Brasyl Close to Perfect; Bright as Compelling as Tolkien

Jeff Vandermeer asks “How many different ways can the future be imagined?” in July 22nd issue of the Washington Post. Speaking of Ian McDonald’s Brasyl,he describes the novel as being, “… as close to perfect as any novel in recent memory. It works because of great characterization, but also because McDonald envisions Brazil as a dynamic, living place that is part postmodern trash pile, part trashy reality-TV-driven ethical abyss . . . and yet also somehow spiritual. …McDonald has found new myths for old places; in doing so, he has cemented his reputation as an amazing storyteller.”

Moving on to Kay Kenyon’s Bright of the Sky, Jeff writes that it is, “a splendid fantasy quest as compelling as anything by Stephen R. Donaldson, Philip José Farmer or, yes, J.R.R. Tolkien.” He has some reservations about the Earth-centered sections of the novel, but concedes that, “Once in The Bright, you can actually feel the grasses and smell the smoke from the trains and experience great wonder in the cities of this impossible yet beautiful universe.” Meanwhile, over on his blog, Ecstatic Days, Jeff comments that Bright of the Sky ” could well become a classic in the field.” Which is certainly okay by us.