From time to time, I come across a novel that is not found in the fantasy/sci-fi section of the bookstore but that I think would appeal to most geeks.  I just finished The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon and I believe it fits that description.  While the novel takes on some very serious subjects, it is also infused with magic.  Comic books play a central role, almost a third main character in the novel.

The novel takes place around the start of World War II.  Josef Kavalier is a refugee from Prague who trained as a magician when young.  He comes to live with his cousin, Sammy Clay, a fast-talking Brooklyn kid.  Together they join forces to create a comic book, featuring a hero named the Escapist.  I really don’t want to give anything else away but this is a huge and exciting story. 

The novel won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2001, so I wasn’t surprised it was well written.  I didn’t, however, expect it to be such a page-turner.  I could go on about the themes of escapism and the power of art…but this isn’t English class so I won’t.  You can forget all that and just enjoy it with a straight forward read.  There are certainly painful moments in the book but there are also plenty of moments of joy and humor.

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