The Book Report #61

Episode #60

Tabula Rasa By Mark Lawrence

The Book

This short story was originally published by Amazon. As part of a book called Missing Pages, which was released on November 24, 2024. The book is 152 pages long and contains all the short stories connected to the Library Trilogy, including some acknowledgements and an introduction.

Tabula Rasa, the ebook, was released through Amazon on January 25th 2025, with a total of 37 pages.

What did I Think

I am not impressed with the quality of this book. This is the first time holding a hardback book that I feel I could be holding something fake. Amazon, you did a bad job. Get some new book builders and printers or whatever bookbinders are called.

I do not understand how this could be so awful. The font and the print look bad. Don’t get me wrong. Yes, the book is in a book shape and works as a book should, but everything is wrong. Even the paper quality isn’t right.

And I know I may be coming across as a whiny bitch. I wanted this book to be made. I didn’t like the idea of having the stories in only a digital form, but this… This is just NO!

The Plot

I believe this is set during the first book, The Book That Wouldn’t Burn. Mainly because Livira is still training in the library with Yute and her fellow trainees.

The running idea of the Library is that there are so many mysteries from different cultures and civilisations that they will always find more items of interest. They struggle as they don’t know what they are, what they do or what to do with them. But we are introduced, in this short, to another building where they take the mechanical things, whether broken or not, and categorise them whilst also trying to learn how they work.

The king is getting old or feeling it. He asks Yute to send for information on how to gain immortality. He tasks a group of library trainees, including Liviria and Arpix, to go to a certain building and ask for help in the form of mechanical advisors. These robots seem to have similar abilities as the Assistants but are limited.

Livira and Arpix receive a frog that quotes anything said or written. The pair are hoping the frog will help them with their quest, but instead, it helps with the reuniting of lost robotic souls.

This story comes full circle with a past adventure of Livira going off on her own, exploring not only the library but also other places that are connected. With the help of the frog, the part that is missing and reunites them to be able to go on their way into eternity. All this while they are looking for something else.

Would I Recommend

Yes, I would recommend this story. This short story is for those who, like myself, are invested in the story of the library and all of the characters involved. And also for those who are looking for something a little different.

Would you like to purchase your very own copy?

This is only available at Amazon. Digital copy of Tabula Rasa UK/ USA, Missing Pages Book: UK/USA