Magical realism is not a very common genre. It differs from fantasy in that the bulk of the narrative is realistic and the story has a point to make about the real world, whereas fantasy is escape literature. I am not slighting fantasy by calling it escapist; most of my own reading for pleasure is escapist. I read my favorite books (I am a Ben Aaronvitch fan!) over and over precisely to put my head in a place that is not like ordinary reality. But I don’t write escapist stories—so reader beware!
Raven Woman is set in a dystopic near future in world wracked by the effects of climate change. The plot is built around the human need to give and receive kindness. That maybe sounds a bit highfalutin’—I hope not. It’s a story about a small group of elderly people who are helping each other get by until, abruptly, their lives are disrupted by careless and arrogant members of a local militia.
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