For schoolteacher Thomas Abbey there was no writer to equal Marshall France, a legendary author of children's books who hid himself away in the small town of Galen and died of a heart attack at the age of forty-four. Tom and his girlfriend Saxony, wanting to write France's biography, arrive in Galen, where they discover the writer's fiercely protective daughter Anna is waiting for them. Before long, they realise that this idyllic little town and its inhabitants - both human and animal - are not quite what they seem: France's magic has spread beyond the printed page . . .
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SALES POINTS #9 in the Millennium Fantasy Masterworks series, a library of the most original and influential fantasy ever written 'I can't remember when I've been so blown away by a fantasy novel' Stephen King 'Beguiling and original, this in an intricate, challenging and ultimately chilling tale, full of startling juxtapositions and surprises' Washington Post 'The most original first novel to appear in my generation of writers' Pat Conroy' 'A marvellous, exciting, beautifully written book, and absolutely riveting' Ruth Rendell
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Lark
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a great fantasy book but the fantasy element isnt overplayed, I could best describe the fantasy element as a fairy tale for adults but like I say this in many ways doesnt take centre stage in the story telling.
There is some very, very excellent characterisation in this novel, its a great book of human relations with lots of literary musings on relationships, reflection on feelings, thoughts and action, not least of which are living in the shadow of the great achievements of others, writing and a great love story.
The central male character is anything but heroic, in fact he's pretty weak and surrounded by stronger women, however you dont ever lose sympathy for him and this works well when some pretty nuanced menace and terror creeps into the plotline.
I have to say that there is a real punch in the finish, straight-up human horror, gut wrenching in its simplicity and you share the mix of emotions that it throws up for the characters. However the book doesnt end there, from the shock and awe it progresses to an epilogue which is as uplifting as it is perfect in its economy of words.
I found this book really easy reading, I was sorry when it came to a finish and it was time to say goodbye to the characters, and I'd recommend it to any fans of mind bending fiction like Philip K. Dick's novels, specifically Time Out of Joint or The Cosmic Puppets. It's also a major book for book lovers as the story begins with the meeting of too total bibliophiles. Excellent.
There is some very, very excellent characterisation in this novel, its a great book of human relations with lots of literary musings on relationships, reflection on feelings, thoughts and action, not least of which are living in the shadow of the great achievements of others, writing and a great love story.
The central male character is anything but heroic, in fact he's pretty weak and surrounded by stronger women, however you dont ever lose sympathy for him and this works well when some pretty nuanced menace and terror creeps into the plotline.
I have to say that there is a real punch in the finish, straight-up human horror, gut wrenching in its simplicity and you share the mix of emotions that it throws up for the characters. However the book doesnt end there, from the shock and awe it progresses to an epilogue which is as uplifting as it is perfect in its economy of words.
I found this book really easy reading, I was sorry when it came to a finish and it was time to say goodbye to the characters, and I'd recommend it to any fans of mind bending fiction like Philip K. Dick's novels, specifically Time Out of Joint or The Cosmic Puppets. It's also a major book for book lovers as the story begins with the meeting of too total bibliophiles. Excellent.
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
A bad pun (read it to find out why) for a great book- Jonathan Carroll's first novel starts off as sweetly strange and ends up scary and shocking. The central idea - revealed about two thirds of the way through, has been plagiarised a few times now by film and TV episode writers, so it doesn't feel quite as original as it must have done back in 1975 when the book was first published. Nevertheless this is a must-read classic of the horror / fantasy genre. Carroll even manages to pull off a very satisfying frisson with his last couple of sentences. Highly recommended.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By WaterWolf
Format:Paperback
This is the only Jonathon Carrol book I've read and I quite enjoyed it. The story is original and entertaining and will keep you guessing as to what is going to happen. It's a hard one to explain without giving the plot away ! The characters are well portrayed and this allows you to get emotionally involved as the story unfolds. Some people might find the plot a little unbalanced in terms of normality and fantasy but I thought it made the book a more interesting read and less predictable. Don't be put off by constant comparisons to Stephen King, it's a much better book than that ! It's not a book of deep literature but neither is it shallow, it's the kind of book that would probably make a great film !
By shemmie
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Jonathan Carroll's books dont seem to be that popular in the English speaking world - I find it amusing that Easter Europe on the other hand, is in actual love with his work.
This sttory is simply magical, good read, intresting characters. you will not be able to put it down.
This sttory is simply magical, good read, intresting characters. you will not be able to put it down.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Marc Lyth
Format:Paperback
This is one of the greatest debut novels I've ever read. As someone else has said in another review, the central idea here has been filched several times since but it's never been used as well as it is here.
Jonathan Carroll is a writer to treasure and this, despite being his first novel, is right up there with the best he's ever written.
Jonathan Carroll is a writer to treasure and this, despite being his first novel, is right up there with the best he's ever written.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When you read Jonathan Carroll you never know who or what is going to turn up next.
It's fairly certain to be a weird and wonderful journey, and here again the writing is so clever that the unbelievable becomes believable.
A schoolteacher finds himself travelling to the small town of Galen in order to get the background for the life story of a writer of children's books, to write his biography.
Both humans and animals are not quite as they appear - GO GET IT!
It's fairly certain to be a weird and wonderful journey, and here again the writing is so clever that the unbelievable becomes believable.
A schoolteacher finds himself travelling to the small town of Galen in order to get the background for the life story of a writer of children's books, to write his biography.
Both humans and animals are not quite as they appear - GO GET IT!
7 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Like many other titles in the Fantasy Masterworks series, I was left wondering how this book is acclaimed as a 'Masterwork'. Don't get me wrong - it's a good book, but never approaches the literary heights which I would expect from a series which supposedly picks the best fantasy works from the last 100 years.
This shouldn't be taken as a "don't buy" recommendation. I enjoyed it. The plot is a Stephen King-esque story about weird goings-on in small-town America (even down to the main character being a writer / English teacher, a favourite King device). There's little to suggest that this is a fantasy novel of any kind until the last third of the book, which makes the climax all the more effective.
Buy it, but don't expect a masterwork.
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