Gom on Windy Mountain

Gom #1

by Grace Chetwin

Young Gom Gobblechuck knows he's different from his brothers and sisters, and from all of the folk in the village. He is quick and smart, he looks like his mother rather than his father, and he wears a rune that his mother left him when he disappeared the night Gom was born. And Gom can talk to animals and to the wind. They are his friends, more so than the village children, who think him strange.

Gom's father is a woodcutter, and everyone expects Gom to follow in his father's footsteps. But Gom is sure that his destiny lies elsewhere. Why else would he have such gifts and talents? An evil man comes to the little village of Clack, and Gom leads him on a dangerous chase into the very depths of the mountain. Amidst pitch-black tunnels, caverns, and endless abysses, Gom must loose his mad pursuer or perish in the bowels of darkness. Will he ever live to see daylight and begin his quest for his mother?

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Juvenile, Childrens, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fiction

195 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Olivier Delaye]

One of the first if not THE first Fantasy books I read when I was a kid, and it still holds a very special place in my heart. It was a gift from my mother who wanted me to read "real books" and not only Choose Your Own Adventure books, which I devoured one after another without ever being sated. Little did she know that with her gift she would put me on the road to Fantasy literature that would eventually transform my life and make me not only a reader but a writer as well. For as Tolkien wrote:

The road goes ever on and on,
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can.

Well, for me, the road began with Gom on Windy Mountain, and I did follow it and will keep on following it. For as long as I can.

OLIVIER DELAYE
Author of the SEBASTEN OF ATLANTIS series

[X]

It is so nice when you re-read a book that you loved long ago and still find it just as wonderful! I was amazed at how much of the story I had forgotten, so while I did remember how it ended, much of it was as though I were reading it for the first time.
This book is esentially a prequel to the rest of the series. It is not quite as exciting as I remember the others being, but I found it incredibly hard to put down.

This edition is beautiful! It is paperback, but of nice quality with a few illustrations. My only complaint is that there are some typographical errors which were, unfortunately, distracting.

[Dacia]

This series has a very special place in my heart. It was the first series I ever read. There was this crusty librarian at my school in 8th grade, and she as a general rule didn't like kids, but she loved me because I read all the time. I was the only kid in school allowed to check out more than two books at once. I remember she came and got me out of class early on a Friday afternoon to give me all 4 books because they had just come in. I took them home and devoured them in a weekend. God bless her, wherever she is, because though I have long forgotten her name, she aided me in a life-long love of reading by just encouraging a love she already saw there.

These books have long been out of print, but I found them a few years ago if anyone wants to borrow them! :)

[Sallie Reynolds]

Bet you didn't know this is the first in a series of nine books, Legends of Ulm, all available from feralpressinc.com and from Kindle. Enough here to enchant a young reader over many a long cold winter, or reward young pupils with a magical reading hour at day's end. Recently I've read or reread - and loved - them all. This first book is especially fine, as the opening of a world of magic. It will enthrall children growing up a round peg in a square hole, a bird in the land of the earthbound, a stranger in their own world. Like many of us "foundlings," Gom loves his uncomprehending father, yet because he is inherently different in his feelings and capacities, cannot connect with his family or the folk in his town. He dreams of his mysterious, missing mother, and hungry for friends, learns to understand small creatures, instead of people. And he finds out the hard way how wrong he can be about the way the human world wags. He begins to develop his gifts, and then to learn something of the truth of his origins, which in fairytale speak, of course, means his own place in life. He dreams of setting out to look for his magician mother, believing that finding her will land him in a world in which he too can fit. The many gifted children to whom I read or gave this book not only loved it, and quoted it at apt moments over the years, but were encouraged by it to believe in themselves, to acknowledge and learn from their mistakes, and to search for ways of reaching the magic in their own spirits.

[Mr.]

I first read this book years ago, after stumbling across it in the local library. I later forgot the title, but the story stayed with me. Every so often, I'd think about reading it again, but I couldn't figure out exactly what book I was looking for. Finally, I was able to dredge up enough of a memory to make a successful internet search for the name of the series. At that point, I had no choice but to seek out a copy of the first book and see whether it was worth the reread. I don't regret it. This is a charming fantasy tale about magic, nature, and belonging. It reminds me of Earthsea in some ways, but it has its own, individual merits. Now I'm going to have to hunt down the rest of the series.

[Hannah]

I didn't find this book till latter, but I read the next three in the series repeated in high school/middle school years. Very pleasant memories and the stories hold up to adult reading fairly well. Though I've never been pleased with Chetwin's choice of breaking spots for those three books as they seem more like one story than three and the transition between novels is awkward for me. This one does a fair job of standing alone. Though, I might be influenced by my memory of the other three books. I thought the 2nd one was first growing up and so when I got to this one I had strong expectations as to where this story had best end. And it did. =)

[C]

A co-worker thought this reminded her a bit of Patricia McKillip, then changed her mind and felt it might be too simple. I think her first instinct was on target, but she was right on both counts: if you take Patricia McKillip and simplified her writing for a younger audience, this would have a familiar flavor to it.

It's a simply told, yet colorful, story. I really enjoyed it and feel bummed this is no longer in print and therefore is not quite so easy to get my hands on.

[Jeff]

This series was one of my favorite series as a young boy. Gom is a young man who discovers that he is actually a wizard and that his mother was a powerful wizard as well. This book begins Gom's journey as he discovers clues about his absent mother and his inherited destiny. It's a quick read and worth the effort if you can find it.

[Stephanie]

I grew up reading these books, and have known Gom since his Dell paperback days. Great series. I have reread them all several times, and they keep getting better. I have bought them for my kids, and they love them too. What a nice surprise to find them here. I strongly recommend Gom on Windy Mountain to anyone who likes mystery, suspense, and fantasy all in one.

[Marsha Valance]

Stig, a poor but contented woodcutter, finds and marries a mysterious woman who disappears after the birth of their son, Gom, leaving a strange stone rune. Stig soon realizes Gom has inherited his mother's magic.

[Hazel Bell]

This was interesting. I thought there would be more conclusive ending, but apparently you need to read the entire series for that. I liked that it was different than a lot of fantasy books, but I wish there were more character development.

[Mel]

I loved this book as a child and still remember pulling it from the library shelf. I found a copy in a box of belongings that came from my aging parents. I enjoyed it just as much reading it as an adult. I enjoy it the same way I enjoy Harry Potter and hope you do too.

[Xion Worley]

Second time reading it and I still absolutely live this book <3 I got it free from a high school library tryina clear up space, lost it in a move across states, then got another copy for christmas only to find the original copy I had
Absolutely worth a read, timeless read

[Matthew]

Awesome

[Jeffery Ferry]

This is the kind of book that when you read it, you just keep wanting to read more. It draws you into the story and you feel like you’re a part of it pick up this book now you won’t regret it.

[Shane]

Interesting characters and compelling situations. Good reading material for younger readers--teenage.

[Zee Lacson]

This series has a special place in my heart. Possibly more out of nostalgia than anything else. This was the very first fantasy book I’ve ever read. I still look for gold flakes in crystals whenever I find a crystal store. Just. In. Case.

I bought all the books in the series with my own allowance when I was in elementary school and loaned them to a friend. She never returned them. As an adult, I found a copy in a library. That serendipitous find spurred me to search for them online.

I was finally able to build my collection up again. And this time, in hardcover! Except for The Crystal Stair. That one is in paperback. :p

I’ve re-read it more than once and it always brings me back to my childhood.

[Kate O]

I read these so long ago that I don't remember much about the series or the characters, but I remember it being enchanting. It was one of the few books I read as a kid that still sticks out to me. I know we have copies of the books somewhere, but I'd like to buy them over again so I can re-read them and give a better review.

[Bonnie Jean]

This was a re-read for me, of a series that I remember loving as a kid, but couldn't remember the name of so had never read again. I still found the book, the adventures of young Gom who can talk to animals and the wind, and just doesn't quite fit in with the regular townfolks, to be a fun read, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

[Eleanor]

I harshly reviewed this book when I was younger but taking a decade or so to forget it I read it again and found it wonderful.

Atmospheric, beautiful, and such a breath of fresh air from cynical fantasy.

Is this why I am so disillusioned with modern fiction?

[Alyssa]

This series came to me pretty highly recommended, but turned out to be painfully dull.

If you like your fantasy slow and brown and generally light on surprise and mystery, then I suppose these would be a good way to go.

[Ruth Soz]

Another one I finally remembered because Mom made me clean out the boxes of stuff I have been keeping at her house and I found my 6th grade reading journal. I have been trying to remember the name of this one for FOREVER!

[Samantha Farrington]

It was a weird read. The basic plot itself was very interesting but after a while it just got kind of uncomfortable. Like that feeling you get when someone's staring at you and you just wish they would blink, it wasn't terrible but I wouldn't recommend it.

[Jeri Roys]

Another case of a fairly terrible book having nostalgia value I think.

[Jared]

Loved this when I was 12?

[Kathleen]

Cassettes.