The Infernal City: An Elder Scrolls Novel by Greg Keyes – review

The Infernal City is the first ever tie-in novel to the long-standing Elder Scrolls series of fantasy computer role-playing games. The setting is very much a traditional Western fantasy, with its pseudo-European medieval magical realm populated with various familiar fantasy races. On the other hand, it is built on a mythology, history, and lexicon which is entirely its own. The result is that a reader not familiar with the games, especially the fourth iteration, Oblivion, will be hopelessly lost. Make no mistake, this book is meant for fans and only they will get anything out of reading this book.

The story centers around Umbriel, a mysterious floating city that appears over the land, laying waste to all sentient life in its path and raising the bodies of the fallen to build an army of the undead. It sounds great, but sadly these events are covered with only a couple of pages. The bulk of the novel instead follows tomboy and amateur alchemist Annaig Hoinart and her lifelong friend Glim the Argonian (lizard-man). The pair are the only ones to escape the destruction of their homeland, Black Marsh, by the forces of Umbriel. They find themselves stranded on Umbriel, are subsequently captured, separated, and put to work in the city’s subterranean kitchens and an underwater farm called the Sump. Annaig uses the opportunity – and a handy magical communication device – to pass on whatever she learns about Umbriel to her would-be rescuer, the Imperial Prince Attrebus, and his mysterious and dangerous traveling companion Sul the Dunmer (dark elf). The other character of note is that of Colin, imperial inspector (secret police), and his investigation of the inexplicable conspiracy to assassinate Prince Attrebus. I say inexplicable because Attrebus has about as much sense as a box of rocks but isn’t half as dangerous as one.

The real reason to read the book, though, is actually to learn the backstory. The Infernal City is set forty-odd years after the end of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and the most interesting parts of the book are those where we learn about the major events that transpired in that period, in particular those that gave rise to Umbriel itself.

My biggest problem with the story is that Umbriel lacks immediacy as a threat. We have only the vaguest notion of the danger it poses, and the reader isn’t shown any of whatever impact it has on the ground. The chef who runs the kitchen Annaig works in is of greater concern to the reader than the city.

Another problem is this novel is the first in a two-book sequence and only provides half of the story. There is absolutely no resolution to any part of the narrative. As a consequence the ending of The Infernal City is completely unsatisfying.

I would only recommend this book to those gamers who are looking to kill time while they await next year’s release of The Elder Scrolls V. In all fairness to the author, I imagine they are, after all, the intended audience.

About Aaron Teiser

Aaron is not an ace fighter pilot, international man of mystery, masked crime fighter, leader of the free world, or intergalactic bounty hunter... yet.