Book Briefs: November 2005
«Disappointing Swarmthief's Dance by Deborah J.
Miller»
«Scintillating Southern Fire by Juliet E.
McKenna»
«Skillful Circle of the Moon (and Sisters of
the Raven) by Barbara Hambly»
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Deborah J. Miller presents an interesting premise in Swarmthief's
Dance (Tor UK): swarms of millions of tiny blue dragonflies that can be
transformed into a single giant dragonfly entity as part of a planet-wide
religion. But a nifty idea or two can't make up for unconvincing characters,
inexplicable elements, and lack of a real plot. It's the start of a trilogy, but
I don't see a lot of reason to read this volume, let alone two more. (Miller has
published a previous trilogy in the UK under the name of Miller Lau.)
[Tor UK. ISBN:1405050748. Sept 2005]
Southern Fire: Book One of the Aldabreshin Compass Series (Tor) by
Juliet E. McKenna shares the world of the five books of Tales of
Einarinn, but is the beginning of an entirely new series set in the tropical
Aldabreshin Archipelago where the many islands are divided into several realms
ruled absolutely by warlords. McKenna builds her world by starting with the
foundation of the domicile and domestic life of one warlord, Daish Kheda of the
Daish domain. Assisted by wives who handle agriculture and trade in the
barter-based culture, Kheda rules his domain guided by omens, auguries, and
portents he is trained to read. His realm is cast into disorder when
inhabitants of the domain to their south, Chazen, arrive with no warning
pleading for sanctuary from mysterious invaders from further south -- where
there is, as far as anyone is aware, nothing. The refugees claim the mysterious
invaders have magic powers; a claim not lightly made in a society that abhors
magic and believes it corrupts all it touches. Although Daish Kheda goes to
confront the invaders, Southern Fire becomes not a story of warfare and
battles but one of intrigue. In order to deal with other threats, Kheda weaves a
complex deception that may well taint him with dreaded sorcery. McKenna builds
on her foundation then layers the plot in course after rational course until the
highly believable whole is built -- although she obviously leaves room for
further additions. The initial pace may seem too sedate to some, but this a
novel one savors rather than rushes through and the slower beginning allows you
to adapt to a second possible hitch: McKenna inserts Kheda's italicized inner
thoughts into her third person limited omniscient narrative. It's an unusual
style that may take some getting used to, but it is also highly effective and
informative. High marks for the interesting island setting and its seafaring
culture, graceful prose, solid characterization -- especially that of Kheda who
may be ruthless when needed, but is also wise -- and excellent dialogue, a
component often lacking in fantasy. There are four points on the compass and in
England McKenna has already added Western Shore and Northern Storm
to Southern Fire with Eastern Tide to follow. I'm looking forward
to them all.
[Tor. ISBN: 0765314118. July 2005]
Circle of the Moon (Warner Aspect) by Barbara Hambly is a sequel
and I'm grateful that the publisher sent along the mass-market paperback of the
previous book, Sisters of the Raven. The newer novel can definitely be
read alone, but it reads even better if you've already become acquainted with
the world and characters the author has created. The first book introduces the
repressive patriarchal Yellow City of the Valley of the Seven Lakes in which
women are considered merely chattel. Magic is the mortar that binds the highly
stratified society -- magic that only men can make. Every aspect of the culture
is dependent on magic: it brings the rains and keeps the grasshoppers off the
crops; it heals and is used for communication. When the men lose their ability
to make magic the civilization is in desperate straits, but when a few women
suddenly posses magical powers, the men are none too happy. The skillful Hambly
writes with clarity and avoids the use of "fantasy-ese"* while steering clear of
the heavy-handy women-are-superior trope that masquerades as "feminist" fantasy.
Circle of the Moon continues in the same vein, again focusing on
Raeshaldis, the young woman who has been trained in male magic, and the Raven
Sisters, a mixed crew of Crafty women who are trying to develop their magic.
Where Sisters involved the solving of a mystery -- the murders of magical
women -- Circle revolves around a battle against both human and
supernatural evil. Power is found in a surprising new vessel and both the source
of magic and its loss is eventually explained (sort of). Smoothly written and
entertaining, Circle of the Moon and Sisters of the Raven are not
challenging works, but that doesn't mean they are simplistic or unintelligent.
[Aspect. ISBN: 0446694045. Sept 2005; (mmp) ISBN: 0446615366. Aug 2005]
-- PRLG
* Some signs of "fantasy-ese" include badly done pseudo-archaic verbiage;
confusing, unpronounceable names with absurd apostrophes; overwrought adjectives
(never use the word red when you can substitute crimson, scarlet, sanguine,
etc.); insertions of bad poetry recited or sung by characters; and adverbial
excess.