made its way to one of my favorite fantasy series.
Of course, the fact that this is the last book in the series makes it difficult for it to be satisfying. There was so much more I wanted, and so many things I wished could be different. These feelings can mostly be chalked up to the pitfalls of being a last book. Upon reflection, the only true complaint I have is Collins's handling of the prophecies. I don't want to spoil anything, but I felt like she'd brought the readers along a certain path for the first four books, then overturned all our assumptions in the last one, expecting us to chalk everything to this point up to coincidence. Not cool.
Rather than reflecting any further upon this book, I'd like to comment on the series as a whole in this review. I think it has several elements that set it apart from standard fantasy fare.
First, the strong inclusion of family in each book. So many fantasy books conveniently get the family out of the way, by orphaning, or otherwise afflicting the hero, so he or she can go on adventures by himself. Collins, on the other hand, includes Gregor's family, and it ends up being one of the best elements of the series. It serves to show another side of Gregor, as someone who doesn't just slay monsters, but has the tenderness to take care of a three-year-old sister. This same sister, Boots, goes on almost every quest with Gregor, and she adds most of the humor to the book. This is something that is really needed to balance out the dark parts of the books. It's good to have a hero that is conscious of the responsibilities of family, and it adds a fresh element to the fantasy feel.
Another strength of these books is that they have such real conflict. Collins is not afraid to ask the tough questions. Like, what affect does all this killing have on the psyche of a twelve-year-old boy? And are these actions ever justified? Is war necessary to gain peace? These are things that Gregor struggles with all through the books, and there are no light answers. The asking of them gives a depth to this series that most fantasies lack.
The last thing I'll mention is that Collins does some pretty awesome characterizations. And boy, she has to in order to make us become fond of some of these characters. I mean, a giant cockroach? A rat? The path to liking them is sure to be an uphill climb. Yet, by the last book, I couldn't help but love them and want more of them.
Along with all these things, The Underland Chronicles also contains all the action, excitement, and battles scenes prevalent in other fantasy. It's just that there's so much more with it.
So count me as a big fan of these books. I would consider this a 5-star series. I'll be recommending them to any hapless children at the library who stumble over and want to know what to read after Percy Jackson, or Harry Potter, or any of those other guys. -
I have nothing but unadulterated respect and admiration for Suzanne Collins. I read
The Hunger Games and
Catching Fire in fifth grade, and
Mockingjay in sixth grade almost as soon as it came out. In retrospect, I was too young to be reading them. I just flat-out didn't get the first two books of the trilogy when I first read them - was cheering for the violence and destruction, the same way I did in Percy Jackson or Maximum Ride. Mockingjay finally hit home with me, and I realized just how terrifying it all truly was. Mockingjay disturbed me; I remember not reading anything for weeks afterword, because all the violence started feeling so empty. No book before or since has impacted me the same way. And now I get the whole anti-capitalist and anti-war analogies, but when I was a kid reading the trilogy, I had no way of understanding any of it. The series was my brutal introduction.
It wasn't until years later that I thought to find Collins' other series, Gregor the Overlander. It's a significantly younger series, and at first, although I liked it, I found it underwhelming at first. It didn't pack the same punch that The Hunger Games did; this wasn't going to change anyone's perspective on violence or war the way The Hunger Games did. But the previous book in the series,
Gregor and the Marks of Secret, was a big step-up, suddenly showing complex heroes, and genuinely disturbing violence. There wasn't much buildup to the change in tone, but I was grateful for it. It was the first time that it felt like Collins was putting in the same effort that she put into The Hunger Games. And now, similarly to Mockingjay, this is the explosive finale. And boy, is it a tour de force.
Collins writes violence in a way that you couldn't possibly support it, even if you're a kid. The ways she paints the violence as traumatizing for Gregor aren't subtle, but in a kids book, they can't be. The violent scenes pack exactly the punch they need. Collins' writing is so intense that you feel the trauma and despair along with Gregor. I complained that Gregor was getting to be a Gary Stu in the last review, but here, I couldn't imagine a more relatable narrator for the reader. He's no audience avatar, but Collins writes about him with such empathy for his situation that it's impossible not to feel like you're going through the battles with him. I've never been in a war myself, so I can't speak to how accurately Collins captures the fear involved, but she convinced me. She has something to say, and almost as much as Mockingjay, she'll be damned if she doesn't say it. This still isn't as intense as Mockingjay, but that kind of intensity would be inappropriate for an MG audience. Collins does the best she can with the audience she's writing for, and it works better than I could've imagined.
I've compared the series to Animorphs a couple times throughout my reviews of it, and nowhere has it felt more apt than here, particularly in the ending after the battles are over. It's not a long-term portrayal of PTSD and detachment that Animorphs' finale was, but it captures a similar feeling. After the battles were over, I felt genuinely out of place as Gregor returned to New York. I felt the same way Gregor did, that it was hard to believe that the real New York City even existed. It's a testament not just to how immersive Collins' worldbuilding is, but also to how much I empathized with Gregor. And a relatable narrator is probably the most important aspect of an MG book. That's what engaged me the most as a kid at least. Looking back, it wasn't how action-packed the plot was, or how simple the language was, it was whether I could relate to the main character. In such a message-driven novel, that kind of connection is important, and Collins pulled it off.
This ending certainly has balls, as far as kids books go. Other than Harry Potter, I can't think of any MG series with an ending as brutal as this one. I guess I just deeply admire Collins for writing something where there's legitimate loss, and not everything is automatically okay just because It's an admiration I felt as I gradually realized just how unusual Mockingjay was, but that was years ago, and I haven't felt that admiration in a long time. This book serves as a nice reminder that Collins really is one of the very best authors we have today. What other author could write a kids book with so much death? And before you say J.K. Rowling, the death of side characters here is felt far more harshly than it is in Harry Potter. Rowling rarely shows Harry grieving (except perhaps when Sirius dies); very little of the death has real impact. Here, Collins portrays all the death as it is: horrifying and crippling. Harry Potter always existed in an alternate universe where emotions just don't seem to matter as much. The climax of The Deathly Hallows is about how big and epic everything is; it's more fun than anything else. Collins writes her climax with a purpose. The climax is far more realistic, focusing on the horror rather than the epicness. It's clear that Collins has a far better handle on how scary violence can be than Rowling ever did.
Other than Katherine Applegate and Michael Grant, I can't think of any MG authors I respect more than Suzanne Collins. This is a phenomenal finale to a very good series, and if you haven't read it, you're missing out, especially if you like The Hunger Games. This isn't quite as good as The Hunger Games; The Bane is a fairly one-note villain, and there's a lack of cohesion between the books. But this is still one of the best MG series I've ever read. -
Was I the only person totally annoyed by the romance between TWELVE YEAR OLDS???? I mean, Come ON! I dont care who you are- twelve year old's do not know what it really means to be in love- heck I dont know what it really means.
I thought it was gory and gross and not well played out. I read through all the books just because I had to see how it all ended up. Personally, i thought the humans should have left the underworld. They dont really belong there anyway. And nothing was resolved with the family... and Gregor. Was he to go around the rest of his life not being able to talk about these horrific things that he was a part of? That's going to leave all kinds of scars on anyone. Adults have issues for the rest of thier lives because of things they see in war- how is a kid supposed to have a normal life after that- after killing beings who can talk and think for themselves? After seeing these creatures behead each other and use the body parts as weapons? He's gonna need major therapy, but what therapist wouldnt throw him in a looney bin if he goes around telling stories like that? And he'll end up going crazy anyway thinking about it and not being able to discuss it with anyone.
I know, I know, it's fiction- but to make it believable... anyway, I love Collin's style of writing, and the worlds that she creates but this one fell a little flat for me. -
Like some of the other reviewers of this book/series, I was unsettled by the ending of the book. There were so many loose ends, unanswered questions, that when I shut the back cover, I leaned back and thought, "This can't be the end." I've convinced myself that it has ended this way because it's the only way that makes sense. Life goes on, after the plot of a book/series comes to an end, doesn't it? The "problem" is that we've come to love, adore, sympathize so much with the main characters (not to mention a few minor ones, e.g. Temp, Lapblood, etc.) that we want to know more about the rest of their lives and every detail of what happened to them during the adventure we took with them. This attachment to fictional characters is a testiment to a writer's adeptness in her craft. I'm in awe of you, Suzanne Collins! Thank you for giving us Gregor, a hero who didn't want to be a hero, and Boots, a Princess through and through.
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I want to begin by saying that I was pleased with this book. I think it's always rather hard to end a series, but this final book felt pretty fitting and I thought it really worked. There was a lot that I liked about it, and it ended up being my favorite of the series.
I loved that we got to see the character of Lizzie a bit more. She had only been mentioned briefly in earlier books, but I always really liked her character probably because I related to her the most. She was scared and hesitant about what she heard of the Underland - a refreshing change, since I suspect most people would be terrified of giant rats and cockroaches rather than as heroic as Gregor and others have been. She's also extremely smart and has a huge heart. Unfortunately (or fortunately), she ends up trapped in the Underland to help unravel the Code of Claw.
Although she is the most scared out of any of the characters, she's also the only one who seems to have any affection for Ripred. I will admit that he wasn't exactly likable in the beginning, but his character definitely grew on me throughout the books until he was one of my favorites by the end. He's extremely smart, and though he never really pledged loyalty to Gregor, it was pretty clear throughout that he was on Gregor's side permanently. But now we learn a bit more about him. It turns out that he had a wife and kids who died. And he has an interesting position on the prophecies.
Throughout the series the books have followed a predictable pattern - we get a prophecy, they go on a quest to fulfill the prophecy, realize somewhere along the way that part of the prophecy may have been misinterpreted, and realize what it truly meant. The prophecies were always well written and left a lot of room for mystery and speculation on meaning. This book also brings us one final prophecy, with a section that doesn't seem too mysterious at all. It states that the warrior, Gregor, will be killed. So from the beginning of this book Gregor is resigning himself to death. However, their comes a moment when Ripred shares some interesting information with him - that he doesn't believe in the prophecies at all. Suddenly we're shown that the prophecies are all garbage that were just made up hundreds of years ago, and people have just been twisting them or interpreting them to fit certain situations. It makes a ton of sense, and gives some interesting insight to what people are like and how they will blindly believe what someone else "higher up" tells them.
This is most definitely a war story, and we see some interesting points of view on that. There are some extremely gruesome parts of the story. But we are also shown how things aren't so black and white in war. There is no "good" side and "evil" side. People take questionable tactics to win. It's painful to watch and just downright awful. But what, Gregor ponders, is the alternative to war? Is there another way to effectively deal with problems? Once again, there is a gray area. We leave thinking that there must be, but we don't know what it is or what could possibly work.
Inevitably, we lose one major character, and it's heartbreaking... if not because the audience has grown attached to the character, at least because Gregor has.
The ending seems about right for the series, though it does leave you wanting a bit more. It's hard because authors don't want to keep writing about their characters forever, tying up every single loose end, but readers often want to know what happened to these characters. We are left with a picture of Gregor's family that is bleak and broken down, but still with a glimmer of hope. If the hope shined through and gave them good lives again we'll never really know, but it's pretty clear that their lives have been changed forever by the events in these novels. -
Der mittlerweile 12jährige Gregor hat ja schon einige Abenteuer im geheimnisvollen Unterland bestehen müssen: Tief unterhab New York in einem weitläufigen Höhensystem, wo sich einige Menschen schon vor Jahrhunderten niedergelassen und die Stadt Regalia geschaffen haben. Zusammen mit riesenhaften, tierischen Bewohnern wie Fledermäusen, Ratten und Kakerlaken leben sie teils in Freundschaft, tragen aber auch erbitterte Kämpfe aus, denn die Ressourcen und die Gebiete sind in diesem unterirdischen Land natürlich beschränkt.
Der fünfte Band setzt direkt am Ende der Ereignisse des Vorgängers an. Dieser hatte die Weichen gelegt für den großen Krieg, in dem sich Gregor jetzt seiner größten Herausforderung stellen muss. Er verabscheut Krieg und Gewalt und ist dennoch gezwungen, das "Schwert des Kriegers" zu führen, denn die uralten Prophezeiungen des Gründers von Regalia haben in den letzten Monaten sein Leben bestimmt - bestimmen sie jetzt auch seinen Tod?
Eine Frage, die hier am Rande aufgeworfen wird, denn Prophezeiungen oder das Schicksal, inwieweit sollte man darauf vertrauen? Sind unsere Wege vorherbestimmt oder können wir selbst entscheiden, in welche Richtung wir gehen? Und vor allem: kann man verhindern, was wie ein Damoklesschwert über einem hängt?
Suzanne Collins hat es geschafft, trotz einigen, durchaus brutalen Kampfszenen auch viele andere spannende Elemente mit einzubauen. Gregor muss nicht nur das Unterland vor einem Fluch befreien, er muss sich auch gegen eine gerissene Kriegstreiberin behaupten und ein wichtiger Code muss geknackt werden, damit die Regalianer überhaupt eine Chance haben, in diesem Krieg zu bestehen!
Es ist nicht ganz so düster wie der vierte Band, trotzdem fordert die Handlung wieder viele Opfer auf die unterschiedlichste Weise und es gibt einige traurige und zu Herzen gehende Momente, die mich sehr berührt haben.
Der Schreibstil bleibt klar, einfach und flüssig zu lesen, wie man es aus den Vorgängern gewöhnt ist. Ich bin wieder regelrecht durch die Seiten geflogen und konnte das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen. Die Kapitel haben auch oft kleine Cliffhanger am Ende und überraschen mit Wendungen und vielfältigen Ideen, die sich perfekt eingefügt und die Spannung vorangetrieben haben!
Viele Leser haben "beanstandet", dass hier viel Gewalt mit im Spiel ist. Das ist schon richtig, aber die Autorin schafft hier ein ausgleichendes Verhältnis und man muss sich mal überlegen, wie viel Gewalt Kinder in den Medien heutzutage ausgesetzt sind, wo sie es nicht verarbeiten können. Die Botschaft hier ist ganz klar: Gewalt ist keine Lösung und einen gemeinsamen Frieden zwischen Völkern, Arten und Rassen werden wir nur ohne Gewalt finden: in uns selbst!
"... aber überall auf der Welt gab es Menschen, die leiden mussten, die hungerten, flohen,
einander im Krieg töteten. Wie viel Energie sie darauf verwendeten, einander zu schaden.
Wie wenig darauf, sich gegenseitig zu beschützen. Würde sich das je ändern?" Zitat S. 350
© Aleshanee
Weltenwanderer -
Excellent end to the series. Definitely recommend it.
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He had spent the last months learning how to die, and now he was going to have to learn how to live again. The knight couldn't help him with that.
thanks varsha for this meme
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This was the first book to ever make me sob
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sad, traumatizing but still the best one... gonna miss this :(
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My heart is both broken and full.
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Wie bereits in meiner Rezension zu den ersten vier Bänden der "Gregor"-Reihe erwähnt, verbindet mich mit dieser Serie aus der Feder von Suzanne Collins eine längere Reise voller guter Erinnerungen und begeisterter Rereads. Zum ersten Mal gelesen habe ich sie 2011 im Alter von 10 Jahren und war so hin und weg von dieser originellen und hochspannenden Abenteuergeschichte, dass ich mir sofort alle Teile angeschafft habe. Im Laufe der Jahre wurde die Serie dann so etwas wie ein Comfort-Read für mich, auf den ich immer wieder in stressigen Situationen zurückgreifen konnte. Denn statt mich mit der Zeit zu langweilen, fielen mir mit jedem neuen Lesedurchgang neue Details auf, an denen ich mich erfreuen konnte und auch wenn ich der Zielgruppe mittlerweile deutlich entwachsen bin, reise ich jedes Mal mit großer Freude ins Unterland. Zu allen fünf Bänden der Reihe habe ich schon 2016 in den Anfängen meines Blogs eine Rezension geschrieben. Da diese jedoch recht kurz und oberflächlich ausfiel, habe ich nach einem weiteren Reread beschlossen, dass die Reihe es verdient, dass ich sie nochmal mit einer neuen Rezension ehre. Diese Rezension dreht sich nun um den fünften, den finalen Band der Gregor-Reihe, welcher gekonnt einige Fantasy-Klischees negiert und durch eine geballte Ladung Gesellschaftskritik, Moral und Nachdenklichkeit besticht.
Bevor meine Rezension startet, will ich erstmal wie immer noch einige Worte zur Gestaltung loswerden. Die alten Cover meiner gebundenen Ausgaben sind von Band zu Band in unterschiedlichen Farben gehalten und zeigen jeweils Schlüsselszenen der Handlung in detailverliebter Illustration. Auf dem Cover von Band 5 ist unser mittlerweile 12jähriger Protagonist Gregor zu sehen, welcher auf einem Mauervorsprung vor den reichverzierten Wänden der Menschenstadt Regalia in voller Rüstung mit erhobenem Schwert gegen die weiße Ratte kämpft, die alle nur den Fluch nennen. Der gelbe Titel hebt sich gelungen vom dunkelvioletten Grund ab und passt auch inhaltlich so gut zur Handlung, dass er mir fast besser gefällt als der Originaltitel. An der gesamten Gestaltung merkt man also auch hier wieder sofort, dass das Cover extra für die Geschichte kreiert wurde und nicht auf einem Stockbild beruht. Die Illustration stammt von Joachim Knappe, der auch die Vignetten an den Kapitelanfängen erstellt und die Gestaltung der Titelblätter der drei Teile übernommen hat. Eine so runde und der Zielgruppe entsprechende Gestaltung gibt es einfach nur bei Kinderbüchern!
Erster Satz: "Gregor drückte den Rücken auf den kalten Steinfußboden, als er zu den Worten an der Decke hinaufstarrte."
Anders als Band 1 bis 4 setzt "Gregor und das Schwert des Krieges" ohne Zeitsprung direkt an den Geschehnissen des letzten Bandes an. Gregor konnte mit seiner kleinen Schwester Boots, Luxas jungem Cousin Hazard, der verletzten Maus Cartesian und seiner Fledermaus Ares nur knapp den Schrecken der Feuerländer entkommen, während Luxa, Howard und Ripred immer noch im Schatten des Vulkans versuchen, die restlichen Huscher vor den Ratten zu retten. Auch zurück in Regalia ist Gregor nicht viel Zeit zum Verschnaufen gegönnt. Denn nicht nur die Rattenarmee vor den Toren der Stadt nimmt immer bedrohlichere Ausmaße an, er muss sich auch noch endlich mit der "Prophezeiung der Zeit" auseinandersetzen, über die all seine Freunde bislang Stillschweigen bewahrt haben. Verständlich, denn der Inhalt deutet nicht nur an, dass die Menschen dringend den Krallencode der Ratten knacken müssen, da die verschlüsselten Inhalte ausschlaggebend für Sieg oder Niederlage sein werden, sondern auch, dass Gregor den Endkampf gegen den Fluch nicht überleben wird...
Schon in Band 4, "Gregor und der Fluch des Unterlandes" wurden die Atmosphäre deutlich düsterer, die angesprochenen Themen ernster und die Grundsteine für den Endkampf gelegt, sodass ich die Geschichte nicht mehr uneingeschränkt für 10-12jährige empfehlen konnte. In "Gregor und das Schwert des Kriegers" wird die kindliche Sicht nun aber endgültig abgelöst durch eine abgeklärte Schilderung der Vorkommnisse. Wir begleiten unsere Figuren in kein Abenteuer mehr, in dem gelegentlich gekämpft wird. Was hier gezeigt wird ist nichts anderes als Krieg inklusive abgerissener Köpfe, abgetrennter Gliedmaßen, verbrennenden Armeen, Verstümmelung und Tod. Positiv anzumerken ist, dass Suzanne Collins neben der blutigen Schilderung von Grausamkeiten auch ihrem moralischen Kurs treu bleibt und genau wie in Band 1 bis 4 ihren Finalband dazu nutzt, um einige Botschaften zu vermitteln.
"Von seiner sicheren Position hoch oben konnte Gregor das, was er sah, kaum begreifen. Es schien unwirklich, als sähe er einen Film im Fernsehen und könnte jederzeit umschalten. Es konnte nicht sein, dass das wirklich geschah, ein solches Blutbad, solch eine Verschwendung von wertvollem Leben. Wer tot so etwas? Und wozu? Was sollte das bringen? Sie töteten einander, immer mehr, immer mehr, und am Ende gab es gewaltige Verluste auf beiden Seiten... Aber was hätte sich verändert? Das Ganze kam ihm plötzlich vor wie ein absurdes Spiel, das ohne Weiteres durch ein anderes ersetzt werden könnte, ein Kartenspiel, eine Schachpartie, ein Würfelspiel. Eines, nach dem alle lebend nach Hause gehen könnten."
Anders als viele Fantasyromane mit epischer Endschlacht wird Krieg hier nicht als Möglichkeit für den Helden, über sich hinauszuwachsen und Ruhm und Ehre zu erlangen glorifiziert. Stattdessen wird Gewalt durchweg als vermeidbare Eskalation geschildert, die Leben kostet und für Zerstörung sorgt. Diese Botschaft ist zwar weder neu noch besonders subtil eingefädelt, mir imponiert aber sehr, mit wie viel Hingabe sich die Autorin mit diesem Thema auseinandergesetzt und es als roten Faden für ihre gesamte Reihe genutzt hat. Trotz dieser Kontextualisierung von Gewalt, würde ich aber eindeutig empfehlen, dass jüngere Kinder die Reihe ab Band 4 in Begleitung lesen. Das sorgt dann auch für doppelten Spaß: denn wie bereits schon öfter erwähnt, können durch die vielen Wendungen, guten Ideen, überraschend komplexen Zusammenhänge sowie regelmäßige realgeschichtliche Anspielungen auch ältere LeserInnen viel Spaß mit der Geschichte haben.
Auch in anderen Belangen weicht die Autorin in ihrem Abschlussband geschickt typischen Fantasy-Klischees aus. So wird die Hauptentscheidung der Schlacht nicht im Kampf selbst getroffen, sondern durch die Zusammenarbeit verschiedener Spezies in einem geheimen Codezimmer. Die Idee, der Entschlüsselung des Krallencodes eine so große Rolle zuzugestehen, fand ich ganz hervorragend, da so verdeutlicht wird, dass Stärke nicht unbedingt etwas mit der Fähigkeit ein Schwert zu schwingen zu tun hat. Außerdem ist das Rätselraten rund um den Code eine gelungene Abwechslung zum kriegerischen Rest der Handlung. Damit die LeserInnen aktiv miträtseln können, ist der sogenannte Übertragungsbaum, in dem verzeichnet ist, welches Zeichen welchem Buchstaben entspricht, im Buch an mehreren Stellen mitabgedruckt und einige Briefe und Botschaften werden auch nicht für uns Lesende "übersetzt", sondern müssen von uns in Eigenarbeit entschlüsselt werden. Gerade vor dem Hintergrund, dass hier eine jüngere Zielgruppe angesprochen wird, finde ich diese interaktiven Elemente großartig!
"Den Krieg habt Ihr begonnen,
Verbündete gewonnen.
Den Schlüssel findet nun zum Code,
sonst ist es Euer sicherer Tod.
Die Zeit ist bald um
ist bald um
ist bald um.
Mein Schwert muss bei dem Krieger sein,
nur so könnt Ihr die Sieger sein.
Doch vergesst niemals das Tick,
und das Klick-Klick-Klick.
Gebt auf die Rattenpfote acht,
mit Ihr halten sie die Macht.
Denn die Pfote ist der Bote,
in dem Krallencode.
Die Zeit steht still
steht still
steht still.
Der Prinzessin kann´s gelingen,
dieses Rätsel zu bezwingen.
Studieren muss sie und vergleichen,
das Kratzen, Kratzen, Kratzen,
hinterlistiger Rattentatzen,
denn der Name stellt die Weichen.
Mit einem Blick sah sieh den Trick,
in dem Klick-Klick-Klick.
Die Zeit läuft zurück
läuft zurück
läuft zurück.
Fließt das Blut des Monsters rot
ist der Krieger endlich tot.
So hört auf das Pock,
und das Tick-Tack-Tock.
Wollt Ihr schlafen, wollt Ihr warten,
haben die Nager die besseren Karten.
Dann sind sie die Herrscher im Land
und Ihr für alle Zeit verbannt."
Ebenfalls gut gefallen hat mir, dass die Autorin hier nicht dem üblich linearen Handlungsverlauf folgt, in dem sich die Figuren auf die Schlacht vorbereiten, bevor diese sich dann ewig hinzieht und zum Ende steigert. In "Gregor und das Schwert des Kriegers" gibt es zwar einige kurze Kampfszenen, diese werden aber immer wieder durch Training, dem Aufenthalt im Krankenhaus, bei taktischen Besprechungen, im Coderaum und durch gaaaaanz viel Warten unterbrochen. Auch wenn es weniger konkrete Handlung gibt als in den vorherigen Bänden, zieht der Krieg rasend schnell an einem vorbei und man kann die Geschichte nicht aus der Hand legen. Das liegt vor allem daran, dass diese Abschnitte des Wartens mit Gedanken über den Tod, den freien Willen und dem Hinterfragen der Prophezeiungen genutzt wird. Auch in Band 5 wird die Rahmenhandlung durch eine solche Prophezeiung vorgegeben, anders als zuvor ist Gregor aber nicht mehr gewillt, diese als Realität hinzunehmen und beginnt sich zu fragen, ob die Prophezeiungen tatsächlich die Zukunft vorhersagen, oder ob die Zukunft so eintrifft, weil alle davon ausgehen, dass die Prophezeiung sich erfüllt. Ausgelöst wird dieser interessante Gedankengang natürlich durch Gregors Konfrontation mit dem eigenen Tod, aber auch dadurch, dass wir neue Informationen erhalten, die ein anderes Licht auf den Ersteller der Prophezeiungen werfen. Gregors Entwicklung weicht also ebenfalls von der typischen Heldenreise ab, da er an moralischer Souveränität gewinnt, seine vermeintlichen Schwächen als Stärken anerkennt, statt diese zu überwinden und beginnt, Autoritäten zu hinterfragen.
"Allmählich glaube ich, wir sollten uns vor allem vorwerfen, dass wir uns von Sandwich leiten lassen, anstatt einfach das zu tun, was wir für richtig halten.", sagte Gregor. "Wir benutzen ihn als Vorwand, um uns gegenseitig umzubringen. Letzten Endes sind wir diejenigen, die mit dem Schwert in der Hand dastehen."
Zum Leben erweckt wird diese elektrisierende Mischung aus Kampf, Rätsel, Schmerz und Angst mal wieder durch die bildhafte, aber einfach gehaltene Sprache der Autorin. Mit lebensnahen Vergleichen, vielen Dialogen, mitreißenden Minicliffhangern am Ende eines jeden Kapitels und wunderbar übersetzten Prophezeiungen und Lieder konnte mich Suzanne Collins auch hier wieder erreichen und mir die Geschehnisse vor Augen führen. Bei der ein oder anderen Szene hätte ich aber lieber nicht so genau hingesehen und habe meine bildhafte Fantasie verflucht... Besonders schmerzhaft war für mich die Beobachtung, wie sehr sich Gregor durch die Abenteuer der letzten Bände verändert hat. Er hat nicht nur körperliche Narben davongetragen, die er durch lange Kleidung im Überland verstecken muss, sondern kämpft auch mit seelischen und psychischen Nachwirkungen dessen, was er miterleben musste. Und das ist ein weiterer Punkt, den die Reihe wunderbar meistert (und der auch in allen anderen Romanen der Autorin immer berücksichtigt wird, ich sage da nur "Ende der Panem-Reihe"...): Schreckliches bleibt nie ohne Folgen. Die Geschichte nimmt sich genügend Zeit, um auszuloten, was die Geschehnisse mit den Figuren machen und ist sich dabei nicht zu schade, den Finger in die Wunde zu legen. Das bedeutet natürlich ein großer Zugewinn an Glaubwürdigkeit und Figurentiefe, leider aber auch jede Menge Schmerz beim Lesen, da man nur schwer verwinden kann, wenn ein mittlerweile 12jähriger in Gedanken Trost bei einem steinernen Ritter im Museum sucht, da dieser alles Schlimme überstanden hat und nun in Frieden ruhen kann. AUTSCH!
"Sie ist gestorben." "Ja", sagte Gregor und dachte sich, dass es einfacher war, als Boots noch nicht wusste, was Sterben bedeutet."
Für etwas mehr Heiterkeit sorgt da die neu aufblühende Liebesgeschichte zwischen Luxa und Gregor, die ja schon in Band 4 subtil angedeutet und vorbereitet wurde. Zwar verändern sich die Dinge zwischen den beiden recht schnell, da ihre Beziehung aber dennoch im Hintergrund bleibt und die Autorin selbst darauf eingeht, dass die Dringlichkeit angesichts des Kriegs und Gregors bevorstehendem Tod die Dinge zwischen ihnen beschleunigt, stört mich das nicht. Besonders herzergreifend fand ich die sich entwickelnde enge Beziehung zwischen Gregors zweiter Schwester Lizzy und der Ratte Ripred, über den wir noch einige überraschende Informationen erhalten, die das Bild von ihm abermals wandeln. Letzterer hat sich mit seinen schneidenden Sarkasmus, der aber nicht über sein Feingefühl und seine Prinzipientreue hinwegtäuschen kann, im Laufe der Reihe zu meinem absoluten Lieblingsprotagonist entwickelt. Abseits von Luxas und Gregors Romanze und Lizzys und Ripreds überraschender Freundschaft treten die Beziehungen der anderen Figuren aber leider ein wenig in den Hintergrund. Besonders an zwei Stellen fand ich das sehr schade. Zum einen hätte ich gerne noch mehr über die Ehe von Vikus und Solovet erfahren, die hier ja oft als Gegenüberstellung von Kriegstreiberei und dem Streben nach Frieden gedient hat. Zum anderen hätte vor allem die Verbindung von Ares und Gregor angesichts des Endes gerne noch eine größere Rolle spielen dürfen.
Wo wir schon beim Ende sind: diesem stehe ich sehr zwiegespalten gegenüber. Die große Stärke des Finales ist dessen sensible Auseinandersetzung mit dem eigenen Tod, Abschied, Trauma und der Schwierigkeit, wieder zurück ins Leben zu finden, nachdem man damit abgeschlossen hat. Was sich Suzanne Collins hier ausgedacht hat ist nicht das, was man sich für die Figuren nach 5 Bänden voller Hoffnung, Liebe, Mut und Leid wünscht, aber realistisch. Genau wie das Ende des letzten Bandes von "Die Tribute von Panem" zeigt die Autorin, dass der Weg zur Normalität nach einem gewonnenen Krieg endlos lang ist und es nach einigen Taten kein Zurück mehr gibt. Auch die Message des Endes, die sich nochmal klar gegen Krieg und für Verständigung ausspricht, mag nun vielleicht offensichtlich und trivial wirken, ist aber auf so herzzerreißende und eindringliche Art und Weise in die Geschichte miteingebaut, dass man das Gefühl hat, die Autorin habe gerade ein globales Problem gelöst.
"Die Fernsehnachrichten hatten ihn nachdenklich gemacht. Im Augenblick konnte ihm nicht passieren, aber überall auf der Welt gab es Menschen, die leiden mussten, die hungerten, flohen, einander im Krieg töteten. Wie viel Energie sie darauf verschwendeten, einander zu schaden. Wie wenig darauf, sich gegenseitig zu beschützen. Würde sich das je ändern? Wie könnte man es ändern? Er dachte an Luxas Hand in Ripreds Pfote. (...) Vielleicht war es unmöglich. Aber vielleicht auch nicht. Wie Vikus gesagt hatte, wenn man keine Hoffnung hatte, würde auch nichts passieren. Wenn man Hoffnung hatte, konnte man vielleicht einen Weg finden, um etwas zu verändern."
Schade ist am Ende nur, dass mir Vieles viel zu schnell geht und einige Fragen offenbleiben (Spoiler:). Ich kann also nur festhalten, dass ich das Ende wegen seiner Offenheit und Bitterkeit liebe, es aus denselben Gründe aber auch hasse.
Zum Abschluss möchte ich noch Suzanne Collins meinen Dank dafür aussprechen, dass sie mein 10jähriges Ich mit ihrer "Gregor"-Reihe förmlich weggepustet und für alle Zeit eng mit dem Fantasy-Genre verbunden hat! Ich bin mir sehr sicher, dass ich die Reihe nicht zum letzten Mal gerereadet habe und kann allen großen und kleinen Fans von abenteuerlichen Geschichten nur eine ausdrückliche Leseempfehlung aussprechen. Um es im Ticken, Kratzen und Klopfen des Unterlands auszudrücken (Viel Spaß beim Entschlüsseln! 😉):
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Fazit:
"Gregor und das Schwert des Kriegers" umgeht gekonnt einige Fantasy-Klischees und besticht vor allem durch eine geballte Ladung Gesellschaftskritik, Moral und Nachdenklichkeit, ohne dass dies die Spannung mindern würde. Dieser Finalband bringt fantasievoll, mitreißend und tiefsinnig eine meiner absoluten All-Time-Favorite-Reihen zu einem Ende. -
Beetje jammer van het wel heel abrupt einde, maar echt een goeie reeks!
