Maddigan's Fantasia
Publisher: Faber & Faber
In a post Chaos world, twelve year old Garland is part of her family's travelling circus, and is immensely proud of her heritage. When her father is killed she resents the man who becomes ringmaster, fearing that he will also become her stepfather.
The arrival of three mysterious children catapults the Fantasia into great danger, as they search for a power source to enable their world to resist a timeless evil threatening its existence.
Mahy's considerable artistry creates a terrifyingly believable fantasy adventure which addresses issues of environmental sustainability and an individual's ability to withstand corruption, as well as loyalty and the conflicted emotions resulting from bereavement. All within a time continuum in which the future effect of actions can be seen and amended.