The Solitudes

Once upon time, earlier this year, when I had hinted at my excitement to begin reading this series, my brother asked, "Oh...so what's it about?" My answer then, as it kinda is now, was "well...erm..."

The Solitudes (or Aegypt, if you have an earlier edition) is the first of four parts in the Aegypt cycle/series/really long novel by John Crowley. It is also his grand work, where all the themes of his other books and short stories were mostly preparation for this work. And it shows, those who have read other novels by Mr. Crowley will find several familiar themes... and of course, the changes in frames of references that could change everything and the meaning of what is going on in this story.

So... what is it about? Is it fantasy? Perhaps... seems to be a bit more like magical realism to me, except... well....those changes in frames of references really complicate the task of writing a synopsis, so... let's begin with the question, "What is Aegypt?"

Aegypt is like Egypt, possibly located near or transposed over that famed country. From this country, it is posited that varying practices of a magical nature and ability to communicate with angels and daemons is said to come from. It is the Eden back to which various people would like to return, before something happened and humanity found itself separated from Paradise and consigned to this current world governed by physical laws.

What caused this separation? Who knows, except that it deals with the concept of history not only having various possibilities for the future, but also various possibilities for the past. Every once in a while, it seems like the world stands on a cusp where it can choose between multiple pasts, before a decision is made and a past set.

Our main character, Pierce Moffet, believes that he can perceive this past amongst other pasts and wishes to write a book about the History of Aegypt... a history he views as imaginary but not created by him. While this is going on, Pierce is dealing with displacement due to a bizarre breakup and loss of employment. Meanwhile, other characters with their own problems and "connections" to Aegypt make their way into his story.

The Solitudes is what one would call the "Spring Quaternary" of the Aegypt Cycle... and it is an apt name for it. Starting with what seems to be the aftermath of bleak (i.e. "wintery") events, the story begins to stir and come to life and bloom with hope and potential. This is very much a beginning of a story with little to no resolution... but what do you expect? There's three more books to go through!