Hero of the Sun

I am currently writing a two-part fantasy series, called Hero of the Sun. I am halfway through the first book, titled Child of the Sun. Hero of the Sun follows the adventures of a young boy by the name of Luke Redforsen, from age one to nineteen. The story is set in the magically isolated country of Premia, on a fantastic planet called Vanity, where magic is commonplace and monsters prominent across the land.

Abandoned by his elvish parents, Luke is found and raised by a desert-dwelling tribe of Amazon women, called the Diajans. They are humanoid, with a genetic disorder that kills most male infants, so they are in desperate need of males. A despised race, their only King labors to gain the support and recognition of the conquering elvish race. Luke is sent to the Premian High Court to represent the new Diajan Province, now annexed to Premia. Suddenly surrounded by his own race, Luke must decide what identity to choose, that of a Diajan or a Premian. Meanwhile, he is involved in court intrigue, as well as a plot by the Diajan King to overthrow the Premian throne.

Luke is not your typical fantasy hero. He relies on his wits before magic or force, as more of a trickster character than a muscle-bound sword-slinger.

Warrior of the Sun, the second installment of HotS, has a more common plot. Luke returns from a four-year exile to right the wrongs he has perpetrated against Premia, and finally take his adult place in the new culture of the country, all while trying to save Premia from the greedy hands of the war-mongering world beyond Premia’s magical borders.

Throughout the Hero of the Sun series, I will explore these themes:

Racism
Feminism
Homosexuality/Bisexuality
Systems of government
Identity Crises
Healthy romantic relationships
Gender identity
Morality
Sex
Rape
Death
Adoption
Drugs
Spirituality and the afterlife

Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian was my favorite book to read for this class so far. I found Junior to be both funny and admirable. I admire his drive, his patience, and his persistence. I’m little skeptical about a stuttering and lisping kid becoming popular. But perhaps the fact that he was the only Indian in Reardan made him unique enough that he could get away with more differences. Penelope seemed a little clichéd, but she’s still young, so its forgivable. Rowdy is an interesting character, both friend and rival to Junior. The troubles on the reservation are downright heartbreaking – the limited opportunities missing. I was aware that there are alcohol problems in most Native American reservations, but damn. His parents are both alcoholics – his dad’s best friend dies of an alcohol-induced accident, his grandmother is hit by a drunk driver, his sister burns to death because she’s drunk, and on and on. Junior was right to try to get out of that life. He must have done a lot of thinking on that twenty-two mile trip to his school. There were some elements that I found a little clichéd, but satisfying nonetheless – these elements are used for a reason, after all – Junior’s getting the girl by dating Penelope, and winning the game against Junior. I like the art in this book, and how there are three drawing styles: doodles, comics, and realistic drawings. My sister is an artist and she draws in different styles as well.
I really enjoyed The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, and was disappointed to reach the end. I’ll definitely be reading this again.

Betsey Brown

At some points in Betsey Brown I had trouble figuring out what is going on. Vida seems prejudiced, both against blacks and whites – I wonder what she classifies herself as? I understand Betseys rage when Bernice deprives her of her private place of the tree outside her window – I too have a spot in the woods that I covet. It’s a good half-hour walk but well worth it: is secluded, with a great view in all directions, but no one can see you from where you are – and the ground is covered with velvet moss so thick and cushiony that I took a nap there once. This spot of mine is now going to be bulldozed and turned into houses and a neighborhood. Someday I will go back there, only to see it will be gone. It’s a bittersweet feeling.

Carrie has a very unusual fashion sense – two dresses over each other and a rope around her waist? Weird. But I like her personality – her wise, take-no-nonsense attitude. I like how she showed Betsey to run the house, and taught the other children how to help around the house properly.

I don’t think Jane makes a very good mother or wife – she doesn’t seem to be around the children enough, and doesn’t understand her husband’s selflessness. Still, she’s better than Vida. Greer needs to be around the kids more often, but other than that, I like him, and how he teaches his children about their black heritage.

I laughed out loud when, early on in the book, Betsey and her friends are counting their pubic hairs, curling them and putting hair cream on them.