Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card

I just finished another great book by Orson Scott Card. It's hard not to spoil the book in the review so I'll try and keep it short and let you pick it up at the library or using one of my links.

Let me first say that I am of the opinion that the Ender's Game Saga is without peer in science-fiction. That's saying a lot because there are plenty of science fiction writers that deserve praise and certainly Asimov is one of the most celebrated. But when you put it to me I think there isn't a better writer in science fiction today than Orson Scott Card. That said...this book is not science fiction.

In fact this is a continuation of Card's foray into Modern Day Fantasy, or fantasy/magic in modern days. It started with Enchantment (See all Contemporary Fantasy Books)  and continued with Magic Street (See all Fantasy Books). The Lost Gate is a continuation of that style and is perhaps the first book to capture my imagination since the Ender's Shadow series came out. It combines Card's notorious ethical dilemmas and his penchant for savant children. Danny, the main character is seemingly normal in every way...except that he is anything but normal even among his family, the Norths (or more precisely the Norse Gods). From beginning to end you are captured by the precocious nature of Danny North and his adventure through discovering his "affinity". When you are the child of a family of gods and two particularly strong ones much is expected...Danny delivers against all indications to the contrary. That is the magic of this great book.

Part of this book is a parallel story of a character named Wad of Dough...yup you read that right. Wad is a very unique character with immense purpose in the grander portrait that Card is setting up for the series of novels. Our first contact with him is as he emerges from an ancient oak tree. From that point you follow him as he grows from half-man/boy to mostly man and as he inserts himself into a complicated web of deceit of a kingdom struggling to overcome its decline.

The moral struggles of Danny, Wad, and other characters is fascinating and telling all at once. Despite many of the main characters being capricious gods (much like the Greek and Roman gods of lore) they have the characteristics of being very human and how they make decisions mirror ours in ways that are unexpected. Card makes the human condition apply to even the gods and in doing so he gives them a identity that you are certain to connect with.

I recommend this book to anyone who is into fantasy. I advise parents of young adults to read this before introducing it to your kids. There is certainly some adult content though not particularly tasteless or explicit and certainly not anything that wouldn't be seen on network TV in prime-time. That said it is a great book for teens. It identifies their struggles with everything from the opposite sex, to peer pressure, to dealings with adults/parents. Please don't hesitate to use the Amazon link to purchase your copy today. You won't be disappointed.