Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians: Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians, Book 6

The original "final book" of the Alcatraz series ended on a downer, but it ended. To work around the bad ending, this "final final book" switches the narrator to Alcatraz's protector, Bastille. We learn that Alcatraz was pretty much "out of it" near the end, and Bastille provides the narrative that gets us towards the fulfilling ending. It also allows for a co-author to take the reigns of story-writing. It is a different character narrating, so we would expect the style to be a little different.

The story continues in the style of the previous books. Alcatraz had broken the talents, seemingly dooming the Smedries and the world to the will of the librarians. Bastille helps the big fight, which includes out-punning a Yak, breaking gravity, flying sharks and an army of kittens battling librarians. Librarians now have Smedry talents, and Bastille gets her longtime desire of being able to battle against talents. The final destruction of the "villain" seems almost too simple. Almost everything ends nicely.

The Dark Talent

The Dark Talent by Brandon Sanderson

The Dark Talent is the final book in the Alcatraz series. I had loved the earlier books in the series and had been eagerly anticipating this conclusion. Alas, it did not live up to my expectations. Perhaps it was due to the long wait. The story had plenty of good parts. However, it felt more forced than the other books. The unsatisfying ending also seemed to open more questions rather than resolve them. I was wondering where the rest of the book was. Perhaps the next "final" book in the series will preserve the magic.

Alcatraz versus the Shattered Lens

Alcatraz sacrafices his powers to save the world. Oops. Gave away some of the plot points. But that's the point of this blog. The librarians have nearly taken Mokia. Alcatraz decides he can lure more help be going there himself. He ends up becoming king due to the incapacitance of the existing King and the Smedry royal line. They capture his mother (because she has to appear somewhere in each book.) He begins to side with her views that it may not be a good thing for everyone to have a Smedry talent. They also meet the shattered lens librarians who really don't like glass and do a good job destroying it. Alcatraz gets a better understanding of what the Smedry talents are and channels his talent into the people protecting Mokia, thereby defending Mokie, but also eliminating the talents.

That's the plot. It is cool. But like the other Alcatraz books, the non-plot stuff is what really makes it.

Alcatraz breaks into a discussion of religions. He explains how they all differ (its all about what you can and can't eat.)

Teddy Bears are grenades. Some explode inwards, while others kill all non-living things but don't harm any living things. These come in handy when fighting against ro-bats.

A young Smedry has a talent at being bad at math. This talent can enable many more (or fewer things to appear)

And we have chapters. The chapter numbering sequence is bizarre with the chapters being all out of order (and numbers like Infinity +1 being used.)

For some reason, this book did not seem as engaging as the others, but that may be because I zoomed through it so fast. It does seem to bring things to a somewhat palatable conclusion, but also leaves enough open for further sequels.

Alcatraz Vs. The Knights of Crystalia

The third book in the Alcatraz series continues where the others left off. Alcatraz finally makes it to his ancestrial home. He discovers that he is elite royalty there. While this give him perks (like the ability to show up to parties uninvited and mary people), it also has its downfalls. (Adoring fans and sycophants clamor to be around him.) Librarians are in the town and ostensibly suing for peace. However, they are actually trying to take over the "three kingdoms." Alcatraz's "evil librarian" mother is trying to steal an important book from the "not a library" archives, while his father is busy trying to make his big "famous research." Alcatraz, however, spends more time with his grandfather and friends. (His mother, after all, is on the other side and outwardly denies she has feelings for him, while his father does not know how to relate to him.)

Eventually, through some well timed marrying and a little singing, Alcatraz is able to save the day.

The plot is engaging, while the style keeps it laugh-out-loud entertaining. There are jabs at many other stories. (The most evil librarian is "she who cannot be named". However, unlike Harry Potter, it is not a curse that prevents her from being names, but the simple fact that nobody can pronounce her name.) The book also concludes, then has an epilogue, and then a post-book section to remind people not to skip to the end, then another ending. It looks like it was a great blast to right.

Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones

Style and content. The Sanderson's Alcatraz books complete the rare feat of telling an engaging story in a very entertaining style. In Scrivener's bones, Alcatraz and his companions infiltrate the Library of Alexandria to try to find his father and grandfather. The library has a repository of all written knowledge. There is only one catch. You must give up your sole to check out anything.

Alcatraz tells this story as somebody straddling our "hushlands" world with that of the 3 kingdoms. He regularly butts in with random anecdotes or leads us on false tangents just to keep things interesting. There is plenty of subtle commentary on our culture and values along with a whole lot of really well done humor.

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians

The setting is a universe that is connected to ours. A bag of sand must be found. Librarians are evil. A boy has a special talent of breaking things. It is all bizarre enough to work.

Alcatraz is the hero of the Three Kingdoms, a parallel world unknown most "normal" people on earth (hushlanders) don't know about. And why don't they know about this world? Because librarians hide the knowledge from them. Librarians are the dark ones that control information and make people think things are true, even though they are not. The librarians go through great lengths to hide the lands they don't control from others. To help belittle the opposition, they also name prisons after popular names.

The Smedry's lead the opposition to the librarians. Each of them has a special "talent" that helps in the fight. Alas, these "talents" are not what you would typically consider beneficial. Grandpa's talent is always arriving late. Alcatraz's talent is breaking things. How does this help? Well, Grandpa can't be shot because he always arrives late for his death.

This book is rolicking good fun. The first person perspective constantly gets sidetracked with random interjections that some manage to enliven the story without slowing it down. There are plenty of zany things that don't make any sense - but that is just because the librarians have so brainwashed us into believing that it is the way the world is. If somebody could control the media everywhere, couldn't they make whatever they want appear "normal"?