
Timothy Hunter is out skateboarding one day, minding his own business, thinking his own teenage thoughts. Several mysterious figures observe him from the shadows. Through their conversation we learn that Timothy, although he doesn't know it, has the potential to become an immensely powerful wizard. The men argue about becoming involved. One says they should leave well enough alone - that Timothy will come into his power without their interference. Another says Timothy needs their help to choose his path responsibly, that they must show him "enough about the labyrinth to walk a true path through it." And one says they should just kill him to ensure the power doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
In the end, though, they agree to show Timothy "what magic truly is, and what it was, and what it may become." Timothy is skeptical and a bit frightened of the men when they confront him. It isn't until the man calling himself Dr. Occult takes Timothy's yo-yo and turns it into a real, hooting and flapping owl, that Timothy begins to take them seriously. And from there Timothy travels into the past, present and future -- to a faery market, to mysterious places with mysterious creatures, into the very cosmos -- each time with a different guide. With every vision, every encounter, Timothy learns something about magic: its history, its power, its manifestation, its cost. And with each new thing he learns, he comes closer to the momentous decision he must make about himself and his own life.
Fans of the Sandman books are sure to enjoy this one - and as a delightful, added bonus, characters from those books have cameos in this one. This is a great choice for younger teens who are aren't quite ready for the darkness and violence of the Sandman books but find the meticulous worldbuilding and sense of wonder of those - as well as Gaiman's other fiction - appealing. Roger Zelazny has written an excellent introduction in which he notes the parallels between this work and the archetypes of the hero detailed in Joseph Campbell's Hero with a Thousand Faces - for any lit students out there who love fantastic fiction, there is an interesting paper to be written right there! The artwork is arresting and powerful and, as always, I am amazed by the way different artists illustrating parts of the same story can bring so much individuality to the tale while maintaining its sense of unity. This book would be worth reading even if it were just the artwork - and any fans of Charles Vess out there who haven't seen this should pick up a copy immediately!

The Books of Magic by Neil Gaiman; illustrated by John Bolton, Scott Hampton, Charles Vess and Paul Johnson (DC Comics, 1993)
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Burning Leaves: "The painterly style of the artwork recalls delicate watercolors and could easily stand on its own separate from the dialogue. It is so beautiful, in fact, that oftentimes it distracted me from reading."
Puss Reboots: "I chose to read only one book per day, thus spreading out the experience over four days. It's not my favorite graphic novel that I've read but it's certainly one that will stick with me."
Stuff as Dreams Are Made On: "The story is wonderfully written by Neil Gaiman. I read all 190 pages of it in one sitting unable to put it down."
I bought the four original issues of this book when they were first published! I enjoyed this book a lot, but warn those who might be interested in subsequent books about Tim Hunter that they were wildly uneven, and never to me reached the fun of the original.
ReplyDeleteFunny how Tim looks a lot like the boy wizard who came a decade later, eh?
Girl Detective - Oh, that's a shame about the other books. My library doesn't own them, but I was hoping to find them somewhere. Yes, Tim does have a certain look about him, doesn't he? Interesting!
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