Сначала я решительно не любила эту книгу, потому что она провисала по сравнению с первой очень ощутимо, а в формате детской книжки это провисание, нескладный путающийся сюжет и все остальное - почти как смертоубийство, потому что объем не позволяет автору выбраться. К счастью, Алана Гарнера не зря все так любят - выбрался и еще как. Книга поменьше объемом на сотню страниц, чудовища как-то отсупают назад (я до сих пор вспоминаю мару из "Камня..."), но общая атмосфера волшебства никуда не девается, а только усиливается. Возникающие всадники, внезапные проблески костра, холмы, залитые светом луны, - все это звучит слабым подобием того, про что пишет Гарнер, но тем не менее если перечислить - то вот оно все, все про это. Просто Гарнер, как я уже писала ранее, обладает тем чудесным даром, который позволяет оживлять текст и превращать его из звуко-буквенного набора в живое существо. Можно по-разному относиться к написанному, но гораздо сложней остаться безучастным к биению крови и ощущению тепла, ощущаемых ладонью. В целях познания прочла роскошный обзор на Guardian новой книги Алана Гарнера (непременно прочту) и статью в википедии, где автор говорит о том, что люди после 20 видят в его сюжетах заумь и накреченность; я хотела было написать вам про женские образы, про феминность, классические сюжеты и прочее, но кого это волнует? Я по-прежнему читаю в основном для удовольствия, это роскошь. То есть если вы хотите анализа - вам сюда, если вы хотите волшебных островов, стремительной скачки, старого волшебства, гномов, эльфов и спасения от верной погибели - то книга идеально подходит. В общем, Алан Гарнер признается одним из лучших каникулярных авторов этого лета, спасибо Goodreads за списки рекомендаций.
Colin and Susan -- the owner of the Weirdstone of Brisingamen q.v. -- get into another scrape in this second book, as the Old Magic that is deeper, more powerful and less intelligible than the High Magic mastered by the white wizard, Cadellin Silverbrow, draws them in. Cadellin therefore takes a back seat, and Uthecar the dwarf, the mysteriously heroic Albanac, and finally the little lios-alfar elves of Atlendor son of Naf (!) are the children's guides and guardians whilst they themselves remain the ones who have to confront the main challenges.I always remembered this as being a more exciting tale than the better-known Weirdstone, without quite remembering why... And it really is! The episode that initiates the events of this tale is Susan's being taken by a spirit of darkness called the Brollachan. This plays the role of a Scots 'kelpie' in shapeshifting into the form of a friendly black pony which, when mounted, carries its rider on a wild ride to culminate in their drowning. Though not drowned by the Brollachan, Susan's soul is lost: gone elsewhere. The only way to save her is for Colin to trust in his heart and follow the Old Magic -- running an Old Straight Track or leyline that sparkles silver under the light of the moon and lends those who travel it a power of otherwordly speed and endurance -- to gather a magic herb that grows only in places of power upon the ley. I hadn't remembered where I read this, but had been strongly affected by it and used this motif in running Celtic-flavoured fantasy roleplaying adventures of my own.After these events Susan still isn't quite her old self, and she 'happens' to light a fire on a hilltop that was an ancient beacon -- on what proves to have been the Eve of Gomrath, thereby awakening the riders of the Wild Hunt from the tumuli and barrows of the Cheshire countryside. The Wild Hunt in various different forms features in folklore all across northern Europe, and Garner plumps for a Celtic feel but also uses both Anglo-Saxon and Old Norse language. Initially fearsome they are later a very welcome deus ex machina for the children, but the Wild Hunt are always to remain untamed and mysterious.Then the children learn that their old enemy, the Morrigan, seeks revenge upon them for foiling her previous attempt to seize the Weirdstone (and it later seems that it was she who unleashed the Brollachan). Her powers are of the Old Magic, of the moon, and the action centres on a hall that is just ruined foundations in the real world, but that phases back to solidity in the light of the moon. This may not be unique, but Garner uses it to excellent effect as they have to get in there and rescue Colin from it whilst the lios-alfar hold off an army of Celtic bodach goblins and palug wild cats. Ultimately the Morrigan is foiled a second time and the long dormant Old Magic is returned to the world.
What do You think about The Moon Of Gomrath (1998)?
I really appreciate both the attention to landscape and the incorporation of local legend/ folklore/ mythology. The folklore referenced is very specific to the real-life setting of the story, adding to the sense of place (and to the novelty from my perspective - this didn't feel like the same old fantasy tropes repackaged). I also like the concept of "old magic" (i.e. nature/pagan magic) vs. "high magic" (think wizards). My one complaint is that while the landscape feels real and well-developed, the characters do not. They tend to feel flat and to have banal dialogue. I've learned from reading a few interviews of the author that he felt the same way about the characters and dialogue in this book and The Weirdstone of Brisingamen (his first two novels), so I would definitely be willing to read some of his later work to see where he developed from here.
—Megan
Like The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, the first in this series, this is hardcore high fantasy, containing many passages like this one: "And wendfire was lit at the Goloring, which is now the Beacon, to bring the Einheriar from the mounds and the Hunter from Shining Tor." This continues to be not-exactly-my-thing, but as with the first book, I enjoyed the Susan Cooper-esque feel to this fantastic tale of Colin and Susan. Indeed, I enjoyed it more than the first, with both Susan and Colin in turn facing individual peril, forcing each sibling to bravely act to enable rescue of the other.As with the first book, I found the ending a bit abrupt and opaque, perhaps due in part to the fact that much of the UK folklore on which characters and scenarios in the novel were based is not material I'm familiar with. Still, it was enjoyable, and I will try to track down the third and final novel in the series to find out how Colin and Susan fare in the end.
—Ellice
The Moon of Gomrath takes Susan and Colin further into the mysteries of British mythology. It's darker and more complex than Weirdstone, and Susan at least appears to have more agency in this novel, and takes some decisions into her own hands. The introduction of wild magic an the Wild Hunt into the story in conflict with the high magic of Cadellin is a very interesting twist, and the fact that Cadellin is powerless in the face of the wild magic makes the reader stop and think that even seemingly omnipotent figures cannot always turn away the dark.The story finishes even more abruptly than Weirdstone, and much stays unexplained. This is not a comfortable children's book where all the loose ends are nicely tied up.The descriptions of the Cheshire landscape are again one of the best things about the book. Garner is so obviously rooted in his landscape, and brings the ancient landscape of Cheshire to life in a relatively modern setting. English children's literature at its best.
—Kate
