The Homeward Bounders

by Diana Wynne Jones

Book Overview

Jamie Hamilton comes across an unusual building in the city where strange beings manipulate his world in a gigantic war game. Soon Jamie is thrown out in the Boundaries, and is told he can go Home--if... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0064473538
• ISBN13: 9780064473538
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books
• Length: 265 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.4" x 7.0"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

Mythic collage and literary merit

A well-crafted book like this has literary merit long before most YA fiction was considered to be of much merit at all. The mythic background of this book is tremendously evocative to me. A former reviewer mentioned the Christ symbolism of one of the characters - this is simply false - the chained up nameless character is Prometheus, the bringer of fire to humanity. Reflecting in the mood of the multiverse an odd and endearing British Empire view of the universe, the tropes of the "bounds", the conspiratorial THEM, the mythic depths, and the presence of a cosmic game, combined with the sombre mood of the plot - all of these give this book great merit as one of DWJ's strongest works. You could say it's a collage of myths - that can be a good or a bad thing depending on whether like myself you have fallen in love with the mythic elements. I have read this book countless times since I was very small and still enjoy it, so this is my cheerful recommendation.

Thoughtful Provoking Read.

Homeward Bounders is a science fiction/ fantasy type book. We can easily relate to the main character, as he searches to return to Earth. He journeys thrugh many worlds meeting friends and foes alon gthe way. This book has some older legends interegated into it such as the greek Prometheus chained to the rock. The ending is not a typical happily ever after ending but our protagonist chooses a lonley path. Overall it a great book, just makes you a bit sad at the end.

To Return Home Again

The Homeward Bounders is a fantasy novel about a boy lost in the multiverse, doomed to travel from one space/time to another forever.Jamie Hamilton is a rather willful boy who lives with his parents, an older brother, and a younger sister. One day, as he is exploring the town, he finds a place called The Old Fort. The building is set on a triangular lot and surrounded by a high wall. He climbs over the wall and finds a small park. Strangely, he cannot hear any sounds from the surrounding city.Although he leaves to return home, he is intrigued with the place and soon returns. This time he tries to enter the building and is caught by two men wearing monkish robes. He is unable to move as they discuss his trepass, consult others within a huge strange place, and then banish him to become a homebounder. Now he is constrained to wander between universes, never able to stay at one place for very long. He meets others in the same situation -- the Flying Dutchman and the Wandering Jew among others -- and exchanges information, but he can't break out of the trap. He learns that he cannot be killed and that he ages very slowly. However, only the hope of finding his way home again keeps him somewhat sane.This novel is a quest tale, with Jamie continually searching for his home. According to what he was told by THEM, he will be free of the homebounder circuit if he only reaches his home space/time. He travels from world to world, each in a different universe, and many of which are on the verge of war, are having a war, or just completed a war. Some are completely destroyed.Highly recommended for Jones fans and anyone else who enjoys magical adventures in a realistic ambiance.

You Can Be Sure "They're" Behind It

When twelve year old Jamie stumbles across the Old Fort of the mysterious Them, he finds himself cast out of the world and the life he has known, becoming a Homeward Bounder. He is told by Them; "You are now a discard. We have no further use for you in play. You are free to walk the Bounds as you please, but it will be against the rules for you to enter play in any world. The rules also state that you are allowed to return Home if you can."So begins a young man's journey to find his way home and to solve the mystery of "Them". The They are playing their mysterious games throughout the worlds--and only the Homeward Bounders know about Them. Forced to constantly move on from world to world, Jamie teams up with two others who have been cast on the Bounds. Will they have a chance to defeat "Them" and find their way home?This is is one of Diana Wynne Jones' more serious young adult books, written much earlier in her career. While it contains her trademark imaginative whimsy and strong, likable characters, the overall tone remains fairly serious and at times downright somber. However the author's use of first person POV to tell this story, keeps the tone easy to relate to--as if Jamie is telling his story to the reader. Like so many of her other stories, this one deals with the possibility of multiple worlds, and those that can travel between them. A surprisingly powerful story that will leave readers thinking about the nature of reality--and the power of hope. The ending was surprising, but ultimately satisfaying.I'd recommend this book for any YA readers, especially those who enjoy the fantasy genre. As it has just been reprinted, this is an excellent chance for fans of the author to check out one of her earlier works that has been hard to find. Just be sure to watch out for "Them"!;)

AMAZING,UNIQUE,DELIGHTFUL.

It is true. I had to resort to paying an outrageous price to get my hands on a copy.As far as I'm concerned, Diana Wynne Jones is worth her weight in many precious substances, and so I was quite happy to do so. I read this at one sitting (ignoring everything around me,including work,phone,and other humans.) Strange behaviour for a responsible adult you may think.Not when it comes to this author.I am spellbound by this womans creativity, imagination, and skill. This was different once again from her other works. She creates worlds within worlds, layers within layers, as always but in this story she does so literally. What wonderful worlds, what great characters, what strange twists and turns.It all begins at The Old Fort, where are found Masters of the Real and Ancient Game. In other words,"THEM".From that point on,it is US or THEM,and it would seem that THEY have the power. The power to transport others far from home,to play with time and space,to control and punish, to decide the destiny of all other worlds and all other beings,and to silence the voice of truth.And THEY cheat. Does this plot sound familiar? Not in the capable hands of Diana Wynne Jones. She can always be counted on to surprise and delight and captivate her readers, no matter what age. Detail is so rich, there is always humour, and you can depend on unpredictability and surprise.I love the characters she creates. They live for me. I want to know them, to adventure with them, to talk with them. Do yourself a favour. If you can, get a copy of this and sit down to enjoy one of the greatest writers of fantasy of all time. If you can't find this one,read another. Her work is too good to miss, no matter what your age.