"Sky Carver"
"In Sky Carver, Dean Whitlock gives us a unique world of his own creation – a true world, deeply perceived and fully realized. Magic runs throughout the adventure, along with suspense, terror, and poignancy. And one of fantasy's most marvelous birds (of sorts).
"As Carver, the young artist, begins his journey upriver, we can only wish for other journeys to come."
–Lloyd Alexander
"Sky Carver" is my first novel...that is, it's the first novel I was able to sell to an editor! Like most writers, I made several earlier attempts that failed. (And I plan to dust off one or two of them, make a few changes, and put them back on the market, don't you worry.)
"Sky Carver" had its genesis in a fairy tale that I made up on the spot for my son and one of his friends during a quiet moment one summer's day. It took several years and a three-week, 370-mile canoe trip down the Connecticut River before I was ready to write the full story, and by then it had really grown. The originally fairy tale is essentially Chapter 3 of "Sky Carver." (CLICK HERE to download Chapter 3 in a PDF file so you can read it off line.) Here's a summary of the whole book:
Thomas Painter is the son of a genius artist and a seer. His parents left him to journey downriver when he was only three, but they never returned. Now 14 and apprenticed to his uncle, William Painter, he has none of his father's abilities. His talent is woodcarving, and he has secretly given himself the name Carver. But Carver is not permitted to follow that path; instead, he is trapped in his father's shadow, in a society where your name describes your life. Then a magic wand, dropped by a raven who is really a bemagicked girl, falls into Carver's hands, revealing a raw magic talent and sending him down a new and unexpected path.
As Carver and Raven descend the reaches of the river in search of a mage who can train him to use the wand, and change her back to human form, they enter increasingly mechanical worlds. They befriend Fireboy, who helps them escape on his steamboat from a cruel baron. They become outcasts in a city of filthy canals and spewing workhouses, where mages are hunted by the guarda and magic refuses to work. Finally, lured by one of his father's paintings, they arrive at the magic apparatus of the great mage Krimm. There Carver must confront the images of his missing parents and choose the best path for his talents.
"Sky Carver" is available to purchase online and in bookstores. You may have to ask your bookseller to order it (I'm not famous enough yet to be in stock everywhere), but it only takes a few days. You can also order it online (and signed!) from my favorite local bookstore (click here). You'll find it in many libraries, too
However you manage to snag a copy, I hope you enjoy it.
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Sky Carver in the Classroom
A recommendation from a teacher.
On Sale!
Wherever Books are Sold
Published by Clarion Books
ISBN: 0-618-44393-2
Read Chapter 1 at Clarion's on-line catalog!
"A flowing quest explores industrialization and personal magical talents through three likable characters...A nice blend of introspection and action."
–Kirkus Reviews
"Mixing technology and magic in an unconventional way, the story is richly inventive...many readers will [be] swept along the broad stream of this fast-paced fantasy adventure."
–Booklist
"Whitlock has created fully realized characters...Carver's struggle to find his identity will ring true with adolescent readers."
–School Library Journal
"The vivid characters in this novel bring it to life, giving it great depth and making it hard for the reader to put it down. Raven, with her curses and fighting spirit, and Carver with his gentle determination, carry the story forward to a dramatic climax and a most unexpected conclusion."
–Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Review
"Whitlock's prose is smooth and lively, and his characters are well defined."
–Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
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