Full disclosure: this magnificent book is difficult to describe and, for me, a challenge to read but it is a totally rewarding experience. First, there is Ms. Thien’s exquisite writing. And second, the story is a blend of historical fiction and fantasy. Most of the book takes place in The Sea, an enclave for people in transition, on the way to a “better” place. Lina arrives at age 7 from China with her ailing father, and experiences a fluidity of time with other residents who represent the poet Du Fu, the philosopher Spinoza, and the writer Hannah Arendt. So there is storytelling with sublime writing about such diverse topics as lens grinding (Spinoza) and a breath-taking escape from Europe by Hannah in 1941. So, accept a challenge to read about philosophy – you will be richly rewarded.
Category: Fantasy
The Mists Of Avalon – Marion Zimmer Bradley
Grossman’s The Bright Sword prompted me to re-read Bradley’s classic 1981 story about the King Arthur legend with the usual male suspects: Arthur, Lancelet, Gwydion/Mordred … What distinguishes this re-telling is the focus on women: Viviane, Igraine, Morgause and especially Morgaine. A key plot device is the conflict between ascendent Christianity and the old religion of the Goddess and Druids. This book is a great companion to T. H. White’s sublime The Once And Future King.
The Book Of Koli – M.R. Carey
Carey wrote the magnificent The Girl With All The Gifts. This book is the first in a Rampart Trilogy, describing a dystopian future set several centuries after an apocalyptic disaster. A post-apocalyptic fantasy world is described vividly; much was lost including “old tech”. What will happen if Koli accidentally discovers a music/entertainment device? This is an epic fable, not to be missed. Thanks Amy, for this recommendation (via Chris!)
The Capital of Dreams – Heather O’Neill
And now for something entirely different – this new O’Neill book is NOT set in Montreal. It is, in fact, a surrealistic fable. Elysia, a country based on art and ideas, is invaded by the dogmatic and ultra-conservative Enemy. There are two key features of this literary masterpiece. First, how does one survive in dystopian future, with the arrest of cultural figures like writers and poets? Clara Bottom is a distinguished writer. How can her 14-year-old daughter survive? And so the second theme is the mother-daughter relationship. To be clear, this is a dark fairy tale of betrayal and survival, and there is a talking goose. A highly recommended read, but recognize that this is not a typical O’Neill book.
The Bright Sword – Lev Grossman
Grossman (author of the magnificent The Magicians trilogy) provides an entertaining re-imagining of the King Arthur legend by focussing on a young knight Collum who arrives in Camelot two weeks after the death of Arthur at the battle of Camlann. It is a time of chaos with conflicts between knights and pagan-Christian issues. Can Camelot be preserved, be rebuilt with only a few surviving knights of the round table? There are strong women like Morgan le Fay, Nimue, and yes, Queen Guinevere, imperfect men, quests and, of course, magical fairies. Highly recommended.
Bookshops and Bonedust – Travis Baldree
Readers of this blog will know that I read any book with the word “bookshops “ in the title. This is an entertaining fantasy novel about orcs, dwarfs, elves, wights an evil necromancer and even a homunculus (look it up). Viv, a battle-hungry orc, is recovering from a wound in a small sleepy town, when she is introduced to literature in a bookshop run by Fern, a foul-mouthed rattkin. Key relationships are centered about books, and the main characters are all female. Very entertaining.
Starling House – Alix E. Harrow
This is an excellent modern gothic fantasy. There is a spooky mansion that may be sentient. Can dreams and nightmares create monsters? What constitutes bad luck? Opal is a 26-year-old survivor who is fighting to create better future opportunities for her younger brother. And finally, the Kentucky setting provides a sinister background to a tale of worlds within worlds. Highly recommended.
The Mermaid Of Black Conch – Monique Roffey
Aycayia was once an indigenous Taino woman in the Caribbean. What curse transformed her into a mermaid? If she is captured, will she re-transform into a woman? What will be her fate? How are the island lives changed by this phenomenon? This is a great story, no surprise since it is a Heather O’Neill recommendation.
Devolution – Max Brooks
Brooks wrote the very excellent World War Z (skip the 2013 Brad Pitt movie). In this new book, Greenloop is a high-tech enclave that is completely isolated by a Mount Rainier volcanic eruption. What follows is a survivalist story that is complicated enormously by an attacking Sasquatch/Bigfoot tribe. The horror of discovering this predatory danger is revealed slowly but inexorably, Stephen King-like. Some of the survival instincts reminded me of Lord of the Flies. Be warned: there is graphic bloody violence. Overall a compelling story, a nice companion to The Centaur’s Wife.
What David Read 