mafaldadesimone

Richard Oort, a police officer in Albuquerque, finds out that he is a paladin for the forces of rationality and science. He is recruited in the fight against the forces of evil: Cthulhu-esque beings from another dimension who feed on humanity's fears and pain to break through to our world and use religion to gain power by spreading hatred and fear. The Edge of Reason is set in the present day but successfully ties the history of various myths and religions into its background. At times, the "religion = bad" message is a bit heavy (and I can imagine some people taking offense to it), but at the same time, it manages to turn this fantasy novel into a sharp social commentary that, depending on your political views, may or may not make you nod in agreement. Regardless, the connection between religion and a Chtulhu-type invasion is quite original — and it's not every day you encounter a fantasy novel in which rationalism is good and magic is evil. Oort is an interesting and complex character, and the way Melinda Snodgrass slowly reveals his personality and his past is one of the best aspects of this novel. There's also a cast of solid, well-realized side-characters (human and otherwise) who make this novel a pleasure to read. I also enjoyed the loving way Melinda Snodgrass described New Mexico and Albuquerque, the setting for most of the novel. The Edge of Reason is a fascinating present-day fantasy with a unique concept and solid characters. Its sequel, The Edge of Ruin, is due out this Spring from Tor, and the author is currently at work on book 3 in the EDGE series. (This review was also published on the Fantasy Literature website: www.fantasyliterature.com --- come check us out!)

2023-01-05 07:42