The Oversight | ||||||
Charlie Fletcher | ||||||
Orbit, 576 pages | ||||||
A review by Nathan Brazil
Charlie Fletcher is a children's author, know primarily for his Stoneheart trilogy. The Oversight is his first
work aimed at adults, and scores a near perfect bullseye. There are several reasons, the first and most important being memorable
characters in a cracking, well-paced story. But what the author achieves goes beyond that. The Oversight comes with
a credible and enticing back story, and an evolving mythology that twists just enough away from the standard to feel fresh. There
are some delightfully imaginative touches; the bone pets employed by the Sluagh, a small telepathic dog that attacks at knee
level, a creature that literally sucks the life breath from its victims, and a mute messenger who is anything but dumb. Some
of the main characters are drawn from well established archetypes, such as Wayland Smith, but the author's take on them
feels more personal, and because of that more substantial. The bridge from the page to reality is, therefore, made
stronger. Another plus is The Oversight's depiction of an alternate Victorian age, which is done in an entirely convincing
manner, and at times is almost olfactory. Mention must also be made of the subtle and well conceived magical elements. The
author eschews the massive suspension of disbelief required by wand waving jiggery pokery, in favour of what seems as much
a part of the characters lives as breathing. The end result is something that hammers most of his peer group into the ground.
Addictive as crack but far better for the brain, The Oversight encompasses magicians, witch-hunters, mirror-walkers,
and supra-natural beings that are creepy as hell. Like a reverse Narnia with more meat and no gristle, it's one not to
miss. Readers of fantasy who are on the look out for a fresh take on classic British folklore are therefore recommended
to make room for three titles on their bookshelves, this one, and the next two books in the trilogy. It's going to be something special.
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