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(More customer reviews)In truth, I am not an avid reader of fantasy material and my forays into sci-fi territory generally tend to run to the darker side, but I've been aware of Orson Scott Card's reputation in the genre for many years (I've ALMOST bought "Ender's Game" dozens of times). I do know that OSC has done quite a bit of work in the realm of mages and mysticism in recent years, so I eagerly jumped on "The Lost Gate" as it promised to be the first of an announced "Mithermages" series. With "The Lost Gate," OSC has created an enjoyable adventure and coming-of-age story appropriate to both the adult and the young adult marketplace. Filled with likable characters and mildly dangerous scenarios, "The Lost Gate" kept me fitfully entertained and pushing through the pages.
"The Lost Gate" really tells two stories set in alternate worlds. The bulk of the book is devoted to Danny North who hails from a once powerful clan of mages living on a rural compound in contemporary America. Thought useless by most of the family, Danny soon starts to understand that he does have a power--the power of gatemaking. This is an outlawed resource, however, as the power to make gates (which grant you the ability to move almost anywhere in the simplest terms) can be exploited in the wrong hands. "The Lost Gate" presents a complicated history in which forces have eradicated ALL gatemakers and closed all existing gates. Danny is soon on the run as his ability starts to become apparent which leads him to others who seek to alternately help and/or harm him. In the parellel plane of Westil, we meet another young man with gating ability. His mysterious past keeps him aloof--but as an underling in the realm's royal workforce, he soon becomes entrenched in court politics and intrigue.
The titular Lost Gate refers to the gate that used to exist between these two worlds. This gate allowed mages to subjugate humans and build their power bases. The mages on earth have been weakening without the mystical strengthening/healing power of this gate--so to create it again would redefine their former glory. As "The Lost Gate" propels forward, it seems apparent that all roads will lead to Danny attempting to once again link the worlds. But at what cost? The novel does end well positioned for the continuation of this saga and I enjoyed "The Lost Gate" enough to seek its sequel out when the time comes.
Sometimes, however, the prose does become weighed down in what I like to think of as "Gatespeak." While the physics of gatemaking is an interesting topic, some chapters explore the theory to the point of shutting down the narrative. Overall, OSC does a good job of incorporation this technical aspect into the action--but a few passages end up quite heavy. Also, there is a lot of implied danger in Danny's journey--but it is played more as an adventurous romp than as actual danger. The tone is much darker in Westil as the narrative has real suspense and bloodshed. So the two halves never quite gelled even as I enjoyed them individually. But the primary decision of whether or not to stick it out in "The Lost Gate" is Danny, and here OSC has created an extremely likable protagonist and one that I'd follow anywhere. A fitting introduction, let's see where we go next! KGHarris, 12/10.
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