Diane Duane's The Book of Night With Moon combines two of my
favorite elements: cats and wizards. The striking cover art catches
the eye immediately, and the story synopsis completes the allure.
My familiarity with Duane's other work is limited to her Star Trek
novels, but consider her contributions to be a high point of the
series. All these things combine to make this a novel I would want
to buy at first glance.
Chalk it up to my love of cats, but I find it easy to step into
their world. Or maybe it's the writing. Either way, the transition
is smooth. The plot unravels slowly - although sometimes a little
too much so - building to a climax that is well worth the wait.
Duane's attention to character development pays off. The reader
cares what happens to the four feline wizards.
The fact that most of the characters are cats could have been
reduced to the level of gimmick. This is an area where Duane's
skills as a storyteller are quite apparent. She invites you into a
willing suspension of disbelief, and you happily accept. While the
cats seem as "real" as people, one never forgets that they are
cats. Body language, indeed. Every movement, every reaction, is
true to feline behavior.
Each of the cats has a distinct personality, which keeps the
reader's interest even through the slower parts of the story.
Urruah is the most entertaining, with his sardonic attitude toward
just about everything. Saash is the ultra-professional, despite the
fact that she has the most to lose. Rhiow functions well in her
central role, giving the reader an accessible heroine. Arhu is the
most riveting of the main characters. He undergoes the broadest
changes, which serve as a benchmark for the developing plot.
As much as I like the T-Rex named Ith, I find it difficult to take
him seriously. Maybe it all comes down to the image of him casting
spells with his stunted arms. I realize Duane must have meant to
make him exceptional, to break the "stereotype" of the dinosaur,
but he is the weakest part of the story. In the midst of the
climactic scene, along comes Ith and the tension is blown.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. Duane has created some wonderful
characters. Their interactions range from hilarious to poignant
without ever losing realism.