Etched City is a unique and surrealistic experience in a fantasy world.

Title :                Etched City

Author:             K. J. Bishop

Publisher:          Prime Books

                        PO Box 36503

                        Canton OH 44735

ISBN:              1-894815-22-X

I found K. J. Bishop's novel "Etched City" an interesting intellectual exercise in understanding surrealism and a wonderful read. Her unique world consists of the Copper Country where black and white issues are easily decided by a gun. It stands in contrast to the city of Ashamoil's lush, perfumed, labyrinth complete with intricate politics. Magical content, alligator gods, paintings turned real, and the power of goodness help enhance the dream-like quality of the story.

Bishop's theme illustrates relationships altering reality. The book starts at the end of a bloody civil war. Both characters want escape.

Gwynn's story dominates the novel. He is all ego – self-centered, pleasure seeking, with little sense of loyalty, and a true basilisk. When he becomes obsessed with an artist named Beth, we feel her pain as he slowly subverts her, and wonder as her own magic and the magic from a friend help to transform him.

Raule, the healer, is a suitably self-examining character who responds instinctively to challenges, for instance, moving into the role of a soldier who commits murder in self-defense despite being a doctor. The reader has sympathy for Raule's battle fatigue.

Fantasy lovers will appreciate the richness of this novel that differs from the European world of leprechauns, elves and trolls. I enjoyed this book because of the rich setting, complex characters and interrelationships, the well-developed society, and creative plot. However, the story is somewhat hard to follow and the characters have such a feel of battle fatigue that I sometimes failed to relate to them even as I kept turning the pages.