At first glance Isobelle Carmody’s new book, Dreamwalker, resembles a picture book but it is in fact a graphic novel.   The book is part narrative, part fantasy, and Steven Woolman’s illustrations share the story telling.

The story revolves around Ken, a high school student who is a loner and insomniac. His ambition is to become a comic book artist. His latest creation is the Sorceress, whose hunger for power has taken on life. These manifestations, or "hungers", visit sleepers in her city and feed upon them, leaving only a tiny group of rebels opposing her.

One day Ken wakes from a dream and finds himself in the world he has created, the world of the sorceress, where one of his characters claims to have imagined him in a dream.   This raises the question of who is the dreamer and who is the dream, and one, true to Carmody’s style, that is not easily resolved.   The design of the book at this stage relates to the time that Ken is in the sorceress’ world, the most notable element being the dark, oppressive colour of each page.

Carmody is a prolific science fiction and fantasy writer, having received a range of awards for her novels, which include the Obernewtyn series and the novels The Gathering, Scatterlings and Greylands.

Woolman has designed and illustrated many award winning books, among them The Lighthouse and Gary Crew’s Watertower.  Each of these showcases the versatility of his illustrative style, which is again apparent in Dreamwalker.

The text of Dreamwalker is well written and the illustrations are eye catching.  The intended readership for this text is ages 9 to adult but it probably more suited for 11 and up.  It is startling and confronting but is sure to get a response from its readers. 

Review by Joy Greenway

© 2001 Joy Greenway