cover image The Casket of Time

The Casket of Time

Andri Snær Magnason, trans. from the Icelandic by Björg Arnadóttir and Andrew Cauthery. Yonder, $17.99 (240p) ISBN 978-1-63206-205-5

In this science fiction/fairy tale hybrid first published in Iceland in 2013, the intertwined fates of humankind and the environment hinge upon the mythicized events of a magical, prehistoric era. In the near future, as the economy collapses, “the nation” retreats into TimeBox® stasis chambers to wait out the crisis. When teenage Sigrun is unexpectedly released from her chamber, she finds that nature has overrun the world while humanity has been asleep. She joins up with Grace, a mysterious researcher who is working with a band of children to address the situation. From Grace, Sigrun learns about the fantastic tale of Princess Obsidiana, who was once condemned by her overprotective father, the King of Pangea, to spend eternity in a time-suspending casket. During this time, Obsidiana becomes an object of worship to the people of Pangea, even as her father’s world-spanning empire rises and falls. Sigrun must learn from Obsidiana’s example if she hopes to rebuild civilization in her present day. While the novel is framed as Grace’s story, the bulk of the narrative focuses upon Obsidiana’s adventures, which are presented as a “Snow White”–esque fairy tale. With a heavily stylized, dreamlike quality, the volume invokes familiar tropes and patterns to deliver a cautionary story about responsibility and long-term consequences for society and the environment. Ages 8–12. (Apr.)