It is not often that I'd declare a book, any book, a waste of money. This one qualifies. As a literary experience, I'd rank it somewhere around the ingredients list on a Pepsi bottle.

Pendragon: The Guide to the Territories of Halla is forty five pages of text and illustrations, the latter adequately accomplished by Peter Ferguson. The text is composed by D.J. MacHale, author of the Pendragon series of books that feature the adventures of young Bobby Pendragon. Pendragon is a science fiction series for young teens, but generally liked by at least one Epinions reviewer of indeterminate age. Mostly, MacHale's contribution to The Guide to the Territories of Halla is merely 250-word plot synopses covering the first five books, with some captioned character profiles in between. In all, there are probably only two thousand words in the book, not even enough to cure your insomnia.

There are two major problems here, both due to this guide offering little guidance. The illustrations are the major feature of the book, providing colored drawings of characters from the first five books of the projected ten-book series. But they actually do not cover two of the major characters, Mark Dimond and Courtney Chetwynde -- the ones I was most curious to see. In fact, neither character is mentioned in the text, a puzzling omission.

The second shortcoming of the guide is that there are supposedly ten "Territories" in the series, Territories being MacHale's term for the parallel universes the narrative takes place within. "Halla" is the term he uses to reference all ten Territories as part of one encompassing universe. This book only tells of five of the ten Territories of Halla, and those five are the subjects of the first five books in the series, already published. In short, with the exception of the illustrations, there is nothing new here for fans of the series.

Granted, the series could use some illustrations, and it is probable that the publisher retrospectively realized that, with a minor hit on its hands, it could afford to dedicate some paper to drawings. So there is one reason to publish the book. But what is the reason to purchase it? There might be three, if you count the illustrations. Other than the drawings, there is some trivia about the Territories that is not revealed in the books. But this is very trivial trivia, found in brief lists that state things like what the main currency of the Territory is and what sort notable events have occurred there (though not notable enough to deserve mention in the books). In short, there is nothing necessary to enjoying the Pendragon series. The other reason to possibly purchase the books is that it lists the previously unrevealed names of two Territories. But they are only mentioned, not explained, and they are just names.

In fact, let me save you eight dollars: the names of the two Territories are Quillan and Ibara.

So the three possible reasons to purchase the book aren't really good reasons. The only other reason I can see to purchase the book is if you adore all things Pendragon and must have it on your shelf. In which case you're not being reasonable and you won't heed this negative review anyway. For the rest of us, the money would be better put toward the new Artemis Fowl. And hope that MacHale's forthcoming The Rivers of Zadaa, due out this summer, is not the disappointment Pendragon: The Guide to the Territories of Halla turned out to be.

For my more favorable Pendragon reviews, see:
Book One:Merchant of Death
Book Two:Lost City of Faar
Book Three:The Never War
Book Four:The Reality Bug
Book Five:Black Water
Book Six:The Rivers of Zadaa
Book Seven:Quillan Games


Recommended: No