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Lost in Translation
Allie is a product of the nineties, a child of a rich but dysfunctional who has turned to grunge music for entertainment and counterculture for solace. Finally though, her corporate ruler father decides he's going to get something for all the money he's laying out on her college education, and informs his daughter that she will be transferring to a good, old-fashioned school in southern France, where they will civilize her. But it turns out that Allie's California dreaming does prepare her for life. Because Allie does not arrive at the college south of Paris that she was supposed to attend--but Somewhere Else.
What happens next will give new meaning to the term "transfer student" and "publish or perish."
What happens next will give new meaning to the term "transfer student" and "publish or perish."
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1995
2 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Ball
55 books56 followersMargaret Ball lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and near two grown children. She has a B.A. in mathematics and a Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of Texas. After graduation, she taught briefly at UCLA, then spent several years honing her science fiction and fantasy writing skills by designing computer software and making inflated promises about its capabilities. She has written a number of science fiction/fantasy novels as well as two historical novels, and is currently working on a science fiction series to be released on Kindle and in paperback in the fall of 2017. She would love to be influenced by Connie Willis and the other authors listed but fears that is mainly wishful thinking.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 5, 2019
I have a confession to make. I read this book out of spite. I stumbled across this book somehow, and sent the link to a friend as I thought she’d get a kick out of the cover.
“This book looks and sounds terrible!” she said.
“How dare you,” I replied. “I am certain it’s a masterpiece.”
So I went and got the book, and here we are. It is not a masterpiece . . . But it was fun!
Is the cover a bit silly? Sure, it’s a Baen-published book from the mid-’90s, what else do you expect? Is it also accurate to the story? Yes. It’s from the end of the first chapter (though the creatures by her feet technically don’t show up till later).
The girl is Allie, a directionless California girl whose CEO father decides to send her to a university in France to get a real education, not taking classes on underwater basketweaving or whatever she’s doing. The delightfully dressed man with a knife behind her is Aigar, dean of the College of Magical Arts, who transported her from Earth for his own nefarious plots.
We also get some interesting characters in Domerc the disgraced “Landsenser” (earth magician), wannabe ladies’ man Fabre, and the competent Liuria. They prove to be Allie’s support network, and boy does she need support.
The author does a lot of work to set up an amusing scenario where Allie enrolls at the magical college and works for Aigar himself. You’d think the lack of cars or batteries for her tape player would be a sign she’s not in Kansas (or California) anymore, but I didn’t take it too seriously. Half the fun is stuff like this.
The rest of the novel unfolds with a slow worldbuilding reveal about Landsense and Landmonsters and the Elder World and all that. (The Landmonsters actually made me think of Sarah Beth Durst’s recent Renthia series where nature spirits are actively trying to kill humanity—luckily for the hero of this novel, Allie is not in nearly that much danger).
Of course, there’s also a budding conflict between Domerc and the dean, and it helps propels the story forward as Allie stumbles around knocking plot-items over. I was also pleasantly surprised that the romance in this—what there was of it—was a pretty slow burn.
The magic of this world actually uses music, though when Allie tries to lend her Walkman to a friend, she gets accused of listening to “the songs of invisible demons.”
If you like portal fantasies or want something a bit light or off the beaten path, you probably could do better, or you could read this instead.
“This book looks and sounds terrible!” she said.
“How dare you,” I replied. “I am certain it’s a masterpiece.”
So I went and got the book, and here we are. It is not a masterpiece . . . But it was fun!
Is the cover a bit silly? Sure, it’s a Baen-published book from the mid-’90s, what else do you expect? Is it also accurate to the story? Yes. It’s from the end of the first chapter (though the creatures by her feet technically don’t show up till later).
The girl is Allie, a directionless California girl whose CEO father decides to send her to a university in France to get a real education, not taking classes on underwater basketweaving or whatever she’s doing. The delightfully dressed man with a knife behind her is Aigar, dean of the College of Magical Arts, who transported her from Earth for his own nefarious plots.
We also get some interesting characters in Domerc the disgraced “Landsenser” (earth magician), wannabe ladies’ man Fabre, and the competent Liuria. They prove to be Allie’s support network, and boy does she need support.
The author does a lot of work to set up an amusing scenario where Allie enrolls at the magical college and works for Aigar himself. You’d think the lack of cars or batteries for her tape player would be a sign she’s not in Kansas (or California) anymore, but I didn’t take it too seriously. Half the fun is stuff like this.
The rest of the novel unfolds with a slow worldbuilding reveal about Landsense and Landmonsters and the Elder World and all that. (The Landmonsters actually made me think of Sarah Beth Durst’s recent Renthia series where nature spirits are actively trying to kill humanity—luckily for the hero of this novel, Allie is not in nearly that much danger).
Of course, there’s also a budding conflict between Domerc and the dean, and it helps propels the story forward as Allie stumbles around knocking plot-items over. I was also pleasantly surprised that the romance in this—what there was of it—was a pretty slow burn.
The magic of this world actually uses music, though when Allie tries to lend her Walkman to a friend, she gets accused of listening to “the songs of invisible demons.”
Sidebar: A list of bands Allie listens to on her Walkman: Pearl Jam, Sonic Youth, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Dead Can Dance, Skreena Freena, Electric Nadir (not all of these are real… or good).There weren’t too many twists or turns and I wish there was a bit more depth to this book (it’s under 300 pages after all), but one thing I appreciated is Allie’s evolution from a self-absorbed rich girl with limited interests to a passionate woman who finds a purpose that she chooses for herself.
If you like portal fantasies or want something a bit light or off the beaten path, you probably could do better, or you could read this instead.
September 14, 2019
Allie, a drifty California college student, is fighting with her dad over her faltering education, and a boyfriend that Dad doesn't like. He's planning to send her to a college in France -- but she somehow ends up in the Coindra College of Magical Arts, which is considerably further away. Hijinks ensue.
2.5 stars, enjoyable but slight. I picked it up because Nancy Lebovitz once recommended it. And the cover art is eye-catching. Regular fantasy readers are likely to enjoy it more than I did.
[Review posted in 2005 to rec.arts.sf.written. Found while looking for something else.]
2.5 stars, enjoyable but slight. I picked it up because Nancy Lebovitz once recommended it. And the cover art is eye-catching. Regular fantasy readers are likely to enjoy it more than I did.
[Review posted in 2005 to rec.arts.sf.written. Found while looking for something else.]
February 22, 2014
There comes a point in this book where the villain labels the heroine "unbelievably dense." She is, and that's the problem: it's unbelievable. Despite being in a magical, low-technology world for over a week, she's sure she's at a university in the south of France, circa 1995. Never mind that she studied French for five years, she doesn't realize that the language coming out of her mouth isn't French. The lack of electricity, cars, and paved roads sails over her head. Declaring a major in Magical Arts seems reasonable to her. There's one sentence suggesting that the villain has magically clouded her mind, but there wasn't enough detail for it to balance her complete obliviousness.
The book improved as it went along (and as the heroine finally realized her situation). I did like the magical world itself. I thought its system of magic was different than that of many fantasy novels I've read, and I wished I could have seen more of it in action. The characters are generally distinct and sympathetic—the villain is understandable, even though I mostly wanted to thwack him with something. Only one secondary character is really two-dimensional, and, well, he was a secondary character. I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more as a teenager, and am sorry I couldn't have read it then.
The book improved as it went along (and as the heroine finally realized her situation). I did like the magical world itself. I thought its system of magic was different than that of many fantasy novels I've read, and I wished I could have seen more of it in action. The characters are generally distinct and sympathetic—the villain is understandable, even though I mostly wanted to thwack him with something. Only one secondary character is really two-dimensional, and, well, he was a secondary character. I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more as a teenager, and am sorry I couldn't have read it then.
March 23, 2023
A bit dated but still interesting; the kind of comic fantasy I miss reading.
Modern college girl dropped in fantasy school setting, and ends up foiling the bad guy's plans.
Modern college girl dropped in fantasy school setting, and ends up foiling the bad guy's plans.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2021
I found this book while organizing my wife's and my collection. I was looking for something light over the holidays and this was it.
Published in the '90s this falls in the category of 'Book I would have liked more had I read it years ago'. In essence, it's a portal fantasy; the protagonist is a wealthy trust-fund kid wasting her life away in California with parties and alternative-music boys on her father's dime. Her father, the tight-laced businessman has decided this comes to an end and is packing her off to a 'proper' school in France where she can learn important things... like Latin and Piano, or some such.
While in transit to this place she gets brought to a magical world by a Wizard trying to get a 'servant from the Elder World' and being surprised to get what he gets.
What follows is somewhat usual; the protagonist spends an almost unnatural amount of time not realising what has happened, but gets drawn into the world itself. Her summoning was part of a bigger plot, and of course, she gets involved with it. The first thrust of the story takes place at a magical university, which she thinks is the French school she is supposed to go to. The Wizard who brought her over further enchants her which at least somewhat justifies her strange acceptance of everything she sees. This was the least plausible part of the book, though perhaps a California student could be ignorant enough to think a small french university town could exist without telephones, cars, TV.... or stores selling manufactured goods?
Honestly, though, it's the story that surrounds the main character that I more enjoyed; Magic in this world can be derived from the 'Land Virtue' a sort of magical essence which causes well-used land to sprout well, but the land that is misused to generate monsters. The Head of the University, the Wizard who brought the main character to this world, is up to something nefarious. I won't go into deeper detail, but the magic system was interesting and consistent, and the actual narrative interesting beyond the 'stranger in a strange land'.
As I said earlier I would have probably enjoyed this more had I read it as a younger person, but it was a good short read to kick off the year.
Published in the '90s this falls in the category of 'Book I would have liked more had I read it years ago'. In essence, it's a portal fantasy; the protagonist is a wealthy trust-fund kid wasting her life away in California with parties and alternative-music boys on her father's dime. Her father, the tight-laced businessman has decided this comes to an end and is packing her off to a 'proper' school in France where she can learn important things... like Latin and Piano, or some such.
While in transit to this place she gets brought to a magical world by a Wizard trying to get a 'servant from the Elder World' and being surprised to get what he gets.
What follows is somewhat usual; the protagonist spends an almost unnatural amount of time not realising what has happened, but gets drawn into the world itself. Her summoning was part of a bigger plot, and of course, she gets involved with it. The first thrust of the story takes place at a magical university, which she thinks is the French school she is supposed to go to. The Wizard who brought her over further enchants her which at least somewhat justifies her strange acceptance of everything she sees. This was the least plausible part of the book, though perhaps a California student could be ignorant enough to think a small french university town could exist without telephones, cars, TV.... or stores selling manufactured goods?
Honestly, though, it's the story that surrounds the main character that I more enjoyed; Magic in this world can be derived from the 'Land Virtue' a sort of magical essence which causes well-used land to sprout well, but the land that is misused to generate monsters. The Head of the University, the Wizard who brought the main character to this world, is up to something nefarious. I won't go into deeper detail, but the magic system was interesting and consistent, and the actual narrative interesting beyond the 'stranger in a strange land'.
As I said earlier I would have probably enjoyed this more had I read it as a younger person, but it was a good short read to kick off the year.
December 4, 2014
I read Lost In Translation years and years ago, but it remains one of my favorite sci fi/fantasy novels ever! It's funny and the main character is endearing and smart. I love how the cover captures the spirit of the book!:)
April 22, 2008
Another winner!
May 11, 2018
All in all a good book. Kinda more geared to a younger crowd but I though it still worth the read. I would not exclude Margaret Ball from any future readings!
January 4, 2019
Unique world, great characters!
December 12, 2022
The protagonist of this isekai is so unobservant that she didn't even realize it when she was isekai'd at the start of her Study Abroad semester. She somehow thought this fantasy-medieval town was what European towns looked like, and the Magical Arts classes she signed up for were some quaint local superstition. But as one of her nefarious professors plans to use her as a necromantic tool in the upcoming war, she - with the help of some local friends - does step up to take a stand.
This isn't a deep book, but I thought it was fun, and an isekai during a study abroad semester is a useful tool I'll keep in mind for my own stories.
This isn't a deep book, but I thought it was fun, and an isekai during a study abroad semester is a useful tool I'll keep in mind for my own stories.
October 13, 2023
I loved this book when I first read it in high school, a few too many years ago. It's held up pretty well as far as being a fascinating world, a decent story, and interesting characters. Unfortunately, some of the language (including one ableist slur) and references are pretty dated (remember Toad the Wet Sprocket?), but overall I'm glad I still had it on my shelf.
July 21, 2020
Great concept of 'land virtue', the vital energy in the ground and what happens when there is vioence done to it, or when it is left alone, and how it affects life, and sort of clumsy execution with a lot more crime and death than would have been fun for me--
May 11, 2024
This was fun and a unique premise.
July 29, 2015
5/10 stars (3/5 stars).
I'm soooo glad to be done reading this book. A coworker/friend lent it to me because she said how great it was and she really wanted me to check it out. We seem to have similar taste in books so I was totally okay with it. Plus, it's such a small book I figured I'd be done it in no time.
How wrong I was.
This book was painfully difficult to get into. The first while was slow and uneventful. The main character Allie seemed to be way too okay with being in a place that is medieval and strange and completely unlike her own world. I mean, she questioned it and seemed to have been affected by Aigar's magic but it still seemed weird. I mean, the moment you realize there isn't indoor plumbing, you should be asking a LOT of questions.
Anyway, I really enjoyed the difference in magic. It was different from what I'm used to reading in books or seeing in media. Although, some of it was a little hard to picture since the author didn't always describe things clearly enough. The monsters and magic was interesting but there wasn't enough of it or enough action for it to be utilized properly.
The book is short but the chapters are long... like REALLY long. Sometimes painfully long depending on the chapter. When the book finally picked up, some chapters were interesting and made me want to keep reading more, and other chapters were dull and boring and made me want to throw the book across the room. The only thing that kept me going was that I really wanted to finish it because of my friend (so I could tell her I read it and so I could give it back to her) and because I wanted to get on with it and read the next book that I recently purchased (The Perilous Sea). I was so happy when I read the last sentence. "Finally! FINALLY!" I shouted with glee.
I gave this 5 out of 10 stars because of a few reasons.
The pros:
1. There were very few swears and no sex/smut and really very little violence/gore (some of it was described but not much).
2. Domerc and Allie weren't paired up or didn't fall in love out of nowhere. Although I'm a sucker for romance, I dislike unnecessary pair ups when the story doesn't call for it or when the characters are doing just fine as friends (and I HATE it when the author wants romance so bad they rush into things so the characters can kiss or whatever).
3. The main characters were likable enough (for the most part).
4. I adore high fantasy and books about magic and the magic in this book were unique and well written (as were the monsters of magic and how they come about).
5. Fairly unpredictable storyline (I really didn't have a clue where the story was going).
6. Domerc was well written (but like the only character with depth).
Cons:
1. Long boring chapters that were uneventful.
2. The bad guys weren't that great. I mean, Aigar was written well enough but I felt like his character wasn't deep enough or whatever. He was kind of lame.
3. Not clear enough visuals some of the time.
4. Not enough explanation on the magical world and the Elder World, how it came about, and how everyone got there (since they said everyone was from the Elder World, what even was their current world and how did they come to live in it and when?).
5. Allie could've been a stronger/better written character.
6. All of the main characters should've been explored better.
7. The first part of the story kept focusing on Allie being a 90s kid and how she loved these different bands. Totally irrelevant to the story (for the most part) and really a waste of time.
8. Nonstop ups and downs with how the chapters were written. Bad, bad, good, bad, good, bad, bad, good, bad, good, etc. Just irritating.
Overall, I didn't mind this book but it definitely didn't help with my reading slump. It took me an entire MONTH to finish it. It's such a small book and I'm so irritated it took so long to finish it.
Recommended? Nope.
5/10 stars (or 3/5).
I'm soooo glad to be done reading this book. A coworker/friend lent it to me because she said how great it was and she really wanted me to check it out. We seem to have similar taste in books so I was totally okay with it. Plus, it's such a small book I figured I'd be done it in no time.
How wrong I was.
This book was painfully difficult to get into. The first while was slow and uneventful. The main character Allie seemed to be way too okay with being in a place that is medieval and strange and completely unlike her own world. I mean, she questioned it and seemed to have been affected by Aigar's magic but it still seemed weird. I mean, the moment you realize there isn't indoor plumbing, you should be asking a LOT of questions.
Anyway, I really enjoyed the difference in magic. It was different from what I'm used to reading in books or seeing in media. Although, some of it was a little hard to picture since the author didn't always describe things clearly enough. The monsters and magic was interesting but there wasn't enough of it or enough action for it to be utilized properly.
The book is short but the chapters are long... like REALLY long. Sometimes painfully long depending on the chapter. When the book finally picked up, some chapters were interesting and made me want to keep reading more, and other chapters were dull and boring and made me want to throw the book across the room. The only thing that kept me going was that I really wanted to finish it because of my friend (so I could tell her I read it and so I could give it back to her) and because I wanted to get on with it and read the next book that I recently purchased (The Perilous Sea). I was so happy when I read the last sentence. "Finally! FINALLY!" I shouted with glee.
I gave this 5 out of 10 stars because of a few reasons.
The pros:
1. There were very few swears and no sex/smut and really very little violence/gore (some of it was described but not much).
2. Domerc and Allie weren't paired up or didn't fall in love out of nowhere. Although I'm a sucker for romance, I dislike unnecessary pair ups when the story doesn't call for it or when the characters are doing just fine as friends (and I HATE it when the author wants romance so bad they rush into things so the characters can kiss or whatever).
3. The main characters were likable enough (for the most part).
4. I adore high fantasy and books about magic and the magic in this book were unique and well written (as were the monsters of magic and how they come about).
5. Fairly unpredictable storyline (I really didn't have a clue where the story was going).
6. Domerc was well written (but like the only character with depth).
Cons:
1. Long boring chapters that were uneventful.
2. The bad guys weren't that great. I mean, Aigar was written well enough but I felt like his character wasn't deep enough or whatever. He was kind of lame.
3. Not clear enough visuals some of the time.
4. Not enough explanation on the magical world and the Elder World, how it came about, and how everyone got there (since they said everyone was from the Elder World, what even was their current world and how did they come to live in it and when?).
5. Allie could've been a stronger/better written character.
6. All of the main characters should've been explored better.
7. The first part of the story kept focusing on Allie being a 90s kid and how she loved these different bands. Totally irrelevant to the story (for the most part) and really a waste of time.
8. Nonstop ups and downs with how the chapters were written. Bad, bad, good, bad, good, bad, bad, good, bad, good, etc. Just irritating.
Overall, I didn't mind this book but it definitely didn't help with my reading slump. It took me an entire MONTH to finish it. It's such a small book and I'm so irritated it took so long to finish it.
Recommended? Nope.
5/10 stars (or 3/5).
November 1, 2010
I think they could have put a little bit more into the lovey dovey side of the two main characters. They allude to it often enough in the first two thirds of the book that it felt kind of let down to not have some kind of moment in there near the end.
I did like the way the story didn't just end at the point where the trouble ends like most books would have. Nice to see a little foresight going into keeping an open connection between both worlds; even if it was just to tie things up with the one and see it from a different/improved perspective.
I really empathized with the main characters feelings of worthlessness and lack of belonging .. too bad i never did find a place like this
It read like it should have a sequel. ... ?
I did like the way the story didn't just end at the point where the trouble ends like most books would have. Nice to see a little foresight going into keeping an open connection between both worlds; even if it was just to tie things up with the one and see it from a different/improved perspective.
I really empathized with the main characters feelings of worthlessness and lack of belonging .. too bad i never did find a place like this
It read like it should have a sequel. ... ?
December 10, 2010
Gouge-out-my-eyes valley girl shenanigans.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews