Heartlight

August 31, 1998
The fourth book in Bradley's "Light" series (Ghostlight, 1995, etc.) follows white magic Adept Colin McLaren from the turmoil of the 1960s and his meeting with darker magicians, such as Thorne Blackburn, to his retirement as the century turns. Throughout, he is aided by his friend, psychic Claire London Moffat, and haunted by his nemesis, Toller Hasloch, magical child of Nazi occultism. Continuing characters unite an otherwise episodic plot, as McLaren tackles one occult enemy after another, from those facing popular occult writer John Cannon (who for once has stumbled across real black magic) to an ancient Lovecraftian cult. Thematic concerns, too, unite the stories, which explore the temptations and burdens of supernatural power, the relationship of adept and apprentice and the constant fight for idealism in a flawed world. The New York and San Francisco settings are well handled and feature barely fictionalized versions of real-life esoteric sites and practitioners; the tone of the 1960s counterculture also rings true. Preachy but not simplistic, the novel mixes adventure with consideration of emotional, ethical and even social issues and so is of particular appeal to those who enjoy supernatural fiction with a message.

September 15, 1998
Fifteen years after the end of World War II, Colin McLaren, occult warrior in service to the Light, realizes that the dark powers he fought in Europe have resurfaced in an America lulled into complacency by delusions of peace. Veteran fantasy author Bradley (Gravelight, LJ 9/15/97) employs the cultural and political history of America since 1960 as a powerful metaphor for the constant interplay of good and evil. Despite occasional lapses in continuity, this 20th-century Gothic fantasy stands as a tour de force of occult fiction. Recommended for most fantasy collections.

September 1, 1998
Bradley's latest concerns the last half century of the life of Colin McLaren, champion of goodness and character in "Ghostlight" (1995), "Witchlight" (1996), and "Gravelight" (1997). That means it is a panorama beginning at the end of World War II and encompassing occult battles in California, New York, and Washington, D.C., all of which overflow with agents of evil. Very competently written, sometimes a trifle slow, and with its many arcane duels eventually seeming repetitious, "Heartlight" demands that one accept the literary occult convention that has it that manifestations of evil in the everyday world are the results of disturbances on the spiritual plane that corrupt material persons. It will help prospective readers to be at least moderate nostalgia buffs, because "Heartlight" also amounts to a tour of the last half century of American history--to its credit, one conducted by an excellent guide. Bradley's large fandom will be pleased, and readers new to occult-influenced historical fantasy will find "Heartlight" a good introduction to the subgenre. ((Reviewed September 1, 1998))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1998, American Library Association.)