The Homeward Bounders
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Cover Story
On our cover this month we feature an illustration from The Swineherd, a picture book version of the Andersen fairy tale by artist Lisbeth Zwerger. (Neugebauer Press, 0 907234 127, £3.95 from A. and C. Black). We are grateful to A. and C. Black for help in using this illustration. The roundel used on the Hans Andersen pages is from the wood engraving by Gwen Raverat for Four Tales, translated by R. P. Keigwin, C.U.P. (1935). It and the Punch cartoon on page 16 appear in Brian Alderson's pamphlet Hans Christian Andersen and his Eventyr in England.
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The Homeward Bounders
Diana Wynne Jones writes some of the most imaginative and intriguing fantasy available, and at the same time it can be some of the most complex. This stimulating offering is no exception. It mingles the Promethean legend with war gaming, ley lines and I know not what else. Jamie, a kind of Heracles figure is a pawn in the games played by 'Them' on their boards in the glass places, but then so is everyone else a pawn. What makes the hero and his future companions exceptional is that they are randoms, who may fairly freely tread the bounds between the games (or universes) and, if they do not lose hope, may eventually get back home. Jamie manages to destroy this kind of servitude by the very fact that he does lose hope and upset 'their' plans. It's uncompromising, it's demanding and never less than challenging --- but what a dreary cover!