Reading Recommendation: The Changeling Sea, by Patricia McKillip
Do I love Patricia McKillilp? Yes, I do. There are going to be a lot of repeat authors popping up on this blog, because I’m the kind of guy who likes to read every single book someone’s written, all in a row. For me, one of the best parts of reading is the process of becoming familiar with a particular author’s voice, developing an appreciation for how their writing shifts throughout their career.
Because McKillip’s first novel was published in 1974, and because she’s basically been a fantasy #influencer for the entirety of her tenure as a grande dame of the genre, it’s especially satisfying to review her books; there’s a ton of great material to choose from, and it’s possible for an interested reader to identify long-term trends not only in the development of her individual craft, but in fantasy fiction as a whole.
Like many of McKillip’s best works, The Changeling Sea (1988) reads like a fable. It has the simple, classic feel of a story that’s been told a million times, repeated around fires and at bedtimes until all its edges have been rounded out and its contours are so familiar you think you might have dreamed them up yourself. It’s also pretty much the archetypal YA fantasy, its protagonist, Perri, being fifteen years old and magical, and caught in a love triangle involving two equally magical suitors, one of whom is brooding and flighty while the other is dependable (though still appealingly mysterious).
Naturally, there are kings, and princes, and mythical creatures galore, and although our heroine is ~but an awkward village waif~, she obviously becomes central to all of their lives, because in fairytales that’s just how things work. (Also note that Perri’s parents are, as one might expect, extremely neglectful re: the conventions of YA fantasy, but being mere ~humble fisher-folk~ it’s not like they could have helped their daughter navigate her love triangle anyway — so honestly, who even cares? Just kidding, Perri cares, she agonizes over it daily in secret!)
So. As you may have already concluded, there are certain aspects of this novel that might justifiably be considered basic, and even I can admit that, once in a while, McKillip’s romantics verge on cloying. But riddle me this: can we not just enjoy this author’s indulgences for what they are? Can we not admit that, more often than not, we like them? I think we can. We can, and should, because for all its melodrama, The Changeling Sea is a seriously well-written little paperback, deserving of our time and attention. It’s structurally balanced, aesthetically powerful, and syntactically elegant through-and-through. It’s what I would call a bathtub read, but an elevated bathtub read, with all the timeless appeal of the stories you loved as a child.
Snag yourself a copy today, and be comforted.
