Reviews

From Dragon Magazine, April 1985: Good reviewers are supposed to avoid the quotable superlative; used too frequently, such adjectives tend to erode professional credibility. But occasionally, a book appears that urges even the most jaded columnist to break out in rampant enthusiasm. Moonheart is one of those books. More than that, it shows a streak of originality that is missing in far too many current fantasies. The pattern that de Lint weaves from some of the genre's most familiar strands forms a refreshing and distinctive design. Settings and characters from a variety of aeons and cultures are expertly intertwined to form a complex yet coherent plot. Also, each personality is stitched together with unusual realism. The touch of rare genius in Moonheart will linger in the imagination long after the last page has been turned. Novels this good are rare indeed, and they are well worth a brief lapse into superlatives. From Newswest, May 1991: Mr. de Lint is unique in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy field for the very best of reasons: he does not write like anyone else. In a genre which is famous for tired, overworked plots, this is breathtakingly refreshing. Charles de Lint has written several books but my personal favourite has always been Moonheart. Consider that in one novel you have an RCMP Inspector who heads the Paranormal Research Branch, a centuries old Druid, a biker and an Ottawa house with entrances to two worlds, throw in a character who is half man, half stag, and you have the basis for a truly original novel. Now have this novel written by a very talented author who is endowed with a seemingly boundless imagination and you have great entertainment. I promise you won't be bored. From Booklist, American Library Association, December 1984: A very good and distinctly unconventional fantasy novel that is accessible to a wide range of readers. Recommended for most fantasy collections. From Fear Magazine, August 1990: Moonheart is a deeply drawn book in which the fantastical forces of warmth and cold meet and fight, rather like opposing elements or tides. De Lint's poetic prose focuses on more than the simplistic battle between good and evil. It investigates the emotional nature of evil and shows how it can suborn the most powerful of creatures. His work reaches to the very heart of humanity, a task which is, I believe, best explored in the archetypal terms of the genre. Moonheart is powerful stuff, and an important read for any fan and an important British debut for this talented writer. From Critical Wave, September 1990: Moonheart is almost a model example of how to write modern fantasy…well written and standing far above the average fantasy in terms of content and execution. From Starburst, 1990: I have encountered very few fantasy writers who have the ability to combine convincingly the ancient and the modern, but de Lint has managed it superbly in Moonheart. It is difficult to describe why this novel is so compelling, but its fascination lies in the facts that the characters are very real and the plot, although it swings around a lot through the time zones and relies a great deal on the suspension of disbelief, has a strange sort of rationale. In addition to his ability to relate a tense, well-constructed story, de Lint also has the benefit of knowing his source material exceedingly well. From The Calgary Herald, April 1994: There is always a fear when turning to an author's early work that it will not be as well written as later books. Here, at least, this fear is unfounded. A gloriously descriptive writer, de Lint lives in Ottawa and sets Moonheart there. He draws heavily on the spiritualism of the Indians native to the area to create realistic characters who are tossed into magical times. De Lint has a fine hand, and populates his novel with interesting characters. De Lint's skill shines… If you need to escape for a while get this book, wrap yourself in a blanket and plunge into the fantasy world of Moonheart. From Roger Zelazny, July 1984: I found the story totally engrossing and extremely well-paced. A finely textured song of a tale, of power, wonder, suspense. Keenly felt, satisfying, fully realized, its essence lingers when the reading's done. From Patricia McKillip, September 1984: The essential texture of it was fascinating the weave of many branches of myth, legend and symbolism, from Arthurian to Indian drawn together in a contemporary Canadian setting seemed quite carefully done, as well as thought-provoking. I can imagine that Moonheart will be very successful and deservedly so.