Respected and prize-winning Australian author Andrew McGahan has written his first novel for young adults and it is a cracker. It is a fantasy of sorts and the first in a series of four to come over the next few years, I imagine.
Why a fantasy of sorts? It is not a high fantasy tale with swords and sorcery (not yet, anyway). The characters are very human and real. The main character is Dow Amber, eldest son of a timber cutter and destined to follow his father in the time-honoured fashion. Until the day he climbs a peak above the timberline and sees the sea for the first time. From that moment on, he dreams of nothing else a nd knows that his fate lies elsewhere. There is a bind between himself and the open sea. This compulsion forces him to leave his family and travel to a small fishing village across the bay from the largest city on the island, Stone Port, where the fabled Ship Kings rule over New Island.
This takes us through the first third or so of the book, with Dow meeting his reluctant host, the old man who agreed to take him on, and he begins his education on the water. From this point, Dow learns of the history surrounding his own heritage and that of the island, specifically how the Ship Kings won the war eighty years ago which has allowed them to rule the land. They are fearsome and militant conquerors, taking half of everything for their own lands. Nevertheless, Dow is intrigued and continues to feel thet compulsion which makes him question his destiny. What is it that draws him to the water? Why does he appear to have some unnatural skill with the sailing boats? Why do the villagers both hate and fear him?
There is also the water itself which emerges as a major character in its own right. The title and cover give a little of the game away. Yes, there is a whirlpool and it plays a major role in the narrative. The author’s depictions of the whirlpool and sailing are vivid and set this apart from the run-of-the-mill.
The novel has few faults; sometimes events happen in the blink of an eye and the fantasy fan in me wants more detail in the world. Parts of it remind me of Le Guin’s Earthsea and like most fantasy, we see the world through the character’s eyes. This can be a bit limiting but I am looking foward to the next instalment.