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Hard Shell Word Factory, Jan 2004, 163 pp. ISBN: 0759904987 While his stepfather is away on business in Australia, twelve years old Peter FitzArthur visits his Uncle Paul and Aunt Angela Merrilyn in New Zealand. Angela's twin sister Marian was Peter's deceased mother so they share their grief though several years have passed since the car accident took her life. Peter and Paul's dog Dreyfus wander around the land exploring as lads often do. However, someone abducts Peter, trying to determine if the youngster is the one to find King Arthur. Peter manages to escape, going back to Paul's home, but says nothing about his ordeal to his relative. When Dreyfus is injured while fighting the three headed Cerberus, Peter is forced to reveal his secret to Paul so that he can help the canine. On the trek to the spot where the canines battled, Peter and Paul find a stone wall blocking their passage. Informing his nephew that he is Merlin the Magician and persuading the lad that they have a world to save, Paul and Peter risk their lives seeking the Chosen and to reconstruct the Obsidian Orb to accomplish their quest. The story line is non stop action from the moment Peter is abducted to the final confrontation with stops in between on the globe and in time. Harriet Klausner | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy story on current Earth Coming of age Yes Youngster becomes - a powerful magician Tech./$$$/Info hunt Yes Stealing/recovering/destroying Is this an adult or child's book? - Kid's book (ages 7-14) Descript. of chases or violence - 10 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10 % Main Character Identity: - Male Profession/status: Age: - a kid Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - long-lived adults Profession/status: How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters Setting Earth setting: - current (early 21st century) Takes place on Earth? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript |
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