What if characters in books were real people, acting out their lines like performers on a stage? Look at the novel you set down to surf the Web. What if the characters in that novel are sitting down and taking a breather, chatting amongst themselves, and will spring back into action when you pick the book up again?
That is the premise of “Into the Labyrinth” by Roderick Townley. Princess Sylvie is the heroine of a fairy tale adventure called “The Great Good Thing,” which has been out of print for years. She and all of her fellow characters have been lonely for a long time, but then the book is rediscovered and put back into print, and their lives are full again. Every time a reader picks up the book, all the characters rush into place to act out their lines. But then they get disturbing news – the book is going to be uploaded onto the Internet.
They don’t know what an Internet is, and being uploaded sounds painful. What’s worse; after it’s completed, they have to learn how to deal with being scrolled up and down. It makes them dizzy. What makes it even more complex is that one minute they are being read on computer, and the next, in a book. Back and forth they go, from screen to page, never a moment to catch their breath. It’s a good thing they know their lines so well, or they might seriously mess up the story.
One day, however, they discover they have a computer virus, and certain vital things start disappearing from the story. Silvie’s donkey is nearly killed when the river he was jumping into completely vanishes. Silvie must discover who is sabotaging the computer and how they can stop him/her from ruining the entire book.
I really liked this story. There is a little bit of mild language at the end, but it wasn’t enough to be offensive. It’s a quick read, it’s suitable for adults and young adults, it’s fun and fanciful, and it made me think. What are the characters in my book doing right now while waiting for me to return?
(This book was published in 2002 by Atheneum Books.)
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