The Thing About Giants

In this debut novel Corman, a young giant, accidentally meets and then becomes close to Jacq, a twelve-year-old human training to become an unwilling giant-hunter. She lives in the walled city of Fathach while he is in a permanent state of hiding underground in the surrounding forests. Not an ideal start for a lasting friendship, but Jacq has never followed the prevailing ideology whereby giants are portrayed as ruthless killers from a violent past who must all be hunted down by armed helicopters. 

She and Corman decide to work together for a better future, and after many set-backs and near-misses, finally achieve their goal.

Giants have always existed most powerfully in the imagination through the talents of illustrators and animated film-makers. But trying to keep in mind such enormous differences in height between the two main characters through the medium of prose is a hard ask. Perhaps because of this the author at times strains too hard, trusting that an extra adjective or two here and there will keep up the momentum. 

The story’s plea for more understanding and tolerance is well made, but some of the detail makes for uncomfortable reading. Fathach itself is encircled by walls built from the bones of dead giants, with its main hall constructed in gleeful detail from a huge skull. Against this unsavoury background, a captured giant, kept shackled in secret captivity, is a depressing reminder of the horrors of cruel imprisonment still happening in real life today.

This is the author’s first novel for young readers, having already come out top in a five-way auction. Written over a period of five years it is well constructed and good for readers in search of instant adventure. A sequel is promised, perhaps this time a little less hectic and occasionally disturbing.