Aaron Jagt Fantasy Heavy in Story, Motif, And Philosophy -- Review of his "The Sleeping Princess of Nulland"

NEW SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY REVIEWS

Reviews Of Recently Published Science Fiction And Fantasy Books

Reviewer: Forrest Schultz schultz_forrest@yahoo.com 770-583-3258

Blog Address: http://newsciencefictionandfantasyreviews.blogspot.com/

March 31, 2017

Aaron Jagt Fantasy Heavy In Story, Motif, And Philososphy

A Review of

Aaron Jagt The Sleeping Princess of Nulland (Robinson Books, 2016)

                    393 pp   $17.95   ISBN: 1-59087-275-4

Reviewer:  Forrest W. Schultz

     This is one of the heaviest books for its size I have ever come across, which is appropriate because its story and motif and underlying philosophy are all heavy.  As the Acknowledgments section states, the philosophy is provided by such heavyweights as C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Cornelius Van Til, and R. J. Rushdoony.  This philosophy is the basis for the solid rock Biblical Creation & Salvation Motif expressed in the strong story in this heavy book.  Since "motif" means dominant theme, it is a more appropriate term to use for what is usually called "the moral of the story", a discussion of which is found in the Epilogue (on page 388).  

     The story itself consists of classical fantasy elements reconstructed to fulfill the motif. 
For instance, the "sleeping" Princess Priscilla is awakened not by a Prince (as per Sleeping Beauty), but by a Steward in Nulland.  And, unlike the classical magic pen whose writings always come to pass, Priscilla's pen ceases to function in this way after a while.  And the dragons in Nulland are atypical, but fit well into its story.

     And the book has one of the most beautiful front covers I have ever seen, and the back cover consists solely of Augustine's most beautiful and poignant saying:  "Our hearts are restless untll they rest in Thee".

     I commend this story and am pleased to announce that, using my fantasy vision, I saw its tale welcomed into the Mythosphere.