Science Fiction Annotation

TITLE: Strange the Dreamer
AUTHOR: Laini Taylor
PUBLISHING: Little, Brown and Company, Boston (2017)

TOTAL PAGES: 560

ISBN: 9780316341677

GOODREADS: https://tinyurl.com/rktfkhu

SYNOPSIS: An orphaned boy raised by monks, Lazlo Strange has always felt like an outsider looking in. He’s a dreamer, secretly well-read, and longs for the lives of the Tizarkane - the mythical warrior class from the land of Weep. Earning his ticket through unconventional means, the warriors who have happened upon his city call upon him to accompany them through the desert and back to the fabled lands of Weep where dead-gods have imprisoned the city in perpetual shade, an obelisk in the shape of an angel looming over the city. Little do any of the citizens know, the obelisk is home to five blue children of the dead-gods. One of them, a young woman named Sarai, visits Lazlo in his dreams through a grotesque power of screaming moths. Ordinarily, no one can see her . . . that is, until she enters the fantastical world of Lazlo Strange’s dreams. Kindling the beginnings of young love, both Sarai and Lazlo come to the realization that he may be the key to finally move the obelisk. And to free the five god children from their high prison. Lazlo’s blood may just be the missing element in the concoction that controls the shape of the metal angel’s body.

CHARACTERISTICS THAT FIT INTO THIS GENRE:

“These works explore moral, social, intellectual, philosophical, and ethical questions against a setting outside everyday reality.” (Saricks, 2019, p.94)

Lazlo and the god-children are faced with adversity, the Tizerkane are faced with the moral decision of killing children, and the young Nero is faced with the sacrifice of body in the pursuit of intellectual ambition.

“Titles reflect a wide range of tones, from dark to comic. Tone is often used to disorient readers and to highlight the issues considered.” (Saricks, 2019, p.94)

Banter between characters is often light-hearted . . . until it isn’t. Jokes amount to threats, threats amount to passion, and passion amounts to death.

“Setting is crucial and invokes others of time, place, and reality. Both the physical setting of the story and the inherent technical and scientific detail create the essential frame.” (Saricks, 2019, p.94)

The author takes us on a journey to three major places: Lazlo’s hometown, the city, and the great city of Weep. None of these are comparable to modern age architecture and civilization, but rather more accurately fit into the known science fiction, fantasy setting akin to worlds like The Elder Scrolls.’ series.

READ-ALIKES:

The Cruel Prince - Holly Black (royalty, young adult, broken family, romance, magic)

Nevernight - Jay Kristoff (vengeance, family, young adult, gods, romance)

A Darker Shade of Magic - V. E. Schwab (magic, travels, period, alchemy, romance)

REFERENCES

Saricks, J. G. (2019) The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction. (3rd ed., p. 94) Chicago, IL. ALA Editions.