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The Moon of Gomrath
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Plot Summary of The Moon of Gomrath
"A wildly good read, 'The Moon of Gomrath', brings the age of England's Middlearth back to confront the present day. Authentic Celts from the Iron Age, Bronze Age, and long before, are unleashed in the modern world. It is the modern folk, to whom these things are now but a superstition and have not the understanding of them, who are most in danger. This intense and intelligent poetry-and-powers adventure is the sequel to 'The Weirdstone of Brisingamen', and it proves that there are few the equal of Alan Garner. Some stories have the power to expand the mind, and this is one of them. The story is pitched a little older than the Weirdstone, as Colin and Susan are also a little older and wiser since their last battle with the witch Morrigan, who does not forget or forgive.

This time the wizard Cadellin is not willing to lend much help as his duty lies elsewhere. He does his best to keep the children out of the fight, but many intersecting forces conspire to awaken the old wild magic. Even the elves only lend their help unwillingly, and they require the help of Susan's talisman themselves, if they can but wield it. The Einheriar, the Wild Hunt, and Garanhir, their terrible stag-antlered leader, cannot be controlled once roused on the Eve of Gomrath. This time it is Susan who must bear the brunt of the danger and terror. All the powers and bravery of many friends and allies will be needed, and the cost of meddling in the old ways is not small."

Michael JR Jose, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Moon of Gomrath
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 30%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%




Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - part earth & part fantasy world
Mental/magical powers focus Yes
magical powers: - clash between evenly matched magical power(s) (fantasy)
Is this an adult or child's book? - Kid's book (ages 7-14)

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status: - student
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - can cast many different spells
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - magical being
Age: - long-lived adults
Profession/status: - mage/magician
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can change shapes - can talk to animals - mind control - super strength - can fly - can cast all sorts of spells
Eccentric: Yes - eccentric - obsessed - emotionally unstable
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
Terrain - Forests
Earth setting: - 20th century
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials 1 by Philip Pullman
Landon Snow and the Island of Arcanum by R.K. Mortenson


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Alan Garner Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Michael JR Jose  

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