The topic this week is Fantasy. Fantasy as a genre has been around for
decades and in the last twenty years has carved out a large niche in the YA
market just as it had previously in the adult one. Why is this genre so broad and appealing? I think one reason the genre is so broad is
that authors who write it face far fewer restrictions than many. In fact I would go so far as to say that the
only restriction a fantasy author faces is how far he/she can take their
imagination. Whereas a mystery writer
must have some sort of crime or puzzle to solve or a writer of religious novels
must include some aspect or issue pertaining to religion, a fantasy author
faces no such constraints. As a
consequence there is literally something for everyone. Do you like romance, adventure, grisly
crimes, fantastical worlds, horror etc?
There is always a fantasy novel that incorporates at least one of
these. I myself read fantasy novels
extensively as a teen (and still do) and can attest to this personally. I see readers of fantasy as those who are
naturally inquisitive, eager to explore new worlds and have the ability (and
courage) to detach themselves from their reality and embrace a new one. Since
this describes many young adults, especially teenagers, it makes sense that
they would be attracted to it. For this
topic I will discuss the novel Ravenwood
by Andrew Peters.
The concept of this story is definitely imaginative so far
as the setting goes. It takes place on
an island covered with giant trees, the planet’s last bastion against
technology and pollution. The people
have carved out a society amongst the various levels of the trees with the
noble leaders at the crown and the dark dwelling Rootshooters at the bottom. Against this setting, the teenaged Ark
struggles to save his world. An
unscrupulous noble, Grasp, schemes to sell out the kingdom to the empire of Maw
which will use the trees as a resource to fuel their machines. Ark is not alone as he is joined by fellow
Plumber Mucum and other allies, including the deep-dwelling Rootshooters (in
this society they are the lowest social class).
Ark and his allies face many obstacles along the way including a giant
worm, the kidnapping of Ark’s sister and the full might of the Royal Army. The only chance Ark has is to learn how to
harness his hidden powers – powers which seem to have some sort of mysterious
connection to the trees and their denizens.
Overall I thought this novel accomplished everything a good
fantasy novel should. The magic, of
which there is not a great amount, is consistent and focuses on the animal
denizens of the trees and their symbiotic nature with the world that gives them
life. I found it particularly
interesting that the trees had ‘evolved’ to emit a crippling gas (except to the
natives) that effectively warded the forest against ‘outside’ intruders. The characters are all well done and show
good development over the course of the story.
Mucum, protagonist Ark’s best friend, changes from someone with racist
attitudes toward ‘mudgrubbing’ Rootshooters to someone who respects and admires
them as equals. I think curious and YA
readers will find this equally interesting.
The only criticism I really have is that the author included far too
many lame puns. While the occasional
good pun goes a long way I think too many bogs down a story and in this case
sometimes ‘takes away’ the reader from his or her experience. YA readers can also identify with Ark who
must struggle against both those in authority (adults) and against the changes
within his body (a struggle all teenagers go through).
