Gleam / Tom Fletcher

Gleam
by Tom Fletcher

fantasy, dystopia

copyright 2014
read in August 2015

rated 6/10:  read to pass the time

I was glad to finally finish this book. It's not "bad". Perhaps it's close to 5/10, readable, but only if there's nothing else. It's just not an "enjoyable" book.

In an afterword the author writes, "I resist completely the idea that a sympathetic protagonist is a prerequisite for a functional novel." Sure, this novel may be functional. But there is no enjoyment when none of the characters are sympathetic.

My local library puts a sticker on the spine of books, to indicate genre. For years I would scan for the rocket or planet of science fiction. Then I added the dragon of fantasy. This book is the first I have seen with the new "dystopia" sticker.

And that's all it is. A novel of dystopia. A series of incidents in one dystopic environment after another. And as friends and supporters are slaughtered around him the chief protagonist simply sighs and says, Well, time to move on. What a creep.

Then there are aspects of the book which go beyond my willing suspension of disbelief...

Part two, and suddenly there are bikers. In a rusty knife and crossbow environment, there are motorbikes ! No hint of them in part one. The bikes are suddenly introduced... so that the characters can move a bit quicker.

There's a monster which targets the main character. It slaughters entire rooms full of other people yet fails to reach the one person that it wants to kill. And what is it anyway ?! It appears to be a one-off monster created by a childish mistake. How ? Why ? No idea.

If I re-read the book more carefully, would these apparent flaws be resolved ? I have no idea. The book does not inspire me to a second reading.

One final problem which is entirely forgiveable...

It must be difficult to give each character a unique voice. To write dialogue such that the reader can tell who is talking by the way that they speak. Beyond the plot of the novel, good dialogue requires an understanding of and empathy with each character.

The characters of Gleam have a tendency to long-winded speech. And each character speaks in exactly the same style. Each character speaks like a professor.

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You know what this book reminds me of ? Eragon. Admittedly, Gleam has a much better plot. But it's the same approach... A group of stereotypes travel through a ladders-and-levels game. Each level is a demonstration of the amazing imagination of the author. We read, we gasp, we move on -- to an even more amazing level.

On the other hand, Eragon was childishly stupid. Gleam, at least, is a very adult dose of misery.

Jules Renard (as quoted in GMail) - "Laziness is not