posted
Back in 1989 I was 13. I was also an insatiable reader of fantasy. When I couldn't get someone to give me a ride to the library I was reduced to rereading my own books (which often fell apart at an early age) or walking down to the local drug store and scoping out the latest Piers Anthony/Terry Brooks stuff. Right there, by the latest Man/Kzin Wars and the Harlequin romance novel. I think it might have something, there's a unicorn on the cover.
I preferred to go to the library.
One day that year I came across Emma Bull's War For the Oaks. Published in 1987, it probably wasn't the first example of what came to be called "Urban Fantasy", but I think it was one of the first to get a lot of notice. It made quite the impression on me. How could it not? Back then, the Twin Cities rock scene was just as exotic to me as the notion of battling faeries using the Power of Rock to decide who gets to rule their territory.
Unfortunately, the library copy vanished soon after I read it and the book was out of print until several years ago. I've finally managed to snag a copy.
Things I remembered:
Man, there really was a -lot- of time spent on descriptions of how good it felt when Eddi's band was caught up in The Power of Rock. Still, this time I didn't skim over those parts.
It's a little bit racy in some parts, but considerably less explicit than my young brain made it seem. Heck, I've read Teen/YA novels that are more blatant.
At times, the Phouka's slowly growing love for Eddi still feels a bit too Hollywood romantic, but I find I don't mind so much now. The inevitability of it seems to suit the story.
Things I hadn't remembered:
Holy Moley, I hadn't remembered just how depressing and tragic Willy Silver's death was. I was annoyed with him as a teen. Now I find myself getting misty-eyed.
Hedge got far less of a character arc than I remembered, and for some reason I recalled him turning into a being like the one seen in Jim Henson's adaptation of Hans My Hedgehog. He doesn't. I was oddly disappointed.
Something new to this edition:
Hey, Emma's written up a screenplay for the potential War For the Oaks movie! There are samples given in the appendix. Among other things Carla's boring keyboardist boyfriend Dan is eliminated, Eddi's angry ex Stuart gets a more developed arc (and even a few glimmers of something redeemable), plus more Hedge scenes.
I hope they find someone to make a movie out of this. For some reason, I think Angelina Jolie would make a fantastic Queen of Air and Darkness.
posted
I read this a couple of years ago while travelling in France. I couldn't put it down.
It's a good book (more fast moving than some other urban fantasy like Charles de Lint), and I enjoyed the details of the Twin Cities music scene. There was a very strong sense of time and place which complimented the fantastic elements brilliantly.
The only complaint I remember having was that the ending was somewhat abrupt. Also, I thought that the hints that Phouka was supposed to resemble Prince somewhat hilarious.
I keep meaning to find other things that Emma Bull has written - though maybe I should just read this again.
I agree about the movie though. I'd love to see that.
Posts: 1528 | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
I read it a couple years ago, shortly after a get-together in the Twin Cities. It's definitely a good book, but yeah, enough already with The Feeling of The Power of Rock!!!111
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Reading the descriptions of the Phouka, it's more along the lines that like Prince, the Phouka prefers to dress in ostentatious, glamorous, stylish outfits rather than a direct resemblance of features. Posts: 6689 | Registered: Jan 2005
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