Brandon Sanderson is a an American Fantasy writer currently based in Utah. He has a degree in creative writing from Brigham Young University and is currently one of the most exciting science fiction writers around. Nominated for the prestigious John. W. Campbell Award for science fiction twice, he also served on the staff of Leading Edge, a semi-professional speculative fiction magazine. His first novel was Elantris which was well received, followed by the “Mistborn” series which propelled him to great heights. He has since then established himself with the Alcatraz series and many short stories. Harriet McDougall, the widow of Robert Jordan asked Brandon to complete Jordan's famed “Wheel of Time” series. At present Sanderson lives in Provo, Utah and is an instructor at the Brigham Young University.
Never get misled by the title, for this book is about a boy of specials talents inhabiting the world of the evil librarians. Well, librarians are book lovers nemesis, as they patiently wait to get you out of their lair. But jokes apart Alcatraz Smedry, the hero takes you in to that alter universe of magic talents. This book is targeted towards a teenager, but big kids over forty would also definitely enjoy this.
Alcatraz Smedry, is a lanky teenager who is an orphan, yanked in and out of foster homes. He is cursed with the amazing power of klutziness and tends to break, no wreck, anything in the vicinity. So no home will ever hold him or have him. In-spite of this Alcatraz accepts his way in life with humor. But on his thirteenth birthday, things begin to hit the roof. He gets a bag of sand from his biological father and even as he ponders the mysterious present it is stolen by some shady characters. As he tries to calm himself in the kitchen it catches fire and is razed down. Shocked by this, his chef foster mom gives him up and Alcatraz is back in the orphanage ready to be shot by the case worker (yes it happens).
He is visited by his grandfather Leavenworth Smedry who tells him that he belongs to a strange land of magic called the free kingdoms and he possess the amazing talent for destruction. After this shock revelation, he meets his real family, Bastille and cousins, Quentin and Singsing. The whole group are the Occulators each possessing a magical talent, Grandpa's is “coming late”. He comes late for pain, destruction, he is even late for death and therefore indestructible. Occulators are talented beings saving the world from the evil force of the librarians and the key to defeat them now is to retrieve the “bag of birthday sand” stolen from Alcatraz. Alcatraz accepts the job of rescuing the “Sands of Rashid” by infiltrating the lair of the librarians with his yellow and red tinted “Tracker Lenses”. Along with his cousins, mother and grandfather he does it with much aplomb and laughter.
Bryan Sanderson proves once again why he is one of the most talented writers around. His imagination is wonderful in making this magical world work. It is not the run of the mill, wand swishing, incantation muttering magic, its the funny bone tickling talents thats on display. Tickling the story does, with the infectious wit spread across the pages and the whole story works even to the heights of folly. From the realms of the Hushpeople i.e non magical people I can only admire Bryan's talents for weaving a story.
A warning though, you may better position somebody to pry your fingers off this book, because you might never give it up the peaceful way.
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