Larque on the Wing

Larque creates temporary people from nothing, which does not become a problem until a ten-year-old version of herself leads her on a search for lost dreams and she returns stronger, braver--and male

Best known for her traditional fantasy novels, Springer ( Apocalypse ) here offers an offbeat contemporary tale that owes much to magical realism. Larque Harootunian is having a midlife crisis, taking stock of her comfortable life as a wife, mother and painter of chintzy pastels for the tourist market in Soudersburg, Pa. But Larque isn't like other 40-year-olds. All her life she's been generating what she calls "doppelgangers," psychic manifestations of her thoughts, and now she's made one of her preadolescent self, who chides Larque about settling for a life that bears little resemblance to her youthful imaginings. Larque then begins a journey into her own personality that culminates with her transformation into an attractive young gay man. (The narrative treats such surreal goings-on--of which there are many--as commonplace.) In the end, Larque must weigh the attractions of this existence against the good aspects of her actual life. Springer effectively uses fantasy to evoke midlife soul-searching, and Larque's self-exploration is filled with moments of authentic joy and crushing sorrow. Though the author occasionally falls off the narrow tightrope stretched between the real and the surreal, she has produced an engrossing novel about gender and self-formation that should appeal to readers both in and outside the SF/fantasy audience.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Springer's latest novel is the strange tale of Larque Harooturian, a frumpy, middle-aged housewife who has spent her life living for others until she "splits" into Lark, a gay male. She also does a "split" of sorts into Sky, her doppelganger, an unpleasant child who no doubt represents Larque's unhappy early life. Aided by Shadow, Argent, and others such as Gypsy Dave, Larque/Lark seeks the truth via adventures on Popular Street, an "other world" where no holds are barred. Each persona eventually comes to terms with life and him/herself and can "take wing." Springer has written most often in the sf and fantasy genres, and though this work falls roughly into that category, it is more of a Toon Town feminist experience. It is original but a bit too out-there to make a satisfying novel. For large fiction collections where there is a demand for feminist/gay literature.
- Rosellen Brewer, Monterey Bay Area Cooperative Lib. System, Cal.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.