The Vorrh

The Vorrh is a sentient, semi-tropical forest. Somewhere within lies the Garden of Eden, with hints of cannibalism by the children of Adam and Eve. Creatures (including people) living within and on the edges provide the raw material of this book. Alan Corduner rises to the challenge of helping the listener parse the dense language and complex subplots. He creates a subtle atmosphere of anticipation as to what will come next in a portrait of darkness, graphic violence, and raw sexuality. This thought-provoking audiobook requires stamina, both in the narrator and the listener, and Corduner does his part. Engaged from start to finish, he maintains a strong, consistent pace that never falters. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

February 9, 2015
Catling’s richly textured and enigmatic fantasy trilogy opener (first published in the U.K. in 2012) is centered on a legendary African forest, known as the Vorrh, that’s rumored to be “older than humankind.” As no person has returned from attempting to reach its center, “nothing was known of its interior, except myth and fear.” According to some, the Vorrh is populated by cannibals and monsters, while others believe that “God walks there” in “his garden on Earth.” Against this mid-19th-century backdrop, reminiscent of Robert Holdstock’s Mythago Wood, Catling weaves an intricate story with a diverse cast of characters. They include Eadweard Muybridge, a real-life photographer best known for proving that all four legs of a running horse leave the ground while the animal is in motion, and Ishmael, a cyclops raised by automatons. It’s not easy to keep all the plots and subplots straight, but even those who struggle to navigate the labyrinth will still find the twisted journey thought provoking, full of memorable imagery and language.