When I was in elementary school, I remember going to the annual Book Fair held in my school's library. There, the children could aimlessly peruse the books, crafts and otherwise random toys to see if they could find anything of interest. A 5th grade me wandered past a certain table in particular, and that's where I first met them...
The Seventh Tower series by Garth Nix.
I had no idea what they were about -- and honestly I was a little skeptical, considering they seemed very short and that somehow equated to juvenile in my young brain -- but seeing as there were no other decent-looking fantasy novels, I quickly bought up the few that they had and took them home with me.
I had no idea what sort of world I was about to get absorbed into.
Even looking back now as an almost 21-year old, I can honestly say that these books easily rank incredibly high up on my "Ultimate-Love-Forever-Until-The-End-Of-All-Time" literature list. Returning to Tal's world within the Castle and Milla's home upon the Ice returns me not only to my childhood, but the manner in which this series exposed me to some very adult themes.
That day at the Book Fair, I had no idea that the lessons and impressions I received from The Seventh Tower series would not only set the bar for my taste in fantasy literature but also shape my own personal view on the fantasy genre as a whole.
The Seventh Tower series grapples with, as I mentioned before, several adult themes lurking around in young adult fantasy novels. I don't want to give much away particularly because much of the impact from this series stems from one's personal journey with both Tal and Milla as well as the plot's development itself, but I will say this: reading this series changed my perception of the fantastical. Garth Nix weaves incredibly complex universes with truly original concepts, character designs and presentation of his storylines. Prejudice, the strength of familial bonds and the true terror and power of magic are only a few of the concepts covered in this series.
That was one of the things that struck me so about this series. The main character doesn't start out his journey searching for glory, recognition or even trying to impress a love interest. Instead, he's looking for a way to save his ailing mother, care for his younger brother and search for his missing father. True, Tal is a hot-headed and incredibly brash young man, but that actually endears him to me as the reader. He screws up a whole lot through his journey in these novels, but his goal remains more or less the same; he seeks to preserve and protect his family first and foremost.
The struggle shared by the Underfolk and eventually all who reside within the Castle also hit home with me. I guess I had heard of prejudice as a kid, but I was never really aware of just how much it could affect people until I picked up these books. The rebel leader Crow remains to this day my favorite character in the series. Yes, he was a crafty, crafty young man -- I won't spoil what he does for you -- but what he worked for was the ultimate liberation and equality for his people. He may have not gone about it in a totally upright way, but his goal remained a noble one. The final scene you read of him in the last book destroyed me inside. I'll never forget the line he cries out:
"Freeeeeeeedoooooommm!"
There are several heroes in this series, all with their own personal agendas, but no singular character is "the" hero by the end. Only with the weaving together of all their dreams can the fate of their world be shaped. Walls are broken down, bridges are burned and friendships are forged all for the sake of those they cherish.
I only wish more literature today hammered home such values as these.
If I had to recommend only one series to the young generations of the world, it would be Garth Nix's The Seventh Tower. They're easy to read, deceptively insightful about the workings of society -- even a wholly fictional one! -- immensely creative and all at once terribly thought-provoking.
