Voyager, August 2008 ISBN: 9780732288006

Alison Goodman began her writing career with a bang when Singing the Dogstar Blues won the Aurealis Award for Best Young Adult Novel in 1998. Since then, she has published only one more book, the mystery Killing the Rabbit, which she describes as “very adult”. It seems, then, that she is not going to become your book-every-year type of author, but what she lacks in quantity she appears to be making up for in quality and variety.

The Two Pearls of Wisdom is a gem of a read. It has fascinating, well-drawn characters and an adventure story that fairly romps along, dragging the hapless characters into worse and worse scrapes, only slowing down to give them—and the reader—a bit of breathing space at the end. There are impressive dragon scenes, sword fights and fisticuffs, to say nothing of Machiavellian plots galore. And all this is packaged in a richly invented world that carries elements of ancient China.

I say “elements of” because Goodman’s imagined land is not China. We might be tempted to compare her work to that of Lian Hearn, but the comparison can be no more than superficial. Hearn is a Japanese scholar while Goodman makes no pretence at serious scholarship or even consistent authenticity. She draws on Feng Shui and Chinese astrology, but we get the feeling that her country has nebulous borders, for there are also references to the Hindu system of chakras – and the names of people and places form a very mixed bag indeed. A few, such as Jion Tzu, Trang Dein and Jin-pa, cast a nod at the Far East, but others, such as Dillon, Callan, Brannon and the male-female pair Eon and Eona, would sit comfortably in your typical European medieval fantasy milieu. Consistency is, perhaps, more important than authenticity, and I for one would have preferred to see a more visually cohesive system of nomenclature.

Goodman’s world-building is wonderfully convincing, despite its multifarious nature. Use of the first person ensures that her vivid descriptions and skilful manner of introducing each new experience through subtle evocation of the senses immerse the reader thoroughly and profoundly in the lifestyle and traditions of Eon’s country. We are quickly drawn into a believable society in which twelve boys are chosen each year to compete for the honour of becoming the new apprentice Dragonmaster. No female need apply, but as the story starts, Eon / Eona is about to set that rule on its ear. We travel with her on a vicissitudinous journey from underdog to top dog, cheering her every step of the way.

The Two Pearls of Wisdom covers the “crossover” market. It should appeal to teenagers and adults alike and possibly to precocious pre-teen readers, although parents might want to read the book first. Not all households will welcome a dinner-time discussion of how eunuchs are created or why some men like to dress as ladies. The main worry is that book two of the duology will not be released until 2010, but if The Two Pearls of Wisdom is anything to go by, it will be a read worth waiting for. In the meantime, readers can keep an eye on the author’s web site at www.alisongoodman.com.au