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From: lubellNOTSPAM@cais.com (Samuel Lubell)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.reviews
Subject: Review: Someplace to be Flying by Charles DeLint
Followup-To: rec.arts.sf.written
Date: 27 Mar 1998 13:43:55 -0500
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		Someplace to Be Flying by Charles DeLint's
		Review copyright 1998 Samuel Lubell

If you like your magic with a strong mix of urban realism and
folklore, you should be familiar with the work of Charles DeLint.  His
latest book, _Someplace to be Flying_, adds a Native American folklore
seasoning to his usual mix.  I keep waiting for everyone to notice how
excellent his books are; this could be his breakout book.  Although it
is set in Newford, the site of many of his books and superb short
stories, it stands totally alone; although a frequent reader may
wonder how so many different magical creatures could coexist in the
same city without running into each other.
The story mixes native American myths about animal spirits and the
creation of the world by Raven and the Crow Girls with urban fantasy
and gangsters (really!).  The animal spirits are able to interbreed
with humans, creating people who think they are human but really have
some animal spirit blood in them.  They are protected by their
cousins, the full-bloodied animal spirits, who also have custody of
Raven's pot, which can unmake the world.  The animal spirits are
grouped into tribes, including a special hatred by the Cuckoos, who
have become gangsters, for the Ravens and Crows, who are artists and
street folk.

The story happens when Lily, a photographer, is attacked on the street
and a gypsy-taxi driver tries to save her, only to be saved himself by
the Crow Girls.  This leads them into the world of the animal spirits,
in whom they only half-believe.  Mixed into this is a total innocent,
who grew up in a mental institution because she believes she has a
twin sister whom no one else can see.  Unknown to her, the twin sister
is already in the city and the animal spirits can see her.  Then the
bad guys capture Raven's pot and things really get stirred up,
literally.

De Lint's gift is in making this magic perfectly believable in an
urban context.  This isn't magical realism, where the magic is taken
for granted, but a slow unveiling of a secret world and a magic
hierarchy that fits together perfectly as the reader gradually makes
sense of what is really going on.  Characterization is very strong,
especially of the Crow Girls who seem childlike most of the time.
They live in a tree and everything in the world seems new and strange.
They drink sugar and call it tea, cannot grasp the idea of privacy or
personal property, and appear to be 14 year old children, although a
character is shocked when he realizes that he's known them for years
and never wondered why they never grow older.  At the same time, they
can heal injuries and fight cuckoos to the death, perfectly seriously.
The different characters all seem to be their own people.  Once again
De Lint has populated a novel with intriguing artists and
street-eccentrics, although this time he does have
a few with jobs, with the Crow Girls being especially vivid.

Usually with De Lint's works the plot is less important than the mood
and atmosphere.  Here, though the plot and atmosphere join together
seamlessly.  Even the "tall tales" told throughout the volume have a
purpose and links to several of the book's characters.

If you have not already discovered De Lint, Someplace to be Flying is
a perfect place to start.  Follow it up with Memory and Dream and his
excellent short story collection Dreams Underfoot.  Then, you too will
find yourself peeking down inner-city alleys, looking twice at various
street-people, and wondering why more readers don't know about his
wonderful individualistic brand of urban fantasy. Someplace to be
Flying has my highest recommendation.

%T      Someplace to be Flying
%A      DeLint, Charles
%C      New York
%D      February 1998
%I      TOR 
%O      Hardcover, US $24.95
%G      ISBN 0-312-85849-3
%P      380pp

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