I have reviewed a lot of books over the years. Folk tales, mysteries. Space Operas. Heaps of fantasy novels. There have been several good stories among them. And nearly thrice as many bad. It is however the rare work that can squeeze any emotion out of my dark, dream crushing heart. Carnival of Heaven, a unique mix of memoir and fantasy by Ryan Olson, is one of these.

Ryan has been sick for weeks under what was assumed to be just the flu. But his mother is skeptical, and further tests reveal the worst: a rare form of Leukemia. What follows is a dramatic jaunt between fantasy and reality, as Ryan struggles to understand the destruction of his dream world, while dealing with his deteriorating physical and mental health. In his corner are his steadfast family, and Webber, a representation of hope wrapped up in the form of a platypus. Between dream and reality, they will help him face up to Lyman, the carnival ringmaster and host to the destruction of Ryan’s subconscious, and all the degradations of despair.

Olson masterfully shapes the narrative with a solid understanding of timing, human emotion, and whimsy. The text itself is smart, with great prose sprinkled in at just the right times – further illuminating the author’s skill. In addition, the dialogue is top tier, helping establish the characters as believable- even when based on real people, this is not always given – and distinguishable. While Ryan is at first hard to identify with, his anger and outburst serve a purpose, which become more apparent as the plot flows on. Furthermore, the fantasy elements are thrilling, and the interplay between them and the “real-world” aspect of the book is deep, and dark.

Carnival of Heaven is a raw, moving piece that deserves a lot of time for reflection. There were several scenes that were very touching, filled with gravitas, whimsy, or both as called for, but always handled with care. This is a rare five-star review for me, and I thank the author for sharing (to note, I decided to purchase a digital copy, alongside the paper-back I was sent ). In summary, Ryan Olson’s Carnival of Heaven is an outstanding piece of literary fiction that moved this reader, and surely will many others for years to come.

-Stephen D. Reeves

 Carnival of Heaven is the perfect combination of sentiment, humor, and science fiction all wrapped into one unique paperback. The main character defies the odds by overcoming not only leukemia at a young age, but a sinister ringmaster who enters his dreams at night. Ryan must solve a complex riddle to save himself and those he loves most. A truly exciting read and memento from the early 90’s, for teens and adults alike.

-Sarah Bradshaw, Bradshaw Editorial