The Homeward Bounders

Rating:
Summary: To Return Home Again
Review: The Homeward Bounders is a fantasy novel about a boy lost in the multiverse, doomed to travel from one space/time to another forever.

Jamie Hamilton is a rather willful boy who lives with his parents, an older brother, and a younger sister. One day, as he is exploring the town, he finds a place called The Old Fort. The building is set on a triangular lot and surrounded by a high wall. He climbs over the wall and finds a small park. Strangely, he cannot hear any sounds from the surrounding city.

Although he leaves to return home, he is intrigued with the place and soon returns. This time he tries to enter the building and is caught by two men wearing monkish robes. He is unable to move as they discuss his trepass, consult others within a huge strange place, and then banish him to become a homebounder. Now he is constrained to wander between universes, never able to stay at one place for very long. He meets others in the same situation -- the Flying Dutchman and the Wandering Jew among others -- and exchanges information, but he can't break out of the trap. He learns that he cannot be killed and that he ages very slowly. However, only the hope of finding his way home again keeps him somewhat sane.

This novel is a quest tale, with Jamie continually searching for his home. According to what he was told by THEM, he will be free of the homebounder circuit if he only reaches his home space/time. He travels from world to world, each in a different universe, and many of which are on the verge of war, are having a war, or just completed a war. Some are completely destroyed.

Highly recommended for Jones fans and anyone else who enjoys magical adventures in a realistic ambiance.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: This is a book that deserves far more fame. Or perhaps it is fitting that the best books are the hardest to get a hold of. Diana Wynne Jones is a spectacular author and this is the best book I have read by her. This book is emotional and should be read by all everyone.

Rating:
Summary: Unusual Fantasy Novel
Review: This is one of Diana Wynne Jones' better books. Written for a young adult audience, this is a well written combination parallel worlds story and coming of age novel. The protagonist is a 12 to 13 year old boy born in late 19th century London. By an unfortunate misadventure, he is condemned to shuttle among the parallel worlds of a universe in which each world is controlled by a game played by unimaginably ancient and malignant god-like beings. The book incorporates a number of relevant myths, including the Flying Dutchman story, the Wandering Jew story, and the Prometheus myth. The book takes on the quality of a quest story with the hero assembling a group of companions to overcome their foes. This book does not have a saccharine ending and highlights the value of self-sacrifice. Like all of Wynne Jones best books, this book is a real departure from conventional fantasy novels.

Rating:
Summary: Unusual Fantasy Novel
Review: This is one of Diana Wynne Jones' better books. Written for a young adult audience, this is a well written combination parallel worlds story and coming of age novel. The protagonist is a 12 to 13 year old boy born in late 19th century London. By an unfortunate misadventure, he is condemned to shuttle among the parallel worlds of a universe in which each world is controlled by a game played by unimaginably ancient and malignant god-like beings. The book incorporates a number of relevant myths, including the Flying Dutchman story, the Wandering Jew story, and the Prometheus myth. The book takes on the quality of a quest story with the hero assembling a group of companions to overcome their foes. This book does not have a saccharine ending and highlights the value of self-sacrifice. Like all of Wynne Jones best books, this book is a real departure from conventional fantasy novels.

Rating:
Summary: You Can Be Sure "They're" Behind It
Review: When twelve year old Jamie stumbles across the Old Fort of the mysterious Them, he finds himself cast out of the world and the life he has known, becoming a Homeward Bounder. He is told by Them; "You are now a discard. We have no further use for you in play. You are free to walk the Bounds as you please, but it will be against the rules for you to enter play in any world. The rules also state that you are allowed to return Home if you can."

So begins a young man's journey to find his way home and to solve the mystery of "Them". The They are playing their mysterious games throughout the worlds--and only the Homeward Bounders know about Them. Forced to constantly move on from world to world, Jamie teams up with two others who have been cast on the Bounds. Will they have a chance to defeat "Them" and find their way home?

This is is one of Diana Wynne Jones' more serious young adult books, written much earlier in her career. While it contains her trademark imaginative whimsy and strong, likable characters, the overall tone remains fairly serious and at times downright somber. However the author's use of first person POV to tell this story, keeps the tone easy to relate to--as if Jamie is telling his story to the reader. Like so many of her other stories, this one deals with the possibility of multiple worlds, and those that can travel between them. A surprisingly powerful story that will leave readers thinking about the nature of reality--and the power of hope. The ending was surprising, but ultimately satisfaying.

I'd recommend this book for any YA readers, especially those who enjoy the fantasy genre. As it has just been reprinted, this is an excellent chance for fans of the author to check out one of her earlier works that has been hard to find. Just be sure to watch out for "Them"!;)

Rating:
Summary: You Can Be Sure "They're" Behind It
Review: When twelve year old Jamie stumbles across the Old Fort of the mysterious Them, he finds himself cast out of the world and the life he has known, becoming a Homeward Bounder. He is told by Them; "You are now a discard. We have no further use for you in play. You are free to walk the Bounds as you please, but it will be against the rules for you to enter play in any world. The rules also state that you are allowed to return Home if you can."

So begins a young man's journey to find his way home and to solve the mystery of "Them". The They are playing their mysterious games throughout the worlds--and only the Homeward Bounders know about Them. Forced to constantly move on from world to world, Jamie teams up with two others who have been cast on the Bounds. Will they have a chance to defeat "Them" and find their way home?

This is is one of Diana Wynne Jones' more serious young adult books, written much earlier in her career. While it contains her trademark imaginative whimsy and strong, likable characters, the overall tone remains fairly serious and at times downright somber. However the author's use of first person POV to tell this story, keeps the tone easy to relate to--as if Jamie is telling his story to the reader. Like so many of her other stories, this one deals with the possibility of multiple worlds, and those that can travel between them. A surprisingly powerful story that will leave readers thinking about the nature of reality--and the power of hope. The ending was surprising, but ultimately satisfaying.

I'd recommend this book for any YA readers, especially those who enjoy the fantasy genre. As it has just been reprinted, this is an excellent chance for fans of the author to check out one of her earlier works that has been hard to find. Just be sure to watch out for "Them"!;)