I just finished reading Magic Kingdom For Sale – Sold! by Terry Brooks. I first read this in middle school as part of my voracious consumption of the comic Fantasy sub-genre. I purchased a copy for the same reason. I had recalled my first foray into the field with Majyk by Accident by Esther Freisner, ordered a copy, and subsequently thought of this series and added it to the bookshelf. It was only the recent re-reading of Sometimes the Magic Works that made me pick it up to read.

The thing I found most interesting about the novel was the complete absence of comedy. The novel is, essentially, and comic fantasy premise executed with complete seriousness. I find it amusing to think of myself as a middle schooler nodding along with the anguish of an aging lawyer struggling with the loss of his wife. Yes, very relatable – And of course, it would have been, because I have always been Old Man Grant. Coming back to it around the same age as the protagonist, having experienced a successful career and plenty grief and loss, I was perhaps able to relate slightly more.

Relatability aside, the story was creative and interesting, although not particularly exciting. The prose was easy to follow. The characters were believable except for Willow. I truly wish more Fantasy authors were able to figure out how to include women in the story. A naked woman with no other purpose than becoming the property of a protagonist who is written as a direct parody of the author himself – that ain’t it. I have no objection to the depiction of Nightshade, except that she is one of two significant female characters and making 50% of the women wicked isn’t ideal. Strabo was kindof fun.

Ultimately, I think the novel is worth reading and I may re-read the next in the series at some point.