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Horror/Fantasy/SF Book ReviewsPage One of TwoThe Sword and the Miracle by Melvyn BraggRandom House, Nov., 1997.Hardcover, 536 pages. ISBN: 0375500030. Ordering information: Amazon.com. | Amazon.co.uk 
This engaging epic saga begins in
Ireland with Donal, a devout monk,
receiving a blessing from the Virgin
Mary. Donal is given a piece of the
Holy Cross to bequeath to a young
girl named Bega. He is to look after
the girl and give her the gift when the
time is right. Bega grows to be a
well-schooled and feisty young maiden,
mostly because of her tutor, Padric, a
Rheged Prince, with whom she is falling
in love. However, her fierce warrior
father King Cathal promises her hand to
Niall O'Neill, a brutal barbarian Prince
whom she despises. Bega is afraid
to discourage her father and O'Neill
soon arrives expecting a marriage
ceremony. However, the marriage
ceremony falls apart due to a series
of horrors. O'Neill, who has arrived
to wed Bega, rapes a servant woman
after the first evening of festivities
which include plenty of food and wine.
To Bega's dismay, O'Neill is not punished
by his father, but at the wedding ceremony
O'Neill is stabbed to death by the servant
woman and the servant woman is
beheaded. King Cathal is considered
responsible and must leave to apologize
to the O'Neill family. Donal, feeling that
the time is right, gives Bega the gift of
the true cross. Bega then sets sail
for Britain with Padric, who yearns to
free his father's kingdom from the
Northumbrians.
This is just the beginning of this saga, as Bega pursuits a life of dedication to God as a nun and Padric returns to his father to convince him to turn against the ruling Northumbrians and quit paying the tribute. Padric is also highly suspicious of the Northumbrian King's son, Eldrich, who he fears has plans to overthrow his father's kingdom and rule all lands. Padric also continues to pursue Bega, although he is continually thwarted in his dreams of love by her dedication to faith. Even so, their love for each other never falters as Padric begins his journey to form an army to return his father's Kingdom to Rheged and Bega pursues her life of independence, virtue and dedication to God. Using historical names and figures, Melvyn Bragg has authored a mesmerizing tale that intertwines the lives of two loving characters, Bega and Padric, with the complex ethical and religious passion and zeal of the age in which they live. Bragg has penned an intelligent epic fantasy tale with magic, love, religion and war that also gives insight into the values and lives of life in early Britain and Ireland. The Face of Apollo by Fred SaberhagenTor Books, April, 1998.Trade Paperback, 384 pages. ISBN: 0312864086. Ordering information: Amazon.com. | Amazon.co.uk 
Jeremy is tired of doing farm work for his
Uncle and tired of the ordinary town in which he lives.
His life in the doldrums quickly
changes when he discovers an injured
woman hidden back in the woods. She is
secretly carrying an icon of the God Apollo,
who was nearly destroyed in a great
battle with Hades, the Lord of the Underworld.
When the village is attacked by furies, the
woman is killed and Jeremy is forced to flee
the village with the icon, which is a portion of
the Face of Apollo -- his left eye. Jeremy, after
receiving a few stinging lashes from the tail
of a nasty fury, manages to escape on a small
boat down the river. When Jeremy feels he is
far enough away he stops to rest and examines
the portion of Apollo's face which seems oddly
life-like. Unknowingly, Jeremy puts the icon to
his eye, upon which the face slips inside of
him. With the God Apollo inside him, Jeremy
begins to experience godlike senses and
memories. Using his strange new partnership
with Apollo, Jeremy sets off on an adventure
to revenge Apollo's defeat and destroy Hades --
all the while wondering what will happen to
his own body when the God Apollo is through
with it.
This is the first in the Book of the Gods series by renowned horror, fantasy and science fiction author Fred Saberhagen. Readers will enjoy this exciting introducing which highlights interaction between Gods and Humans. A research university known as the Academy, featured in the book, where humans study and research the Gods allows Saberhagen to share his knowledge of mythology in an insightful and amusing way. A wonderful beginning to an appealing fantasy series. Click Here for Fantasy/SF Book Reviews Page Two Return to Book Reviews Index ** To visit the archives of fantasy/sf books reviewed in The IWJ, please click here. |