First published in the mid-1800’s, Phantastes is a dated but influential and fascinating work of fantasy fiction. It indulges in linguistic flourishes, like many older fantasy novels, in ways the average contemporary novel rarely does. Prose is so often these days focused on efficiency that it comes across as sparse and spartan in comparison to a work like this. Here you’ll find the exact opposite; sentences are stuffed to bursting, arguably overlong and often more inelegant than they are beautiful. At times I had to re-read sections due to the much higher cognitive load required to parse these constructions, and I daresay many modern readers will find themselves in a similar place.
Often the most skillful artists of prose are those who can codify the complex in fewer tokens while still retaining the linguistic playfulness of our predecessors. I rarely found that here. But if MacDonald doesn’t devastate with thrilling three-word clauses, that doesn’t mean Phantastes isn’t devastating. It’s a story ultimately about love; its search, its failed consummation, troubled partings, and desperate denials.
The story is dreamlike but not incoherent. The pacing is shaky and the plot meanders. Setting and supporting characters and goals may change very abruptly for long segments as the narrative takes its time exploring rather than racing towards its thematic goals. It would be inaccurate to call this a flaw or a mistake in storytelling, but it is certainly in opposition to the constraints of modern publishing which frequently call for more substance across smaller word counts.
As far as earlier writings go, this one is neither so difficult nor so long that you oughtn’t tackle it. But do so knowing what you’re getting going in; an unfocused, exploratory, contemplative, and doomed quest for love across a strange land of faerie logic; and the things which are lost and gained along the way.
Content warning: male gaze, minor fantasy violence, heartbreak
Plot: 3
Characters: 5
Themes: 7
Prose: 6
Overall score: 21 days at the very most
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