Svaha

by Charles de Lint

Out beyond the Enclaves, in the desolation between the cities, an Indian flyer has been downed. A chip encoded with vital secrets is missing. Only Gahzee can venture forth to find it--walking the line between the Dreamtime and the Realtime, bringing his people's ancient magic to bear on the poisoned world of tomorrow.

Bringing hope, perhaps, for a new dawn. . .

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Cyberpunk, Speculative Fiction

300 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Charles de Lint is the much beloved author of more than seventy adult, young adult, and children's books. Renowned as one of the trailblazers of the modern fantasy genre, he is the recipient of the World Fantasy, Aurora, Sunburst, and White Pine awards, among others. Modern Library's Top 100 Books of the 20th Century poll, conducted by Random House and voted on by readers, put eight of de Lint's books among the top 100.
De Lint is a poet, folklorist, artist, songwriter and performer. He has written critical essays, music reviews, opinion columns and entries to encyclopedias, and he's been the main book reviewer for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction since 1987. De Lint served as Writer-in-residence for two public libraries in Ottawa and has taught creative writing workshops for adults and children in Canada and the United States. He's been a judge for several prominent awards, including the Nebula, World Fantasy, Theodore Sturgeon and Bram Stoker.

Born in the Netherlands in 1951, de Lint immigrated to Canada with his family as an infant. The family moved often during de Lint's childhood because of his father's job with an international surveying company, but by the time Charles was twelve—having lived in Western Canada, Turkey and Lebanon—they had settled in Lucerne, Quebec, not far from where he now resides in Ottawa, Ontario.

In 1980, de Lint married the love of his life, MaryAnn Harris, who works closely with him as his first editor, business manager and creative partner. They share their love and home with a cheery little dog named Johnny Cash.

Charles de Lint is best described as a romantic: a believer in compassion, hope and human potential. His skilled portrayal of character and settings has earned him a loyal readership and glowing praise from peers, reviewers and readers.

Charles de Lint writes like a magician. He draws out the strange inside our own world, weaving stories that feel more real than we are when we read them. He is, simply put, the best.
—Holly Black (bestselling author)
Charles de Lint is the modern master of urban fantasy. Folktale, myth, fairy tale, dreams, urban legend—all of it adds up to pure magic in de Lint's vivid, original world. No one does it better.
—Alice Hoffman (bestselling author)

To read de Lint is to fall under the spell of a master storyteller, to be reminded of the greatness of life, of the beauty and majesty lurking in shadows and empty doorways.
—Quill & Quire

His Newford books, which make up most of de Lint's body of work between 1993 and 2009, confirmed his reputation for bringing a vivid setting and repertory cast of characters to life on the page. Though not a consecutive series, the twenty-five standalone books set in (or connected to) Newford give readers a feeling of visiting a favourite city and seeing old friends.
More recently, his young adult Wildlings trilogy—Under My Skin, Over My Head, and Out of This World—came out from Penguin Canada and Triskell Press in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Under My Skin won 2013 Aurora Award. A novel for middle-grade readers, The Cats of Tanglewood Forest, published by Little Brown in 2013, won the Sunburst Award, earned starred reviews in both Publishers Weekly and Quill & Quire, and was chosen by the New York Times Editors as one of the top six children's books for 2013. His most recent adult novel, The Mystery of Grace (2009), is a fascinating ghost story about love, passion and faith. It was a finalist for both the Sunburst and Evergreen awards.

De Lint is presently writing a new adult novel. His storytelling skills also shine in his original songs. He and MaryAnn (also a musician) recently released companion CDs of their original songs, samples of which can be heard on de Lin

Reviews

[Melanti · Rating 2 out of 5]

I normally love de Lint but many of his earliest (pre-Newford) books come off as really derivative - as if he were writing according to specs given by a publisher rather or writing what he thought would sell best rather than writing something that really mattered to him.

This particular book reads as if he heard that cyberpunk was popular, then took what he thought made up cyberpunk, mixed it with the all-too-popular post-apocalyptic fantasy setting of the '80s, and at the last minute threw in ninjas - 'cause, hey, everyone likes ninjas, right? He includes his typical blend of various Native American mythologies as well. It ends up being a confusing mishmash of a lot of elements that just don't go together very well.

There's also a confusing mishmash of cultures as well. The Canadian populace/culture has virtually disappeared in favor of Asian and Japanese gangs. And of course the Native Americans in their isolated Enclaves. But nothing is really nuanced or in depth - everything seems to be surface stereotypes - ninjas and geishas and kamikaze and seppuku, etc - which reeks of cultural appropriation with a faint tinge of racism.

It's supposedly science fiction, which is rather unfortunate, because it's VERY evident that de Lint has no clue how any of the technology he mentions actually works. And, sadly, the quickest way to annoy me in a science fiction book is to use bad science. And in this case, it's really terrible science. Horrifically awful science, in fact. For Pete's sake - he had acid rain sizzle as it hit concrete as if it were hydrochloric acid or something, then in the very next scene they walk around on the wet ground with hardly a care!

I'm just grateful that this is the only attempt at a science fiction novel that de Lint has ever published, because there's no way I'd want to read another attempt. He's definitely better at writing fantasy!


(On a lighter note - yay for Joss Whedon! Due to his Firefly I actually understood some of the simpler Chinese (Mandarin?) phrases used.)

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible - like vintage de Lint with a good measure of William Gibson thrown in. It’s good enough that it isn’t too dated by the Asian dystopian mythos. Here, the winners are those who embrace Manitou. A cautionary tale told with a cast of de Lint’s usual dysfunctional outsiders and lovable, wise characters.

[Andree]

I just struggled to get into this one. I think it was the language, and just the general combination of elements. Particualrly the dystopian ones (or what I assume would be dystopian). Either way, I realized I really didn't want to read it, so I have decided not to. I may pick it up another time, but I struggled.

[Heather Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually, I first read this book about fifteen years ago, loved it, lost my copy, and forgot about it until I found it again on this site. So.

It's hard to pinpoint this book. There's a lot of science fiction, computer-y stuff. But there's also a lot of the Native American magic-y stuff that makes me love de Lint so much. Also, there's a dystopian society feel to it. And some Japanese warrior code of honor thingies. Whew.

Basically: near future, world gone awry, possible nuclear or biochemical warfare, Japanese/Pan-Asian culture has taken over North America (and possibly the world) EXCEPT for Native American/Indigenous People "enclaves" protected from the pollution by some sort of nifty biosphere. Native American dude leaves enclave and is visited by various tribal magical entities, hooks up with random, punky messenger gal, and tries to save his world. And the WHOLE world. Good stuff.

Good with: green tea and hot and sour soup. Or possibly water and some dried meat. Soda and a ham sandwich? Really, any of it could work.

[Merenwen Inglorion]

DNF

Wanted to stop by page 50, but I wanted to know what happened so I skipped/skimmed every POV except for Gahzee (he's the only character that doesn't cuss).

The characters were well developed, for the most part (bar a few inconsistencies, like Lisa being a "born paranoid" but then never once checking for a tail when she's on a mission);
The description was wonderful when it dealt with scenery, lore, and the dreamscape. Unfortunately, it brought the same attention to detail when the POV characters go into bars. Look, unless one of these prostitutes is going to be an MC, or the POV character is going to get important info from one of them, there's no need to tell me how many different ways genitalia can be dressed up...
I also don't need to know every time a depraved character thinks someone else's butt looks good, or every time they have an erection. :/
Also, the cussing. Way more than what I'm comfortable with. Mostly sh* and a*, but then there's one section where it's all f*. For, like, three pages...

Also, every POV except for Gahzee's and Lisa's seemed pointless. I read everything up to page 60-ish, got annoyed with the description as stated above, then read solely Gahzee's POV up to nearly page 200 (his POV had cool dreamscape stuff, and little/none of the aforementioned annoyances). I felt like I didn't miss anything. By that point, he's hooked up with some of the residents, and more and more cussing/erotic thoughts are introduced to his POV. I stopped when he got in a sweat lodge with Lisa...cuz honestly, they're both pretty much buck-naked. Hmm, I wonder what could possibly happen... :P :/

However, I was interested enough in the story to skip to the end to find out what happens. Again, even though I skipped a prodigious amount of pages, I don't feel like I missed anything. You could pretty much just read the first couple of chapters to get oriented with Gahzee and Lisa, skim the next few chapters for relevant tech info, then skip to the end.

[Erika · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are no words, I was pretty much disgusted by this book. It was suggested to me as a cool, future, sci-fi/fantasy. It was poorly written, difficult to follow, (the whole book is filled with Native American, Asian, and other very strange references) and did not hold my interest.
On just one page—reference to kobun, kawaii, yubitsume, giri, ki, apato, and yaks (who are people) I like books that create an entire fantasy world—I have no trouble reading about orcs or ents, nothing wrong with a fantasy world, but this one was just stupid!
The world is an environmental mess, all of North America is taken over by Asia—there are conflicting gangs—I am going to assume from the Mandarin that it is Chinese vs Japanese? The Native Americans stay on their enclaves hiding away behind forcefields Wakanda-style and this story is half Native American myth, half Ninja, samurai, half future with silly tech that makes no sense! (It was written in the 80s, I know!)
I realize, also, written in the 80s s a slight excuse, but parts of it are just straight up racist.
I didn’t like even one of the characters, it used profanity for no reason, the deaths were so abundant to be meaningless, the relationships were absurd, and I wish I could get back the time I spent reading it!
1.5 stars

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, Charles de Lint does cyberpunk and urban fantasy combined--love it! Lately, I've read several older books by favorite writers, and they have seemed disappointingly dated. Svaha is much less so. Yakuza and tech firms in a future dystopia, Native American enclaves that are more like utopia, spunky messenger girl, dreadlocked master hacker, ninja woman lawyer, and a similar Native American spirit world to that in some of de Lint's more recent books. What's not to like?

(As always with de Lint, I suppress any thoughts about cultural appropriation; he's always respectful of the cultures he writes about.)

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me THIRTY=TWO years to get to this book, and I'm both astounded and horrified at how near Mr. de Lint has come to the devastation of climate change in terms of a timeline. The book takes place in 2094, just a few short years from now, and much of what is described is what scientists are telling us is coming, and about when they think it will. This is a book filled with both despair and hope, and a will to action. I wish I had read it long ago.

[Michael Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

de Lint tells tales in many genre. This is about after the fall and North America and other places are ruled by anarchy. The native people from around the world have their enclaves and everyone else lives as can be in a rough and unraveling world. But one native son is on a mission. He finds allies who become friends and one a lover. And he opens the way for renewal of the world.

[Marin R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started Svaha I thought it was confusing, because so many characters and languages and names and other things were thrown at me from the beginning and it was difficult making sense of it all. But after awhile I got used to it, and I just became quite absorbed into the story.

The story is set in a future where everything is a wasteland (we've pretty much destroyed the world with pollution and war), save for the Enclaves where the Native Americans have retreated into. Everything started with a chip from the Enclaves, which might provide with the information on how to break into the Enclaves where the world was still unspoiled. Lisa, the messenger who was supposed to deliver the chip to the yakuza, had to run for her life since it was stolen from her. It was during this time that she met Gahzee, a Native who left the Enclaves in order to retrieve the chip. There's a lot of other stuff going on, but that's the gist of it, I guess.

The use of Japanese in the book can be quite distracting. Most of the time it was okay, and even appropriate, so it really fits in with the whole setting. But there are parts when the use of Japanese was actually incorrect (say, the character would say one thing and the translation provided would say something else entirely) or inappropriate (saying the Japanese equivalent of "my bad" when the situation and people involved would make it more in-character to say "I humbly apologise", for example). And it always irritates me when people say "mushi mushi"~! There are also a few cultural stereotypes that didn't sit too well with me, but it kind of fit the tone of the novel, where each group/tribe/culture/clan had these ideas of what the others are like, that they get from gossip or videos or were just told the same thing for so long that they never questioned it. And for the most part, when they actually come to know the others, they realise that everyone is just human, and we all have the same potentials and weaknesses. The book ends with a hopeful note, giving the message that it is possible to set aside our cultural differences and work together.

As a whole, the ideas in the novel may be a little too simplistic or cliched at times. It is definitely not one of de Lint's strongest work. But I still find it one of the most interesting de Lint novels I've read, which is why I enjoyed it a lot. I wish that there are more books set in this world because I liked the characters, and the setting. And it's a trickster story, too! How many trickster sci-fi novels are there out there? I would recommend this to any Charles de Lint fan, although I'd tell newcomers to check out the Newford books first.
~ marineko.blogspot.com

[Ambertronic · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a weird one by de Lint...Shadow Run meets Dances With Wolves or something.

Basically it's set in a techno future where a cloistered Native American ventures from his protected wildwood sanctuary into the city of evil technology, where everyone has forgotten the past and tradition and are living in techno sin. Oooo! And he meets a techno chick and they find themselves wrapped up in each others business and a forbidden romance ensues. It's a regular Romeo & Juliet from the future.

That's really the gist of it.

[Josie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as strong as the Newford novels, for sure. The foray into sci-fi, where Japanese and Chinese gangs rule the world and Native Americans have retreated into high-tech Enclaves, just...didn't sit all that well with me. Too much of the "noble savage" for me, even if it was cloaked in high-tech sagacity. Plus, the Japanese/Chinese racism towards each other...sigh. I know it's not supposed to be the most positive of futures, but it's still disheartening to have that play a not-insignificant role.

[M.E. · Rating 1 out of 5]

there is a lot i love about charles de lint. faeries in cities bringing meaning, beauty and transformation to people's lives is a winning formula, and de lint has milked it for everything its worth. plus, i like his attempt at venturing into science fiction. svaha, unfortunately, just takes his typical faults a bit too far -- heavily appropriation of marginalized and colonized cultures, a general white liberal's deep confusion on the nature of white supremacy, and a sappy sentimentality.

[Allyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit that I've struggled for days with what to say about this book.

On the one hand: It's a solid standalone offering from Charles de Lint, taking his trademark urban fantasy involving the Native people and spirits and mythology from his region of Canada (those appearing regularly in the Newford books) and shooting it far into the future. So far that the context itself changes, becoming a fascinating blend of urban fantasy and cyberpunk. It's wholly unlike any other book I've read from this author. And I enjoyed the story overall. It raises important philosophical questions about our (poor) relationship with the Earth, our (poor) stewardship of the environment, and our (poor) relationships with different peoples of humanity. Maybe a wee bit preachy at times, but since I'm sympathetic to his point of view and familiar with his perspective from previous books, with which this one is consistent, it felt affirming rather than annoying.

On the other hand: Though one could argue the novel was written several decades ago and is thus a product of its time, it made me feel more than a little uncomfortable just how heavily De Lint relies on Native American spirituality for the engine of his characters and story. I mean, WAY more than in any of the Newford books I've read so far. Similarly, both Chinese and Japanese spirituality and social mores are involved here, as those cultures likewise play a significant role in the worldbuilding of this story. I read several other reviews of this book railing against the cultural appropriation and stereotyping; I really can't argue against any of them. Most important of all is the question of whether those cultural/spiritual aspects are authentically and sensitively rendered. I honestly don't have the background to tell, but I'll give the author the benefit of the doubt; it certainly reads as authentic and believable, and respectful, assuming it's accurate.

So, yeah. Mixed feelings. Trying to put the more negative aspects aside, I do think it's a very unusual and fresh mash-up that scifi and fantasy fans alike can enjoy.

[Robert Hudder · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent book that can be forgiven a few clunks. It starts out a bit pulpy and as with much of De Lint's books, the characters deepen as it goes along. There is a mention of monogamy out of nowhere with little connection to anything. Acid rain is still a thing.

It was published in 1989 and so much has changed and moved away from that past's possible futures. It feels like a good Van Lustbader novel. Yes, it still has various mysticisms and dubious tech that feels much like any of the magic bits feel. But there is more depth to these characters.

I will always give a De Lint book a chance.

[Dawn Livingston · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know why I grabbed this book, just the description/summary indicates it's too way out there for me. I started reading but kind of got lost right away and it was just too much for me, too weird, too out there beyond comprehension.

I recommend this to anyone who likes to try stuff that's really different, unusual but I won't be reading it all the way through, trying it again, or buying it.

[Michael Silverstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some very thorough multi-cultural world buildings that walks the line between appreciation, and at times, appropriation. So much of the writing is put into the story that sometimes the language is lacking a bit. Ultimately, a fun read that among other things, may lead you to consider the role that native peoples play in the safeguarding of our planet.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of my favourite Charles De Lint novels. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, it blends sci-fi, Native American myth and Japanese crime fiction into a strange tale. This book felt more coarse than what I am used to from De Lint. It was heavy on stereotypes and lacked some of the depth I have experienced in his other books.

[Lauren Dushay · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ending was incredibly satisfying and the world was really well thought out. This alternate vision of the future really relates with current society. But there were a lot of minor errors and so much heteronormativity.

[M.L.D.]

Well. This hasn't aged well, and I'm really glad that de Lint found his stride in later books depicting urban fantasy, because cyberpunk, which I think is what this book is trying to be, really doesn't suit him.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story went alright; while I am a big fan of Charles de Lint, I do not think cyberpunk fantasy is his best genre. Good characters, but sometimes it felt like something out of the Shadowrun RPG. Not bad, but definitely not his best work.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book for those of us who grew up in the cyberpunk era.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Urban dystopian magic style. Would read again someday.

[Cherie Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

.

[James Giddings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find Svaha's blending of Japanese, Chinese, Native American (and pan-indigenous) languages, mythologies and cultures interesting. I wish there were less redemptive violence, but I find the presentation of love and honor extremely satisfying. The vision of Deganawida, the Great Peacemaker of the Haudenosaunee , in which many peoples that have traditionally been at war come together for the welfare of all in succeeding generations by learning wisdom, is the key to the book.

[Lisa Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Svaha by Charles de Lint Svaha - the moment between seeing lightening and hearing the thunder
 
In this novel from 1989 Charles de Lint mixes Native American characters with various Asian characters in a cyberpunk novel with incredible depth.
 
In the future the world has descended into large mega cities known as plexes and run by Nippojin companies, the squats where anyone not a citizen of near pure Nippojin ended up. Run by the Yazuka, the Tongs, and the triads. It is a very stratified society and if you don't fit in you are pushed out.
 
Surprisingly those of Native descent actually managed to set up their own Enclaves where nature is nurtured. They are closed enclaves where only those of Native descent live and thy are filled with high tech working hand and hand with mysticism. Those outside want that technology.
 
An enclave flyer has crashed and the race is on between the Nippojin companies, the Yazuka, the tongs and the triads to own and control that technology.
 
As always in a de Lint book there are rich and well developed characters. He is the master of urban fantasy and mixes well research mysticism with the real world. Gazhee is a warrior who was sent out by his enclave to find and destroy the Claver technology and to find out what has happened to one of the Enclaves that has gone silent. Along the way he meets Lisa Bone, a young messenger girl who had been jumped by the chinas when she was carrying a package. The package held the chip to the claver technology and she had no idea.
 
The various plots within plots make this novel truly stand out. Jumping from the Plex, to the squats to the outlands and even into the Dreamtime, we have a tale to drag you from start to finish. Though this tale was written twenty five years ago it is perfectly good for today.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this book either influenced or was influenced by Shadow Run RPG. On top of that it has the mufti-cultural musings that has been a trademark of most modern Canadian literature like Michael Ondaatje, Margaret Atwood, and Alice Munroe. And while this aspect makes Canadian literature so distinct it can be a hindrance in narrative flow, because in the middle of a lovely sequence Professor butt-in-ski comes in and tried to unload many anthropological facts. And sometimes characters have knowledge that makes little to no sense that they have all to make the disseminating the information more convenient. For instant the Rat "Lisa" who grew up in the slums outside the highrise and affluent "plex" had moments where she recounted in internal monologue the history of Yakuza. Which make little to no sense as to why someone who lived on the streets surviving day to day would have any use for such knowledge. The reason I "liked" the book is because during the times I was reading it I was engrossed. But when I was not reading I was picking it apart and became annoyed. But nonetheless I continued to read. The ending seemed rushed to a convenient bow ending and possible sequel lead in.

But if you are interested in native American fetishism and Asian, mostly Japanese, underworld traditional culture this book will not disappoint. But if you are looking for flawless read that will not take you out of the narrative you may want to look elsewhere.

[Quinn Blackburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique tale set in the distant future, De Lint gives us a world where vast and dangerous wastelands separate isolated fortress cities. The poorest live in shanty towns just outside the cities, searching the wastes for usable tech or useful junk to sell or trade; anything to improve their lot, or perhaps someday, get them a life inside the walls where air is cleaner and luxuries can be had.

Hidden in the wastelands are Enclaves, sanctuaries where indigenous communities generations ago sealed themselves away when they could not stop the toxic and destructive consequences they saw coming from the choices being made by the rest of the world. Now, one of their ships has been captured to strip it of its superior tech and a lone scout is sent out into the world to set things right.

De Lint gives us a complex and grim world, diverse and divisive in construct. Characters are vivid and believable in their variety and struggles. The author weaves the lives of characters from all levels of this society to create a tale of learning, healing, empathy, spirituality, and hope on a world wide level. Svaha is a word that describes the moment between lightning and thunder; a sacred moment full of possibilities, potential and hope. The perfect title for this story, Svaha is an excellent example of De Lint's storytelling skills, and a bit different from his usual modern fairy tale style. I highly recommend to both those new to this author and those more familiar.

[Lianne Burwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charles de Lint is a writer I've been following since I was in high school, but this was one of his books that I was never really interested in rereading. Then I saw a copy of the reprint at the library and decided to give it a second read.

It's hard to explain, but while the story worked better for me this time around, the problems with the details jumped out at me more obviously.

The basic world is divided into the polluted main world, and the enclaves, formed by aboriginal peoples around the world, that have their own environment (allowing blue skies and clean water inside when pollution clouds and poisons the outside world). One of the enclaves has gone silent, and a flyer sent to investigate was shot down, allowing outsiders to access Enclave technology.

I enjoyed the story, but there were elements of the world-building that bothered me.

1) How did the Enclavers develop super-advanced technology that creates the enclaves without anyone else getting a hold of it?
2) How can the purifications work on things like groundwater seeping through?
3) If the outside world is so polluted, where does everyone's food come from?

There was also a little too much 'love at first sight' for me (two couples, in fact). And the plot was a little basic compared to his later writing.

Still, it was a fun, if slightly dated, read.