27. Magic Kingdom For Sale -- Sold!

by Terry Brooks

Part of the way genre fiction works is by providing the reader a predictable set of formulas spiced by inventive window dressing. For example, mystery: Someone dies within the first two chapters, the investigative protagonist investigates the physical evidence (body/ scene), talks to potential suspects, is distracted by irrelevant details, but in the end finds the vital clue and solves the case. Most (not all) mystery novels work off this basic formula. There are some variations and certainly the genre has evolved since its early popularity in the mid 1800's, but the basic structure remains pretty consistent.

Fantasy stories don't break down as nicely but there are a number of common elements. 1. The setting is always based off a real world time period, but with magic. Most popular is the idealized medieval settings but recent trends stretch to modern magical settings that are quite satisfying as well. 2. Magic is systematized in some way. Whether or not the author explains the rules to the reader is irrelevant, there's always a set of rules for the use of magic. 3. Non-human intelligent species (elves, orcs, telepathic horses, etc.) are optional but frequently present. 4. The protagonists are young, usually ranging between 12 and late 20's. The reason for this, I believe, is target demographics. Historically fantasy novels were mostly read by adolescent boys and most protagonists were adolescent boys. When girls started reading more fantasy novels more female protagonists appeared. As a genre, fantasy is quite marketing-minded. Sometimes younger protagonists appear but they almost never stray older.

Now that I've laid out the rules, it's important to realize that some of the most satisfying specimens of any genre deliberately break at least one of the rules. It all goes back to that old adage about how the rules can always be broken but first you have to really know the rules. Terry Brooks is more popularly known for his Shannara series which are extraordinarily Tolkien-esque. They aren't bad books. I quite enjoyed them. However, they follow the well trod path of underdog crossing continents to acquire the magic whosit-whatsit that will vanquish the big bad evil whats-the-name but only after nearly giving it all up to spend a quiet life raising pigs, thatching roofs, or some other equally mundane job. Perfectly readable and perfectly formulaic. Magic Kingdom for Sale is the book written after the first three Shannara books. So if the Shannara books demonstrate that Brooks knows all the rule, I shouldn't have been surprised to find him breaking rules in this book.

I was surprised though. This is one of a spare handful of fantasy novels featuring an older protagonist. Ben Holiday is 40. He's rich. He's a successful lawyer. He's not the genre rules approved protagonist. However, Brooks provided Ben with a good reason to want to leave it all behind and buy his very own magic kingdom. Which he does. However, there are some previously undisclosed problems with his new-bought kingdom.

While this is a slow starter and I struggled a little to get into it, I found it a most enjoyable read. Ben is a most sympathetic protagonist who's mile wide stubborn streak makes him believable and endearing. The supporting cast of characters are a fun hodge-podge of mismatched personalities and human failings.