In an Absent Dream

In my quest to read books that feature LGBTQIA characters, the Wayward Children series came to my attention. [A/N: It's a Hugo and Nebula Award-winning series so it's not as if I accidentally stumbled across it.] Not all of the novellas in this series feature LGBTQIA characters but they do explore gender identity and nonconformity in general. Fantasy and sci-fi have historically been used as a vehicle to explore these ideas and McGuire does it with particular skill especially considering these books are all novella length. (I truly marvel at how much she packs into such small books without it seeming rushed or awkward.) After reading the first in the series, Every Heart a Doorway, I bought the rest of the set and have taken my time to show more really savor her writing. The 4th book in the series, In An Absent Dream, follows Lundy who travels to the world of the Goblin Market where everything is ruled by logic and reason. Back in the "real" world, Lundy is known as Katherine and up until the point she walks through her magical doorway she is a solitary figure who flies below the notice of most people. But her time in the Goblin Market changes her and the way that others (especially her family) perceives her. One of the themes that McGuire explores through her books is the feeling of 'otherness' that most kids experience at one time or another but she uses the framework of fantasy to illustrate this point beautifully. (I'd love to tell you how she does it in this book but it's a major part of the storyline and ya'll know I don't abide by spoilers.) Suffice to say, this book and the series in general is a delightful way to spend an afternoon (or several). 10/10 show less

I’ve enjoyed the last three Wayward Children books, don’t get me wrong, but this is the first book where McGuire’s really seemed to have a handle on the form. It’s smooth and clean and lovely, both in the writing and structure and world of the Market, and without the heavy didacticness or ill-fitting plots that I’ve pushed past in the other books. This is what a novella should feel like: just the right size for itself.

I think the Goblin Market’s my favourite of the portal worlds so far too. I like the fairness it contains and I like the mismatched look of the place, and I both want to have seen more of it and don’t want to, because I feel that would spoil the magic? It’s probably too bound up in these rules for me to show more enjoy being there myself, but all the same. And I love that Lundy’s happy there, in the time she has.

This is also quite possibly McGuire’s most nuanced take on portal fantasies yet, both because the novella’s finally gelled as a form for her and because, well, Lundy goes back and forth between her family and the Market, which gives a new lens to look on consequences and the secret horror and tragedy of portal worlds, and … there’s other stuff I’m still kind of chewing over. You’ll have to read it to understand.

So yeah, I liked it! A lot! It’s easy to read it as a stand-alone too, or at least an entry point to the series, but it’s also a strong continuation of the series if you’re following it.

8/10

To bear in mind: mid-century nuclear family thinking, paternalistic and patronising attitudes, mild body horror show less

This is the third Wayward Children book with a main character that I relate to a lot in one way or another. I adore Nancy, though I wouldn't want to go to her world. I have sympathy and empathy and fellow-feelings for Cora. But I think I really get Lundy, or I would have when I was her age. I too often preferred the company of adults or books to other children, and as many children are, I was very fixated on what was fair. The idea of going somewhere where everything is fair, by design, would have been very appealing to me. It's not unappealing to me now, honestly.

Marketed as a standalone novel, it is the fourth in publication order of the Wayward Children series. Katherine Lundy was a minor character in the first novel, a teacher at Miss West's school for children who have been through portals to other worlds. In this novel, we learn her backstory.

Katherine, never Katie or Kitty, is an utterly average child, ostracized by other students because her father is principal. She strives to blend in and be invisible. One day she finds a rather unique doorway, one that allows her to travel back and forth between the world of her birth and the Goblin Market, pretty much at will. On the other side she makes close friends, fights battles, and is happy with the strict rules of fairness that govern that show more world. Her trips back and forth, however, can only last until her 18th birthday, when she must decide which side of the door she will make her permanent home.

I liked this story, although I was a bit slow and didn't make the connection between Katherine and the Miss Lundy of the first book until embarrassingly late. I found it a nice solid return to reason after the last book, which takes place in Confection, and I appreciated the more thought-provoking premise than the quest-format of the last book as well. show less

BE SURE

Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series of books gets better with each addition, with the latest, In an Absent Dream, by far being the strongest story to date. Following the established every other book sequence, this volume tells Lundy's portal story, as she finds her door to the Goblin Market. McGuire offers up some serious ideas to ponder, such as idea of fair value for everything and what that means to either the recipient or the giver. It's some heavy ideas, and after finishing Absent Dream, I had to take some time to really mull over the notions that are put forth, and it really made me think about my own interactions with those around me and how the idea of fair value can applied to our real world.

McGuire doesn't just show more write one hell of an amazing book, but she pushes us, the readers, to consider how we can actually be better people by understanding how we can, and should, be fair to each other. It's really quite a remarkable book. And her writing; it's more beautiful with every book. There are so many potential stories to be told, I hope deep down that she never leaves this series and continues to offer us such amazing books forever. show less

The 1st book in the Wayward Children series, Every Heart a Doorway set an incredible standard that few other novellas or novels can ever hope to surpass. In all truth, I expect it to remain one of the favorite books I have ever read. The second book in the series, while good, completely lacked that deep emotional connection for me. I have not had the opportunity to read the 3rd. Now we come to this 4th book, bestowed upon me by the publisher via NetGalley. How does it rate?

VERY HIGHLY. While not quite equal to the 1st book (a high bar, certainly), this is an incredible read and one I'm adding onto my brand new shortlist of novellas to nominate for awards next year. Katherine Lundy is a studious, serious young girl with her nose always show more in a book. When she stumbles upon a doorway at age 8, she soon finds herself at the Goblin Fair of legend, a place of magic, quests, and most importantly, RULES. As a child growing up in the 1960s, Katherine knows all about rules and expectations--wear a skirt, be obedient, get married, have babies. The rules in the Goblin Market, in contrast, are absolutely fair to all comers, regardless of plane of origin or gender. Katherine adventures and makes friends and goes between the Fair and earth again and again, and thinks she's learned about rules and fair play. She hasn't learned as much as she thinks she has.

I related very strongly to Katherine. I loved the angle that McGuire chose with the story. The emphasis is not on the action; the quests and fighting all take place off the page. Instead, the focus is on the fairness and unfairness depicted in both worlds. This might sound like it's boring, but it's not. McGuire is one of the best writers out there and she could make the telephone book a suspenseful read. That said, the storytelling voice is very thick in the first chapter, so if that opening leave you cold, do press on, because that certain voice does back off as Katherine takes the forefront. show less

CW: Death of a friend, sexist views on gender roles/capabilities, mother slaps child

Well that was truly bittersweet!

Oh Lundy! Lundy who was sure. Lundy who finally found friends and her real home. Lundy who wanted to follow the rules and pay 'fair value' for leaving the world she never quite properly belonged to. Lundy who tried to find a way around the Goblin Market rules and paid an unthinkable price. I will be sad for a while after this one. A beautiful and fair tragedy.

“Sometimes ‘fair’ is bigger than just you. Sometimes ‘fair’ has to think about what’s best for everyone.”