Resurrection Man

Dante Ratkay has always tried to deny his special powers--until he is confronted with his own dead body. Reading this as a sign that his death is imminent, Dante finally feels compelled to tap his psychic ``angel'' abilities, if only to aid his shadowy, mysterious foster brother, Jet. Dante's unpredictable psychic journey delves simultaneously into the hidden evils of his family's past and the strange possibilities of the future. The trip is quite marvelous, as Stewart (Nobody's Son) slowly and surely reveals his alternate America. This present-day world is much like ours, but it was profoundly altered by WWII and the increasingly monstrous magic it unleashed. Minotaurs spring from the darkness of ghettos; cops wear ``walk-aways,'' charms crafted from the remains of near brushes with death. It's not only the magic that fascinates in this novel. Stewart's descriptive details are finely chosen, making settings palpable; his characterizations are rich and imaginative (Where else would you meet a character who keeps rust as a pet?). The end is a bit disappointing because, although the Ratkay family secrets have been fully probed, not enough has been said of Dante's future or of the consequences of the rising magic. But Stewart shows a true talent for inventive and intelligent fantasy. (July)