THE 13TH REALITY by James Dasher (part 4)

I’m done. I’m done. I’m done [do a little happy dance].

The 13th Reality was a fun book over all, light, but fun. It is not really what The Soulless Machine wants to be about. It distracted me a little from the importance of the short story. However, it was a fun diversion.

Part 4 was action packed. There were blind human-like monsters, wind bikes, and sound slicers. There was so much action that I almost forgot how we arrived. The last hundred pages few by.

What I like about this section is that Dasher resists the stories pull to over explain everything. Instead, through the device of Master George’s wackiness, we are only given a little of what is really going on. Where I would have liked more pointless details about the inner workings of reality shifting, we get excellent character building and more fun. As a writer this is a useful tool. I would have lost myself in over complex mechanics and completely lost my focus.

I would also like to applaud Dasher for his ability to not only set up sequels, but his ability to overtly market add-on merchandise. I will keep my eye out for my very own gold barrier wand necklace and a Realitants membership card.

Well, I think that I would like to end this reading adventure with a few words. The 13th Reality is a good read with loveable characters that begin a grand adventure that will surely consume their entire lives. It has excellent character building. I feel that I know Tick. It is also filled with strange and magnificent gadgets.

However, The 13th Reality was not really a book for me. I felt let down at the end when Tick returns to the real world, to his parents and his normal life: a device that so many others have used in young fiction, J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia, L. Frank Baum’s OZ, to name a few. I also do not really like the change in the coming of age motif that Dasher put forward. I think that Tick’s parents, anyone’s parents, would not be so quick to support a reckless adventure of this scale. I also find it implausible that Tick would confide in his father.

But strangely, as I just finished typing this update, I find myself wondering how Tick was able to use a broken wand to wink back to Prime. So, maybe I will have to watch for the next installment

Reviews of the other three parts:

THE 13TH REALITY by James Dasher (part 1)
THE 13TH REALITY by James Dasher (part 2)
THE 13TH REALITY by James Dasher (part 3)

Well that’s it. It was fun. Until the book releases in March, please, why not join in the fun over at The Dashner Dude, James Dasher's blog or http://www.the13threality.com/.

Dasher, James. The 13th Reality. Shadow Mountain. Release Date: March 2008