Bones of the Moon
Encyclopedia
Bones of the Moon is a novel by Jonathan Carroll
, depicting the real and dream life of a young woman, Cullen James. Like many of Carroll's works, this work straddles the horror and fantasy genres.
By night, in dreams, she begins to visit a strange land called Rondua, where the sea is full of fish with mysterious names, where she and a huge, behatted dog escort a young boy named Pepsi across places such as the Northern Stroke, the Mountains of Coin and Brick, the Plain of Forgotten Machines.
As her days become more disjointed and episodic, her dreams grow in intensity, and she learns more about the adversary she and her dream friends race against, searching for the last of the Bones of the Moon. Bit by bit, the events in Rondua start affecting her life on earth, intersecting in unpleasant, then frightening ways.
Jonathan Carroll
Jonathan Samuel Carroll is an American author primarily known for novels, which can be characterized as magic realist, slipstream or modern fantasy...
, depicting the real and dream life of a young woman, Cullen James. Like many of Carroll's works, this work straddles the horror and fantasy genres.
Plot introduction
Cullen James is a young woman dwelling in two worlds. A happy housewife by day, by dream she is one of several questers after the Bones of the Moon. Somehow, though, one of these worlds is starting to carry over into the other, in frightening ways.Explanation of the novel's title
The Bones of the Moon are five bones that give power over the dream world in which Cullen James spends her time.Plot summary
Living in New York, Cullen James's best wishes were being fulfilled. Her best friend marries her; she travels in Europe; she has a baby daughter. But strange dreams begin to intrude.By night, in dreams, she begins to visit a strange land called Rondua, where the sea is full of fish with mysterious names, where she and a huge, behatted dog escort a young boy named Pepsi across places such as the Northern Stroke, the Mountains of Coin and Brick, the Plain of Forgotten Machines.
As her days become more disjointed and episodic, her dreams grow in intensity, and she learns more about the adversary she and her dream friends race against, searching for the last of the Bones of the Moon. Bit by bit, the events in Rondua start affecting her life on earth, intersecting in unpleasant, then frightening ways.
Characters in "Bones of the Moon"
- Cullen James, a young woman living in two worlds
- Danny James, her husband
- Mae, their daughter
- Pepsi (in Rondua), a young boy collecting a set of the Bones of the Moon
- Mr. Tracy (in Rondua), a dog the size of a hot-air balloon, wearing a bowler hat
- Weber Gregston, a movie director
- Eliot, her upstairs neighbor
- DeFazio (in Rondua)
- Alvin Williams, the Axe Boy, a polite young man who kills his mother and sister
- Jack Chili, the ruler of Rondua
Allusions/references from other works
- Weber Gregston, a minor character in this novel, is the main character in A Child Across the Sky
- The "A Game of You" story arc of the Neil GaimanNeil GaimanNeil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
SandmanSandman (Vertigo)The Sandman is a comic book series written by Neil Gaiman and published by DC Comics. Beginning with issue #47, it was placed under the imprint Vertigo. It chronicles the adventures of Dream , who rules over the world of dreams. It ran for 75 issues from January 1989 until March 1996...
comic book is heavily influenced by this novel, acknowledged in the preface to the graphic novel of the same name.
Release details
- 1987, UK, Century (ISBN 0-7126-1504-0), Pub date 31 May 1987, hardcover (First edition)
- 1988, USA, Arbor House (ISBN 0-87795-937-4), Pub date ? January 1988, hardcover. (Dustjacket by Thomas CantyThomas CantyThomas Canty is an illustrator and book designer in the field of fantasy literature.-Career:Canty is credited with pioneering a "New Romantic" style of painting, influenced by such 19th century artists as Alphonse Mucha, Gustav Klimt, and the Pre-Raphaelites...
, altered ending) - 1989, UK, Legend Paperbacks (ISBN 0-09-949870-7), Pub date 21 September 1989, paperback
- 1990, USA, Avon Books (ISBN 0-380-70688-1), Pub date ? September 1990, paperback
- 2002, USA, Orb Books (ISBN 0-312-87312-3), Pub date ? May 2002, paperback