The Thumbnail Book Reviews

by John Q McDonald --- 7 August 2000

Haroun and the Sea of Stories

by Salman Rushdie

Above the earth, hiding in the glare of the sun, or maybe behind the moon, or maybe just moving too darned fast to be seen, there is another moon, one entirely covered by a brilliantly colored Ocean of Stories. Haroun, a boy living in a sad city with a forgotten name, is transported there in search of a way to restore his story-telling father's ability to evoke magic. This is a fantasy of color and vivid language, rich like the world of Alice in Wonderland and just as chaotic. At times, there is the disturbing feeling that comes when even the main characters don't know what will happen next. As in Alice..., our heroes are dragged through a fantasy world only understood by its crazy inhabitants. And yet, Rushdie's adventure comes together in the latter third of the book. Haroun must fight a world of shadows and silence to rescue a world of light and language. This is very much a children's tale, but (also like Alice...) full of modern references that make this tale enjoyable for adults as well. It drags at points, as the illogic of this dream-land fantasy can be tiring to absorb. Yet the book is a lot of fun, occasionally poignant, always fast-moving. (This was Rushdie's first book after The Satanic Verses caused an international furor, and one will discern a plea for freedom of expression in its ornate adventure.)

[Mail John][To List]