Shadowmancer

Finished the book at lunchtime today. Shadowmancer by G.P.Taylor. He is a Vicar in the north-east of England who has written a good versus evil, swords and sorcery novel. Somewhat on the back of Rowling and Pullman it has taken off although it is very well written (better than Rowling, not as good as Pullman) and deserves credit. Faber have a huge print run for a first novel, the film rights are apparently being auctioned right now (this is often a rumour to put the price up) and the press got pretty excited about it. Amazon made it their book of the month. I enjoyed reading it and the pages passed quickly. It leaves things in the air ready for two more parts to a trilogy, apparently.

Haven't decided, yet, what I think of the massive use of religious imagery and selective scripture quotes and character appearances. If volume two makes some characters a little less morally clear and he starts messing with our heads a bit in terms of what is good and what is evil I think I will applaud more than if he tries to be C.S.Lewis. I've never been much of a Lewis fan although for a member of the Christian community to say that is a bit like standing up in church and asking if anyone else fancies strangling kittens after the service. Well? Kittens are over-rated too.

Rainy day with test cricket rained off helped me work hard.