Friday, January 16, 2009

The Narrows by Alexander C. Irvine

First sentence:

"Midnight in the golem factory."

Description:

"From award-winning author Alexander C. Irvine comes a compelling, fantastical riff on history and World War II. The Narrows takes place in Detroit, where Henry Ford's factories have been retooled for America's grand war effort. But there are also more clandestine operations under way -- including a top-secret effort to produce golems -- powerful beings fashioned from the earth -- to destroy Nazis. Here lurk strange spies in unlikely places -- and a not-so-extraordinary man who is inadvertently poised at the bizarre, urgent center of it all....

Spared fighting in Europe because of a bum hand, Jared wishes he could join the cause, instead of mindlessly sifting clay to be made into golems. But there is something that preys on his dreams: the devilish dwarf known as the Nain Rouge. In his youth, Jared once actually saw the Dwarf -- a chilling creature that shows itself to individuals just before their demise. Now the Nain Rouge appears to be coming back for Jared himself.

Many have a profound interest in Jared's childhood run-in with the Dawrf -- including a German spy, Jared's hateful foreman at the golem factory, and a shape-shifting Indian shaman. But what could a simple man who earns a meager living possibly have to do with espionage and dark deeds? While Jared toils invisibly in the bowels of Ford's plant, the answer is about to reveal itself in a cataclysm of mythic and sinister proportions." -- from the back cover

My thoughts:

This was a very interesting urban fantasy which mixed the fantastical with the historical time period. I liked how Jared tried to do the right thing even when things were difficult at home and at work.

Date read: 1/16/2009
Book #: 6
Challenge: 999 Challenge
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: Urban Fantasy

ISBN-10: 0345466985
ISBN-13: 9780345466983
Publisher: Del Rey
Year: 2005
# of pages: 345
Binding: Trade Paperback
LibraryThing page

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