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(More customer reviews)A standard for every magic library
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Showing posts with label magic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label magic. Show all posts
The Encyclopedia of Magic and Alchemy Review
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(More customer reviews)A standard for every magic library
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School of Wizardry (Circle of Magic, Book 1) Review
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(More customer reviews)In 6th grade I read my first of the Circle of Magic books, the School of Wizardry. It started me into realm of fire breathing dragons, arrogant wizards, and gallant knights. Here I was hiding the book under my notebook at school, because even then I felt embarrassed at the size and childness of the book. The books have the reading level set at the age of 9-12 and because of this many might look over them. Though these books inspired me as a youth to explore the wide variety of literature out there, I feel it can do the same for ANYONE. Debra Doyle has found a way to reach out to ALL audiences. The publicity was down, so thence the sales. But the books themselves are magnificent. As I have not so forcibly made my younger brother read them, he has become a fan at the age of 14. As he checked them out of my old Junior High, I got the chance to read them once more as a Senior in High School. Of course this time I didn't have to hide them, but flaunted them as the occasion permitted. Now this review is quickly becoming unhelpful, but the point I am trying to put across is that these books appeal to ALL ages. I love them. On my list are classics like The Hobbit, A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court, and the Wheel Of Time series. But the circle of magic (though somewhat adolescent) stand out among the best. I can't think of another book I would rather have my children read in the future, and for anyone with the love of fantasy and imagination.
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Origami (Klutz S.) Review
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(More customer reviews)I bought this book for my 10-year-old daughter, and she loved it. The directions are clear, and the projects are easy, fun, and even useful: an airplane, secret letter, penguin, star box, blow-up bunny, picture frame, parrot, hopping frog, seal, and magic star. Like all Klutz books, it's sturdy and visually appealing. I only wish they had more projects to keep my daughter busy!
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Super-clear instructions for ten simple and satisfying origami creations, from the hopping frog (he really hops!) to the magic star. Comes with enough square origami paper, in variety of colors and patterns, to fold each project over and over and over again.
ADVENTURES OF WILLY THE WIZARD: LIVID LAND NO. 1 Review
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(More customer reviews)Haven't read the whole book, and at $95 am unlikely to, but I have read all the online excerpts and the full text of the Harry Potter lawsuit. I see no resemblance other than a character solves a puzzle in the bathtub. Archimedes, anyone?
I'm betting all the alleged plagiarisms turn out to be common story elements. There certainly isn't any comparison in the plots or characters.
Just for fun I did a web search on underwater rescues and found a 1960 Tom Swift book in which Tom invents artificial gills and competes against the Bungarians. Harry, of course, gets artificial gills and competes against a Bulgarian.
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The Second Siege: Book Two of The Tapestry Review
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(More customer reviews)Wow. What a great story. For those of you who read Neff's first installment, "The Hound of Rowan", you will really enjoy this book. Right from the beginning, the story line grabs you as we find a more mature Max McDaniels using his newfound powers to get out of a tight situation. Max now has more control of his formidable physical gifts and immediately demonstrates why he is such a threat to "The Enemy". And the book doesn't slow down from there. The battle of good versus evil pitched in Neff's first book intensifies as Max, David Menlo and the rest start a quest around the world to gather critical resources to aid their fight. As the enemy closes in and starts to reshape the world around them, Max and crew must travel to Europe, relying on a network of allies to stay hidden, all while Max continues to learn more about himself, his family, and his responsibilities for the future. After a variety of toe-to-toe interactions with the enemy, a visit to Rassmussen's Workshop, the Second Siege culminates in an epic standoff in the fight for who will control earth as we know it.
This story has the epic feel of "Lord of the Rings", the youthfulness of "Harry Potter", and the sophistication and modernity of "Mission Impossible." I highly recommend this to readers of the first book and encourage new readers to pick up the Hound of Rowan to get started with this great new series.
I cannot wait for the next book to see what happens...
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The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1) Review
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(More customer reviews)Let's face it, fantasy is a well-worn genre, bloated with Tolkein ripoffs, tired generic plots and characters. There seems to be no end to the stuff...and no shortage of readers who'll swallow it. And to this we can add a new type of fantasy that is fast reaching critical mass for younger readers...the Harry Potter clone. Check the young readers section of your local bookstore and you'll find literally dozens of books about young boy and girl wizards. As the saying goes, everyone wants to be the first to do something second.
There is nothing new in fantasy, only old wine in new bottles. So when a new fantasy comes along that actually feels new its a red letter day in my book.
That rant is by way of saying that this wonderful book avoids the pitfalls of many fantasy writers simply by virtue of the writing. A few years back David (and Leigh) Eddings burst onto the fantasy scene with their original Belgariad books. Plot-wise they were simply Tolkein retreads without the epic mthology. But what made them so readable, and so popular, was the original and entertaining voice with which they told their tales.
So it is with Jonathan Stroud. This is a fun, wry, funny, well-charactered piece about a modern London where magicians rule the land and magic comes in the form of controlling various levels of demons (or djinn). Set amidst the political intrigue is a story of a young apprentice magician's quest for revenge via the use of the some-time narrator djinn Bartimeus. He is the main reason to read the book. His amusing, ironic take on events is worth the price of admission alone. The world itself is well drawn and realised, as are all the characters.
Yes there are shades of Harry Potter (a young apprentice wizard in a world of magic where commoners are virtually cattle) and various other genre books (Randall Garratt's Lord Darcy series spring to mind) but it's all done with such verve and charm that it quite rightly transcends its influences and becomes a classic in its own right.
Buy it. Read it. You won't be disappointed. I look forward to the next chapters of this trilogy.
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The Emerald Tablet (Forgotten Worlds) Review
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(More customer reviews)The Emerald Tablet is a science fiction novel, the first of a trilogy for middle grade readers (target ages 8-14, with an emphasis on 11+, I believe). Anyone who enjoyed discovering the world of magic with Harry Potter will enjoy diving into a different magical world with Benjamin Holt and his friends. The group forms after meeting up at a summer school on the hidden, submerged continent of Lemuria. Can you imagine finding out one day that you have amazing "magical" skills - and that you've come from an underwater continent? What a plot line (and for you Potter fans, the experience is TOTALLY different from Harry's)!
In the midst of developing teleportation, telekenesis, telepathy and other new found skills, Benjamin and his friends discover the magical Emerald Tablet and find they must work together to save the world and battle adversaries from Atlantis (Lemuria's rival hidden continent). This is no easy summer school experience!
Filled with adventure, unusual experiences, plot twists and character trials, The Emerald Tablet is a book readers will not want to put down. Readers will find themselves in a new and exciting world, anxious to learn more about Lemuria and the conflict with Atlantis. Though their dialogue is sometimes lengthy, the characters are likable and easy to identify with: the curious bookworm, the competitive best friend, the confident girl, the shy and uncertain yet strong girl, and the confused but determined protagonist. I look forward to seeing how they continue to develop and what they tackle together in the next book!
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Benjamin and his best friend Andy love being different from the other kids. They like being able to read each others minds and use their telekinesis to play tricks. In fact, they are getting set to spend their entire summer doing just that when Benjamin s mirror starts talking. Suddenly, he s looking at eight weeks of summer school someplace that can only be reached by a teleporter hidden in his hallway. And the summer only gets stranger. At school, Benjamin discovers that he isn t really human but something called a telegen. It turns out that the powers he always thought made him special only make him normal. But then the mysterious Emerald Tablet chooses him as its champion, and all chances of a uneventful (well, as uneventful as summer school on a hidden, submerged continent can be) disappears.
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Witch & Wizard Review
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(More customer reviews)I absolutely love dystopian, end-of-life-as-we-know-it, type of novels. George Orwell's 1984 (Signet Classics) and Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale happen to be two of my favorites. This novel started with great promise...And then it fell short. Very short. The novel is about Wisty and Whit Allgood, two teenage siblings who are kidnapped by the New Order, a form of government that has taken over the world. During this time, Wisty and Whit discover that they have magical powers, and that is why the New Order considers them a threat. The story opens up with Wisty and Whit being led to the gallows in a sports arena, with thousands of people cheering on their hanging. As the proceedings commence, Wisty and Whit take us into the backdrop of the story, how they found themselves condemned to death.
In a trite and oversimplified manner, we learn that our political system crumbled overnight and was replaced by the New Order headed by "The One Who Is the One." As Wisty and Whit continue to battle some of their challenges, they become more aware of the magnitude of their supernatural powers. The story crosses over from Wisty and Whit's time in prison, over to other worldly dimensions (such as the Shadowland where spirits dwell) back to an unrecognizable world overwrought with despair, war, and hopelessness. But none of this is captured with any depth.
What I thought would be a great dystopian story seemed more like a cat-and-mouse fantasy under a dystopian backdrop. I do enjoy fantasies and stories of magic along with mayhem, but there was something missing in this story. It was entertaining in some areas but it lacked the thrilling suspense I would expect in a novel written by Patterson.
This is the first book in a new series and unfortunately, it leaves readers with a rather weak cliffhanger. This series may have some promise and hopefully, the next book will delivery on that.
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The Sorceress (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel) Review
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(More customer reviews)I have been wating for this book for about a year now, and it was well worth the wait. I read it in one sitting. This series is fast paced, inventive, and full of very developed characters. As an adult reader, I could obviously tell the book was written for a younger set, but it is just something to remember when judging this book and the rest of the series. The only bad thing I can say is that I am not looking forward to waiting another year for the forth.
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The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Review
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(More customer reviews)I happened upon this and the first book in the series (The Alchemyst) just before July 4th and have quickly polished them off. For me the use of real historical characters alongside well-researched mythology is nigh irresistible.
The books move along smartly with plenty of action and a narrative that is propulsive and unrelenting. In many ways these feel more like Jim Butcher's Dresden Files books than Harry Potter.
Note that these books are clearly written to be "safe" for a younger audience. No sex, and fairly restrained violence. These are exciting and tense books, but still PG (or maybe barely PG-13).
I am intrigued by the ambiguity around several of the main characters including Machiavelli and Flamel and am eager to see where these books go. Highly recommended.
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Max and the Gatekeeper Review
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(More customer reviews)Max and the Gatekeeper is the debut novel from James Todd Cochrane. The first in a planned series for young readers, Max and the Gatekeeper follows the adventures of 12-year old Max Rigdon, who is less than thrilled to be sent to his Grandpa's house for the summer. Immediately upon arrival, weird things start happening, and Max suspects his Grandpa has a secret. Along with his new friend Cindy, Max encounters adventures - and danger - beyond his wildest dreams, and far beyond the world he knows.
The Good: Max and the Gatekeeper is a fast-paced tale with plenty of action and a potent mix of magic, technology, creatures and characters, and just the right amount of violence. The premise Cochrane builds here could lead to numerous storylines in the future, so you definitely get a sense that there are more stories ahead. The spells and gadgets should appeal to young readers, especially those looking for a new adventure now that the Harry Potter series has come to an end.
The Bad: Despite Max and the Gatekeeper's potential appeal to young readers, it's not the kind of novel that adults will enjoy like they would a Harry Potter or His Dark Materials book. There's not much in the way of character development, and the pace of the story, while ideal for kids, makes the story feel rushed and not fully developed. I also had a problem with what seemed like an arbitrary division of characters into either "good" or "evil" categories. Exactly what made certain characters "evil" was never adequately explained.
The Verdict: While not without its flaws, Max and the Gatekeeper is still an entertaining debut novel from a promising writer. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to young readers, but parents and adult fans of this kind of fiction probably won't get as much out of it.
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A war has been waging for centuries; a magical and technological battle between good and evil.This conflict will affect life everywhere, but not everyone is aware it exists.When twelve-year old Max Rigdon is sent to stay with his grandfather for the summer, he unwillingly enters the fight. The day Max steps off the bus he is marked with an evil curse and immediately becomes the target of evil men and creatures with designs on ruling the universe.Not only does this curse cause Max physical pain but it allows his enemies to track and find him.He soon learns that the reason for this unwanted attention is because his grandfather is the keeper of a gateway; a powerful machine that makes travel to hundreds of strange unknown worlds possible. The enemy will do anything to gain possession of this power in their quest to control all worlds. With the help of his friend Cindy and others, Max must quickly learn the necessary skills to survive if he is to avoid the deadly trap that has been planned for him and his grandfather.A trap that has been decades in the making with Max as the missing piece.If successful it will change life as we know it.
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Nomadin Review
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(More customer reviews)Nomadin is Mr Cormier's first published novel, which I could not quite believe when reading the book. The prose flows with an expert's hand and the pacing is excellent throughout. The characters are well rounded and not typical stereotypes of the genre, which would be an easy trap to fall into in a tome that sits comfortably with its peers in the YA market upwards. Mr Cormier scatters similes throughout his work to good effect, painting vivid pictures in the reader's mind, making the read thoroughly engrossing.
A liberal amount of humour is written into the book which serves to entertain the reader in this 'young boy coming to power' novel. It is this and the storytelling ability of the writer that keeps the reader wanting to read on. And, when the end is reached, wanting to read book two, which the author informs us is on its way.
The book ends with a few tangled webs still left to resolve. Usually, this would disappoint me, but Mr Cormier manages to end on a feel good note with all the major plot lines addressed while opening new ones for book two.
Nomadin is well worth a read and I would recommend it to all those that enjoy feel-good books. It is well written, holds a good plot and has enough hooks and twists to keep the most critical reader happy. Shawn Cormier is a welcome new talent in fantasy.
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Dragon's Tear: Denicalis Dragon Chronicles - Book Three Review
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(More customer reviews)In the sequel to The Prisoner, MJ allaire takes the reader on another
spectacular adventure, after the boys reunite in the Yarnie village.
As the boys continue their search for the long-lost girls, they get
ready for another mission to be guided home safely to the Castle Of Tears, but are totally unaware of the dangers they must confront.
Will creatures lurk in the shadows of the lake? Will they ever find the
girls? Will they be brave enough to cross the body of water, while
searching for Dragon's Tear? If the boys find the amulet, and return it
safely to the dragons, will they become victims of bumbling bad guys?
I recommend "Dragon's Tear" to all fantasy lovers. This book is an
adventure classic from start to finish. It's packed with breathtaking
black magic, and a thrilling whirlpool of trials and tribulations
the children must endure to survive their mysterious mission. "Dragon's
Tear" is as enchanting as "Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone."
The author presents a triumph of imagination that lights up the pages
through this magical adventure. For finishing touches, excitment builds
to surprising results as bad-mannered creatures invite their way into
the children's desperate journey to safety. "Dragon's Tear" has dazzling
effects and shiver-yer-timbers thrills! A delightful, most extraordinary
adventure!Geraldine Ahearn, A.I.O.M.
Author of 6 books
Founding Member ABI Women's Review Board
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In the sequel to "The Prisoner", we find ourselves traveling with the boys from Uncava. Nicho and Micah, reunited in the Yarnie village, are instructed by Katielda to head east as they continue their search for the missing girls. Unbeknownst to them, they are also on their way to answering very important questions in an adventure of a lifetime. In the beginning of their journey they speak to Boheall, an ancient and mysterious creature who first tells them a story then instructs them to go to the Dryas Forest where they must locate another creature named Teresia. It is she who will guide them safely to the edge of the large body of water that is home to the Castle of Tears. They have no way of knowing that they are about to discover an ominously dark and dangerous lake where growling, unseen creatures lurk in the shadows. Once there, the boys both sense how imperative it is for them to find some way across this water as they search for the place where the mysterious blue amulet known in the world of Euqinom as 'Dragon's Tear' is said to be hidden. Will the boys succeed in finding this very special second amulet that has already fallen into an evil sorcerer's hands? And if they are able to find it, will they succeed in retrieving it and return it to the dragons without becoming victims of their own incredible journey? By the time you finish this, the third book in the Denicalis Dragon Chronicles series, you will be halfway through your own magical adventure! The other books in this series are: "Dragon's Blood: Denicalis Dragon Chronicles - Book One" "The Prisoner: Denicalis Dragon Chronicles - Book Two" Happy reading!
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The Wizardology Handbook: A Course for Apprentices (Ologies) Review
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(More customer reviews)"Those who study the art of wizardology must remember that all magic is an act of the imagination." So says the legendary Merlin in Dugald A. Steer's THE WIZARDOLOGY HANDBOOK: A Course for Apprentices. When we last heard from the Master conjuror, he had fashioned a journal --- known to magic enthusiasts as WIZARDOLOGY: The Book of the Secrets of Merlin --- from the trunk of a tree in which he'd been imprisoned, divulging centuries' worth of knowledge and insight on the mystical world, in hopes of finding his next great successor.
In this companion volume, scribbled on the remaining pieces of his wooden confines, he once again extends the invitation to wizards-in-training and supplements his already abundant lessons with even more fascinating facts, humorous anecdotes and spellbinding illustrations that focus on the natural world and seasons. This enchanting and in-depth course for Wizard apprenticeship describes everything a student of magic would need to follow in Merlin's footsteps --- from dealing with genies, fairies and elves, casting spells and harnessing weather, to making wands, using magical plants and interpreting the positions of stars.
Replete with a glossary of magical terms, stickers to decorate your workshop and a section for your own spells, this fantastical handbook will surely fire the imaginations of readers young and old, and charm a whole new generation of aspiring wizards worthy of the great Merlin himself.
--- Reviewed by Marisa Emralino
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The Magicians: A Novel Review
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(More customer reviews)Stop thinking this is a fantasy book. I know, I know, it's called "The Magicians," the plot synopsis references all three of the most famous fantasy series and describes a handful of familiar fantasy tropes, including the school of magic and the fairy tale land come to actual life. But forget all of that. I have read more fantasy books than I can remember -- I'm named for a character in perhaps the most famous fantasy series of all time -- and I'm telling you: "The Magicians" is not a fantasy.
It has fantastic elements, yes. There is magic; there is a school for magic, where the characters learn to cast spells, using hand gestures and arcane language and strange mystical components -- Ziploc bag full of mutton fat, anyone? -- and there is a voyage from this world to another, a land of naiads and fauns and magical speaking animals, gods and demons, kings and queens, quests and wishes. But this book is something very different from the usual fantasy novel. In "The Magicians," Lev Grossman has done something unusual, and remarkable, perhaps even unique: this is a grown-up fantasy. This book is to fantasy what "The Grapes of Wrath" is to travel books, what "The Metamorphosis" is to self-help: so much more depressing and visceral and funny and horrifying, and genuine, and fascinating, and hard to read and therefore valuable, that it doesn't belong in the same category despite sharing some central traits. The setting is imagined, and there are supernatural things that happen, but make no mistake: this is a serious novel.
Where the characters in most fantasy books are heroic, larger than life, the sort of people we wish we could be, these magicians are not: the characters are too close to plain old humanity, flawed, contradictory, foolish and foolhardy, to stand in as idealized versions of ourselves. Where most fantasy books provide an escape from our reality, this book does not. In point of fact, the moral of this book is that escape is not only impossible, but dangerous and harmful to attempt. The hero, Quentin Coldwater, attempts to escape every serious situation he faces, and every time, he ends up worse off than he would have been if he had just been able to deal with it, honestly and sincerely. But his response to his worsened circumstances is to try to escape again -- with predictable results. Every step Quentin takes is the wrong one, and every step sinks him deeper and deeper into a quagmire. The book gets hard to read: not because the writing is anything less than excellent, as it is top notch from first page to last, but because the urge to reach into the page and slap, shake, and eventually throttle the main character becomes overwhelming. But that desire, that feeling, should be familiar to every adult who has thought back on his or her life, and shook his or her head, thinking, "Why did I do that? How could I be that stupid?" That desire to smack Quentin is no different from the desire to smack our younger selves, and sometimes, that's a terribly annoying feeling to have, which makes this a somewhat annoying book to read.
The real triumph of this book, however, is that it is not only a serious novel, despite what I have been saying. Grossman is able to describe a world of wonder and imagination, and populate it with characters who are utterly unworthy of the magic all around them, who appreciate nothing, who completely flub their great chance -- just like I would have done if I lived through this experience, just as most of us do with our great chances in our real, mundane, unfantastic lives, which are also as full of wonder as any dreamed by a teller of tales. And because the characters are so real, so easy to relate to, it makes the fantasy seem just as real (which, of course, makes the real world just as fantastic). Brakebills reminded me of my own college experience, and yet it is a magical place. Fillory is indeed a fairy tale land come to life in this book, and I found myself wishing that I could believe I would have handled Fillory better than Quentin does -- but knowing that I would have done almost precisely the same things, made the same choices and the same mistakes. And the ending is glorious: the climactic action scene is thrilling and impossible to put down; the revealed secrets are both surprising and satisfying; the final resolution is, if not completely happy, at least hopeful.
I won't say that this is a great book, on par with "Of Mice and Men" and "Catcher in the Rye" and "To Kill a Mockingbird," but I will say that it is closer to those than it is to "The Hobbit" or the Xanth books. If you are a fan of literature, of thinking about your reading, then you must get this book, especially if you enjoy fantasy. If you are just looking for an escape, look elsewhere -- because this is not a fantasy. Or at least, it isn't only a fantasy. It's a wonder.
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Stone Junction Review
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(More customer reviews)There are few more enjoyable pleasures in this world than being caught completely off-guard by a novel. I picked up STONE JUNCTION at a discount book sale, drawn in by the jacket, and the price. I began reading it with absolutely no preconceived notions as to its content, or worth.
By the end of the story, I knew that this was my favorite novel of all time.
It's the story of Daniel Pearce, an orphaned youngster who is brought under the guidance of some of the most off-kilter and bizarre people imaginable. While this may reek of HARRY POTTER, this is most assuredly a story for adults.
STONE JUNCTION is about the world behind the world, the people we sledom get to know. It is a world of crime, and conspiracies, and greed, and love, and magic. That author Jim Dodge holds it all together is a fine feat in and of itself, but he does more than that; he makes the reader yearn for this life. Although (in my edition) he states emphatically that the novel is a work of fiction ("Believe otherwise at your peril"), Dodge's world is so well-defined that it's difficult not to wish it existed.
The novel also has that one remaining aspect that so many novels, even the truly great ones, lack; it left me wanting more.
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The Books of Magic Review
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(More customer reviews)Particularly after the success of Alan Moore's "The Watchmen" and Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns", graphic novels have soared in popularity. Indeed, it now seems that the market is inundated with them, and practically every Vertigo title from DC is regularly recapitulated every seven or eight issues in collected paperback form. With such an increasingly large selection from which to choose, the more casual reader might be baffled as to where to start. This volume probably wouldn't be the wisest choice.
While it is of the highest quality, it really has its best payoff for those who have at least a passing acquaintance with DC's occult universe and its myriad figures. So many of these pop up within the story (in a profusion not seen since the struggle for the North Slope of Heaven in the pages of "Swamp Thing" a few years ago) that it can be daunting to the neophyte. Even many of the more experienced comics readers might have a hard time placing two of the four major magical protagonists, Mister E and Doctor Occult (who actually is one of DC's oldest characters, having been created many decades ago before slipping into obscurity). In fact, so very many exceptionally minor characters pop up in the margins that it's necessary to hit the Internet to find annotations to explain their background and significance.
In large part, this collection is an attempt to codify and explain the chaotic history of the DC occult universe. Gaiman has an intimate knowledge of apparently every title ever produced over the last 30 or 40 years, and he induldges himself somewhat showily in dragging in every two-bit mage and witch for a fleeting guest appearance. Often, this is done for purposes of historical revisionism, which is for the good, since the accretion of rank silliness and sloppily conceived plots in the thousands of DC comics over the years has resulted in many mutually contradictory character origins and universal histories, not to mention a lot of gross stupidity. (Such an opportunity for widescale housecleaning was one of the few appeals of DC's "Crisis on Infinite Earths", which gave the writers permission to ruthlessly slaughter dozens of idiotic characters and to destroy the countless alternate dimensions and the "it was just a dream" Earths. But I digress.)
Be that as it may, the heart of the story, which served to launch the ongoing "Books of Magic" series and its various mini-series spinoffs, is the realization by the mightiest of the occult powers that Timothy Hunter, a young lad in the UK, is destined to become the most powerful magician ever known, should he actively choose to walk that path. Accordingly, Doctor Occult, Mister E, the Phantom Stranger (always one of DC's coolest and most enigmatic characters, often thought to be a repentant fallen angel), and John Constantine (even cooler than the Phantom Stranger, although much scummier and devoid of nearly any useful powers) band together as the so-called Trenchcoat Brigade to show Tim what could lie in wait for him if he embraces a future of magic.
In its most basic form, this is of course a classic quest story, wherein a young man has to undertake a journey to discover his destiny, and along the way will discover mentors, guides, companions, and foes. In Tim's case, he's actually taken to the past and the future, and given an introduction to many of the occult players of the present. He also takes a fateful trip to Faerie, a mystical land which has long been of fascination to Gaiman (see his "Stardust", which also shares artist Charles Vess, for another treatment of the fey world).
The segment in Faerie is actually the strongest, largely because of the fantastic and dream-like nature of the setting and because of the art by the award-winning Vess, whose distinctive and delicate style suggests a naughty opium-addicted Victorian illustrator. Also of special interest are any of the scenes featuring the dissolute and disreputable yet popular John Constantine (who anchors his own series, the long-running "Hellblazer", itself a spinoff from "Swamp Thing"), a favorite Gaiman character. (I've noticed that all hip English characters in the comics have to share a loathing of the perceived horrors of Thatcherism, which arguably was the economic salvation of the UK, but again I digress.) Constantine is one of the most feared occult characters in the DC universe, even though he's actually one of the weakest. He gets by on bluff, style, and charm, and also because of his resemblance to a more dangerous and less eco-friendly Sting (tantric powers included).
At this early stage in the game, Tim remains mostly a cipher, since it's his job largely to merely bear witness to all that is being displayed to him. He has to make certain critical choices, but to a large degree he's overshadowed by the more strongly delineated members of the Trenchcoat Brigade. Even so, he plays an active enough role in his quest.
The character of Tim Hunter proves to be promising enough, and any Constantine appearance is welcome. Doctor Occult turns out to be so interesting that one wants to learn more (although very little has subsequently been done with this character). This volume is exceedingly enjoyable to any DC readers who have been fascinated with the magic-oriented superheroes, but can be intimidating to the less avid. Nevertheless, even for the more timid, the Vess artwork alone is worth the price of admission.
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