Eternity's Wheel

February 1, 2015

Gr 7 Up-This terrific sci-fi novel that combines an action-packed plot with thought-provoking themes immediately follows the events of The Silver Dream (HarperCollins, 2013). Lord Dogknife has left Joey Harker on his home Earth, broken, defeated, and alone. Joey's ally, the Time Agent Acacia, is lost in time, and the rest of the Walkers of InterWorld (freedom fighters) are scattered or pursued by Lord Dogknife and other magical beings. Hex and the techs of Binary have laid aside their age-old enmity to create and launch FrostNight, a terrible weapon that is designed to eradicate all planes of the Multiverse. Before their defeat, Joey and Acacia managed to interfere with FrostNight but to what effect is unknown. With the help of his curious companion, the multidimensional lifeform Hue, Joey must set about gathering a new corps of Walkers to form the nucleus of a new InterWorld in order to stop FrostNight, Lord Dogknife, and Binary's Professor from upsetting the multiple Earth's science-magic balance. The authors have created an indomitable hero in Joey, a young man willing to fight beyond hope to save not only his home, but all of multifaceted existence as well. The trio's writing is full of deep emotion, exciting action, and lush description. They've also given readers an interesting portrait of diversity in that all Walkers, whether they be male or female, centaur, or wolfling, are all versions of Joey from various Earths. VERDICT Gaiman, Reaves, and Reaves offer up a triumphant conclusion to the "Interworld" trilogy with this dynamic story.-Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2015
The Interworld series, based on a TV concept developed by Gaiman and Michael Reaves (and still sporting Gaiman's name although seemingly not written by him), comes to a close.Taking place immediately after the conclusion of The Silver Dream (2013), this final volume picks up Joseph Harker's story as the combined forces of HEX and Binary threaten all of creation with FrostNight, a Multiverse-erasing incident. A long, exposition-heavy rehash of the previous two volumes, rather artificially delivered to Joseph's former history teacher, aims to bring new readers up to speed but may deter even fans as it slows any forward impetus in the opening chapters. Once the actual plot picks up (Joe and a handful of other Walkers, including new recruits, must save the world; creative enemies and disaster are everywhere), the Reaves deliver another mishmash of science-fictional jargon and paradox, lots of characters whose names start with J, and some action and mystery that add up to a mildly emotional conclusion (which incidentally leaves open the possibility of future Interworld stories). Part war story (with children as soldiers), part adventure, part coming of age, this sits uneasily between genres and tones; like its protagonist, it is still trying to figure out its path. All in all, purely for fans. (Science fiction. 12-15)

April 1, 2015
Grades 8-12 Joey Harper, almost 17, survived the fight from The Silver Dream (2013) and has been flung back to his world and time. Now he's off to find new recruit Josephine and battle evil Lord Dogknife and Lady Indigo to save InterWorld. Skirmishes are won as he and Josephine attempt to recover and search for other survivors. Because there is little carryover from the second book or much backstory, readers are left to make sense of the fast-paced and exciting but disjointed events. Supposedly the last in the InterWorld series, this is nevertheless open-ended. Series fans are the best audience here.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)