THE GIFT MOVES
by Steve Lyon
In his debut, Lyon creates a futuristic world where wealth and material things are not measures of success or happiness. Path Down the Mountain has come to Bird’s hometown, Banks, to study weaving with the best weaver in the land, Heron. When Bird first sees Path weaving, he recognizes her great talent. On the fast-approaching Midsummer Day festival, when the year begins anew, every person takes everything they have to a huge bonfire where it’s all burned and they are empty to start again. Path has a secret she doesn’t want to give, but this is a tale of self-realization, so of course she comes to realize that the right choice is to give her name and her story. Poetic language, a finely drawn plot, and engaging characters will surely make this a favorite of SF and fantasy fans as well as anyone who loves good storytelling. (Fiction. 12-14)