Fantasy Book Reviews
Page Two of TwoThe Ropemaker by Peter Dickinson
Delacorte Press, November, 2001Hardcover, 375 pages
ISBN: 0385729219
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
The beautiful and bucolic Valley has been hidden away
from the dangerous outside world for over nineteen generations.
But the powerful magic that protects the Valley from the
marauders and the crooked tax collectors of the nearest
big city is beginning to fail. The two types of magic which protect
the people of the Valley are inherited: one type through
the female line who sing to the trees, and one to through the
male line, who can understand what the rivers and lakes have
to say. In order to find the powerful magician who can
re-charge the magic of the Valley, a very odd foursome
set out on an epic journey: Tilja, who is saddened by
the apparent lack of the magic that runs in her family,
her cranky grandmother Meena, Tahl, a young man,
and Tahl's equally cranky grandfather, Alnor.
Their quest is full of danger, adventure and meetings with
some very odd people indeed. Over the course of the
journey, everyone of the travelers will grow and
change in interesting ways, and Meena herself
will find that, although she does not possess the
traditional magic that runs in her family, she
does possess some very potent powers which make
her a force to be reckoned with.
The Ropemaker is set in an interesting fantasy world, where magic is (literally) in the air, and the majority of the people you meet seem bent on either robbing you or destroying you. The main characters are certainly full of flaws, but they are multi-layered and interesting. Most fascinating of all is the magical system, which seems almost organic in nature. The interplay between Meena, Tahl and their somewhat obstreperous grandparents is most entertaining -- especially when the grandparents go through some very funny changes, indeed. This is a well-imagined and offbeat fantasy tale which should delight thoughtful and educated readers.
The Winter Child by Wendy Froud & Terri Windling
Simon and Schuster, October, 2001Hardcover, 59 pages
ISBN: 0743202341
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
Sneezle, the beloved hero of A Midsummer
Night's Faery Tale, returns for another adventure
in the fantasy world brilliantly imagined by
the team of Wendy Froud and Terri Windling.
Wendy Froud is the doll and puppet maker responsible for
the hit movies the Dark Crystal and The Empire Strikes Back
(she is credited with the creation of Yoda). Terri
Windling is the five-time World Fantasy Award-winning
author and editor. Rounding out this talented team is
designer Brian Froud and photographer John Lawrence
Jones. In the depths of the Old Oak Wood, tree root faery
Sneezle is ready to head off to the Midwinter Eve festival.
But it's a strange midwinter, indeed -- it seems more
like summer than winter. And King Oberon's
gold and amethyst cup has been stolen. Sneezle and
his companion, Twig, decide to set off to find the missing
cup, and end up in the middle of a frightening confrontation
between the evil wizard Malagan, who is keeping Lady Winter
from entering the forest, and the Good Sorceress Tamaryst.
Windling's story is absolutely charming, and the accompanying photographs are breathtaking. The menacing wood, the beautiful faeries, the adorable Sneezle and magic of the Old Oak Wood all come to life under the direction of Brian and Wendy Froud. This is a beautiful, enchanting and imaginative book that will charm children and adults alike.
The World of Shannara by Terry Brooks and Teresa Patterson, Illustrated by David Cherry
Del Ray, October, 2001Hardcover, 206 pages
ISBN: 0345439058
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
Legions of devoted fans have been following the
Shannara fantasy series by Terry Brooks, which
began in 1977 with the publication of The Sword of
Shannara. The books cover the span of twenty-five years,
and the world in which the series is based
is comprised of a multitude of imaginative characters, places,
mythology and history. The World of Shannara
is an encyclopedia of this fantasy world. In the
Foreword, Brooks explains that his readers have
been asking him for years for such a companion book.
He also mentions that he knew it would be a handy
guide for looking up those minute details that
an author must know when setting out to write
another installment in a popular series. In any event,
this is an absolute gift for Shannara fans.
The book describes with great detail the
regions and the types of people who come from
there. It also describes the backstory of
popular characters, such as Allanon the Druid,
Shea Ohmsford and numerous others.
This large, coffetable-style book is accompanied by
with both black and white and color illustrations by
talented artist David Cherry. Cherry does an excellent
job of visualizing the world that Terry Brooks created.
This is a must-have for Shannara fans.
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