The Gift [Hardcover]

Patrick O'Leary (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 1997

Science FictionLarge Print EditionOLeary displays his mastery of fantasy and social motifs, weaving familiar themes into a heartwarming, enchanting story. starred, Publishers Weekly A story within a story, The Gift is a story of innocence betrayed and magic rejected. Tim is robbed of his childhood, and Simon is tormented by hearing made too acute. Both are victims of The User of the Night, once a boy like them, now pathetically twisted by his own ambition and by Tomen, a malevolent creature of magic. Together Simon and Tim must rid their land of the magic that has been misused by Tomen and The User.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Gift is the second book from up-and-coming author Patrick O'Leary, and is quite a departure from his wonderful and zany first novel, Door Number Three. The Gift is largely a dark fantasy novel, focusing on a world where magic and storytelling hold sway, although there are some distinctive science fiction overtones. The protagonists are a young king named Simon, who has lost his hearing, and a young woodcutter named Tim, who has lost his family. Both are on a similar quest: they're attempting to find and destroy The Usher of Night, a twisted sorcerer who has unleashed an ancient evil, and who has caused both men great suffering. Although the quest might make this novel sound like a conventional fantasy, it's anything but. O'Leary clearly shows that he enjoys bending genre boundaries as much as he enjoys telling a good story.

From Library Journal

O'Leary made a widely praised sf debut with his first novel, Door Number Three (LJ 9/15/95). Here he weaves a magical tale about the Usher of the Night, a deaf boy king, and Tim, the woodcutter's son, who becomes the Wind Tamer. In a land where most magic has been forgotten, only Mother Death can vanquish the Usher of the Night, with help from the Wind Tamer. O'Leary cleverly embeds tales within tales as he layers and intersects his story lines. For larger fantasy collections.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (October 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312864027
• ISBN-13: 978-0312864026
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,551,364 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

PATRICK O'LEARY was born in Saginaw, Michigan. His poetry has appeared in Literary Magazines across North America. His first novel DOOR NUMBER THREE (TOR) was chosen by Publisher's Weekly as one of the best novels of the year. His second novel THE GIFT (TOR) was a finalist for the World Fantasy Award and The Mythopoeic Award. His first collection of fiction, non-fiction and poetry was OTHER VOICES, OTHER DOORS (Fairwood Press). His third novel THE IMPOSSIBLE BIRD (TOR) made the preliminary shortlist for the Nebula Award. His latest collection of stories is THE BLACK HEART (PS Publishing). His short stories have appeared in MARS PROBES and INFINITY PLUS One, SCIFICTION.COM, TALEBONES and THE INFINITE MATRIX. His poetry was chosen for the 17th Annual THE YEAR'S BEST FANTASY AND HORROR. His novels have been translated into German, Russian, Japanese, Polish, French and Braille. Until recently he was a Creative Director at an advertising agency. His work has won numerous industry awards. He has traveled extensively, but he makes his home near Detroit, Mich with his wife, artist, Sandra Rice. His homepage: http://web.mac.com/paddybon/ His Blog: http://patrickoleary.wordpress.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting fantasy, November 18, 2001

By 

"elmyr" (Arlington, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gift (Paperback)

I was drawn to Patrick O'Leary's second novel by Tom Canty's always wonderful cover art. I brought it home from the bookstore and thought I'd read a chapter or two. The Gift drew me in and before I knew it, it was nearing 2 am and I had read it all the way through.

The Gift is one of those novels that you cannot put down. O'Leary paints a picture every bit as vivid as that on the cover. Writing as emotionally evocative as O'Leary's has in my experience been almost entirely the domain of women authors.

I have already read this book twice in less than a year and I know I'll read it again and again.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a story to keep you up late, unable to stop, January 9, 2005

By 

nina "pbs nerd" (new york) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gift (Paperback)

This is the first novel I have read by this author but will not be the last. It seems some of the negative reviews came from readers who took the structure of the story too seriously. The book is a brilliant meditation on the joys, pains, power, and responsibility of storytelling in all its forms. Whether it serves to strengthen a bond between friends, help a listener to understand and forgive, to expand the listener's breadth of experience, or to indict the guilty for secret crimes; storytelling is a part of what makes us human as well as an effective means of communication.
I read this book over two nights and in the days after became so aware of how often in conversation we are telling tales- not meaning that people are being dishonest- just that people paint a picture of "what really happened" based on what they feel is the message of the story. And it is in telling our own particular and unique stories that others come to know us.
I loved the characters, the story, the stories-within-the-story, and yes, the ending. I can see how one would think it contrived or too neat, but I felt as if O'Leary meant it that way as a perfectly fitting lid to this decorative box filled only with more boxes.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The story teller of all story tellers, July 7, 2001

By 

Dee Kat "dekat" (Setauket, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gift (Paperback)

How delightful to find a book that surprised and pulled me into another world and reality! I had come to believe that I had grown too old and had lost the ability to exercise this pleasure. I am greatful that I did not discover Patrick O'Leary until now and only wish there were more like him.