.

Tigana - by Guy Gavriel Kay It is only rarely that I come across a truly "great" book. The last one I read that fit into that category was Fortress in the Eye of Time. This book is one of those rare ones, though. And shockingly, I almost didn't read it! I had attempted to read The Summer Tree, by this same author, several years ago, and ended up closing the book less than a hundred pages from the end--a thing I almost NEVER do. So the chances of my reading another book by Kay were virtually nil. But some nice people on the rec.arts.sf.written newsgroup assured me that even though I hadn't liked the other book, I would like Tigana. They were right. This story of a Renaissance Italy-type land where a foreign conqueror has wreaked a terrible magical vengeance for his son's death, depriving a people of their country's very name, is many-textured and complex, with no easy answers. As the children of the conquered seek to restore the name of their land before it is lost forever, Kay--who seldom uses anything I would typically identify as foreshadowing--always manages a new twist or turn in events. The result of all this is a story that feels truer, and darker, than average. A grown-up story that is very much worth reading. Song in the Silence - by Elizabeth Kerner If you like dragons, this is a book for you! Lanen Kaelar has loved and dreamed of dragons all her life, and finally she has a chance to go in search of them on the mysterious island where they are said to live. But her search is hampered not only by evil men who have an interest in her mysterious birthright, but by the laws of the Dragons themselves. A first novel for this author, and a fine effort indeed! Interesting Times - by Terry Pratchett Terry Pratchett is one of my favorite authors, but his work tends to be sporadic. Sometimes he manages to put a deep, underlying meaning into his humorous storytelling, at other times, it's difficult even to find a coherent plotline. In the case of this book, he pulls off a plotline, and humor, but the underlying meaning, which I most love in his books, was lacking. The plot of this book revolves around a rebellion on the "Counterweight Continent", the Discworld's equivalent to our China. We get to see some "old-friend" characters, such as Twoflower (Rincewind's tourist friend) and Cohen the Barbarian, who proves to be one of the more engaging characters in the book. It was all very fun, but still... kind of flat compared to the best I expect from Pratchett. The Mists of Avalon - by Marion Zimmer Bradley Yes, I finally read this, many years after most of my friends did. For the most part, I enjoyed this retelling of the Arthur legend. MZB does enough interesting and different things that I was kept absorbed in seeing how she was going to handle matters. While in some ways it rang quite true, in others, especially toward the end, parts seemed contrived, as though they were only there because they had to be. I felt tired of everything and everyone by the time I finished the book--though maybe that was actually the author's intent. And the ending was somehow dissatisfying to me. But overall, this book merits most of the praise that it is given. Not quite as "true" as Mary Stewart's version, but close. One for the Morning Glory - by John Barnes This is one of those books that just jumped out at me, demanding I buy it. The first chapter is delightful. After that, the book has a few slow spots, but the style--which is a little quirky--is worth it. Barnes' creative use of words is hilarious. Although it's a little darker than either, this book is nevertheless somewhere between William Goldman's The Princess Bride and George MacDonald's The Princess and the Goblin: an odd kind of fairy tale. Kar Kalim - by Deborah Christian This tale of a sorceress entrapped by the man who was once her student resonates with meanings. This is a very adult story, not so much in terms of sex (though there is some of that, and some violence), as in terms of abusive relationships, the sometimes subtle mis-use of power, and seeing the truth about one's self. The main character, who is less than perfectly likeable at the start, reacts very realistically to the situation she finds herself in, and comes through changed in believable ways. This is a very deep book about the nature of such relationships, and--for me--an empowering (don't you hate that word?) book as well. The Baker's Boy - by J. V. Jones This book was recommended to me by several people, and is praised on the cover by Katherine Kurtz. I can't imagine why. This author seems to have joined the "let's see how much we can gross out the reader" club. This book is librally sprinkled with crass sexual references, and casual violence of all sorts. What's worse is that much of this is a transparent attempt to guide the opinions of the reader: see the archbishop; see him eat disgusting live seafood; isn't he awful? Even aside from such things, I found the writing to be of only passable quality, and full of stuff that jarred my willingness to believe in the story. The only reason I finished this book at all was so I could legitimately give it a bad review. Yuck, avoid. Fortress of Eagles - by C. J. Cherryh This sequel to Fortress in the Eye of Time isn't as quite as deep or rich as the first book, but it continues the wonderful, slowly-unfolding tale of Tristan: a young man "Shaped"-- brought into the world fully formed--by a dying wizard; but who is he really? Tristan has lost some of his innocence, but kept his friends, especially young King Cefwin. But now intrigue at court forces Cefwin to send Tristan to take charge of the rebellious Amefel province, a move that seems to bring Tristan closer and closer to a destiny that may destroy everyone he loves. Watching Cherryh build toward the eventual end of this series (two more books planned) is something to be savored. Read Fortress in the Eye of Time first. Erling's Word - by Lars Walker It's become the fashion lately to write books about pagans vs. early Christians in which the Christians are clueless weaklings who believe in a false and/or powerless God. This book is a RARE and joyful exception! An Irish youth captured by Vikings is tonsured and sold as a priest to the first Christian lord in Norway. Now the young fake priest must do battle with the very real forces of the ancient gods. But his God has not forsaken him. Rich in history (based on actual historical figures) this unassuming-looking book is a real treat! The Goblin Mirror - by C. J. Cherryh A richly-written story about three brothers, some witches (some who are ghosts, some who are not), and a war between the Goblins (faerie) and the human world. If only I could write this well! The only flaw on the book is the usual Cherryh muddled-up rush to an ending, that leaves you wondering if it all quite made sense. Still, it's well worth it. Her Majesty's Wizard - by Christopher Stasheff Although I wasn't very impressed with The Warlock in Spite of Himself I decided to give Christopher Stasheff another try, and I'm glad I did. This first book in the Wizard series is a lot of fun, and yet has an underlying layer of seriousness that struck a deep chord in me. Very few authors manage to pull off the trick of having a convincing viewpoint character with religious beliefs, but Stasheff does an amazingly good job, and in the process creates a story that feels just a little more "real" than average. Matt--an impromptu wizard, pulled from our world into a fantasy one by reciting the verse on a mysterious piece of parchment--is a truly likeable character with a better-than-ordinary talent for making up rhymes (which is the way magic works there.) I can't wait to read more in this series. Year of the Unicorn - by Andre Norton Incredibly enough, this is the first Andre Norton book I've ever read. Based on the fact that many of my friends in youth gobbled up her books like cotton candy, I expected something easy to read. In fact, I found her style rather difficult. The story itself, about a girl with mysterious powers who is sent as one of thirteen to be the brides of the mysterious other-worldly Were-riders in return for their protection of High Hallek, is interesting enough for about the first half of the book. But then it begins to degenerate into a continual walking-in-shadow type dream state, and the logic behind what is happening becomes increasing difficult to follow. The ending was full of unresolved issues, so that it was difficult to decide whether it was a happy ending. Norton's ideas are fascinating enough, though, that I'll have to try something else of hers another time. The Sorcerer's Lady - by Paula Volsky Set in a fantasy canal city based very obviously on Venice, this story about the young bride of the head of the magic guild was entertaining and interesting enough to keep me reading. But it's clearly the prequel to a larger story. It is, in fact, the first of a trilogy, the rest of which I intend to read when I can find them. I'm not sure WHY I want to read the rest. Looking at this book objectively, not a lot happens--it moves really slowly, and is apparently just background for whatever the "real" story is going to be. I'm not sure why--she writes just good enough to hold onto me. Also, the book has a rather "sad" ending, and I want to see the bad guys ALL get theirs in the end. No Earthly Sunne - by Margaret Ball After reading Lost in Translation, a very enjoyable book by the same author, I decided to pick up another of hers. This one, unfortunately, was somewhat disappointing. The periodic convergence of the real world and faerie is an interesting idea. But the main character (and thereby the reader) is left confused for far too long, and the ending was unfulfilling. The Horse Goddess - by Morgan Llywelyn Oddly enough, this is the first book of hers that I've read. It suffers from some of the usual problems of historical fiction, such as the author "showing off her research", but it was engrossing enough to keep me reading through over 400 pages. She certainly captured the "feel" of a pre-Christian Era Europe, with it's roots firmly in the ice age. The story is about Celtic girl who learns the lore of the horse from the wild nomads of the east. More "romance" than plain fiction, this book is sprinkled liberally with sex, from its very first chapter (tittilating, but not terribly graphic). However, once she decided to go with an unhappy ending, I couldn't quite believe it when she turned around and made it a happy one again. But her style is easy to read, and I'll probably finally get around to reading some more of her stuff one of these days. Running with the Demon - by Terry Brooks Fourteen-year-old Nest Freemark uses the magic she has inherited from her mother and grandmother to defend the park in her Illinois hometown from evil creatures that feed on dark emotions, with the help of Pick, the sylvan; Daniel, the owl; and the wolflike Wraith...until the coming of the demon, and the Knight of the Word, John Ross, when it becomes clear that she is the key in a showdown between good and evil. My main problem with this book, as a long-time fan of Brooks, is that he has used many of the themes in this book before. Many have accused Brooks of being derivitive, and in this book he is--of himself. I expected "something completely different" from this book, but very often it felt like "same stuff/ different venue." In spite of this, however, the story came together well, with enough "new and different" stuff to keep me interested through the very last page. Chanur Series - by C. J. Cherryh I read The Pride of Chanur a long while ago, and I finally decided to finish the rest of the series. Chanur's Venture, The Kif Strike Back, and Chanur's Homecoming are really one long story, which builds in tension to a grand finale. The main characters are members of a lion-like race involved (against their will) in an interstellar, interspecies conflict. Cherryh deserves a PhD in Alien Psychology! Unfortunately, the follow-up novel (about Hilfy), Chanur's Legacy looks pretty pale next to the earlier books (spoiler: Hilfy doesn't get the human, even); in other words, don't bother. Back to Book Review Page 1 Back to Main Books Page No, I haven't read Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time books. And no, I don't plan on reading them.

.

.

To suffer woes which hope thinks infinite; To forgive wrongs darker than death or night; To defy power, which seems omnipotent; To love, and bear; to hope til hope creates From its own wreck the thing it contemplates; Neither to change, nor falter, nor repent; This, like thy glory, Titan, is to be Good, great and joyous, beautiful and free; This is alone life, joy, empire, and victory. -Percy Bysshe Shelley

.