The Course of the Heart, by M. John Harrison ***1/8

Harrison is a good writer. He really understands what he's doing with language, and I would be happy following him through almost any story sheerly for this reason. I enjoyed The Pastel City, which I read by him earlier this year, but this is better because the story is more complex. In the past couple of years, I have noticed a declining interest in typical fantasy or science-fiction, to the point where I am now moving towards "literature" again, though I have also been exploring subtle horror. Harrison's book, though it includes elements of magic, avoids anything resembling the traditional. It explores a single character's experiences in contemporary Britain, as he tries to move into adulthood while dealing with the remnants of a strange past. There are beautiful images, horrifying experiences, and ultimately some growth and hopefully a greater knowledge of oneself. That's a lot to accomplish in a book, but Harrison does pretty well with it. In particular, I like the way he created several iconic images that will stay with me for a while - a fire, floating white creatures, and flowers upon flowers....
(Fall 2006)

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