Ariel, by Steven R. Boyett, a Bookman review.
Amazing! An unasked for book in my mail from Gather.com!
Ariel, by Steven R. Boyett, originally published in 1983, re-released in 2009 is a decent first book for a new writer. An apocalyptic fantasy where most of the worlds population has died, (and bodies disappeared…), due to "The Change".
"The Change", electricity will no longer flow, but lightning works… where magical animals are now roaming the countryside, sometimes as "Familiars" sometimes as wild dangerous beasts. Enter our hero a barely twenty year old male virgin who finds a Unicorn with a broken leg.
Lots of sword and SOME sorcery, a lot of disturbing erotic dreams, a temptress, and, some humpback whales.
All in all a fun read on a evening when weather threatened, thunder boomed, and the lights flickered.
Pick up a copy for yourself and see how YOU like it. Report back if you do, I'd be interested to know.
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 12
I actually really grooved on the book~ but I was 17
As I read it, it seemed kind of familiar. I may have read it in 83ish too.
it's a good first novel, but..... and near as I can tell his only till recently, which kind of kills that section in the foreword and afterward about 'I'm A WRITER!'...
Harper Lee and M. Mitchell wrote classics. ARIEL is good, and OK he has written more but they are the same theme...
Apocalyptic style fantasy.
THE GNOLE (William Heinemann, 1992)
"Ecological fantasy best described as “Bilbo takes Manhattan.” Profusely illustrated and gorgeously printed. Written with illustrator Alan Aldridge."
ORPHANS (Scorpius Digital Books, 2001)
"Story collection including four previously unpublished stories, two novellas, an Afterword, and story notes.
THE ARCHITECT OF SLEEP (Ace Books, 1986)
"Alternate-evolution story that assumes primates didn't make it, but raccoons did. "
and...
ARIEL (Ace Books, 1983. Reprinted August 2009)
"A young man and a unicorn journey from Atlanta to Manhattan in a world where technology has been replaced by magic. "
Neither Lee nor Mitchell, (who, if memory serves, wrote ONE book GONE WITH THE WIND), should be included in the same breath as Boyette.
All that is NOT to say that he isn't good at what he does. I liked ARIEL, and would read another of his books if the chance provided itself. I just wouldn't run down to B&N and buy one full price.
Mentioning that Mitchell only wrote one book kind of makes my point for me. Clearly your memory doesn't serve you on Harper Lee. Worth pointing out that neither Lee nor Mitchell wrote their novels when they were 19, either.
And even your own copy & paste synopses of Boyett's books show undermine your argument that "they are the same theme." One's an ecological fantasy set in present day, one's a short story collection (!), and one's an alternate evolution story.
Anyone can spout complaints. It takes getting off your Barcalounger and paying attention to at least complain knowledgeably.
Done now.