Gai Sever 
To See the Moon So Clearly 

In this collection, an excerpt from a cycle of five novelettes, Gai Sever spins three stories of great depth, wisdom, and humanity. The richness of the universe he creates stands comparison with Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea or Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast, while his understanding of what it means to be a child rivals that of Roald Dahl. Yet Sever conjures up a distinctive world of his own. The resourceful girls and boys featured in these stories display ingenuity, determination and teamwork to overcome the obstacles they face, while the supporting — in every sense — cast of grown-ups show trust and compassion towards them. These three magical tales will enchant children and adults alike. (Ian Appleby)