Sun 26 Jun 2011
Reviewed by Barry Gardner: NINA KIRIKI HOFFMAN – The Thread That Binds the Bones.
Posted by Steve under Reviews , Science Fiction & Fantasy[3] Comments
NINA KIRIKI HOFFMAN – The Thread That Binds the Bones. Avon, paperback original, 1993.
I don’t find much fantasy that I like anymore, whether it’s a function of my own jaded sense of wonder or they’re just not writing ’em like they used to. I enjoyed this one.
It’s the story of a strangely talented young man who blunders into an even more strangely talented family living in the Oregon boondocks, and what happens between them. Reminds me a bit of Suzette Haden Elgin’s Ozark novels, though it isn’t as good. The plot has holes in it, but the writing’s good, and the characters are engaging.
Editorial Comment: I haven’t finished looking through all of Barry’s old reviews, but this is the first I’ve come across that’s either a fantasy or science fiction novel. By my usual standards it’s too short to post, but I thought in this case I’d make an exception.
June 27th, 2011 at 12:46 am
I was never able to get into this one by NKH.
But her coming-of-age fantasy magic-in-our-world somehwat YA novel A FISTFUL OF SKY is, I think, a beautiful piece of work.
There is an echo of Ray Bradbury’s short story “The Homecoming” in A FISTFUL OF SKY’s set-up: Gypsum, the middle daughter of the magical LaZelle family of Southern California, is the family misfit who hasn’t “transitioned” during adolescence into her special gifts and powers. (She takes after her mundane father…)
I highly recommend FISTFUL; and I am also considering taking another run at TTTBTB because of Barry Gardner’s review reprinted here. Thanks for posting it.
June 27th, 2011 at 6:22 am
Funny, but I don’t recall Barry reviewing this one at all.
June 27th, 2011 at 11:00 am
Jeff
From the looks of the layout on the zine I found this review in, Barry had an inch left at the bottom of the page. I suspect he used it as a filler so that he could start the mailing comments at the top of the next.
Rick
I have a few of Hoffman’s fantasy novels, but I’ve never read any. I’m not sure if I have this one or not. Judging from the cover, which is distinctive and yet I don’t remember it, I have a feeling that I don’t.
I wonder what Barry would have made of the world of Fantasy Fiction today, what with the preponderance of urban fantasy and the paranormal — vampires, zombies, shapechangers and worse.
— Steve