Las Sergas de Vivara
Las Sergas de Vivara (Spanish for "The Adventures of Vivara") is a mythopoetical high fantasy novel written by the Spanish-Mejican author Ireneo Villaamil. The novel first began as a compilation of short stories inspired by the medieval Spanish libros de caballerías - chivalric novels; as Villaamil continued to delve deeper into the project, the work evolved into an extensive epic encompassing multiple volumes. Set in the fictional continent of Claviria, the narrative merges elements of Spanish, Mesoamerican, and European mythologies. Las Sergas de Vivara is one of the best-selling books ever written, with over 170 million copies sold.
The title refers to the story's protagonist, Vivara de Lagohondo, a character inspired by the chivalric knights of medieval European literature. Vivara is a youthful and carefree itinerant knight who embarks on a journey to exalt his name and win the hand of Princess Floresinda, daughter of King Coruscán. Lost in vainglory and materialism, Vivara encounters Probedel, an angel, within a dream. The angel reveals the contents of the Codex Magnum, a long-lost artefact which prophesies the rise and fall of kingdoms, the fate of Claviria, and the coming of a figure known as the Great Seer. Burdened with the knowledge that only a knight of true virtue can avert the doom foreseen in the Codex and encouraged by Probedel, Vivara's quest transforms from a personal pursuit of glory into a desperate journey to save the world and prepare for the coming of the Great Seer.
Having become the Servant of the Great Seer, given a burn mark by Probedel visible on his right temple, Vivara experiences a theophany in which he witnesses the Ancient of Days (the main deity of the story) in his purest form. The Ancient of Days informs Vivara that he must undergo the Three Nights of Solace, an arduous spiritual trial designed to purify his heart and strengthen his spirit. Each night would challenge Vivara's faith, courage, and wisdom. With his new status, he becomes capable of seeing the Great Procession, a large procession of souls that wanders through the Earth during the day and the night. The Great Procession is divided into two sections, the Holy Company, composed of souls undergoing purification, and the Corrupt Host, consisting of malevolent spirits cast out by the Ancient of Days.
The antagonist of the story is Prince Yaldabuz, the leader of the Corrupt Host, a master manipulator knowledgeable in dark arts. Prince Yaldabuz's main aim is to open the Gates of Nihil, a large grotto where his parents, The Flayed Lord and The Lady of the Lowered Head - whose real names cannot be pronounced - have been imprisoned for aeons. By doing this, Prince Yaldabuz would bring about the commencement of the Sixth Era, a period of darkness and disease. Prince Yaldabuz also aims to corrupt the land and keep men ignorant of the Codex Magnum, as he knows that the arrival of the Great Seer could thwart his and his family's ambitions. As Vivara embarks on his journey, he is constantly shadowed by the sinister influence of Prince Yaldabuz, who seeks to derail his mission.
Throughout his journey, Vivara visits different locations, countries, realms, and continents to gather knowledge, companions, and artefacts which are necessary to combat the Corrupt Host. Vivara preaches of the forthcoming arrival of the Great Seer throughout the diverse landscapes of Claviria and beyond, from the jungles of Xanadú to the icy tundra of Manteña, from the ancient continent of Xícara to the lost island of Yparasila, where he encounters fantastical creatures and age-old civilizations. Vivara experiences differing success, often met with both receptiveness and resistance, as he enters an intricate cobweb of politics, belief systems, and the various acts of sabotage orchestrated by Prince Yaldabuz.
Las Sergas de Vivara was written in a total of seven volumes, which include multiple appendices with additional information, maps, and a compendium of the creatures and peoples Vivara encounters. This compendium, known as El Bestiario, is credited with being one of the most imaginative bestiaries in fantasy literature, delving into the mythological and folkloric origins of each creature, detailing their behaviors, habitats, and the significance they hold within the world of Claviria. Together with this, several of these appendices include dictionaries and grammatical guides for the various languages spoken throughout Claviria.
Villaamil's work was well received by the Mejican literary establishment and was immediately supported by the regime of José Vasconcelos upon its publication. The work has been the subject of extensive scholarly analysis of its themes, literary devices, and origins, and its appendices have been studied by linguists, biologists, and authors alike for their remarkable depth. The Christian themes of the book, such as Vivara's status as a figure reminiscent of both Job and John the Baptist, the human condition, the battle of good and evil, and the concepts of mortification and the dark night of the soul, have been highlighted by numerous scholars for their connections to Catholic thought. The religious systems of Claviria are well-polished, and Villaamil gave them structure, myths, pantheons, and spiritual traditions. Together with this, the magical systems of the book, including alchemy, incantations, necromancy, and shapeshifting, are well-developed and play a central role in Vivara's quest, although Vivara himself is not well-schooled in them.
Las Sergas de Vivara is considered by many to be one of the greatest fantasy books ever written and one of the greatest pieces of Spanish literature. It has helped inspire countless authors, artists, and creators in the fantasy genre. Since its release, it has been reprinted many times and translated into various languages. Its popularity, aided by its initial push by the Vasconcelist regime, has led to numerous references in popular culture, the founding of clubs and fan communities dedicated to discussing and analyzing the intricacies of Claviria and its mythology, the creation of language courses for the constructed languages of Claviria, and the publication of books and magazines discussing the work. It has inspired adaptations in radio, film, and television, and derivative works such as music, paintings, video games and board games.