"Powerful cautionary "anthology""

Water. The melting of the ice caps leads to the great flood destroying Atlantis. Few survive the calamity, but Kesair leads the small band in a desperate search for land that takes them to Emerald Isle in hopes of starting over

Fire. If you can make it in the palaces of Crete, you can make it anywhere thinks talented musician Meriones. When the volcano erupts, spewing fire everywhere, Meriones struggles not just to survive, but to rethink his philosophy of life. He now understands that man proposes, nature disposes.

Earth. Good old Earth allegedly has no feelings as mankind goes about destroying it. Tell New England housewife Annie Murphy that Earth lacks compassion as she is the demanded sacrifice or else the planet has nasty plans for mankind.

Air. Several millenniums have passed since Kesair survived the sinking of Atlantis. The Earth has seen what man has done and become. George Burningfeather leads the final battle of survival though it seems obvious that mankind's reign is done.

This is a cautionary "anthology" consisting of four warning novellas that if humanity does not change and take care of the planet, the Earth will react. The first two tales are incredibly powerful ancient historical stories that adhere to the warning theme inside an exciting narrative. The Earth story seems a bit flat compared to the previous duo while the Air contribution will leave readers breathless. Superb admonitory ecological allegory that not so gaily asks, "What's Going On" while forewarning that "In the Year 2525..."

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted May 24, 2003

Summary

Morgan Llywelyn, internationally acclaimed author of 1916 and Lion of Ireland, returns with a powerful fantasy saga that sweeps from the dawn of history to our own near future. It is the story of Earth and her elements, and of the men and women whose fate lies in her hands. . . . Water. The ice caps melt, the seas rise, and Kesair, a woman of Atlantis, leads a handful of survivors on a desperate search for land -- and a new beginning. Fire. All the world centers around the empire of Crete, where Meriones, a humble musician, performs before the mighty in their palaces. Until the land shakes, the volcano speaks with a voice of fire, and Meriones finds his life changed forever. Earth. Old beyond imagining, the Earth knows neither hate nor pity. And from Annie Murphy, a strong-willed New England housewife, it demands a sacrifice both unexpected and irrevocable. Air. The ozone dwindles, and the forests dies, a new plague walks the world. And on a day just after tomorrow, thousands of years after Kesair's struggle, another small party of survivors, led by George Burningfeather, comes together on a desolate Indian reservation. As the ice melts and the sea rises once more, they fight one last battle for the Earth -- for mankind and hope. The Elementals is the epic, ongoing tale of humanity's turbulent relationship with the Earth -- as only Morgan Llywelyn could tell it.