Ian R. MacLeod — The Light Ages

Ace 2005 Paperback, 496pp. In a bleak and gritty England, in a fantastical Age of Industry, the wealth that comes from magic is both revered and reviled. Here, an ambitious young man is haunted by his childhood love-a woman determined to be a part of the world he despises. From a new star on the fantasy scene who offers something 'truly out of the ordinary,'* this is a literary experience that evokes a moody, atmospheric past-while at the same time speculating on a fascinating alternate vision of that world. Owner's Name inside. (ISBN: 9780441012749). Good.