[fantasyfan]

The plot of Fugitive Pieces is very thin. Pages go by with very little happening so far as external incident is concerned. For that reason, I found that the best way for me to approach this novel was to concentrate on the powerful meditative sections that were a primary feature of the first part of the book. This section concentrated on the emotional growth of Jakob Beer. Throughout the story as he matures we have some beautiful insightful meditations on the nature of forgiveness, evil, loss, memory, language and dream.

For me the high point was the penultimate chapter of the Jakob section, "Terra Nullius". Here one wil read a powerful analysis of the relationship between victim and torturer. The latter dehumanises the victim and in so doing is dehumanised. Athos, who, in my opinion is the most vivid character in the book (not excepting Jakob himself) becomes an exemplar of humanity and wisdom. He

"... never confused objects and humans, who knew the difference between naming and the named."

Another fascinating character was Alex with her wonderful mercurial nature. I cannot help but feel that Jakob never properly appreciated her. I feel he married her for healing rather than love. Alex is far more interesting than the rather stereotyped Michaela. Introducing her after the magnificent "Terra Nullius" was a mistake as the answer she provides is simply an anticlimax.

Part II is, in my opinion, much weaker. The characters are less vivid, less interesting, and the entire section reads rather like an overlong coda on the main text. I think it adds little to the book. I must admit, however, that the author makes some clever and subtle connection between the two stories clearly atempting to show how two lives, separated in time, can interconnect on deeper psychological levels.

I think the novel is flawed but I also think that sections of it are very very fine indeed. I am very glad that I read it.