  |
|
|
|
Index Interviews: Chantelle Bentley Are We There Yet? Research Resources for SF Writers Upcoming Events Calendar Reader Mail Return to This Issue's Index Return to Homepage Subscribe
|
|
Horror/Fantasy/SF Book ReviewsPage Two of TwoStardust by Neil GaimanSpike, February 1999.Hardcover, 256 pages. ISBN: 0380977281. Ordering information: Amazon.com. | Amazon.co.uk 
In Victorian England, there is a tiny town in the countryside
called Wall, so named for its large stone wall which keeps the
inhabitants in and the intruders out. Every nine years, vigilance
is relaxed sufficiently to allow the wonderful market fair to take place in the meadow
outside Wall. In the town of Wall young Tristan Thorn adores
the remote Victoria. Impulsively, one evening he swears to
Victoria that he will bring her the falling star they both see in order
to prove his love. With a bit of help from his father -- who's never let
on that there is something quite odd about Tristan's parentage -- Tristan
goes through the barrier into the dangerous and exciting realm
of Faerie which lies outside Wall. From the beginning, Faerie doesn't
seem as strange as it should and he seems to know which direction
to travel in order to find the star. But dangers surround him on
all sides and he immediately falls into one adventure after another.
He finds the star -- but it turns out to be a young woman who
is not the least bit interested in journeying to Wall and gives
him no end of trouble. To make matters worse, he is not the
only one on the trail of the star -- some very nasty personages indeed
also are on her trail. There is love, danger, excitement and
laughs for the reader as Tristan determines to complete his quest
and find his heart's desire.
Gaiman is at his best when his stupendous imagination is bent towards his full-length novels, such as the brilliant fantasy Neverwhere, and Stardust proves this to be true. A richly imagined world with plenty of adventure, true love and some truly hilarious throw-away lines make Stardust a darkly comic treat for fantasy lovers. If you haven't discovered Neil Gaiman yet, rush out to buy his latest book immediately. You won't be disappointed. Highly Recommended. --Claire E. White Smoke and Mirrors by Neil GaimanAvon, November 1998.Hardcover, 339 pages. ISBN: 0345409337. Ordering information: Amazon.com. | Amazon.co.uk 
Smoke and Mirrors is an anthology of short stories, poems and
musings from the brilliant author of the graphic novel series Sandman
and the bestselling dark fantasy Neverwhere. An eclectic mix,
the narratives include "Chivalry" in which an elderly woman
finds the Holy Grail in a London second-hand shop,
"Bay Wolf," a story poem which is a cross between Beowulf
with Baywatch, "Murder Mysteries," which explores the real
reasons Lucifer became a fallen Angel, the shocking
modern day fable "Tastings," "Snow, Glass and Apple,"
a really inspiredly twisted version of the classic fairytale Snow White,
"The Price," a tale any cat lover will appreciate, and
"Wedding Present" told in the friendly introduction,
in which a married couple gets a shocking glimpse at what could
have been. The themes of love, loss, death and the end of the world
are all here, explored in Gaiman's dark, witty and satirically
funny style. Highly Recommended.
--Claire E. White The Wild Hunt: Vengeance Moon by Jocelin FoxeEos, September 1998.Paperback, 312 pages. ISBN: 0380799111. Ordering information: Amazon.com. | Amazon.co.uk 
Lady Richenza, whose family has suffered greatly at the
hands of the present cruel regime, takes the drastic step
of summoning The Wild Hunt: a legendary group of
cursed and immortal men who, when called, will
undertake the bidding of the summoner. From all walks of
life, the men have all been cursed by the three goddesses.
They have one full moon cycle to accomplish the summoner's
task, or they will be consigned to a fiery hellish death. But there is
an "out" clause in the curse. If any one of the men can find true love
which can keep him from heeding the summons back to
sleep at the end of the mission, he will be set free of the curse.
Leading the Wild Hunt is Walter of Jacin. Hidden princes,
noblemen, a thief and commoners compose the other members
of the Wild Hunt during this summoning. The story follows
the group's mission to revenge the death of Lady Richenza's
brother and topple the present ruling regime. They will
encounter betrayal, intrigue, battle and the possibility of
a love great enough to set one of them free as they pursue
their quest.
The premise of The Wild Hunt is an intriguing one. The adventure is exciting and the main characters are interesting. However, the bewildering number of characters and the lengthy digressions into past history and genealogical issues at times threaten to derail the story. Some judicial editing and tightening would have helped immensely. Linda Reames Fox and Joyce Cottrell (writing as Jocelyn Fox) show great promise, however; their next outing should be interesting to read. Fantasy/SF Page One | Fantasy/SF Page Two Return to Book Reviews Index ** To visit the archives of fantasy/sf books reviewed in The IWJ, please click here. |