By James A. Owen (Coppervale Press)
No ISBN: ASIN: B0006QCPRO
This fantasy epic collects (although with such drastic reworking it might best be considered a “Director’s Cutâ€) the self-published tales by graphic artisan and novelist James A. Owen who began his opus with 13 issues from Taliesin Press. He eventually retrenched as Coppervale Press with the miniseries Crossroads, Mythopolis and Tales from the TwoPenny Inn.
Starchild is an expansive, if sometimes ponderous, generational saga that explores the nature of the creative act using a rustic and classical fairytale as the narrative engine. Rather than précis the collection, it’s in the interests of potential readers to take away a flavour and experience the tales (some of which might be considered rather slight and derivative) in context rather than with my blather creating too many preconceptions.
Ezekiel Higgins was once a momentary dalliance of Titania, the Queen of Faerie, and the text follows the lives of the children and grandchildren of that union. At first the tales are over-complex and uncomfortably familiar but as the author grows into his craft and exhibits some narrative discipline the development of his characters and world eventually consolidates into a strong and solid base to build myths on and in.
Dark, atmospheric artwork and a strong design flair add to the traditional fantasy flavour, and in a time when the core conceits are considered Big Box Office, this is a book that might find favour with a broader audience if revived.
© 1995 James A. Owen. All Rights Reserved.