REVIEW: The Dragons of Babel by Michael Swanwick

It’s disappointing to find a book as well written as “The Dragon’s of Babel” that was so lacking as far as pure story and character goes. This book had so many things going for it. Swanwick has a great narrative voice, and a very clever way of describing this world that he created. The mixture descriptive humor, clever use of real technologies, and unapologetic use of magic made so many passages in the book a delight. And the creativity of the world was just brilliant – I loved every location that I was introduced to, and felt like I had really been there. I mean, what else could a fantasy novel be lacking, right?

Well, character and plot continuity. The main character, Will, was just not believable at all. There was no character development as the story progressed. No question – Will changed throughout the book. But the changes were abrupt and almost random. Will didn’t grow with his experiences – his personality and even skills changed to fit the needs of the current situation. There was no shred of the original young man who began the story in a small village. The story just followed different people who happened to also be named Will. How did he keep acquiring all of those new skills? And why was Esme in this book?

Then there was the plot, which wasn’t really a plot. It was more of a collection of different scenarios thrown together, without any common thread, other than the fact that they followed this ever-changing character Will. I like a bit more of a story arc. If I wanted to read a series of unrelated events, entertaining though they were, I’d go get a book of short stories.

The big plot-twist at the end? Couldn’t possibly have been more obvious.

With the character and plot disappointments in mind, I do recommend The Dragons of Babel to any true fantasy fans. It is a well imagined world, and I particularly like the treatment of magic, not as something mystical that needs to be explained, but as a reality of life that just is. And like I’ve said, the writing itself is excellent – I just wish the same care had been put into the character and story development.

Halloween: In Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine

As I'm sure the vast majority of you already know, this month was the 60th Anniversary Issue of Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine.  Now, I've only been a subscriber for about a year now, but I really enjoyed this issue, and one story in particular: Halloween Town, by Lucius Shepard.  This is actually the first short story in the magazine that I have gone back and re-read almost immediately.  This was largely because I was so intrigued by the narrative, and wanted to capture all of the juicy details Shepard included, but also, I must admit, because by the time I reached the end, I was a bit confused.  My one major critique of the story was that it was hard to follow, though admittedly, I was pretty tired when I read it the first time.  

Halloween Town tells the story of Clyde Ormoloo, a man who, through a trick of fate, can suddenly see people's true nature.  He wants to escape his life, so he decides to move to the exclusive Halloween Town.   To get into the town, which is subsidized by a billionaire rock star/industrialist, Clyde has to apply (the application meeting a hilarious scene that takes place in a bar), because they only let certain people who won't upset the societal balance in.  Shepard does a marvelous job creating an entire world for this town, with a well-established pecking order, it's own architectural style to fit the unique location at the bottom of a gorge, and even a unique local economy.  During his months in town, Clyde learns all of the town gossip, falls in love with a billionaire's love interest, gets put down a tube and meets...well, I won't ruin the surprise, but there's a reason this is a science fiction story.  Ultimately, he has to learn that there is no running from your problems; a change of scenery changes nothing, especially when the people in that scenery are crazy. 

I think my favorite part of this short for me was not the story itself, which, while not standard, certainly wasn't Earth-shattering.  It was the details that Shepard weaves into the narrative.  The cat that gets enemas.  The rain pouring down in a specific, cylindrical area.  How an entire economy can revolve around walnuts.  How annoying insecure girls are.   The response "How appropriate."  The details make the story, and they are what made me go back and read it again.  I'd love to find something else by Shepard.

My favorite line from the story: "..It's not that he's suspicious or jealous.  He is batshit crazy and hurts people."  And a more accurate description was never written.