Ile-Rien
Encyclopedia
Ile-Rien is a fictional country
which is the setting for five fantasy
novels by Martha Wells
[]. It is a centralized monarchy
governed by the Fontainon dynasty
, governing from their ornate capital of Vienne. It is also the home of the university-city of Lodun, a great center of learning, producing world-renowned scholars in medicine, law and sorcery. Its neighbors are the nations of Adera, Umberwald and Parscia, as well as Bisra, its long-standing enemy. Ile-Rien shares a coastline along the Western Ocean with Parscia.
Superficially, Ile-Rien resembles France
, with its highly sophisticated culture, cuisine and fashions, as well as its one-time rarefied nobility. Many of the names invented by Wells have a Gallic
flavor to them. Additionally, Wells uses French terms with respect to food and drink. Although the name "Ile-Rien" is taken from the French for "Island of Nothing", Wells has stated that she did not intend this.
Over the course of the novels, Ile-Rien develops technologically and culturally, with advances such gas lamps replacing candles, before being replaced by electric lights, and trains and motor-cars replacing horse-drawn conveyances. The government, once an absolute monarchy, develops into a more meritocratic
and representative system supplementing the crown.
, Moire, maintains an uneasy relationship with both her brother Roland and Ravenna. A skilled, yet capricious, sorceress, she goes by the name 'Kade Carrion.'
The representation of Ile-Rien in Element is that of a refined and baroque
culture with a high aristocratic class
and orders of knights still prevalent, roughly equivalent to 17th century France. A significant difference is the omnipresence of sorcery and magic. The University of Lodun produces internationally esteemed sorcerers, who are vital to the governance of the nation and its security. The Royal Palace in Vienne requires a court sorcerer to maintain the complex and interlocking wards around the grounds to prevent attack from its terrestrial enemies, as well its otherworldly ones, the Fay
, inhabitants of the faerie-world, both the Seelie and Unseelie Courts, as well that of Kade Carrion's own mother.
, with elements of Victorian England
as well. A young Fontainion queen, a descendant of King Roland, still rules in Vienne, yet the society seems to be advancing into a nascent industrial stage
, with gas lamps and steam-powered trains becoming common. This book was a finalist for the Nebula Award given out by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
This being a grand of age of technology and progress, opulent ocean liner
s such as the massive Queen Ravenna (inspired by the Cunard Line
's Queen Mary
and Queen Falaise have been converted from their original purposes into troop transport and evacuation ships. The young Fontainon Queen from Necromancer has aged and married, and relocated the government from besieged Vienne to neighboring Parscia, Ile-Rien's ally in the war. In addition to the Queen herself, the royal family also consists of the Prince Ilaron and the adolescent Princess Olympe.
Fictional country
A fictional country is a country that is made up for fictional stories, and does not exist in real life, or one that people believe in without proof....
which is the setting for five fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
novels by Martha Wells
Martha Wells
-Biography:Martha Wells was born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1964 and has a B.A. in Anthropology from Texas A&M University. She has published eight fantasy novels, two Stargate Atlantis tie-in novels, and several short stories...
[]. It is a centralized monarchy
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
governed by the Fontainon dynasty
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...
, governing from their ornate capital of Vienne. It is also the home of the university-city of Lodun, a great center of learning, producing world-renowned scholars in medicine, law and sorcery. Its neighbors are the nations of Adera, Umberwald and Parscia, as well as Bisra, its long-standing enemy. Ile-Rien shares a coastline along the Western Ocean with Parscia.
Superficially, Ile-Rien resembles France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, with its highly sophisticated culture, cuisine and fashions, as well as its one-time rarefied nobility. Many of the names invented by Wells have a Gallic
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
flavor to them. Additionally, Wells uses French terms with respect to food and drink. Although the name "Ile-Rien" is taken from the French for "Island of Nothing", Wells has stated that she did not intend this.
Over the course of the novels, Ile-Rien develops technologically and culturally, with advances such gas lamps replacing candles, before being replaced by electric lights, and trains and motor-cars replacing horse-drawn conveyances. The government, once an absolute monarchy, develops into a more meritocratic
Meritocracy
Meritocracy, in the first, most administrative sense, is a system of government or other administration wherein appointments and responsibilities are objectively assigned to individuals based upon their "merits", namely intelligence, credentials, and education, determined through evaluations or...
and representative system supplementing the crown.
The Element of Fire
In the first of the books to be set there, The Element of Fire, Ile-Rien is ruled by the Dowager Queen Ravenna, who was the daughter of the previous king, who shares power with her son, King Roland, and his new queen consort, Falaise. Queen Ravenna's consort, King Fulstan, is deceased. The Princess Katherine, Fulstan's bastard daughter by the Queen of Air and DarknessQueen of Air and Darkness
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, The Queen of Air and Darkness is the fey deity of Magic , Darkness, and Murder. Her long-lost true name is never spoken among the fey. Her unholy symbol is a black diamond....
, Moire, maintains an uneasy relationship with both her brother Roland and Ravenna. A skilled, yet capricious, sorceress, she goes by the name 'Kade Carrion.'
The representation of Ile-Rien in Element is that of a refined and baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
culture with a high aristocratic class
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
and orders of knights still prevalent, roughly equivalent to 17th century France. A significant difference is the omnipresence of sorcery and magic. The University of Lodun produces internationally esteemed sorcerers, who are vital to the governance of the nation and its security. The Royal Palace in Vienne requires a court sorcerer to maintain the complex and interlocking wards around the grounds to prevent attack from its terrestrial enemies, as well its otherworldly ones, the Fay
Fairy
A fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
, inhabitants of the faerie-world, both the Seelie and Unseelie Courts, as well that of Kade Carrion's own mother.
Death of the Necromancer
In Death of the Necromancer, the second novel, society in Ile-Rien has advanced to a stage equivalent to that of 19th century FranceFrance in the nineteenth century
The History of France from 1789 to 1914 extends from the French Revolution to World War I and includes:*French Revolution *French First Republic *First French Empire under Napoleon...
, with elements of Victorian England
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
as well. A young Fontainion queen, a descendant of King Roland, still rules in Vienne, yet the society seems to be advancing into a nascent industrial stage
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
, with gas lamps and steam-powered trains becoming common. This book was a finalist for the Nebula Award given out by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
The Fall of Ile-Rien Trilogy
In the trilogy titled the Fall of Ile-Rien, comprising the novels The Wizard Hunters, The Ships of Air and The Gate of Gods, society in Ile-Rien has progressed to a stage that is similar to the early 20th Century, with electric lights, motor-cars and telephones. However, magic and its applications are still common, and highly integrated into Riennish culture and society. While still a wealthy and prosperous nation, Ile-Rien is succumbing to a brutal invasion from the Gardier, a mysterious sorcerous race, and much of its magnificent buildings and institutions are in ruins. The Gardier placed the city of Lodun under siege, trapping its powerful sorcerers behind an impenetrable barrier, making them unavailable to the war effort, where they are sorely needed.This being a grand of age of technology and progress, opulent ocean liner
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
s such as the massive Queen Ravenna (inspired by the Cunard Line
Cunard Line
Cunard Line is a British-American owned shipping company based at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operated by Carnival UK. It has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic for over a century...
's Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that sailed primarily in the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line...
and Queen Falaise have been converted from their original purposes into troop transport and evacuation ships. The young Fontainon Queen from Necromancer has aged and married, and relocated the government from besieged Vienne to neighboring Parscia, Ile-Rien's ally in the war. In addition to the Queen herself, the royal family also consists of the Prince Ilaron and the adolescent Princess Olympe.