The Golem and the Jinni

I must've picked up this book at bookstores a couple dozen times and put it back with a, “No. No more buying books till you read what you have.” Like that has ever stopped me. Then it got picked for Sword & Laser, so shucks darn, I had to get it. I'm really glad I did.

The Golem in the Jinni is a story of parallels, two undocumented immigrants forced to live exactly the opposite as they were born to be. The Golem, a creature whose very nature is defined by servitude, living in terrifying freedom. The Jinni, an embodiment of fire and freedom, bound to human form and forced to serve the masses to pay bills and live a life of quiet desperation. It's a brilliant concept, brilliantly executed.

The story takes place during the Ellis Island immigration era of New York, primarily in the Jewish district and Little Syria. The two main characters are a pleasure to read, but almost equally enjoyable are the cast that surrounds them, each nuanced and unique portraits of people who might actually existed. I think I especially like Sophia Winston, who gives some depth to the idea of a Jane Austen style heroine and Arbeely, who really was doing just fine until a naked man appeared on the floor of his forge... really he was.

By far, Chava and Ahmad carry this story, though. Their struggles to understand what they are, where they are, and eventually who they are, made these 500 pages fly by all too quickly. I can't recommend this book enough to people who love mixing their mythologies. It is a fine piece in that tradition.