Calamity (Reckoners 3)

Escrito por Brandon Sanderson

Narrado por Íñigo Montero

Calamity es el tercer volumen de la elogiada «Trilogía de los Reckoners» de Brandon Sanderson, el autor de fantasía épica que más lectores está ganado en todo el mundo y que ya se ha convertido en el futuro heredero del trono de todo un género.

Los Épicos nacieron cuando Calamity iluminó los cielos. Desde esa noche histórica, el destino de David ha estado entrelazado con el de esos malvados. Steelherat asesinó a su padre. Firefight le robó el corazón. Y ahora Regalia ha convertido a su mayor aliado en un peligroso enemigo.

David conocía el secreto del Profesor. Secreto que guardó incluso cuando el Profesor se esforzaba por controlar los efectos de sus poderes épicos. Pero no pudo superar enfrentarse a Obliterarion en Babilar. El Profesor, que fue líder de los Reckoners, se ha entregado totalmente a su destino de Épico. Se ha hundido en esas tenebrosas sombras de violencia propias de los Épicos. Y todos saben que de las sombras no se vuelve...

Pero todos se equivocan. Es posible redimir a los Épicos. Megan ya lo demostró. No todo está perdido. Al menos, no definitivamente. Y David está lo bastante loco como para enfrentarse al Gran Épico más poderoso de la historia con tal de recuperar a su amigo. O morir en el intento.

Reseña:
«Brandon Sanderson es una leyenda.»
Alexelcapo, @EvilAFM

• Idioma: Español
• Editorial: Penguin Random House Audio
• Traductor: Pedro Jorge Romero
• Fecha de lanzamiento: 18 nov 2021
• ISBN: 9788418037146

Brandon Sanderson

BRANDON SANDERSON (Nebraska, 1975) es el gran autor de fantasía del siglo XXI. Tras debutar en 2006 con su novela Elantris, ha deslumbrado a más de cincuenta millones de lectores en casi cuarenta lenguas con el Cosmere, el fascinante universo de magia que comparten la mayoría de sus obras. Sus best sellers son considerados clásicos instantáneos, comola saga Mistborn, la decalogía El Archivo de las Tormentas y otras novelas, como Trenza del mar Esmeralda, Steelheart o Escuadrón. Con un plan de publicación de más de veinte futuras obras (que contempla la interconexión de todas ellas), el Cosmere se convertirá en el universo más extenso e impresionante jamás escrito en el ámbito de la fantasía épica. Sanderson vive en Utah con su esposa e hijos y enseña escritura creativa en la Universidad Brigham Young. Curso de escritura creativa es el libro que recoge sus valiosos consejos.

Comentarios para Calamity (Reckoners 3)

[tom_wright-1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Unexpected twist at the end. I should probably re-read the entire series, since so much time went between my reading of the first and second book.

The metaphors were over the top as usual, so if that's your thing, you'll like it. I didn't care for that particular character quirk.

Interesting premise overall. Is this part of the Cosmere? I didn't think Earth was...

[jennybeast · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

A strong ending to an excellent superhero series. I'm not sure what I like best: truly weird similes (David's mind is a strange place!) or the sheer unexpectedness of the plot. I like that I can rely on Brandon Sanderson for original plots and characters that keep me riveted.

Advanced reader's copy provided by edelweiss.

[belana-990668 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

This is the grand finale to the Epic tale. We're no longer in New York, and we haven't gone back to Chicago, but we're in Atlanta now, which, just like the steel-city and the water-city, has a specific feature: the buildings, trees, etc are made of salt, AND the city moves, destroying and rebuilding itself every seven days.
David and his decimated team of Reckoners meet old foes and new ones, and they aren't well equipped or prepared. However, they get help from unexpected quarters, and so they take up the fight against Prof -- and ultimately, against Calamity.

Again, this book is full of surprises, there are so many unexpected twists and turns, it is a joy to behold. I really need to make my son listen to this epic (sorry, can't resist the pun here) trilogy, so at least somebody will know what I mean, should I ever find myself exclaiming: "Sparks!" or "Calamity!" Yes, that's all the cursing there is (and it's very often just an exclamation of surprise).

Oh, and I love didgeridooing -- I want that filter for some of the books I read/listen to!!

McLeod Andrews'narration was perfect again, and I think I prefer him to Michael Kramer (who is a great narrator, too).

So, I guess you can see that I'm quite enthusiastic about this trilogy, it's great ya stuff that makes you think, because of course all the right questions are being raised (about the legitimacy of killing a foe, for instance, and how you go on living with the knowledge that you've killed --admittedly dangerous, tyrannical -- people who never chose to be like they are. Can you overcome the darkness within you? Can friends help you with it? And what about love?
This trilogy isn't just a great ya story, but it is food for thought, too.

[ftbooklover · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Calamity is the final book in The Reckoners' series. David is determined to try and save Prof by making him face his deepest fears in order to keep the darkness at bay. Even though his plan has promise, he is starting to doubt himself as his nightmares begin to be more and more vivid and persistent. And what about Calamity; it is clear now that rather than a thing, Calamity is an Epic. Will turning Prof help them to defeat Calamity? David's saving grace is still Megan who has faced her fears and is solidly by his side along with Mizzy, Abraham, and Cody, the only remaining Reckoners.
The action is exciting and the relationship between the characters is well developed in this book. As in the first two books in the series, Sanderson poses questions to his readers. In this book, he looks at not only fear, but the nature and beauty of humanity and how it may be the strongest force of all. An excellent end to the Reckoners's series.

[andy_dimartino · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

I liked this. ALOT!!!! Nice conclusion to the series

[skybalon · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Another solid Sanderson effort. The world-building was mostly accomplished in the first book but is continued nicely here. If you liked the first book, you'll like this one and want to finish the trilogy.

[mrnattania72 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Though it was the end of a full story , it was as weak. I felt like you had this huge conflict and challenge and BOOM outta nowhere comes this easy resolution. Blah, I was told that this is probably the worse of his series that he has done. Great premise, bad delivery - BUMMER

[brannonsg · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

It's good, but the first two books in the Reckoners series were better. Calamity maintains the high standard of story writing, descriptions, and character interactions. Additionally, you do not have to worry about foul language or strong sexual content in Sanderson's tales of fantasy. Unfortunately, this volume, Calamity, suffers from prolonged story development. It really doesn't pick up until about half-way through, so plan to invest reading time reading lots of background information on how a city made of salt can dissolve, grow, be maintained, how the citizens move about, etc., before you get to the conflict. Still, it's a better than average story.

[mhanover10 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

If you like sci-fi stories, this is a good trilogy and well worth the time. I listened to it and it was easy to follow along. It was also entertaining as an audiobook.

[tjsjohanna_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

I was sad to come to the end of this series. I'm going to miss David with his ridiculous metaphors and his quick mind and his thirst for understanding. The explanation and conclusion of the overarching conflict was satisfying at the end.

[mommatracey · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Fabulous!! Started at 8:15p on 4/8 and finished at 12:30a on 4/9

Superb writing. LOVED the dialogue! Great world building. Deep characters. Creepy villains.

[narilka · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

It all comes back to Calamity. Calamity rose in the sky and Epics were born. David's life has been tied to Epics ever since. Steelheart killed his father. He fell in love with Firefight. Regalia twisted and corrupted his closest friend into becoming his worst enemy. David once thought that killing Epics was the answer. Now Megan has proven there is hope, that a way through the darkness is possible. And David is just crazy enough to face down the greatest High Epic of all time in order to save them all.

Calamity is the final book in The Reckoners trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. The story picks up not long after where book two ends and again we are dropped straight into the action. The Reckoners have been shattered and the group is desperate to get their hands on some tech to help them continue their mission to save the world.

Even though the story is still told from David's first person point of view, all of the characters have important parts to play. David has grown as a character. He's still impulsive and reckless but he's also learning leadership abilities and how to motivate his team. David's terrible metaphors have become a highlight of these books for me. They are so funny! And I love when he tries to explain his logic to others. They almost make sense. Almost. Megan's character arc has been interesting. Her struggle and eventual triumph over the darkness was fascinating and I love the complexity of her powers. There could easily be a spinoff series based just on that.

Calamity is a good end to the series. It's action packed, all the loose ends are tied up and most of the characters get the happy endings they fought so hard for. I'm a little sad to be leaving David and the Reckoners behind as the characters definitely grew on me after three books. A short story with these characters has been published so I'll be sure to pick that up soon. It's an interesting world Sanderson has created. I hope he decides to write more stories in it in the future.

[forevermasterless · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

One of Sanderson's strengths, as a self-admitted heavy outliner, are endings. He's claimed as much himself, noting it as a strength of his. It's hard not to agree with him when almost every book I've read by him has a knock out ending. Hard not to agree when the end of the original Mistborn trilogy amazed and astonished. Hard not to agree when that series transitioned into a post industrial period flawlessly. You could practically taste the forethought, the careful planning far in advance that he must've done. The work of a master outliner indeed.

And so, I am left wondering how he took his fantastically fun Reckoners series, by all accounts a much simpler and more manageable YA story compared to his typical complicated epic fantasy tomes, and completely flubbed the ending. This book was a five star book for me pretty much until the very end. Well, maybe a four star book. It is a little sloppier than the previous two, admittedly, but still tons of fun right up until the end, which is downright terrible. I don't even have the energy to go into the whys and critically break it apart, but know that I think there are very objective reasons why it's bad and that it's not a matter of taste. There are plot holes, there are Deus Ex Machinas, there's saccharine heart-string pulling that's completely unearned and falls completely flat as a result. It's a bad ending. It just is. I'm sad, disappointed, and am about to dive right into another book to get my mind off of it.

If you've read the first two books, you should still read this one as most of the ride is very enjoyable and you might as well finish the series, but you will be disappointed by the ending unless you have much lower standards than me, or are are so obsessed with Sanderson that you are incapable of thinking critically about his work.

What a disappointing capstone to a great series. Never expected Sanderson to let me down like this. Man...

[dlmorrese · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

The blurb for this book makes it sound like an action-packed, apocalyptic superhero fantasy story. It is, but it's not bad. It doesn't wallow in graphic scenes of violence or explicit sex, and the characters and quality of writing make it an entertaining read even if this isn't normally the kind of story you'd be drawn to. Sanderson is a good and highly prolific writer.

[tapestry100 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

A really great, thought provoking ending to this series. I truly hope that Sanderson revisits these characters and themes again in the future.

[joshuaatkins · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

A worthy end to the Reckoners trilogy. Twists and turns abound as the series wraps.

[fyrefly98 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Summary: The Reckoners - a group of resistance fighters dedicated to taking down the tyrannical and super-powered Epics that were created when the red star Calamity first appeared in the night sky - were lead by the Prof. Prof's secret was that he was an Epic himself, although he managed to keep the darkness at bay. However, Regalia's plot to turn the Prof has succeeded, meaning that David and what remains of the Reckoner team now has another immensely strong Epic to face, and one that knows all their secrets. Prof has headed from Babilar (what was once known as New York City, pre-Epics) to Atlanta (now Ildithia, a moving city made entirely of salt), to challenge the local Epic in control. The Reckoners are racing to stop him, but David's got a secret too - his goal is not to kill the Prof, but to somehow force him to reclaim his humanity from the darkness caused by the use of his powers.

Review: While this book was, like the others in the series, a fun, fast, action-packed read, it wasn't quite up to par with the first two books in the series, nor with Sanderson's other work. I'm pretty convinced that the real reason that people gravitate towards the whole superheroes genre (or superpowers, I should say, since by and large the Epics are not heroes) is to see/read about/imagine fight scenes between people with various types of superpowers, and how that plays out. For example, if you have the ability to shrink yourself and/or anything you touch, how does that play out in a fight against someone who can shift dimensions? Or create forcefields? Who wins that fight? On that front, this book's great - Sanderson's great at writing exciting, action-packed, easily visualizable fight scenes, and this book has a number of them. Where I think this book doesn't quite hold up is the metaphysics - the explanation for how the Epic powers and the weaknesses work and the backstory as to why it all is the way it is. Sanderson's usually really good about piecing together magic systems that are totally unique and internally consistent and make enough sense to feel obvious even though they're not like anything you've ever encountered before. And to some extent, that's true here too. The way the Epic powers work does make sense, and it's a different spin on superpowers than I've seen before. (Although it reminds me in some ways of George R. R. Martin's "Wild Cards" universe.) But the ending, and the final resolution, didn't have the oomph that I've come to expect from Sanderson books. There was no Sanderson avalanche, there was no rug being pulled out from under me, it was just kind of... not predictable exactly, but maybe a little bit pat and thus ultimately not entirely satisfying. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: Even a Sanderson book that's not quite up to his usual high standard is still a Sanderson book, and thus, while this one is not my favorite, it's still probably worth reading if you like YA action-adventure or superhero novels (especially if you've read the first two, of course). I think this might be a series best read fairly close together, as some of the details and characterizations fade pretty quickly with too much time in between novels.

[acargile-1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This novel is the final in The Reckoners trilogy, beginning with Steelheart. If you haven’t read the trilogy, stop reading now! You don’t want to know where book three ends up.

Megan, David, Abraham, and Mizzy are all that’s left of the Reckoners after the end of Firefight.
Through each of the novels, Calamity has watched from the sky, and David has heard Calamity’s voice, leaving us wondering David’s future and if he has any abilities. To save Earth, they really need Prof to help take Calmity down. Most of the novel is trying to figure out Prof’s weakness and hope to turn him back to good. Megan has proven that Epics can be rehabilitated, so to speak. They have to survive long enough to find his weakness, avoid/control the other Epics, and take down Calamity. No problem.

I fear saying anything else because you really don’t want to know the end of a trilogy. Suffice it to say, it’s exciting and surprising. If you liked the first two novels, you’ll thoroughly enjoy how it ends. I loved it.

[mountie9_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

The Good Stuff
It's been a while since I read Firefight, but Sanderson does a brilliant job of reminding you about what happened in previous books, without boring the hell out of you with repetition
Hard to mention this part without spoilers but the one part made me ache for my deceased father so bad that I had tears in my eyes
Forgot how much I adored David and his truly unique metaphors - I kinda wish he was my son
Dryly funny and mostly fast paced
Audio version has a perfect narrator
Truly unique spin on Super Heroes
Ok, I am such a Canadian - any mention of Abraham, Trenton, Canadian and Toronto made me smile
Ok I loved the moral about facing your fears and working through them - now if the rest of humanity could just understand this
Enjoyed the snappy witty dialogue between characters
Want to thank Sanderson for writing this series as there are so few YA books that I can recommend to male readers
Have a soft spot for Cody - his Scottish stories always make me giggle
The highlight of this series for me has always been David - I just love him so much - no matter the talent of the writer and the incredible world development - if you don't have a character that you feel a connection too you won't enjoy the story
I liked the ending, clears up things nicely so if he never writes anymore about the series you will be satisfied, but at the same time leaves himself the option of writing more
The Not So Good Stuff
Some of it just didn't make sense to me - its the other dimension stuff - I just cannot get around it (yes that is my problem, not the authors)
A tad (and I mean a wee tad) too much inner angst - again I am a 46 yr old women - but as I always mention my reviews are based on MY enjoyment of the story and not on the talents of the author - this book is written for teens & I slightly remember all that angst
Yeah -- spoiler alert - don;t listen to the audio version while walking the dog - um the part with David's Dad - tears rolling down my face - people staring at me
Some parts made me go --- huh - I know its been a while, but I am feeling like something doesn't make sense here
Would have like more of Abraham's back story
Favorite Quotes/Passages

“Yet—in all of infinity—I don’t think I’ve ever found a dimension where you can kiss worth a hill of beans.”
“That’s unfair,” I said. “You didn’t complain last night.”
“You stuck your tongue in my ear, David.”
“That’s way romantic. Saw it in a movie once. It’s like…a passionate wet willie.”

"Cupcakes are too dainty for a Scotsman. Give him one, and he'll ask you why didn't you shoot the wee cake's parents instead and serve that."

“Damn, I miss the internet. You could always find people doing stupid stuff on the internet.”

3.5 Dewey/s

Borrowed the audio from Jen - so once again I don't have to review - I just have a sick need to share my opinion on every book I read - well I do get paid at Chapters for telling customers my opinions but I don't get paid to tell you all - please feel free to send cash - I am awesome, have a fabulous family and I am grateful for all I have but I really would like to be out of debt

[adamwolf_1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

This is the third and final book in the series. I did not like it as much as Book 1 or Book 2, but it did the job.

It was a little dialogue heavy, and some of the major things were anticlimactic.

[publiusdb-1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I so wanted to give this four...more review coming.

[wyvernfriend · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

And the story finishes, David discovers more about himself and the Superheroes that inhabit his world and finds that while absolute power can corrupt absolutely, great power comes with great responsibility. It's an interesting end to the story and you can see how the characters had to grow and change to come up with the end, interesting but somehow some of it felt like the characters were being acted upon and some of them faded very much into the background. It's an interesting series and well worth a read but I felt like there could have been more.

[twhite13 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Yes, this took me a full two months to read. I just didn't get drawn in at the start of the story and I had other things going on, so I set it aside for a while. Once I picked it up in earnest, it was good.

While not as epic as some of Sanderson's other works, I did enjoy Calamity. The ending felt rushed, and I think the problem was that we were left with too many unanswered questions. No, I don't need Sanderson to sit down and explain everything to me, but he needs to put all the pieces there for me to pick up, and enough direction to see how they could be put together. The explanation behind Calamity (the character) seemed dropped out of nowhere. SPOILER. Like, seriously, we have been given no indication at all that there are aliens in this world, so to have the whole premise of the series be caused by some nonspecific race of floaty aliens who can grant powers but this particular alien believes that people are inherently evil and his belief bleeds into the Epics... That kind of vagueness just doesn't meet Sanderson's usual standard of magic systems that make complete sense once you have all the information.

So, a good read, but it's not at the level that I've come to expect from this author.

[krau0098 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

This was a fast-paced and entertaining read. David and what’s left of the Reckoners travel to the city of Illithia (a future version of Atlanta). Illithia is a city made completely of salt that constantly moves; the city unbuilding and rebuilding itself in a continuous march across the plains. I loved the concept of this city, it was really quite unique.

Prof is trying to take over the city from the current Epics that run it and David is determined, not only to stop Prof from taking over, but to save Prof from the hatred and evil his Epic powers have infected Prof with.

There is a ton of action and we meet some great new Epics. Megan is in the book a lot; we learn her backstory and history and also get to see her bend realities in some truly awesome ways. Alternate realities play a big role in the story this time and that added an incredibly interesting aspect to the story.

I loved the Epilogue it did such an awesome job of tying up the story in an upbeat way. I also really enjoyed all the witty dialogue and humor throughout. The addition of the character Knighthawk, also livened things up quite a bit. I also really continued to enjoy David and his constant mixing of metaphors.

Overall this was an excellent conclusion to a superb series. I would recommend to those who like action packed science fiction type stories full of superhero goodness (or would it be badness in this case…). Can’t wait to see what Sanderson comes up with next.

[thealtereggo · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Excellent conclusion to a great trilogy! Love all the bad metaphors! So many bad metaphors! Great world-building as usual. A quick-ish read. Recommended if you like urban fantasy with a YA twist!

[pwaites_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Calamity is the final book in Sanderson’s Reckoners series, a trilogy about a future were people with superpowers exist. The only catch? Along with superpowers comes a predisposition towards evil. It’s a fun, action packed YA trilogy that I would recommend. However, you’ll need to start with the first book, Steelheart, and read the series in order. Spoilers for Steelheart and Firefight follow under the cut.

After the events of Firefight, the Reckoners have serious problems. Prof’s gone over to the dark side, Tia’s nowhere to be found, and the rest of them are on the run. David’s somehow become the leader (there’s some interesting hints of why Abraham won’t do it, but we never get the full story), and he’s determined to save Prof from the darkness. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a clue as to what Prof’s weakness is and Prof’s smart, powerful, and knows how the Reckoners operate.

Calamity moves the action to a changed version of Atlanta, which is currently somewhere in Kansas. Apparently the city was changed into salt crystals which grow, dissolve, and reform, slowly moving the city across the continent. This highlights something I really love about this series – the sheer imagination and inventiveness when it comes to the Epics and all things related to them.

As usual with this series, the plot rockets along on high gear. There’s plenty of action scenes mixed through with a bit of humor. The “David’s bad at metaphors” joke, which I tend to find annoying, wasn’t as bad in Calamity, possibly because it was used in slightly different ways.

I do think that this installment had less in the way of character development. The only people who got any where David, who suddenly had to step into a leadership role, and Prof, through the exploration of his weakness and thus his greatest fear.

However, I don’t think I liked this installment as much as its predecessors. When I’m trying to figure out why, I keep turning to the ending. The majority of this book is focused around Prof, which doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for dealing with the larger threat, Calamity. The way Calamity was handled fell somewhat flat for me.

Overall, I do think that Calamity is a fitting end to the Reckoners trilogy. This series has been a wild ride from start to finish, and it’s one that I would definitely recommend.

Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.