The most important Irish novel of this year

On 19-dec-2004 in the Sunday Independent (Ireland), Celia Keenan wrote:

I have placed Conor Kostick's fantasy Epic (O'Brien, €7.95) in the young adult category, even though it is marketed for a slightly younger age group. The older young-adult reader would appreciate all that this very exciting first novel hasto offer in terms of its political, social and psychological themes and its challenging use of language. The Epic of the title is a fantasy role-play computer game, played for very high stakes in an otherwise drab futuristic world. The game offers colour, excitement and the possibility of enormous wealth to an exhausted and dispirited people. The hero of the novel, Eric, with his friends, sets out to win the game, and overcomes many terrifying obstacles. In the end he must overcome the game itself. This is, in my view, the most important Irish novel of this year. It would appeal particularly to boys who enjoy computer and role-play games, and who may be uneasy or hesitant about joining the adult world, but like all good books it has something to say to everyone.

The original review is online here (but note that registration is required, asks intrusive questions, and does not seem to work). Celia Keenan is Director of the MA programme in Children's Literature and a lecturer in the English Department at St Patrick's College Drumcondra.