Sabriel: Difference between revisions

{{forabout|the book|the eponymous character|Sabriel (character)|the [[Khazar]] [[:Category:Khazar rulers|ruler]] who converted to [[Judaism]]|Bulan (Khazar)}}

'''''Sabriel''''' is a [[fantasy]] novel by [[Garth Nix]], first published in 1995. It is the first in his [[Old Kingdom (book series)|Old Kingdom series]], followed by ''[[Lirael]]'', ''[[Abhorsen]]'', and''[[Clariel]]'', ''[[Old Kingdom (book series)#Goldenhand|Goldenhand]],'' and ''Terciel and Elinor''.

The novel is set in two neighbouring [[fictional country|fictional countries]]: To the South lies [[Ancelstierre]], which has a technology level and society similar to that of early-20th century [[Australia]], and toTo the North lies the Old Kingdom, where boththere Freeexists two oppositional forms of magic, Free Magic, which is malevolent, and Charter Magic, existwhich —is abenevolent. factThe existence of this is officially denied by the government of Ancelstierre, and disbelieved by most of Ancelstierre's inhabitants. AYet, an ancient wall separates the two countries, on the south side of which the Ancelstierran govenment maintains, despite its official denial of magic, a military post whose purpose is to monitor and combat hostile Free Magic beings and effects of Free Magic that cross the wall. Near the border some magic crosses the Wall, especially on days when the wind is blowing out of the Old Kingdom. Since the fall two hundred years previously of the Old Kingdom's Royal Family, dangerouswhich was charged with preserving the Charter, the integrity of Charter Magic has declined, allowing the hostile entities to roam, ranging from the [[undeadanimated dead]] to powerful sorcerersFree Magic necromancers and Free Magic [[elementals]].

These living Dead are raised by the Free Magic [[Necromancers]], diviners of the dead who roam the Old Kingdom or live in Death, using Hands to do their bidding. To remedy the problem of dangerous living dead, a Charter Magic necromancer under the title of [[Abhorsen]] usesinvokes Charter Magic using a [[bandolier]] of Bells and a sword to put the dead to final rest. At the time of Sabriel, itthe Abhorsen is her father, [[Terciel]], who has the job of putting the dead to rest in the Old Kingdom, which is especially difficult since a new evil is rising as the protection of Charter Magic weakens.

When the current Abhorsen is overcome by onea suchFree evilMagic being and sent beyond the Seventh Gate of Death, he sends his [[The Bells (Old Kingdom Series)|bells]] (the primary tools of a necromancer and, used in various ways to control the Dead) and sword to his daughter [[Sabriel (character)|Sabriel]] via an undead messenger bound and under his control. Sabriel is at an Ancelstierre school for girls to remain out of reach of those who might try to strike at her father through her and end the Abhorsen bloodline. The bound undead is also attempting to speak, but she must enter death in order to make out the words. She is instructed by her father (speaking through the undead messenger in Death) to return to the Old Kingdom to take on the role of Abhorsen and stop Kerrigor'sthe return of Kerrigor, an especially malign Free Magic being, to Life. While in Death obtaining her father's guidance, she narrowly avoids a fatal altercation with a Lesser Dead.

Sabriel, Touchstone, and Mogget continue their journey, stopping to help rid a seaside village of a Dead creature. They obtain a boat there and sail up the coast of the Old Kingdom until they reach Belisaere, the capital. They find the Abhorsen in an underground [[reservoir]] in Belisaere, trapped in [[Death (Old Kingdom)|Death]]. Since he has stayed too long in Death, he cannot return for long, but with what little time he has left, the Abhorsen tells Sabriel about the evil known as [[Kerrigor]]. Kerrigor has risen far from Death and intends to wreak havoc in the Old Kingdom and Ancelstierre. Sabriel releases her father from Death, and once they emerge from Death, father and daughter part for the last time — hetime—he, to ring the bell [[Necromantic bells#Astarael|Astarael]] (the sound of which throws everyone who hears it far into the realm of Death) and delay Kerrigor's havoc; and she, to save Touchstone by bringing him (and herself) as far away from Astarael's music as possible. To prevent him from losing to Death, she kisses him roughly in order to keep him focused on Life. In the process of ringing Astarael, Sabriel's father releases Mogget.

* [[Mogget]] — anAn ancient Free Magic construct of unknown origin; appears in the form of a white cat and is bound by a red Charter magic collar to serve the Abhorsen.

* [[Touchstone (Garth Nix character)|Touchstone]] — aA bastard prince, son of a former Queen and a nobleman, and is the only remaining heir of the Royal Blood. He was trapped as the wooden figurehead of a ceremonial boat for two hundred years by the Abhorsen of that time in order to save him (and his Blood) from death. He is also Sabriel's growing love interest as the story progresses.

* [[Kerrigor]] — Formerly known as Rogir, or RogirrekRogirek. A Greater Dead adept in Free Magic necromancy, former member of the Royal Family, and who is at odds with the Charter. Powerful Spells of past Abhorsens bound him to Death and his body was buried in Ancelstierre beyond the Wall where magic was not present; but during Sabriel's father's time, he has awoken and once again trying to destroy the Charter which binds Free Magic. The name Kerrigor, as is revealed by Touchstone, was a childhood nickname, made up by the royal prince himself. It is derived from his full ceremonial name, Rogirek.

|accessdateaccess-date = 2016-08-05

|archiveurlarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120427230814/http://www.aurealis.com.au/awards.php?show=1995

|archivedatearchive-date = 2012-04-27

}}</ref> It is also an [[ALA Notable Book]] and was a short-list nominee for the 1996 [[Ditmar Award]] for best long fiction.<ref name="LO 1996DA">{{cite web | url = http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Ditmar1996.html | title = The Locus Index to SF Awards: 1996 Ditmar Awards | publisher = [[Locus Online]] | access-date = | accessdate = 2016-08-05 | url-status=dead | archiveurlarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150914162952/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Ditmar1996.html#nvl | archivedatearchive-date = 2015-09-14 | df = }}</ref>

According to Publishing News, Garth Nix was preparing to pitch a ''Sabriel'' film to studios in mid-2008 via Steve Fisher at APA[[Agency for the Performing Arts]]. Nix co-wrote the screenplay with [[Dan Futterman]], actor and Oscar-nominated screenwriter of ''[[Capote (film)|Capote]]'' (2005), and Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner at [[Plan B Entertainment]] were to produce. The director would be [[Anand Tucker]]. Planning for the pitch was delayed by the writer's strike, and resumed in February. While the current status of any film is unknown, Nix is now represented by Matthew Snyder at CAA[[Creative Artists Agency]].<ref>{{cite web| url =http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/22430546.html| title =Garth Nix to Pitch Sabriel Film| accessdateaccess-date = 2012-09-25| year =2008| publisher = Oh No They Didn't!}}</ref>

[[Category:Aurealis Award-winningAward–winning works]]