- Hardcover: 250 pages
- Publisher: Subterranean Press (August 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1931081565
- ISBN-13: 978-1931081566
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16.2 x 2.4 cm
- Shipping Weight: 581 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #2,266,168 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Diehard fans of World Fantasy Award winner Blaylock will find this resurrected first novel of interest both in comparison to The Elfin Ship (1982), a much revised version of the latter part of the original manuscript, and as an illustration of the author's admitted early "happy aversion to plot," which is balanced by his attention to atmosphere and by sheer imagination. Master Cheeser Jonathan Bing of Twombly Town, a rural island of comfort and complacency more than a little reminiscent of Tolkien's Shire, reluctantly embarks upon a raft voyage downriver with some eccentric comrades in an attempt to save the traditional Christmas exchange of cheeses for honey cakes. In his afterword, Blaylock cites The Wind in the Willows and Huckleberry Finn as influences, but encounters with trolls, goblins, elves, invisible airships and an unusual timepiece belonging to the titular character (who also turns out to be a Master Cheeser) make the story seem more like a Terry Pratchett rewrite of Conrad's Heart of Darkness. As befits a journey downriver, the plot flows slowly, sometimes becoming stalled on a metaphorical sandbar until backwash forces the raft free along a current that bears no relation to what has taken place before. In the wake of the journey's satisfying ending, the reader will savor the memory of the sheer beauty of the prose, but ultimately this is a book that will appeal mostly to the author's strongest admirers, for whom its weaknesses are strengths.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun Fantasy,
By
This review is from: The Man in the Moon (Hardcover)
One review I read of this book said it had no polt and just sort of wandered around as a slow read. The book does have a plot! And it's not a slow read but a rich and colorful read. This book is the first telling of the story that will later become the longer and different "The Elfin Ship". It is the story of a master cheese maker and his raft journy down a mighty river to save the christmas like holiday for his village. There are trolls, goblins, elves and even a trip to the moon. Blaylock has a style that reminds me of older english authors who steep their books with atmosphere and a feel of being there. The Man in the Moon as it is printed in this book was rejected by the publisher and Blaylock rewrote the book changing the direction of the story starting around chapter 10. The original Man in the Moon got lost for many years and was finally found, and thanks to Subterranean it was printed in this beautiful version for us all to read.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews) 6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun Fantasy,
By Kenneth Epstein "huntercat" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Man in the Moon (Hardcover)
One review I read of this book said it had no polt and just sort of wandered around as a slow read. The book does have a plot! And it's not a slow read but a rich and colorful read. This book is the first telling of the story that will later become the longer and different "The Elfin Ship". It is the story of a master cheese maker and his raft journy down a mighty river to save the christmas like holiday for his village. There are trolls, goblins, elves and even a trip to the moon. Blaylock has a style that reminds me of older english authors who steep their books with atmosphere and a feel of being there. The Man in the Moon as it is printed in this book was rejected by the publisher and Blaylock rewrote the book changing the direction of the story starting around chapter 10. The original Man in the Moon got lost for many years and was finally found, and thanks to Subterranean it was printed in this beautiful version for us all to read.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Early draft of The Elfin Ship is also worth reading,
By Three if by Space - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Man in the Moon (Hardcover)
This is a somewhat different version of what later became "The Elfin Ship", and buyers will find the reviews for that book also relevant here.If you strongly liked "The Elfin Ship" and like to reread books, then you will want to read this. A bonus is that this hardcover is quite well printed, and a joy to handle. Some editions are signed by Blaylock and Powers, and I noted that at least one, at this moment, is in the "used" rather than "collectible" category. |
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