The Riddles of Epsilon

"The Riddles of Epsilon" is a Young Adult or teenage fantasy novel by the British author Christine Morton-Shaw. It was first published in the USA by the Katherine Teegan imprint of Harper Collins puiblishers (April, 2005). It later appeared in the UK (October, 2005) and Italy (February, 2006) [ [http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/christine-morton-shaw/ Christine Morton-Shaw ] ] .

Plot

"The Riddles of Epsilon" focuses on the character of Jessica (‘Jess’) White, who moves with her mother and father to the fictional island of Lume, off the coast of Scotland (UK), after being expelled from school. While speaking to her friend Avril in an internet chatroom, Jess encounters the mysterious character of ‘V,’ who begins to warn her of an impeding danger, relating to Lume’s distant past. Later she dreams of a boy named Sebastian, who she realises lived in the same house as her nearly one hundred years previously. As the story progresses, events in Jess’s life begin to parallel those of Sebastian’s, particularly the fact that both the children’s mothers seem to be acting incredibly strangely. Much of the exposition in the novel is handled by way of clues, which take the form of puzzles and images, through which Jess discovers, with the help of ‘V,’ the truth about the strange events taking place on Lume.

Themes

The novel deals with the ideas of good and evil found in most fantasy fiction, whilst also blurring the lines between the two and asking questions about whether evil is easy to identify. Family discord and the importance of family is another key theme, as is the importance of courage. The novel also has a preoccupation with the passage and nature of time.

Fandom

Though not as well known as certain contemporary fantasy novels, The Riddles of Epsilon has something of a cult following among teenagers online, often appearing in the favorite books section of Myspace profiles, or other book listing services. Many fans compare the tone of the work to that of Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series.

Critical Reception

"The Riddles of Epsilon" received many positive reviews on its publication in 2005, perhaps most notably the Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) 'perfect ten' rating for both literary quality and 'teen appeal.' [http://pdfs.voya.com/VO/YA2/VOYA200606PerfectTens.pdf VOYA] said of "Epsilon", 'this novel rises above cliché, shining through well-devbeloped and intriguing characters, a tangible atmosphere and heart-stopping pacing.' The novel was also longlisted in the UK for the Manchester Children's book awards. Those reviews criticising elements of the novel have tended to focus on its dark atmosphere, complicated plot development and the use of a diary device through which to tell the story.

References