The Infernal City by Greg Keyes Summary

The Infernal City is a fantasy novel set in the Elder Scrolls universe, taking place 40 years after the events of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. The story follows the mysterious flying city of Umbriel, which casts a deadly shadow that kills everyone below and raises them as undead. Young alchemist Annaïg Hoïnart, her Argonian friend Mere-Glim, and Prince Attrebus Mede must stop Umbriel's destructive path across Tamriel before it destroys the entire continent.

Greg Keyes (also known as J. Gregory Keyes) is an American fantasy and science fiction writer born April 11, 1963, in Meridian, Mississippi. He holds degrees in anthropology from Mississippi State University and the University of Georgia. Keyes is renowned for his Age of Unreason tetralogy, the Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone series, and tie-in novels for Babylon 5 and Star Wars. He currently lives in Savannah, Georgia, where he writes full-time.

The Infernal City is ideal for fans of The Elder Scrolls video game series who want to explore Tamriel's lore beyond gameplay. The book also appeals to fantasy readers who enjoy dark, adventure-driven narratives with complex world-building and multiple character perspectives. While knowledge of Elder Scrolls enhances the experience, the novel serves as an accessible entry point for newcomers to the franchise, offering rich storytelling independent of game familiarity.

The Infernal City is worth reading for Elder Scrolls enthusiasts seeking deeper lore and narrative continuation after Oblivion. Greg Keyes delivers compelling character development, particularly with Annaïg and Mere-Glim, while expanding Tamriel's mythology with original concepts like the floating city Umbriel. However, the book ends on a cliffhanger, requiring readers to continue with the sequel Lord of Souls for resolution. The novel balances fan service with standalone storytelling quality.

Umbriel is a mysterious flying city that appears over Black Marsh and travels toward Morrowind, leaving death in its wake. Wherever Umbriel's shadow falls, people die instantly and rise again as undead, creating an unstoppable army. The city has its own ecosystem, inhabitants, and ruling class, with characters forced to work as servants once trapped there. Umbriel is later revealed to exist partially within a Plane of Oblivion and is controlled by the villain Vuhon.

Annaïg Hoïnart and Mere-Glim fly to Umbriel using a magic potion but are quickly captured and separated. Annaïg becomes a cook for Umbriel's lords, using her alchemy knowledge to gain prestige, while Mere-Glim works elsewhere on the city. Despite plotting their escape, they discover they've lost their corporeality and fade when leaving Umbriel, forcing them to remain trapped. The book ends with them accepting their situation while vowing to eventually find freedom.

Prince Attrebus Mede is the son of Emperor Titus Mede I and heir to the Tamrielic Empire. After receiving Annaïg's magical distress call via an enchanted bird named Coo, Attrebus attempts to stop Umbriel but is betrayed by his own guard. He partners with the mysterious Dunmer assassin Sul to pursue the flying city through dangerous territory, including the Planes of Oblivion. Attrebus is eventually captured by Vuhon, who orchestrated his earlier betrayal.

The Infernal City can be enjoyed without playing Elder Scrolls games, though familiarity enhances the reading experience. Greg Keyes provides sufficient context about Tamriel's geography, races, and history for newcomers to follow the story. However, fans of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion will appreciate deeper references to the Oblivion Crisis and connections to game lore. The novel functions as both a rewarding continuation for enfranchised fans and an accessible onboarding point for new readers to the Elder Scrolls universe.

The Infernal City follows multiple storylines converging around the flying city Umbriel's destructive path across Tamriel. Annaïg and Mere-Glim become trapped on Umbriel after investigating it, while Prince Attrebus embarks on a mission to stop the city after his father refuses to act. Inspector Colin investigates Attrebus's apparent death while uncovering a conspiracy within the Imperial Palace. Sul and Attrebus travel through the Planes of Oblivion to catch Umbriel, ultimately discovering Vuhon as the mastermind behind the city's appearance.

The Infernal City is set 40 years after the Oblivion Crisis, the central event of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. The novel continues exploring the consequences of that catastrophic period in Tamriel's history, showing how the world has recovered and changed. References to Daedric Princes, Planes of Oblivion, and imperial politics directly tie to Oblivion's gameplay and lore. Greg Keyes expands upon established Elder Scrolls mythology while introducing new threats and characters to the universe.

The Infernal City is the first of two Elder Scrolls novels written by Greg Keyes. The story concludes in the sequel Lord of Souls, which was published by Random House on September 27, 2011. The Infernal City ends on a cliffhanger with major plot threads unresolved, requiring readers to continue with the second book. Both novels were announced in 2009 as official tie-in fiction expanding The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion's narrative and world-building.

The Infernal City explores themes of loss of freedom and the struggle to maintain identity under oppressive systems. Characters trapped on Umbriel face the mechanization of existence, losing their corporeality and becoming tied to the city's supernatural ecology. The novel examines betrayal and trust through Attrebus's repeated betrayals by those closest to him. Additionally, Greg Keyes weaves themes of perseverance and hope, as Annaïg promises Mere-Glim they will eventually be free despite their seemingly hopeless situation.