FOUNDLING

This epic fantasy, though solidly based in classic form (lonely orphan may secretly be someone special), flounders under cluttered writing. Rossamünd, a boy with a girl’s name and an unknown past, is sent from his “foundlingery” to earn his living as a lamplighter. Rather than sailing or slaying monsters (as he desires), he’ll light and douse highway lamps. However, things go wrong immediately. Before reaching the lamplighting destination, Rossamünd leaps off a boat, fights monsters and bonds with an imposing monster-slayer named Europe, who’s had surgery on her internal organs so she can zap monsters with electricity from her body. This society scorns anyone who suggests sympathy for the monsters that lurk everywhere; however, Rossamünd begins to wonder whether they’re all really bad. Cornish’s ongoing phonetic spelling of dialect detracts heavily from dialogue and flow. Fine story and universe, but overblown, especially the 100-page glossary and largely unnecessary appendices. (maps, metric conversion table, sketches, glossary, appendices) (Fantasy. 10-14)