The Wind Singer

infobox Book |
name = The Wind Singer
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = 'The Wind Singer' Cover
author = William Nicholson
illustrator =
cover_artist = Peter Sis
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series = Wind On Fire
genre = Adventure novel
publisher = Hyperion Books
release_date = 2000
english_release_date = 2000
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 352 pp
isbn = ISBN 0786818263
preceded_by =
followed_by = Slaves of the Mastery

"The Wind Singer" (ISBN 0749744715) is a novel written by William Nicholson and the first book of his "Wind On Fire" Trilogy. It was first published in 2000. "The Wind Singer" won the 2000 Nestlé Smarties Book Prize and the [http://www.bexley.gov.uk/service/lib-bluepeterbookaward.html Blue Peter Best Book Award] for "The Book I Couldn't Put Down".

Plot summary

The book begins in the walled city of Aramanth on what is either another planet similar to our own or a future version of the Planet Earth. Aramanth is a meritocratic dystopia, ruled by "Examiners" where families are divided into classes according to how well their household performs on an annual High Examination.

Kestrel and Bowman Hath are the twin offspring of Hanno Hath and Ira Hath, who are descended from a great prophet known as Ira Manth. After Kestrel defies the especially harsh classification system of Aramanth, she is forced with her brother to escape through the sewers below the city. The twins' entry into the sewers is the beginning of a dangerous task which the surprisingly friendly Emperor endows them with: to search out the voice of the Wind Singer, a machine built long ago in the history of Aramanth that could create peace and defend Aramanth from the evil of The Morah. The journey leads them to the Halls of Morah, the very heart of the evil that has now taken control of the city. With their new friend, the brave but pitiful Mumpo who has an unshakeable affection for Kestrel, they cross the desert, the crack-in-the-land and a formidable forest, encountering friends and foes, eventually arriving at the Halls of the Morah where they encounter the terrible army of The Zars, a race of beautiful but evil Aryan creatures who live to kill. Bowman is turned into one of them but Kestrel manages to free him from their malign influence. They retrieve the Voice of the Wind Singer and flee back to Aramanth where after a fierce battle they return the Wind Singer's voice, activating the Wind Singer which releases a powerful song that destroys the Zars. In the midst of the battle the City of Aramanth is sacked and its tyrannical dictatorship overthrown.

Trivia

The Manth writing after the kicking reads clockwise around the border: "Creoth who to his shame gave away the woice of the wind singer asks you to bring it home. Creoth who draws this map in sorrow for his people, asks that you undo the fuck he has done."The text under the Singer's unicorn reads: "The song of the wind singer will set you free. Then seeks the homeland."The map border reads clockwise: "Creoth who knows his time is at an end makes you this promise. You will travel in fear but you will not travel alone. Sirene watchees over you."

ee also

*Aramanth
*"Slaves of the Mastery"
*"Firesong"
*William Nicholson (writer)

External links

Nicholson's Official Website [http://www.williamnicholson.co.uk/]