The Magic Spectacles

by James P. Blaylock

A suddenly appearing curiosity shop owned by a small man who might, or might not, be the Man in the Moon; a pair of strange spectacles buried in a fishbowl full of marbles; an old window glazed with sea-green glass found beneath a suburban house; and two adventurous boys who buy the spectacles and climb through the window into a land of goblins, ghosts, and rope ladders that reach to the moon ... Who exactly is Mr. Deener, the fat man who makes magic out of bits of coloured glass, has a passion for glazed doughnuts, and whose seeming twin brother sleeps fitfully in an attic room? And who are the little men that ride out of the forest on windblown sycamore leaves in order to whisper into Mr. Deener's ear? Is Mr. Deener, like a fallen Humpty Dumpty, broken apart? John and Danny need to know. To find their way home they'll have to put Mr. Deener back together again and solve the mystery of the sleeping land - a task that leads them to the pool of reflections in the deep woods and ultimately to a house built of light and magic and memory that sits at the edge of the heart's ocean.

Genres: Fantasy

181 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

James Paul Blaylock is an American fantasy author. He is noted for his distinctive style. He writes in a humorous way: His characters never walk, they clump along, or when someone complains (in a flying machine) that flight is impossible, the other characters agree and show him why he's right.

He was born in Long Beach, California; studied English at California State University, Fullerton, receiving an M.A. in 1974; and lives in Orange, California, teaching creative writing at Chapman University. Many of his books are set in Orange County, California, and can more specifically be termed "fabulism" — that is, fantastic things happen in our present-day world, rather than in traditional fantasy, where the setting is often some other world. His works have also been categorized as magic realism.

He and his friends Tim Powers and K.W. Jeter were mentored by Philip K. Dick. Along with Powers he invented the poet William Ashbless. Blaylock and Powers have often collaborated with each other on writing stories, including The Better Boy, On Pirates, and The William Ashbless Memorial Cookbook.

Blaylock is also currently director of the Creative Writing Conservatory at the Orange County High School of the Arts, where Powers is Writer in Residence.

Reviews

[Tim Meechan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I consider James P. Blaylock one of my favorite authors. He is definitely unique and creates atmospheres in his stories unlike any other novelist I have read. His books are just plain fun to read.

This is the only children's book I own of his and I added it to my collection knowing I'd never see another first edition so affordably priced. It's a cool little book with illustrations adding to the experience.

Unfortunately, it was not as clever as his adult books, and seemed, although written for young people, to be a little silly.

I'm happy I own it, enjoyed reading it, but only recommend it for children. Or better yet, read it with your child.

His other stuff, I highly recommend to everyone.

[Trish Graboske · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a book for young readers. Still, it's very imaginative, and clever as Blaylock always is, and deals with grief and emotions.