QUEST OF THE SHADOW FORGE

A fantasy novel about an adolescent with ADHD and a transcendent destiny.

Andrew is a precocious 12-year-old who enjoys wandering through the forest near his home. He contemplates almost everything, from the galactic ballet of space to the bucolic setting comfortably outside his doorstep. Endlessly intrigued by the flora and fauna of the forest, Andrew’s curious mind leapfrogs from thought to thought. One of his favorite pastimes is fleshing out his imaginary interplanetary space opera. The story thus far is about two planets: Glorthocks and DeMutron. Glorthocks is a peaceful planet balanced politically and ecologically. Populated by plants, Glortheon society lives in relative harmony compared with the warlike DeMutrons. The DeMutrons (apparently a portmanteau of ‘demons’ and ‘monsters’) is an entomological planet that churns through its resources because of its protracted interinsectoid wars. In constant and desperate need of resources, DeMutron has hitched itself to the placid Glorthocks. Andrew considers his story only a fanciful diversion until a revelatory encounter with a transcendental entity named Harmony. Harmony knows there are chapters yet to be written–and that Andrew’s story is not so imaginary. The entity teaches him to travel across space and time, inspiring him to forge the destiny of Glorthocks and DeMutron. It’s heady stuff to be sure. Although the character is a youth, most of the philosophical discussions between Andrew and his cosmic counterparts are pure philosophical exposition and might not appeal to the young. A plethora of concepts often bog down the fluid moments in the narrative, but there are quirks and charms to spare. Ancillary to the text is a generous hit list of Moody Blues songs to play with each chapter. There is even some stupendous meta-marketing, as Andrew’s father has written a book with the precise title of Bauer’s previous effort, The Evolutioning of Creation (2004). The book is often unwieldy and a little weird, but overall it’s good fun with a message of hope. The title of the second chapter says it all–it’s a ponderous revelation.

For fans of eccentric fiction.