| Esther M. Friesner |
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| Esther M. Friesner is an American author of fantasy; I have read only one of her novels, as I have been unable to get my hands on any of her other books. But that one novel's wit and style was enough to make Friesner quite an excellent fantasy writer in my opinion. |
| Some of Friesner's many many Books: |
| Harlot's Ruse Here be Demons Gnome Man's Land Yesterday We Saw Mermaids Wishing Season New York by Knight Elf Defense |
| About ELF DEFENSE: |
| Perhaps it can be seen from the titles of some of Friesner's novels that she likes to play with puns. Elf Defense may have a strange name, but the story and, more importantly, its style. dialogue and humor more than makes up for it. |
| The main characters are the elf-prince Cass and the mortal woman Sandy. Perhaps one of the interesting things about the events in this novel is that they involve adults as much as children. Usually authors tend to shy away from involving adults too much in modern, Harry Potter type stories, preferring the main character to be a child and an orphan at that. However, Sandy is a lawyer awaiting the launching of her practice, a mother and the wife of a university professor, living in a quiet New England town. However, Cass, seemingly a gangling student in Sandy's husband's college class, soon brings the menacing and wickedly playful attention of his father, King Kelerison, to Sandy and all the town of Godwin's Corners. The story then moves from the very real setting of a modern town to the fantastical world of elves. |
| Elf Defense is a novel with a fanstasy world like many others, where magical peoples walk our world; the difference is the style of the writing. Friesner brings dry wit, humorous situations and vivid descriptions to her world, giving each character their own unique and concentrated traits. She also used interesting rules for the magical beings; Kelerison, king of Elfhame Ultramar, like a vampire, lounged on the outside of Sandy's door without first being invited in. Side conversations thoughout the book serve to firmly tie in the real world to the magical events. Elf Defense is the sequel to New York by Knight. |
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