Matt McAvoy Book Review

Absolutely wonderful book, and such a simple premise: a mage conjures up a demon, but not for any nefarious reason; rather, he wants knowledge; the demon’s views on every fundamental life subject – and it willingly shares, each chapter being the demon’s sermon on another topic, the recipient of its lessons being the first-person narrator.  That description of the book might find you a little non-plussed, so I implore you to read it; tuck yourself away and concentrate, for the real star is Warren Tuck – or, more specifically, his use of language; it is exquisite.  Each chapter reads like authentic scripture, in prose which would not be out of place in any Good Book.  It is clear that Warren has worked incredibly hard on this poetic offering, flexing his linguistic muscles to their limit; every sentence, every word he opts for is meticulously considered, and much of it sublime.  Furthermore, the topics discussed are vast, as the demon gives its worldview on everything that makes up the human experience.  It is clear that Warren has invested enormous time and affection into this project.

You might think that there is a dramatic fiction within; that the demon perhaps uses his position to trick the mage, to tempt or lure him, but in fact the teachings it delivers are surprisingly nuanced and balanced – almost as if advising the mage not to follow it down the path of the fallen.  Indeed, there is no clear narrative suggesting that the mage is any way exploited by the demon, who presents as honest, candid and subjective.  That said, I did sense perhaps that, as the book reached its closing pages, the mage was leaning further toward world enquiries which may suggest he has an objective – after all, I guess you wouldn’t summon a demon if your intentions were good – though this is left ambiguous, and perhaps it is my imagination.  You decide.

Whatever you make of this book, it requires to be read with an open mind and your full attention.  It has something to say about everything, and the eagle-eyed (or maybe just suspicious) might decipher a little of the author’s political leanings, particularly on teachings around capitalism, etc.  There is multi-layered subtext to this one, though even the superficial top layer is loaded with detail and implication.  It is a book which was undoubtedly intricate to compose, and deserves no less than a dedicated hour or two from the reader, shut away from distraction.  Who knows, it may even become your pocket resource for affirmations and inspiration – as sermonized by a demon, no less!