The Forgotten Beasts of Eld

By: Patricia A. McKillip

Narrated by: Dina Pearlman

Sixteen when a baby is brought to her to raise, Sybel has grown up on Eld Mountain. Her only playmates are the creatures of a fantastic menagerie called there by wizardry. Sybel has cared nothing for humans, until the baby awakens emotions previously unknown to her. And when Coren--the man who brought this child--returns, Sybel's world is again turned upside down.

©1974, 2002 Patricia A. McKillip (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

World Fantasy Award, Best Novel, 1975

One of the Greatest Fantasies

A cold sorceress and her mythic beasts become involved in the affairs of mankind and she learns of hate, love, betrayal, forgiveness, of being human.
Lyric, beautiful.

Along time I have known them, but it burns new.

I have loved this story for 40 yrs and remember reading back in unior high school for a paper. A captivating tale of one self, and that which came to serve hidden in a reflection of one self, for both evil and good. worth the read. Only negative comment she said Mike when the story was written Myk (Mick), so that drove me nuts but to each their own.

A favorite

I’ve read this book many times and it is one of my favorites. Dina Pearlman’s narration did justice to this beautiful story.

Wouldn't call this a romance. Main character void of emotion.

I wouldn't say this is a fantasy book that enthralled me and it was fairly typical in its fantasy elements. But it was pretty good.

The main character was so void of emotion that it was challenging for me to emotionally invest in this book.

I am definitely confused about other reviews calling this a romance. There is a love story, but, again, the main character doesn't really feel emotions much, so how can I invest in the love story if she hardly seems to feel affection?

I wouldn't say this is a bad book and I enjoyed some aspects. It was also an easy read. But overall I'd say it wasn't really worth a credit.

Sooooooo thrilled to have it (finally) at Audible

Wecome , welcome, Patricia Mckillip!
I was blown away with the mind altering creativity in FBE when I first read it while still in school. It impacted the way I thought from that point on , I loved the flawed characters and the story line also. I was one of those kids that read everything , I mean everything, I read fast, furious, and obsessively. I'd guess around the ages of 14-16, there where only four books that were enormous enough in their impact then to actually stop me in my tracks. They were: To Kill A Mockingbird ; Fahrenheit 451 ; Crime and Punishment; and The Forgotten Beasts of Eld.

Listening to it on audible has been so much fun I finished it listening continuously to the end.

I withheld the fifth star because by the second or third chapter I felt this emphatic quality creeping in, the narrator was wearing on me . Although she has a very nice clear voice and the audio quality is terrific, her voice slowly seemed to morph into employing a overly dramatic - precariously close to melodramatic- presence. The protagonist's immature, judgmental and naive quality gets covered up with this type of narration. By the end of the book I realized I had been mocking Ms. Pearlman to myself with visions of what she must look like speaking this "epoch" into the mike. Yes I made it rather distracting for myself. I had to repeat several of the sections and make myself focus. You however may love it. I hope you do!
Thank you Audible, after years of checking in for FBE here it is!

A favorite brought to deeper meaning

I have loved this author for decades. The narration brought richness and characterization beyond the written word. Brilliant.

Romantic near tragedy

full of lovely imagery and long slow visuals. This would make a nice "Willow" like movie. I'm pleased my husband talked me into listening.

Forgotten beasts of eld

This is a wonderful book. It combines a tight plot, good characters and beautifully written prose. I love Patricia McKillip’s early books especially. The language is so poetic and magical. Its a fantasy that stands on its own; no book 2 and book 3, etc. and it not in the least a copy of lord of the rings or the hobbit which so many fantasy books are. Its original, lovely and ive listened and read her books over and over and I discover new things with each reading. I don’t much care for her newest things. They’re too modern and care ridden for me. But i love the older books, such as Atrix wolfe. Her descriptions of food makes me think she is a cook, they’re so very graphic and detailed. Her descriptions of the magical animals are great and the way she brings them to life, especially the boar. And in the middle of the action and the magic she even has a nice love story, which usually i don’t care for, but she melds it into the end in a very pleasing way.

Lovely Story and Production

First World Fantasy Award winner and, yeah! Well done, nice voices, really liked the phrasing.

Old Friend

This book is an old friend. I am so happy to find it on Audible?♥️