Ferren and the Angel by Richard Harland

Ferren and the Angel

(Stephen's updated bibliography of short fiction)

(Review first appeared in Altair)

Richard Harland is best known as the writer of the science fiction/horror/mystery novels THE DARK EDGE, TAKEN BY FORCE and HIDDEN FROM VIEW, and the horror-comedy THE VICAR OF MORBING VYLE. In FERREN AND THE ANGEL, he turns his hand to young adult fantasy, and has produced a remarkably different and inventive work.

Ferren is a curious and somewhat confused fifteen year old, living in an Australia that has been all but destroyed in the Millennial War between the Humen and the Angels. His tribe, the Residuals, lives in a roofless ruin, hiding at night beneath a waterproof blanket. Selectively bred for conservatism and stupidity, they revere a few remnants of the world that existed before the Invasion of Heaven (such as the Guardian Fly Spray) and discourage any thought of change, and only Ferren ever looks out from under the blanket at night. When a warrior angel, Miriael, is stranded near the Dwelling Place, Ferren is the first to find her, and attempts to help her. When they are discovered by Zonda, daughter of the tribe’s leader, both Ferren and Miriael are outcast from their own people and hunted by the Selectors.

The book is obviously aimed squarely at a teenage audience. The adolescent Ferren and Zonda and the equally inexperienced Miriael are the only fully-fleshed characters; the adults are little more than ciphers, and the villains are merely villains. It’s an easy read, with short sentences, lots of exclamation marks, and more onamatapoeias than a BATMAN comic. There is no sex, but an appropriate level of sexual tension; little violence, but plenty to fear. The world that Harland has created for this trilogy is far more interesting than the dragon-infested kingdoms of most commercial fantasy; he has obviously put a lot of thought into the horrifying history of his world, and for sheer bizarre inventiveness, it rivals THE CITY OF LOST CHILDREN

Despite the bleakness of much of the ruined world, the book has likeable characters, some very funny moments, and a refreshing hint of optimism. If you’re looking for a fantasy novel that’s imaginative and atmospheric, rather than familiar and formulaic, FERREN AND THE ANGEL is well worth reading.

Publisher: Penguin

ISBN: 0140292314