In his early fantasies Garner seems determined to keep the pot boiling at any cost, and The Weirdstone of Brisingamen is no exception. Thematically, the stories dip into Norse mythology, which points toward a world-shattering final battle between the forces of good and evil. Although Garner had not read Tolkien before writing this novel, his use of children as an unexpected force on the side of good will be familiar to admirers of Tolkien's hobbits. He suggests that the innocence of weak creatures may be as potent against evil as more sophisticated and powerful defenses.

Susan and Colin, Garner's young heroes, are highly idealized. Both are resourceful, loyal, good-hearted, eager, brave, and determined in equal measure. In later books like Elidor and The Owl Service, Garner shows himself capable of imagining young people with realistic flaws, but in this one and its sequel, The...