Just Finished Reading: Magic Street by Orson Scott Card

When an abandoned infant is discovered in a plastic bag near a black neighbourhood in Los Angeles he is adopted by the whole community. But from the very start of his life people who come into contact with him realise that he is unusual. Some people feel an almost uncontrollable urge to do him harm whilst others go out of their way to protect and nurture him. As Mack Street, as he’s named, grows up he wonders who his parents are and why they abandoned him. He also starts having ‘cold’ dreams that seem to come true in twisted evil ways. As he approaches puberty Mack begins to notice things that pass most people by. But it’s only when he discovers a doorway into another realm that he begins to understand both who and what he is – and the danger he represents to everyone he knows.

This is a delightful book full of interesting characters only some of which are human (despite outward appearances). The dialogue between them is often snappy and has a realistic feel. The storyline, whilst rather far fetched – this is fantasy after all – has an nicely dark edge to it and in places is moderately scary (or at least creepy). Card has created a very believable ‘real’ world underpinned by a fantasy realm that is interestingly different and suitably strange. The main character Mack is fully formed, full of doubts and natural hero material. The supporting cast are far from disposable (except for some very minor characters) and their reactions to what is going on around them feel real enough. This is a solid adult oriented urban fantasy with a difference and with some bite to it. It is also a good way to end my batch of fantasy novels that I’ve been working through over the past few months. Now back to Science Fiction!