Uprooted (novel)
 | |
| Author | Naomi Novik |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Series | Stand-alone |
| Published | 2015 |
| Publisher | Del Rey |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 448 |
| ISBN | 978-0804179034 |
| Preceded by | None |
| Followed by | None |
Uprooted is a fantasy novel written by Naomi Novik.[1][2] Ellen DeGeneres will produce the movie adaptation after Warner Brothers purchased the rights.[3] The book is standalone, unlike Novik's other fantasy series.[4]
It won the 2016 Nebula Award for Best Novel,[5] the 2016 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel,[6] and the 2016 Mythopoeic Award in the category Adult Literature.[7]
Plot Synopsis
Uprooted is written in the style of a classic Slavic fairy tale and references a number of them including the well-known Baba Yaga.
It is the story of a mountain village girl, Agnieszka, and her exploration of magic and the kingdom of Polnya ("Poland") around her. Her native village of Dvernik is menaced by something dark in the nearby woods and a ten-year lottery drawing is impending, held by a local wizard in a mountain tower... No one knows what happens to the girls who "win" the lottery and go to live a decade with the mysterious wizard, but Agnieszka is about to find out...
Characters
- Agnieszka, the protagonist that has been 'uprooted' by the The Dragon
- Kasia, a friend from Agnieszka's village
- Prince Marek, a son of the King of Polnya
- Sarkan, "The Dragon",[8] the wizard residing near Agnieszka's village
- Solya, "The Falcon", a wizard known for his 'far sight' magic
Cultural references
The book, owing to the author's mother being Polish, contains a number of references to the Polish culture. Most Polnyan characters bear Polish names, including the protagonist whose name references a story Agnieszka Skrawek Nieba (Agnieszka Piece of Sky) by Natalia Gałczynska, as explained in the Acknowledgements. Baba Jaga is a common boogeyman in Slavic folklore. The rival nation of Polnya, Rosya, shares its pronunciation with the Polish word for Russia, Rosja. The 'birthday song about living a hundred years' to the melody of which Agnieszka chants the spell which cures the Dragon of corruption is a clear reference to the Polish birthday song Sto lat, literally 'one hundred years'. The lyrics of another song quoted in the book, 'about the spark on the hearth, telling its long stories', are translation of a part of a bedtime song Bajka iskierki (or, Z popielnika na Wojtusia) by Janina Porazińska. At the final feast, Agnieszka tastes zhurek which is a phonetic spelling of an Eastern European soup known in Poland as żurek.
References
- ↑ Kallam, Clay (2015-08-25). "Worlds Beyond: Naomi Novik's 'Uprooted' will have readers rooted". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
- ↑ Valentine, Genevieve (2015-05-28). "Science Fiction and Fantasy". The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
- ↑ Kit, Borys (2015-06-08). "Ellen DeGeneres to Produce Adaptation of Naomi Novik's Fantasy Novel 'Uprooted' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
- ↑ Giltz, Michael (2015-05-20). "BookFilter Exclusive: Naomi Novik On Her Acclaimed New Fantasy Novel 'Uprooted'". BookFilter. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
- ↑ "Nebula Awards 2016 Winners". Locus. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
- ↑ "Locus Online News » 2016 Locus Awards Winners". www.locusmag.com. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
- ↑ "The Mythopoeic Society - Mythopoeic Awards: 2016 Winners Announced". www.mythsoc.org. Retrieved 2016-08-09.
- ↑ Shawl, Nisi (2015-05-26). "'Uprooted': the spellbinding power of truth". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2015-09-18.