Raven Rise
 Book cover | |
| Author | D.J. MacHale |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | Pendragon |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Simon and Schuster |
Publication date | May 20, 2008 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 544 |
| ISBN | ISBN-13: 9781416914181 Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character |
| Preceded by | The Pilgrims of Rayne |
| Followed by | Pendragon Book 10 (Last book in main series) |
Raven Rise is the title of the ninth book in The Pendragon Adventure by D.J. MacHale. It was released on May 20th, 2008.
Synopsis
The book begins with separate narratives focusing on Patrick Mac and Alder, the travelers of Third Earth and Denduron respectively. It follows the changes in their home territories and their realization that they are without Bobby Pendragon. On Denduron, the Bedoowan knights are using the explosive tak that Bobby unearthed to start a war with a neighboring tribe. On Third Earth, the once Utopian planet has morphed into a waste world. Pendragon, meanwhile, has been living comfortably on Ibara, the island community located on Veelox. Pendragon's own description states that he has been a contributor and leader of the rebuilding of Ibara, which was destroyed in the previous book by Saint Dane's DADO army. Days after an unsettling conversation with Saint Dane, Pendragon encounters a drifting skimmer bearing a dying passenger on board (this passenger being Loque, one of the Jakills from The Pilgrims of Rayne who amazingly survived having a large amount of broken glass fall on him). After hearing Loque's story of digging in a mine with the Flighters in Rubic City, Bobby assumes that Saint Dane is after the flume and decides to prevent the flume from being reopened. He fails, and later discovers that Nevva Winter, Saint Dane's ally, has been living on Ibara disguised as Tribune Genj's daughter, Telleo, whom she killed months before. Hearing from her that Denduron is in danger, Bobby sets out to rescue it. Emerging onto Denduron, Pendragon is nearly killed by a quig, later to be healed by Alder, whom he rescues from prison. Later, after failing to reseal the newly opened tak mine, the two of them realize that the territory is lost; therefore they travel to Second Earth to battle Saint Dane. On First Earth (1937) Mark and Courtney find that they have failed to prevent Mark's inventions from altering Earth's history. Mark is then black-mailed into giving up his Traveler ring to Nevva. They then head to the flume only to be intercepted by Patrick who came to First Earth in search of Bobby after realizing he couldn't save Third Earth alone. Mark, Courtney, then return to Second Earth with Patrick in tow. Upon arriving they find that many people are worshiping a new cult, Ravinia, and both flumes have been revealed by Alexander Naymeer who is the leader of Ravinia and the "new" traveler of Second Earth as Bobby has quit. He is using the ring Nevva took from Mark. The goal of Ravinia is to reward the people who contribute to society, while punishing those who do not. Mark, Courtney, and Patrick head to the other flume to get off of Second Earth only to be intercepted by Naymeer. A chase ensues and Patrick narrowly gets away but not before being shot. Mark and Courtney are captured and brought to Naymeer's home which happens to be on top of one of the flumes. A mortally wounded Patrick arrives on Denduron just as Alder and Bobby are about to leave. They heal him and send him back to Third Earth to find out what a possible Second Earth turning point could be. They then head to Second Earth to find Mark and Courtney. Bobby comes out in the flume below Naymeer's house. Just before Bobby arrives, Naymeer tells Mark and Courtney that the flumes and Traveler rings are made of dark matter. Bobby, Alder, Mark, and Courtney all talk with Naymeer who tells them he can't be stopped. They disagree and escape to Courtney's family's boat where thay all decide that a vote to nominate Ravinia as "spiritual advisor" to the entire world is the turning point of Second Earth. Courtney's parents then show up with the cops. Another chase ensues and Mark and Courtney are captured but Bobby and Alder escape and take refuge with the main protester of Ravinia, Haig Gastigian. Patrick, on Third Earth, learns that the destruction there has begun with a mostly forgotten event known as the Bronx Massacre. He is killed while trying to convey word of this, but succeeds in telling Bobby about the event by sending him a message through his ring. Bobby and Alder witness what they think is the Bronx Massacre when Naymeer sends 12 people, including Mark and Courtney, into the flume to an unknown destination. Bobby and Alder later hear from Haig Gastigian, that he is holding a rally of 70,000 people in Yankee Stadium. At the rally the UN's vote is revealed to favor Ravinia, whereupon the 70,000 protesters gathered in Yankee Stadium are pulled into a giant flume which Naymeer creates, causing the true Bronx Massacre. Alder tries to stop him, but is killed in the process. Bobby is brought to a helicopter and flown above the stadium to witness everyone's deaths. It is revealed that Haig Gastigian was really Nevva who lured all the people to the stadium. Realizing this, Bobby throws Naymeer into the flume. At this, Saint Dane claims victory because Bobby had stooped to his level and failed his last test. Naymeer, falling into the flume, causes a beam of light to strike the helicopter. It spins out of control and falls into the flume. Saint Dane and Nevva escape and later tell the Conclave of Ravinia, the head of Ravinia, that Naymeer is dead but that Nevva is trained to take his place. Bobby then finds himself in space, looking down at the flumes, and watches them explode. He wakes up in the middle of an oblivious landscape, where he is confronted by his Uncle Press and the other nine travelers of his generation. Uncle Press says that now is the right time to stop Saint Dane, since he believes that he has won. He also says that it is time for the current Travelers to learn the truth about themselves. The Travelers decide to finish the fight with Saint Dane, once and for all.
It is never explained how or when Bobby managed to write the journals in Raven Rise. It is revealed that one of his journals he left on Ibara and another was left on a boat where he hid while on Second Earth.
Major Themes
The Covergence and the basic idea of Ravinia greatly resemble Adolf Hitler's speeches that his people are the master race, and all who oppose him will die. On Third Earth, Richard's description of the Horizon Camps is hauntingly similar to the ghettos and concentration camps. Both ideas are confirmed when Saint Dane tells Bobby that the purpose of the Convergence is to create a superpower empire of the "elite" in order to crush everyone else.
Saint Dane explains to Bobby that the core of their dispute is that he thinks people need a leader to guide them, while Bobby believes that people can govern themselves. This resembles the disputes between Thomas Hobbes and John Locke.
Cover art unveiling
The cover art was hyped on the official site by a complete redesign of the site, and a countdown to December 17, 2007 when the cover would be released[1].
Reception
The book has been met with tremendous sales. It has reached the #2 spot in numerous categories on Amazon.com.[2]
References
- ^ Forum announcement by Mr. MacHale
- ^ "Amazon.com: Raven Rise (Pendragon): D. J. MacHale: Books". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-05-26.