Someplace to Be Flying
Charles de Lint
Orb, Aug 2005, $14.95
ISBN: 076530757X

In 1996 Newford, Canada cab driver Hank leaves his vehicle to stop a man beating up a woman in a nearby alley. The Good Samaritan takes a bullet in his shoulder for his efforts with the assailant apparently ready to kill him. Instead a girl comes off the roof and somehow kills the punk. She licks her fingers and touches Hank's wound with her moisturized fingers before running off. His shoulder immediately fully heals. Both Hank and the initial victim photojournalist Lily are stunned by the turn of events.

Hank and Lily have had their initial encounter with the immortal "First People," a hybrid human-animal mix. The two shocked humans soon meet other strange individuals like Jack and Kerry, who both differently shun the "normal" world. The humans soon join the hunt by members of the First People to find the object that created the world, "Raven's pot", for war is brewing and the winner is assured if they obtain possession of this magical artifact.

Newford fans of course will appreciate this fine urban fantasy, but so will anyone who enjoys a strong tale with intriguing characters regardless of whether they are human or out of mythos. Jack and Lily are fabulous opposites who come together in search of the First People and soon begin a quest to find the Raven's Pot so it does not get into wrong hands. Though allegedly targeting high school readers, Charles de Lint's latest tale is urban fantasy at is best that all genre fans will enjoy.

Harriet Klausner