The Weirdstone Of Brisingamen - Alan Garner

Once, a farmer from Moberly way was going to Maclesfield to sell a beautiful white horse. He was stopped on the roadside by an old man who offered to buy the beast, but thinking he could get a better price, he went on his way. He did not sell th hrose, and returnnig home that evening, he saw the old man again, and this time accepted his offer. The old man led him out onto Alderley edge and down into a cave, wherein the farmer saw fabulous riches, and a host of sleeping knights. Each knight had a white horse, save for one. The farmer was allwoed to fill his pockets with treasure in exchange for his horse, and made his way home more wealthy than he could have imagined. Try ...  Read the complete review

There are two primary thrusts that can be used when reviewing the work of fantasy author Alan Garner. I could have gone along the "blurs the line between adult and junior fiction" route but I'm saving that for when I get around to appraising the works of Eoin Colfer so instead I'll opt for the "fantasy fiction for those who think they don't like fantasy fiction" approach instead. I'll say from the outset that I've never really got into the writing of Tolkien (though perversely I quite admire the original artwork he produced fo his stories) and I only started reading "The Weirdstone Of Brisingamen" ...  Read the complete review