Title: The Wizor Fair
Author: Robert A.G. Erickson
Publisher: BookVenture Publishing LLC
ISBN: 978-1-946735-36-2
Pages: 272
Genre: Fantasy/Fiction
Reviewed by: Christa Hill
Pacific Book Review
The Wizor Fair takes a whimsical and even humorous look at other fantasy worlds and wizardry, who in this story are known as Wizors. Lenny and Cassy form an unlikely friendship with a Wizor named Skeldon. Of the three “children” Lenny is the most sarcastic and unafraid, however Skeldon has a rather rough exterior which I assume highlights his background.
The pacing of the story, character names, and setting have a similar feel to books written during the 1980’s. It is a pleasant experience to find a novel which includes much of the same animation as what are now considered retro stories. Occasionally the characters behave as though they are younger than they are which makes them hard to engage due to sudden bouts of juvenile behavior. Yet Erickson uses dialogue to reveal his story and weave together elements which might be unfamiliar to the reader. One of Erickson’s gifts as an author is his use of the English language he includes grandiose vocabulary that makes the moments between dialogues more compelling and visual. As parody, this story is playfully entertaining and like looking at a souvenir from childhood.
The children’s nonchalant attitude at being transported to a new world and missing out on the adventures of their day to day lives is perplexing for character’s that never do anything out of character. This is a story of sorcery, frivolity, fun, adventure and exploration. Other than constant dialogue and very defined characters this book has a lovable simplicity that is hard to find.
I enjoyed the throwback elements although occasionally Lenny, Cassy and Skeldon’s middle school behavior felt forced and awkward. The Wizor Fair is for the fantasy genre of children who love the magic being raised with the sorcery world of powers as seen from animation to blockbuster movies, familiar with the imagination of the physical world’s warping of reality into fanciful events.
