Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Faber and Faber (2006), Edition: 1st Edition, Hardcover, 448 pages
Description
In a world made uncertain by "the Chaos," two time-traveling boys, fifteen-year-old Timon and eleven-year-old Eden, seek to protect a magic talisman, aided by twelve-year-old Garland, a member of a traveling circus known as Maddigan's Fantasia.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Wombat
Lady Wombat says:
All of the elements of a good fantasy novel are here: a post-apocalyptic society; a fantastic traveling circus; a world in peril; a quest; a cruel villain; a love plot. And written by one of the best writers around. Why, then, does the whole thing fall flatter than a pancake?
Perhaps because the book is all plot, and repetitive plot at that. Perhaps because Mahy shows rather than tells everything about what her characters are supposed to be thinking and feeling. Perhaps because the main character, Garland, comes off merely as whiny rather than as interesting, brave, or fascinating. Perhaps because the magic of the circus, the thrill of performing, is rarely featured. Perhaps because the villain is off-stage for most of the book. Perhaps because we never understand why this quest is at all important. Perhaps because adding a time-traveling group of siblings to all of the elements above overloads an already chock-full plot. Or perhaps because Mahy's become so big a name that her editor no longer edits her?
A real disappointment.
All of the elements of a good fantasy novel are here: a post-apocalyptic society; a fantastic traveling circus; a world in peril; a quest; a cruel villain; a love plot. And written by one of the best writers around. Why, then, does the whole thing fall flatter than a pancake?
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Perhaps because the book is all plot, and repetitive plot at that. Perhaps because Mahy shows rather than tells everything about what her characters are supposed to be thinking and feeling. Perhaps because the main character, Garland, comes off merely as whiny rather than as interesting, brave, or fascinating. Perhaps because the magic of the circus, the thrill of performing, is rarely featured. Perhaps because the villain is off-stage for most of the book. Perhaps because we never understand why this quest is at all important. Perhaps because adding a time-traveling group of siblings to all of the elements above overloads an already chock-full plot. Or perhaps because Mahy's become so big a name that her editor no longer edits her?
A real disappointment.
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LibraryThing member nudge22
One of my ultimate favorite books! It gets very confusing at times but once your actually into the book you will literally never be able to leave the chair! This book is kind of like a half mystery and half time traveling. It's been a little while since I have read this so I don't have full memory
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but I am writing about prior memory. There is a bad enemy called the Nennog who tries to destroy many things but is not successful at the end. But sshhh.. I shouldn't spoil the ending for you. An extremely good book! I recommend for people that love mysteries or long books that you never want to stop reading! I love this book! Please enjoy reading! Show Less
LibraryThing member RefPenny
Maddigan's Fantasia is a travelling circus in a world that has suffered some calamity. Garland Maddigan is a tightrope walker and daughter of the ringmaster. When her father is killed they discover that the circus has a secret mission - to obtain and deliver a converter to the city of Solis before
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the summer solstice. They are accompanied by 3 mysterious children and followed by 2 sinister strangers. And who is the blue girl Garland sometimes sees? Show Less
LibraryThing member smaley
I absolutely loved this book.
LibraryThing member chocolatepasta
This book is about a young girl called Garland who is part of a circus called maddigans fantatia. One year the fantatia go on a quest to save their home town Solis by going forther then they have ever gone before. To Newton. Will they get back to solis with the solar converter before the winter
There is also a t.v. series based on the book that I watched at the same time that I read the book.
The t.v. series is called maddigans quest, just to confuse you!
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solstice.There is also a t.v. series based on the book that I watched at the same time that I read the book.
The t.v. series is called maddigans quest, just to confuse you!
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Language
Original publication date
2005
Physical description
448 p.; 8.66 inches
ISBN
0571230156 / 9780571230150
Local notes
In a post-apocalyptic time, Garland's family's traveling circus troop, Maddigan's Fantasia, leaves the city of Solis once a year to perform and earn a living. However, this year Solis has given the Fantasia the crucial task of obtaining a new solar converter. Misfortune finds the Fantasia in their travels, and Garland's father dies in an attack by Road Rats. Then suddenly two mysterious boys, Timon and Eden, appear with their baby sister, claiming to be from the future -- a world in which the Fantasia has failed in its mission and the evil Nennog has taken power.