Trader, by Charles De Lint

Trader
by Charles De Lint(Pan, 1998)

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Max Trader is a craftsman, creator of some of the more beautiful instruments available. But when his life is irrevocably changed by the events of one night … Johnny is a wastrel. He cannot hold a job, is irresponsible and cannot maintain relationships. His life is changed one night also.

They are swapped magically into each others' bodies. Max is left to deal with the debts and homelessness of Johnny, and Johnny is in Max's comfortable life of ease. But Max wants his life back, and will do anything to recoup it.

Thus starts a marvellous journey into dealing with people. I love De Lint's work, and I have this book to thank that I discovered it. The ambience and absolutely seamless melding of urban culture and myth with the fantastic world that he has created is exquisite.

He brings up some psychological features of personality traits as well as the biological factors. He does not attempt to create a perfect fit of one personality into a body completely alien to him, but does so in a way completely credible and intelligently. He acknowledges the chemical factors in behaviour, something that I have encountered rarely in books of this ilk. The normal way would be = transference, slight turbulence, then everything the same as before (in each individual's behaviour).

Nina's unwillingness to believe what she sees and acceptance of that which most would balk at believing is dealt with well. It makes me wonder what De Lint reads in his spare time. Her inacceptance of her mother and her lifestyle provokes her into exhibiting behaviours that she would never have before considered. Her eventual acceptance is a little smooth, but in any case I like De Lint's style.

Enough with psychologising this book, I say. Onto other stuff. The magical features are lovely, and the native (AmerIndians? Canucks?) religiosity incorporated delicately is superb. I read books that treat it deferentially or in a condescending manner, but this does neither. Just the right touch. A magnificent read.