The Moon of Gomrath: A Tale of Alderley

by Alan Garner and Alan Carner

Book Overview

From the author of the Booker Prize-shortlisted Treacle Walker and the Carnegie Medal and Guardian Children's Fiction Prize-winning classic, The Owl Service Enthralling sequel to The Weirdstone of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0152017968
• ISBN13: 9780152017965
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 4.2" x 6.9"
• Age Range: 10 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 7

Customer Reviews

I Wish There Were More!

"The Moon of Gomrath" is another great fantastical tale - perfect for young teens and adults alike! I agree with one of the other reviewers that the only problem with this series is that there are only 2 books in it - as I would glady devour several more! This is only the second book of this genre that I've read - which I would categorize as "fantasy". I never thought I would enjoy such books, but after these 2 by Alan Garner, I realize that I was wrong. "The Moon of Gomrath" continues the story of Susan & Colin's journeys through a paralell world of magic (their journeys begin in the first book titled "The Weirdstone of Brisingamen"). Once again they are inadvertantly pulled into a fight between good & evil - one that will have major consequences for both the magical world, and the one they actually live in. The old-world language, coupled with the amazingly vivid details, work together to pull the reader in, and keep you turning pages to the end. A nice addition to this book was a note at the end which explained where the author got his ideas from, and the fact that all of the geographical areas used in this book (with the exception of just one) actually exist. Overall, I would highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys using their imagination - you won't get bored with this one!

No sequelitis here

Perhaps the biggest problem with Alan Garner's Alderly tales is that there are only two. Rich in mythology and haunting magic, these stories are a must-read for fantasy fans, especially those seeking something different than the usual sword-and-sorcery fare.The story picks up not long after the events of "Weirdstone of Brisingamen," with Colin and Susan encountering magical creatures yet again. While walking in the woods, they encounter an elf named Atlendor and a dwarf called Uthecar, near where Cadellin the wizard guards the sleeping knights. (For a better explanation, read the first book) The lios-alfar (elves) are migrating to Alderly, because a mysterious force is causing some of them to vanish, and Atlendor the elf king is bringing his people together to gather what magic he can. Unfortunately, proximity to the ugly constructions of humans is causing the "smoke sickness" in the elves, and Uthecar asks that Susan lend him the bracelet that Angharad Goldenhand gave her.But Susan is suddenly kidnapped by an evil force, and reappears quiet and strange. She has been taken over by the evil Brollachan, and the dwarves and Cadellin are able to help Colin restore her to normality -- though she will never be quite the same. Unfortunately, evil is still stirring in the form of the Morrigan and her sinister cohorts. And when Susan and Colin light a fire to keep warm on a hill, they inadvertantly set off the band of magical horsemen, the Wild Hunt...There is no lag in quality in "Moon of Gomrath," and perhaps the biggest flaw is that to understand anything at all, you need to read the first book. Such things as the lios-alfar, Cadellin and his knights, Angharad Goldenhand and the bracelet, and the kids' relationship with all of the above. This is not a retread of the first book, either. Instead of the hideous svart-alfar (goblins), this time we focus on the beautiful lios-alfar. These "elves of light" are as entrancing as Tolkien's elves, though significantly shorter and slighter. The descriptions of their smoke-sickness is heartrending, as their "changing" from what we think of as life is saddening. Cadellin and the dwarves are featured less prominently than in "Weirdstone," though we do have the evil Pelis the False adding a little spice to the dwarves as a whole. Other creatures are added, such as the bizarre bodachs and the savage palugs.The elves are not the only sad things about this book, and that give it the feeling of a book for older kids. We are told that if someone wears Angharad Goldenhand's bracelet it "leads her ever further from human life," and that someone who uses a certain object "may not know peace again, not in the sun's circle or in the darkling of the world." The writing is still quite formal, but evocative of the landscapes and the various unusual creatures present in it. Garner is among the most talented of the minimalist fantasy writers, and he never overburdens the reader with too much information. Colin and Susan are the sam

A Book for all Ages

The moon of Gomrath is part of a duology along with the very highly recommended 'Weirdstone of Brisingamen'.I first read this book over 20 years ago, and having picked up a copy recently was as enchanted now as then.Garner's greatest strength as a writer (personal opinion) has been his ability to describe, to evoke the mood and time and place for his fantasy - and by doing so to juxtapose the real and fantasy elements of his world in a way that makes both seem somehow more real than either would be alone.In addition, if you move past his technical craftsmanship, he has managed to bring the world of Celtic myth to life in a way and with a realism that I have never seen equalled.Ignoring both of those factors, the two books comprise a fantastically good read that I couldn't possibly put down.My only regret in reading these books, is that given the time since their origional publication it seems unlikely that there will ever be a third, and there VERY definitely needs to be - there was too much story still to be told.Read, enjoy, love - I did!

An Exceptional Book

The Moon of Gomrath is a wonderful work of fantasy and mythology. It is a children's book, but like all of the best literature, can be read at any age. It comments quite profoundly on the human condition, and our longing for, yet distance from, spiritual beings.

Celtic mythology made palatable for children

This powerful tale of magic old and new, low and high, is as fiery as the wendwood burning on Alderly on the Eve of Gomrath. A little scary for the very young child, but brought this ten year old (as I was) to tears and thrills by turns! I still search for elves among the treetops, and I am very careful which wood I burn and when!