Fantasy/SF Book Reviews
Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones
Greenwillow Books, May, 2002Hardcover, 420 pages
ISBN: 0060298855
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
Nineteen year old Polly is in her bedroom
looking at one of her favorite paintings, entitled
Fire and Hemlock, when she has a strange experience.
The painting stirs a sudden memory of her old friend,
Thomas Lynn whom she knew for years. But how could
she have forgotten Thomas? And why does one of
her favorite books seem to contain different stories than
it used to? Polly concentrates, and suddenly she realizes
that she has two sets of memories for the past several
years. We are taken back to Polly's past, where as a young
girl playing a game, she mistakenly wanders into a funeral
at the big mysterious house down the street from her
grandmother's home. There she meets the mild-mannered
young man, Thomas Lynn. The two become unlikely friends,
sharing a love of make believe, fantasy and adventure.
But people keep warning her to stay away from Thomas,
and Thomas' ex-wife seems to hold some kind of terrible
power over him. Can Polly find out what's going on,
and break the curse that holds Thomas in thrall?
British author Diana Wynne Jones is one of fantasy's best-kept secrets. HarperCollins is now releasing in hardcover some of her classic stories, which is nothing but good news for American readers. Fire and Hemlock is based on the Celtic folktales of Tam Lin and Thomas the Rhymer, and Ms. Jones does an excellent job of translating the old folk tale into a thriller that modern audiences can relate to. Her depiction of adolescence is insightful, and her mastery of a magical and menacing atmosphere is outstanding. This is an enchanting tale for all ages.
The Homeward Bounders by Diana Wynne Jones
Greenwillow Books, January, 2002Hardcover, 265 pages
ISBN: 0060298863
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
Jamie is a curious boy, and his curiosity has led him
to find out a terrible secret about his world that no one else knows.
When he finds a hidden building with some strange
aliens who appeared to be playing with a map of his world,
he is shocked. Then the aliens inform him that
he is to be thrown out to the Boundaries, and he is
then thrown right out of his own world, with only a few instructions
to guide him in his quest. He has been told he could go Home
if he finds the way himself. Jamie then finds himself in a succession of
parallel worlds, some of which are delightful, and some of which
are terrifying. He also meets some other Homeward Bounders,
such as Ahasuerus, the Flying Dutchman, the grumpy but
talented Helena and Joris the demon hunter. Together, Jamie
and his companions must find out the rules of the Boudaries,
and do their best to find their way Home.
The Homeward Bounders is classic Diana Wynne Jones: it's intriguing, thought-provoking and quite entertaining. Although written ostensibly for the young adult audience, the book can be enjoyed by either children or adults. Fans of Harry Potter will certainly enjoy the works of the talented Diana Wynne Jones.
Kushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline Carey
Tor, April, 2002Hardcover, 704 pages
ISBN: 0312872399
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
Phèdre no Delauney is many things to many people.
A spy, a courtesan, an anguisette (she finds pain pleasurable),
and now a noblewoman, Phèdre rose from slave to
the halls of power in adventures detailed in the first book
in this unusual series, Kushiel's Dart. Now known as the Comtesse
de Montreve, Phèdre returns to the court of Queen Ysandre,
in order to unmask a traitorous plot to dethrone her
beloved queen. Suspicious that her old enemy,
Melisande Shahrozai has resurfaced, Phèdre uses
her considerable beauty and talent to find a traitor
and save both her queen and Terre D'Ange,
her beloved country.
Phèdre no Delauney is a most unusual heroine. She finds pain pleasurable, which leads to some pretty kinky after-hours entertainment. Phèdre is sworn to the service of the god Naamah, and she uses her courtesan's wiles to great effect, both in her professional and personal life. Phèdre's world is an exotic, sensual and violent one, reminiscent of the High Renaissance, but with some interesting and unusual religious twists ("Love as thou wilt" as a guiding precept, for example). The descriptions of the settings are vivid and lush, and the characters are well-drawn. This is a fascinating, dark and erotic series which will appeal to fans of Anne Rice.
Return to Book Reviews Index
More from Writers Write
Stephen King Quotes
quotes from the master
quotes from the master
Grammar Tips
improve your writing
improve your writing
Writing Prompts
spark your creativity
spark your creativity