Science-fantasy
Bryan Perro imagines the adventures of his characters through the prism of fantasy, even when they are anchored in the concrete. This is the case with The Marvinian legend, which is camped in our known universe – our contemporaneity is actually the key element of Bryan Perro’s new children’s series. The 53-year-old author actually uses the dynamics of time travel to turn his prism upside down, analyzing at its source the fantastic manifestations of beliefs from another era. This allows for delightful anachronistic passages that are likely to hit the mark with young readers.
The novel
The main storyline of the novel revolves around Marvin, a 14-year-old North American football fan who finds himself propelled into what we understand to be England in the early Middle Ages. Armed with the textbooks he had in his backpack when he was transported 1,500 years earlier, the young teenager manages to make his place in this brutal world thanks to his imagination, his resourcefulness, his avant-garde knowledge and a few XXI toolse century, especially his BMX, which made the trip with him. This is how he becomes Marvin the Calcinator, his mastery of certain natural elements making him a real mage for those who ignore his secrets well anchored in science.
Characters
As in Amos Daragon, Bryan Perro took care to create a few secondary characters with well-defined outlines. Perlesvaus le Nice is also reminiscent of the good Béorn. Dandrane, the latter’s twin sister, will cause some reactions specific to adolescence in our young hero Marvin, finely described by Bryan Perro. There is also the aptly named alchemist Hermes-Trimegist, who will understand the first where the young “mage” really comes from. Around them obviously gravitate some more disturbing characters, the finale of the first volume reserving a big surprise which sets the table for the continuation of the adventures – Perro very skillfully recovers here certain elements of European mythology.
References and anachronisms
The author also has fun by exposing the gap that exists between our language and that spoken more than 1000 years ago – it may be a tad strong for the adult reader, but it is generally funny and it is not. reminiscent of some cult scenes from the film Visitors. Perro also uses references to the Middle Ages to slip in some elements of reflection in relation to our own reality, exposing young people to the benefits, but also to some shortcomings of our modern society, while maintaining a good-natured tone.
Target drive
This is why it is estimated that the reader who will love The Marvinian legend will be a little older than the one who grew up with Amos Daragon. Still, reading the book is easy, everything is obvious, Bryan Perro knows his art. Moreover, young and old alike will be able to chat directly with the author at the next Montreal Book Fair, from November 25 to 28. All details at www.salondulivredemontreal.com/evenements/bryan-perro-en-dedicaces.
The Marvinian legend – The Calcinator enters the scene
Bryan perro
Scarab editions
187 pages