Fantasy Remedy

It's been some tough times out there for fantasy readers - or at least for this one. I can't really seem to find any authors out there that I like besides my usual. Sure, I've tried some other books, but I can't really get into that earnest, Celtic-esque fantasy stuff. I'm tired of the usual fantasy stereotypes - as I'm sure many fantasy readers are. Fortunately, I have found the remedy!

The remedy is a read through the delightful little book: The Tough Guide to Fantasy Land by Diana Wynne Jones. This is a must-read for anyone who is tired of the usual fantasy stereotypes and is looking for a little fun with their fantasy. The Guide is just that - a guide of the usual fantasy subjects. The reader takes on the persona of a tourist who is undertaking a guided tour through fantasy. This little book is the guide. You are provided with a map and a helpful set of definitions of the various people (Minions of the Dark Lord) and places (Citadels) you might encounter in Fantasy Land, what you might eat (Stew), what you might wear (Boots), and what you might do for fun (Fights) (Scurvy) (Incident).

Now, I'm not always one for humour in my fantasy, but Wynne Jones very nicely deflates some of the pomposity surrounding the usual fantasy tropes with her definitions. In short, she really "takes the piss" out of some of the tired traditions of fantasy novels. The definitions are quite clever and the book is very interesting to flip through. At times, her references to Management (who is running your tour of Fantasy Land) put in mind of Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next universe and I couldn't help but think of tours running in the behind-the-scenes of some of my favourite fantasy novels, and some of the classics (like Lord of the Rings).

It is clear that Wynne Jones loves fantasy, and loves to poke fun at it. What kind of genre is it that can't poke fun at itself? This is a good browse for those of you who are tired of fantasy and for those of us who love it despite itself.

Fantastical Swords

I think I may have mentioned today's featured book on this blog before, but I don't think I've given it a starring role. If I have, let me know! Today's great read is The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley.

Now, we all know that McKinley is one of my favourite fantasy authors. It has to be her great characters and storytelling ability. You identify with and are interested in her characters. You want to know what happens to them. You are pulled in to their story.

The story of The Blue Sword is a sort-of sequel to The Hero and the Crown. I say sequel because the book occurs in the same land and among the same people as The Hero and the Crown. Indeed, Aerin (the heroine of The Hero and the Crown) makes an appearance in this book. I say sort-of because the book takes place many years after Aerin's adventures.

The book begins with Harry Crewe's (short for Angharad) arrival in Daria at the fort where her brother is stationed with the army. Harry's father has just died and she is now an orphan. She has nowhere to go except to be with her brother and the lead diplomat, Sir Charles, of the new Homelander colony of Daria, is kind enough to take her in. Harry does not miss Home, and comes to love the harsh, desert-like surroundings of her new home.

However, there is trouble in Daria. The people of the North are trying to push over the hills and into the province. The original inhabitants of Daria, the Hillfolk, are trying to push them back with all their might, both magical and military. Their King, Corlath, comes to the fort to ask for the army's assistance. He is refused, but sees Harry. There is magic afoot, and Corlath knows that Harry is the key to something bigger. Harry must come live with the Hillfolk and learn their ways. Her presence is essential to halting the North.

I really love this book. I love the quiet stubbornness of Harry and her practical realism. I love the intertwining of magic with colonialism: Harry's homeland of Home sounds nothing more like Victorian England, and Daria as one of it's colonies. Yet the people of these colonies have magic, and ride fabulous horses, and live in tents. I enjoy Harry's journey. Everything is new to her and so we experience it for the first time too. It is neat to check back in with the people of Daria and see what changes have happened since Aerin's time, and hear the myths that have grown up about the events that occurred in The Hero and the Crown.

This is a great fantasy read for anyone who loves horses, swordplay, the desert, and magic. Further, it is just a great story. That is what pulls me into a novel is the great story. This story happens to be fantasy, but it is a great story nonetheless. I highly recommend this book - it is very enjoyable and an excellent read.

The Legend of King Arthur

In addition to my recent read about Robin Hood, I also read a book based (loosely) on that most famous of British legends: King Arthur. Hexwood by Diana Wynne Jones uses the Arthurian legend as a jumping-off point for a very interesting story.

Hexwood is a very confusing book to describe. And to read, actually. I have had to read it a number of times and it's only recently that I think I've started to get it. It's easier to put the pieces together on a reread.

There are two entwined stories in Hexwood. The first is a story about a young girl named Ann who is recovering from a long illness. Ann lives in a small English village near the industrial complex of Hexwood Farm and the forest of Banners Wood. Something strange is going on at Hexwood Farm and Ann is determined to find out what it is. The only way into the Farm is through Banners Wood, and that is where Ann goes as soon as she is feeling better. However, what Ann encounters in Banners Wood is even stranger than what she thought she was seeing happen at Hexwood Farm.

The second story involves an intergalactic organization that appears to be in control of Earth, as well as a number of other planets. Who are the members of the mysterious Reigner Organization and how are they connected with Earth? What is this mysterious device located in Hexwood Farm and how is it affecting the inhabitants of Ann's village? And, finally, how is King Arthur connected to these two very distinct stories?

I told you it was confusing. I suppose I could be slightly more clear, but I've only just figured it out myself. I think. Plus, I think it would spoil the book too much if I gave away the answers I have before you've read it. With this book, I think the reader should go in knowing little and try and figure it out along the way - that's more fun anyway! Time, plot, and characters are all confusing in this book. But I don't mind being confused - I like that the author assumes that I am smart enough to figure everything out - after a few readings. If you are interested in fantasy, sci-fi, and the legend of King Arthur, read this book. Let me know your thoughts and theories and we can discuss our ideas together.

If you're just interested in King Arthur without an extra layer of fantasy/sci-fi, the best modern adaption (that I have read, anyway) is by Rosemary Sutcliffe. Her brief, spare retellings contain the full essence of the myth without any overdramatization. Her books are good to learn the basic facts. If you want a more detailed and imaginative look into the Arthurian realm, you can try Guinevere, Queen of the Summer Stars by Persia Woolley. This book is one of a series that looks at the Arthurian legends from Guinevere's point of view. They are excellent reading. And, finally, I recently picked up Gwenhwyfar: The White Spirit, by Mercedes Lackey, from the library. I'm curious to see how the Queen of Fantasy interprets the stories of Arthur.

Fantasy Women

Part of my usual evening Internet-surfing ritual involves checking out the Jezebel website. Even though it's sadly gone downhill since the redesign, it's a still an interesting site to check out for current events with a feminist focus. The best part is the commenters - they are witty and wonderful!

Anyway, I was reading the Jezebel website and came across this interesting article: http://ca.jezebel.com/5792290/in-game-of-thrones-review-new-york-times-explains-women-hate-fantasy-novels. (And, yes, I know there is a way to link a link in text and I tried it in html and it didn't work. You'll just have to copy and paste into your browser.) Basically, the NY Times writer thinks that women dislike fantasy, so that is why the new fantasy miniseries on HBO, Game of Thrones, has to put in all the romance and stuff, or women will never watch. (Never mind the fact that apparently all the romance is already in the book - which I have not read.) (But have put on hold at the library!)

As an avid fantasy reader who is also female, I obviously think that the writer is wrong. It is true that not all women like fantasy. But that is true about nearly every genre of books! Not all women like historical fiction/romance/true crime/gardening/non-fiction/chick-lit/mystery/insert genre here books. There are a wide variety of women out there, with a wide variety of tastes in books. Some of those women will like fantasy books. Some of those women will not.

I happen to be a woman who likes fantasy. I like it because it takes me to a world that is not my own. When I read, I don't want to read about everyday problems - I have enough of my own to deal with. I'd rather read about the kinds of problems people in fantasy novels encounter: sorcerers, magicians, dragons, knights, and the like. The problems in fantasy novels are always so much greater than my own: there are kingdoms to save, worlds to establish, evil to vanquish. These books make my minor annoyances about the crowded train vanish - or at least make bearable for awhile.

Fantasy is not the exclusive preserve of either men or women. Both parties can read and enjoy fantasy novels. Fantasy novels don't have to be altered to attract women either: not every fantasy reader likes every fantasy writer. I quite like Mercedes Lackey, Anne McCaffrey, Tamora Pierce, and Robin McKinley. Other people may hate these writers - and that's okay!

The writer of the piece says that women aren't interested in fantasy because they are busy reading other kinds of "book-club" type novels. (Ones with big, important themes that tend to be read for book-clubs.) Or, at least, the author has never met a woman who would rather read fantasy than a book by Lorrie Moore. (I had to look her up - she's an award winning short story writer.) Maybe the author is just not meeting the right kind of people. I think she needs to expand her book-club and add some women with different points of view. Women who like fantasy/sci-fi/romance/mystery books. Try reading outside your genre for awhile - you might like it!

Basically, all I am trying to say is that many women like and love fantasy novels. For me, it's because they offer more escapism and enjoyable plots than many contemporary fiction works. I have not read Game of Thrones, but do admit that it sounded like the type of book I would be interested in. I have put it on hold at the library, and I'm interested now to read it - especially since the NY Times author thinks I won't like it. Fantasy novels don't have to be adapted for TV/movies to appeal to women - many of them already do. In fact, I hope that my favourite fantasy stories will never make it to TV or film, so they won't get ruined by a producer trying to change what is so special about the story to make it more commercial. I love my fantasy novels, and I will continue reading them and writing about them.

The Underground

My second random fantasy/sci-fi pick was truly random - Mind the Gap: A Novel of the Hidden Cities by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon. The title was intriguing (it's no surprise that I'm an Anglophile!) and the description of the book equally so. I took it home.

Mind the Gap is about a street-wise London teen named Jazz (short for Jasmine). Jazz lives with her mother, as her father died when she was little. Jazz's mother is extremely paranoid and is extremely worried about security. She has taught Jazz to always be on her guard, to always be cautious, and to always have an escape route. Jazz, as a result, has the skills of a ninja.

These skills come in handy when Jazz returns home to find that the mysterious "Uncles" in black, who visit the family on occasion, have this time visited and murdered her mother. Her mother's last message to Jazz is the chilling warning to hide forever - written in blood. Jazz avoids detection and flees into London's Underground - the Tube stations and the dark areas below.

As it turns out, underground London is a warren of unused and old Tube tunnels, air-raid shelters, and other underground domiciles. There is a vast amount of space down there, some of it uninhabited, some not. Jazz meets some of the Underground's inhabitants - Harry and his band of misfit teenagers called the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is a rather successful group of thieves, and Harry recruits Jazz. Her well-developed stealth skills make her a natural thief, and Jazz begins to slowly integrate with the group.

However, life is not perfect for Jazz. She constantly worries that the Uncles will find her. She is also curious about the Underground itself: who are these mysterious ghosts that she sees? And where does the terrifying "Hour of Screams" come from? All these are clues to Jazz's mysterious past, and the unique role she must play in the present.

As the story goes on, Jazz meets another thief, Terry, who is looking for parts for a mysterious machine. This machine is connected to the ghosts and the memories and magic of London that haunts the Underground. Jazz's father is somehow connected to this mysterious machine and to the Uncles who are still searching for Jazz.

I have not tried to go into too much detail in my description of the book, and I have been deliberately vague about the ending and what happens after Jazz meets up with the United Kingdom. For a short book, there was a lot of plot packed inside it! The fantasy element of the book is interesting. When I first read the back of the book, I was wondering if it was more of a sci-fi novel - some sort of post-apocalyptic London and the kids of the United Kingdom were going to emerge and save the day. That is not so - the book is set in modern times. Other than Jazz's crazy upbringing, there doesn't seem to be any fantasy element to the book until Jazz goes to the Underground. Then, she begins to see ghosts of London's past - ghosts that are the key to the book itself.

The ghosts are really the main fantasy element of the book. I liked the idea that London has a "soul" almost - that the ghosts of London are caught in the Underground as memories of the city. I thought that was interesting and not something that has been really done before. The magic elements of the book at the end were not as interesting and a little confusing. That said, I think the transformation of Jazz the character by the end was interesting.

I enjoyed this book - it was a nice light read. I liked how the city of London itself really became a character, as opposed to just a setting. The way the book ends there can't really be a sequel about Jazz, and that's fine. There are other books in the "Hidden Cities" series, apparently, but I don't really have any great desire to read any of them. The book was an enjoyable read, but not especially memorable. I liked it, but wouldn't want to own it as I don't think I'd read it again.

That's what the library is for!

Magic

Last time I was at the library, I grabbed a few random fantasy books of the shelf to fulfill my New Year's resolution to read more fantasy. The books, however, were not that random, as I'd actually read one of them before! Fortunately, it improves upon a second reading.

The book I'd read before is Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones. Jones writes very interesting and eclectic fantasy/sci-fi novels. One of my favourites from her is Hexwood, which I picked up from the library's used book sale several years ago. It mixes Arthurian myths with sci-fi ideas and is completely brain-twisting; but very excellent. I highly recommend it.

I think brain-twisting is a good adjective to describe most of Jones' novels: certainly Deep Secret became clearer on a second reading. It is about a young man named Rupert Venables. Rupert is a Magid (as are his 2 brothers), and he lives on Earth, helping to maintain magical balance. He is a junior Magid until his senior Magid dies. Then Rupert has to search for a replacement junior Magid, while in the meantime dealing with a succession crisis in the Empire of Koryfos. It all gets slightly more confusing from there, until all of the main characters end up at a very strange sci-fi convention in a magically mysterious hotel.

On my first read of the book, I was quite confused by the Koryfos plot and its resolution (somehow involving centaurs?). I am happy to say that the book makes more sense on its second reading: I was able to follow the plots better and had a better understanding of what went on. Some characters improved over time: the character of Maree, for instance. Maree is one of Rupert's potential new junior Magids. However, upon first read, I quite disliked the character: especially for her propensity to stop her car in the middle of roads to do strange magical dances! But upon second reading, the character becomes more sympathetic. I think this is because Maree is much more sympathetic towards the end of the book. You remember this when you read it again, and so your sympathy for her colours your perception of her at the beginning of the book.

Jones creates a very interesting fantasy/magic/techy universe in Deep Secret. And while I wouldn't mind more stories about Rupert and Maree, I would also like to read stories set on other worlds within the same universe. I especially like her linking of magic and computers: I think that is very clever to have both magical ways of doing things, but also still have to rely on modern-day conveniences such as computers.

If you are a fantasy fan, I definitely recommend checking out either Deep Secret or Hexwood by Jones. I think I will try to check out some of her other books, now that I've read Deep Secret twice and Hexwood a few times. However, if her other books are anything like these two, I'm going to have to read the book a few times!

Glass

As part of my ongoing New Year's resolution to read more sci-fi/fantasy, I took a stroll through that section the last time I was at the library. I grabbed three random books off the shelf that intrigued me by title alone. Apparently, however, my memory for book titles is poor, as I ended up grabbing one that I'd already read. It was better the second time round. That is not the book I will be discussing today.

Today's book is the author's debut novel. It is more fantasy than sci-fi, and is cold and haunting. The book is The Girl with Glass Feet, by Ali Shaw. Do you see why I grabbed the book? With a title like that, who could pass it by?

The book is set in the cold and lonely archipelago of St. Hauda's Land, which appears to be north of another highly populated island. While at times I thought St. Hauda's Land read like Newfoundland, I believe the archipelago is a fictionalized version of either the Shetland islands (an island group north of Scotland near to Norway) or the Faroe islands (an island group northwest of Scotland and near to Iceland). Both island groups are remote and northerly, like the fictional St. Hauda's Land.

The titular girl with glass feet is Ida Maclaird. She visited the islands last summer when they were warm and the sky was blue. She has returned now in the cold, grey winter to find a cure: her feet are slowly turning into glass. Ida meets Midas Crook on the island - a lonely and strange young man who sees the world through his camera lens. Ida and Midas form an unlikely bond as she attempts to stop and reverse the growth of glass.

But it is not just about Ida and Midas: Shaw reveals the stories of Midas' father and mother and Ida's father and mother with flashbacks woven throughout. The islands are small, and everyone is interconnected. Decisions made in the past will have implications on decisions made by Midas and Ida in the present. It is not just a story about a girl whose feet are turning into glass, it is a story about St. Hauda's Land and the people who live there.

The story is strange and haunting. The fantasy portions of the novel don't hit you over the head with their uniqueness, but are woven into the fabric of the story. The fantastical is made matter-of-fact. Ida is an everyday, likeable character - except for the fact that her feet are turning into glass. Does she find a way to stop it? I'm not going to give away the ending of the book - except to say that the answer to that question is almost immaterial to the novel. I was not quite expecting the ending that did happen, but looking back at the book I probably should have been prepared.

The Girl with Glass Feet is an intriguing and interesting book. When reading it, I had to keep checking my own feet to ensure that they were not turning into glass. I don't think that this is a book that everyone will enjoy, but it is a good read nonetheless. It piqued my curiosity and caught my attention. I will be interested to see what this unique young writer will do next.

Fantasy Shorts

For someone who said she didn't really read short stories, I certainly seem to have been reading enough of them lately. My latest foray into short stories is in the realm of fantasy, in the collection Harvest Moon.

Harvest Moon features three short stories (almost novellas, really) from Mercedes Lackey, Michelle Sagara, and Cameron Haley. I took the book out from the library to read the next story in Mercedes Lackey's 500 Kingdoms series. However, I think I have discovered two new amazing fantasy authors as well.

The first story is Lackey's: "A Tangled Web" and seems to pick up right where her last book leaves off with the characters Leopold and Brunnhilde. Of course, it's been forever since I read that last book and I could not, for the life of me, remember exactly who these characters were or anything about how they met. There have been a lot of books between then and now. Fortunately, I don't think in-depth knowledge of the previous story is required to enjoy the current story.

And I did enjoy it. Lackey turns her pen to the Greek gods and goddesses, denizens of the Kingdom of Olympia. As you may recall, the 500 Kingdoms are watched over by a network of Fairy Godmothers. However, there are no Godmothers in Olympia because the gods and goddesses are there. But they are not as careful as the Godmothers are! Lackey approaches the myth of Persephone and Hades with new eyes, and gives it a fresh new retelling. She ties it together with the Orpheus and Eurydice myth in the characters of Brunnhilde and Leopold.

Despite all the positives inherent in the story, I had some misgivings. I think the volume was probably rushed to press; better editing is needed of Lackey's work. Also, the plot was enough for a full-length novel. I feel that she wasted a novel plot on a short story. At times, there was just too much exhibition and a paragraph of dialogue would sum up some exciting plot lines that could have carried a chapter or two of a novel. I hope her next 500 Kingdoms effort is a full novel.

The second short story in the collection is "Cast In Moonlight" by Michelle Sagara - who lives in Toronto! The story is about a mysterious young girl named Kaylin. Captured by the Hawks (some sort of police squad) she is recruited into their ranks and asked to help solve a deadly crime.

I enjoyed this book very much. It is true fantasy: there are lion-people and bird-people and mind readers and magicians. But it also reads like a police procedural at times: the Hawks is like a police force, the bodies are taken to the morgue for an autopsy (both real and magical), and there are files to organize. I thought her use of mirror-magic for the Internet/telephone was very clever. One minor quibble - the back of the book says something about Kaylin helping in a "child prostitution sting" and I didn't get that at all from the story. I'm still not entirely sure what happened, but I don't think child prostitution had anything to do with it. Child slavery, sure. Child prostitution? Not so much. It was not explicitly stated in the story nor was it implied; at least in my reading.

Despite that very minor quibble I enjoyed this story. I enjoyed this new world created by Sagara and her ability to unite the mundane (police procedurals) with the fantastical (bird-people). I will be reading more books by this author.

The final story was "Retribution" by Cameron Haley and can be described thusly: Magic meets the Mob. It is a story about a gang in California. But a gang that uses magic. And about one woman in particular: Domino Riley. She is a hitwoman for the underworld - but her underworld includes magic.

This was a fun read - not fluffy, but fun. It is grounded securely in the present day with the addition of magic. There are magical explanations for gang signs and graffiti. A hitman/woman needs to be just as proficient with magic as with a gun. It was quite an enjoyable read - I like the mix of fantasy with realism. I would never read a mob/gang novel all on its own, but add the dash of magic/fantasy, and I'm in. I will also be reading more of Haley's books in the future.

Sometimes, as a reader, it's important to open your mind and try something you would never have read otherwise. I wasn't going to read this short story collection, but I am glad I did. I have discovered two new excellent fantasy authors whom I would never have known about otherwise.

Pottermania

With the release of the first half of movie version of J. K. Rowling's last Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (the second half will be out in the summer), Harry Potter has been back in the news. I'm very excited about the new movie coming up and hope to see it in theatres soon - although not too soon as to avoid crowds.

Recently J.K. Rowling commented to the effect that she would not be adverse to writing a new book set in the Harry Potter universe - although she explained that the book would not feature Harry Potter prominently or at all, therefore allowing Daniel Radcliffe the ability to continue his adult career unimpeded (I suppose this presumes that the book would be immediately turned into a movie - given Rowling's unprecedented success, that appears highly likely.)

I did enjoy the Harry Potter series and I own the last three books. I enjoyed how it morphed from a likeable series about a young wizard into a full-blown dramatic epic about the battle between good and evil. I even enjoyed the movies too - they were mostly spot-on except for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: too much time spent on the first challenge with the dragon and a whole sequence that didn't appear in the book which meant that other parts of the book had to be shortened or ignored altogether. Just follow the story - the books are already jam-packed with adventure and nothing new is needed. Don't add new things that only serve to take away from the story already contained in the book!

Anyway, a rant about the movie is not the point of this post. The point is: would you be interested in reading more about the Harry Potter world? And, if so, who should Rowling write about? There has been a lot of discussion on this topic at the Entertainment Weekly website lately, and it seems that most of the commenters are split between two possibilities: a sequel with Harry's and Ron's kids at Hogwarts; or a prequel about Harry's parents at Hogwarts. My first reaction when I heard of Rowling's plans was that I would enjoy a prequel. So much of what happened in the Harry Potter series had its roots in the past, so I would like to see that explored. And I agree with the commentators who have suggested that the prequel should be narrated by Harry's mom Lily. That would be a nice change. Although in that case you may not get into all the mischief that Harry's dad got into - so perhaps two books - one narrated by Lily and one by James?

I am not really interested in a sequel about Harry's kids - seeing who their dad was and what happened to him, they'd have a lot to live up to and some pretty tremendous adventures would have to happen to them. I'm happy to leave them where Rowling does at the end of book 7.

Some other interesting suggestions have been made: a book of short stories about various adventures in the lives of various characters (such as Luna, Neville, Snape, James, Lily and so on). That would be interesting in that we would get to meet a bunch of new characters and get little snippets of their lives. There's also been a lot of interest in Neville - many people seem to think that this character was underutilized and has this rich, interesting backstory that never really was fully explored. It would be interesting to hear the Potter story from Neville's point of view. Another intriguing option that I have heard was to rewrite the Potter books from the point of view of another student, maybe a minor character on the edge of the Potter series or even a new character - someone in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. We'd get to see all of Potter's adventures from a new set of eyes, and see how the other students viewed the happenings. Of course, that wouldn't be as epic as the Potter series since Harry Potter was the epicentre of the series - he was the focal point because the adventures were happening to him, not to anyone else.

So, Potterphiles, what would you like to read if Rowling writes another in the Potter universe? Sequel, prequel, or a story about someone else? Let's discuss this in the comments below.

Two Beauties

I love fairy tales. Fairy tales were some of my favourite reading as a child and I am so glad that many adult writers are taking these fairy tales and spinning them into full-length adult novels. (As an aside, I thought I'd point out that the books I discuss below are both filed under teen - but they can be enjoyed by adults too!) One of my favourite fantasy writers, Robin McKinley, has done just that with the classic fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast". However, McKinley's case is unique - she has written two very different versions of the fairy tale. I cannot recall any other author returning to the same inspiration and subject matter as an already published (and critically acclaimed) novel. I've read both versions and thought it would be interesting to read them back to back. Here are the results.

Both novels follow the familiar lines of the tale - merchant with three daughters loses all his wealth and must leave the big city for a small town. Beauty adapts cheerfully to the surroundings while the evil sisters whine. Father eventually returns to the city as a lost ship has come in. He is unable to get roses for his daughter Beauty in the city and returns home. On the way home he is lost in a storm and takes shelter at a magnificent palace. Upon leaving the next day, he plucks a rose, thereby incurring the wrath of the Beast, who demands a daughter in return. Beauty volunteers and goes to live with the Beast at the castle. Despite his ugly and terrifying appearance, Beauty senses his good heart underneath. Yet she misses her family and must return. However, once she returns to her family, she realizes that she loves the Beast and returns to his castle only to find him dying. She declares her love for him, which releases the spell and turns the Beast back into a man. The evil sisters are punished and Beauty marries her de-enchanted prince and lives happily ever after.

Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty & the Beast is McKinley's first attempt at the tale. It was published in 1978, at the beginning of her career as a writer. From the very beginning the unique and reflective voice of the narrator grabs you. The story is told in first person from Beauty's point of view, and she is an excellent story-teller. Beauty's real name is Honour, but she disliked the name and renamed herself Beauty as a child. She is stubborn and studious - an excellent and voracious reader. Her two elder sisters are also virtues personified - Grace and Hope. However, unlike the fairy tale, Grace and Hope are kind, gentle and good. There is a close knit relationship between the sisters and their elderly merchant father.

Beauty's eldest sister Grace is engaged to one of her father's shipmen, Robbie. When the merchant loses his fleet, Robbie is presumed dead. Hope also is engaged to one of her father's employments, a shipbuilder named Gervain. He wants to return to the area of the country where he grew up, and has accepted a job to work as a blacksmith in the town where his aunt lives. After the merchant loses his fleet, it is decided that Grace, Beauty, and their father will go with Gervain and Hope and live with them in the little town far away in the country.

The rest of the story proceeds as usual and Beauty is the sister that must travel to the Beast's castle. The castle and environs are lovingly described. Beauty is served by enchanted invisible servants, but eventually learns to understand their language and overhear their conversations.

At the castle, Beauty spends her days reading and studying, riding her horse Greatheart, and conversing with the Beast. After her natural fear for the Beast has worn off, she finds him an excellent companion. They read together and eat together - but the Beast spoils every meal by asking Beauty to marry him. She invariably replies no.

Beauty is homesick, but she understands that it is her duty to stay with the Beast. However, she has magical dreams that allow her to "peek in" on what is happening to her family. The Beast shows her how he is able to send her these visions, and Beauty sees one of the city - Robbie and his ship have come back alive! Grace is unknowing, and is being pushed into marriage with the young minister by her sister Hope. Beauty knows she must return and stop Grace's engagement to the minister by letting her know that her true love Robbie has returned. The Beast is reluctant, but lets Beauty go.

As before, Beauty does not realize her love for the Beast until it is almost too late. Fortunately, the story ends happily, as Beauty confesses her love for the Beast, saving his life and breaking the enchantment. The book ends with the promise of a triple ceremony - Grace and Robbie, Beauty and the Beast, and Beauty's father and Gervain's aunt Melinda.

This is one of my favourite fairy tale retellings. The story grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let you go. Beauty is an engaging and interesting heroine. Her intelligence shines through the page. She is not the sappy sweet princess of most fairy tales - she is a unique, interesting, and intelligent person. The novel follows the fairy tale for the most part, but I enjoy the sisters being friendly to each other, instead of having two evil sisters. This is a lovely and delightful tale.

Rose Daughter is McKinley's second novelization of the "Beauty and the Beast" fairytale. It was published in 1997 and contains an afterward explaining why McKinley returned to the fairy tale that she'd already told. She had more to say about the story in general, and roses in particular.

This tale is not told in the first person, so immediately there is distance between the characters and the reader. I think I prefer the first person narration of Beauty instead. Another difference that one notices right away is that there is a lot more magic in this novel. Lashings of magic, even. While magic was implied in Beauty and definitely came into the novel in the Beast's castle, there did not seem to be that much magic in everyday life. There is a lot more everyday magic in Rose Daughter.

Again, of course, the book follows the story. The three sisters are Lionheart (brave and fierce), Jeweltongue (witty and quick-spoken) and Beauty. Beauty in this book is not the strong, intelligent heroine that she is in Beauty. That is not to say that she is dumb - she is not! She is just not of the same scholarly bent as the first Beauty. This Beauty is kind, and good, and patient, and sweet. Not quite sickly sweet, but almost there. I think I prefer the first Beauty to the second Beauty.

There is also a greater emphasis on roses in this tale. Roses in this world are almost a magical flower and require magic to grow. They are very rare. Beauty is an avid gardener - a talent she puts to good use when the father and sisters must leave the city. They settle at Rose Cottage - a property left to them in a will by an old woman. Lionheart becomes the cook, and then disguises herself as a man to work in the stables at the local squire's house. Jeweltongue becomes a seamstress and is soon taking in work from all over the village. Beauty gardens. She manages to restore the vegetable garden to its former glory, but is confused by all the thorny shrubs planted around the house and in the garden. However, they bloom, and Beauty realizes they are roses. (The reader will have already figured this out.)

When Beauty is sent to live with the Beast, she discovers a glasshouse full of dead rosebushes on the property. She makes it her task to restore the roses and get them to regrow. The glasshouse is the only friendly part of the Beast's castle. The castle in this tale is much more mysterious and malevolent than in the first tale. And what of the Beast? He is darker in this one - a little more like a romantic hero - tall, dark, and melancholy. He cares for Beauty, but I think their connection is not as developed as in the first tale.

Beauty has to return suddenly home when she discovers that the squire's evil son is going to expose Lionheart as a girl and will reveal a mysterious "curse" involving three sisters who live at Rose Cottage that will disrupt the family's peace. She returns home, only to find that while she has been gone only a week, her family has been without her for 7 months. Beauty comes home and reassures her sisters that she will be alright. She must return before the last petal falls on the rose. Because time moves differently between the two worlds, she nearly misses her opportunity to return. However, she does return to tell the Beast she loves him, and face off against the forces of darkness before she and the Beast can be happily ever after (with a slight twist to the usual ending that I'm not sure I entirely approve of).

By now you will probably have come to the conclusion that I prefer Beauty to Rose Daughter. Yes, you would be correct! There is more of a sens of humour to the first book - it is a little more lighthearted in places and Beauty is able to laugh at herself. The Beauty in Rose Daughter is quite a bit more serious. The setting is a little more serious too - the castle is darker and more actively malevolent than in the first book, where it was just magically sterile. But on the whole, I prefer Beauty to Rose Daughter, even after reading them back-to-back. Beauty's visit home in Beauty is more practical than in Rose Daughter. In Beauty, Beauty must return to prevent her sister from marrying the wrong man. In Rose Daughter, Beauty returns because she is homesick. But she has only been gone 7 days! And then she returns home, is there for maybe 15 minutes, and then magically returns back to the Beast's castle. She only returns because it is mandated by the fairy tale, it seems, and not because the author wanted her to. So the return of Beauty in the second book is somewhat forced.

Further, I greatly prefer the first Beauty to the second Beauty. This may be a function of the narrative changes - first person vs. third person. You get to know the Beauty of the first book better and she is a much more well rounded character than the Beauty of the second book, who is just a little too good and sweet to be true. Beauty of the first book has a little more humour, a well-developed sense of irony, and can laugh at herself. Beauty of the second book is quite serious, and sweet and patient and uncomplaining. A nice character, to be sure, but not as interesting to read about as the first Beauty.

However, whether you read Beauty, Rose Daughter, or both, I do urge you to read one of them. Both books show McKinley's skill at creating a memorable, magical world. And if you read both, let me know what you think of Beauty and Rose Daughter. Which did you prefer?

I will end slightly off topic. Sometimes I take photos of book for my blog on the table, sometimes I take them on the floor. However, when taking them from the floor, sometimes I have a little feline assistance:

Seems my cats want in on the action too! (Or at least one of them.) Sometimes they sit in front of my monitor too - a little difficult then to see what I'm writing. However, I'll forgive them as long as they continue to sit on my lap and purr as I'm reading all the great stories for this blog.

Fantastical Bees

This weekend I reread a beautiful story by one of my most favourite fantasy authors ever - Robin McKinley. Instead of writing vast series about one particular land, McKinley writes lovely little books about different lands and very rarely continues a series. Each fantasy world is perfectly imagined and completely draws you in. The book I read this weekend was Chalice.

Now, I don't want to say too much about this book. I want you to read and experience it like I did - not too sure what is going on, but picking up how things work and the clues along the way. Learning along with the character, actually, because Mirasol has unexpectedly found herself in a position of importance in her land. The reader grows with Mirasol as she discovers how to use her newfound abilities.

I do, I suppose, have to tell you a little bit about the book or you probably won't read it. It reads like a myth or chronicle of old and the story just sweeps you along as it goes. And when it ends, you are sad at the ending and want more - not necessarily of Mirasol, but more stories from other parts of this land - stories referred to in the chronicles so poured over by Mirasol. There is a dreamy quality to this work that I quite like. It really helps to pull you in to McKinley's lovely little world.

Mirasol is a resident of Willowlands - one portion (demesne) of an unnamed kingdom. The king oversees the demesnes with an Overlord. Each individual demesne is ruled over by a Master with the assistance of a Chalice and a Circle. The Circle is a group of advisers that help the Master govern his demesne. The Chalice is something special. The position of Chalice appears to always be held by a woman, and is tied to liquid in some form - usually wine or water. This liquid is carried in a special cup (or chalice) held by the Chalice and served by her at all important meetings. The Chalice will mix in different herbs and put stones in the bottom of the cup depending upon the nature of the meeting and the participants of the meeting. The purpose of the cup is to help bind the decisions made at the meeting, to tie the people closer to their land, or to help calm and strengthen the participants. Mirasol is the new Chalice and is young and inexperienced. She is a beekeeper and harvests honey from her fantastical bees. Mirasol is a honey Chalice - which is unusual.

The Master whom Mirasol serves is unusual as well. When he was younger, he was sent to the Elemental Priesthood of Fire by his older (and possibly jealous) brother (the then-Master). The brother was a bad Master and he and his Chalice died in terrible circumstances, leaving no heir other than the young man at the Elemental Priesthood of Fire. At the Priesthood, the Master has been studying the ways of fire. And in his studies, he has been transformed. He is no longer entirely human, but not yet entirely a Priest of Fire. He is caught between the two worlds, but he is now Master of Willowlands and must try to bind his demesne together.

But the book is about more than just those bare facts. The book is about ownership and the ties that bind landowners to their land. It is about bees, and honey. It is about learning, and growing. It is about sacrifice. It is about love.

This is a lovely little gem of a book that will leave you wanting more - another glimpse into the lives of other Chalices and other Masters in other demesnes. It doesn't succumb to the usual Celtic-Middle Earth cliches that so much fantasy writing falls into. It is its own unique creation. It is a beautiful, lovely story by a master of fantasy fiction.

For those of you wanting information about real bees, as opposed to Mirasol's fictional and fantastical bees, check out this great bee blog for more information: http://www.edmontonsnewbees.blogspot.com/

Grown-up Fairy Tales

Much to my great surprise, the new Mercedes Lackey book in her 500 Kingdoms series came in to the library the other day. I had put it on hold in April and wasn't expecting it so soon. I love this series: it is light-hearted and full of romance and adventure, with a twist on the traditional fairy tales. I don't think you ever get too old for fairy tales and I love reading books that take the traditional tales we all grew up with and expand the stories to a full length novel; often with a few twists along the way.

Mercedes Lackey gives the traditional fairy tales her storyteller's polish in her 500 Kingdoms series. The premise for the series is this (and I'm not giving anything away, this basic introduction is woven into every book - although perhaps not right away in the first one): the 500 Kingdoms are various lands which are governed by the Tradition. Call it fate, call it predestination - this is an external force that governs the lives of the residents of the 500 Kingdoms. Basically, the Tradition follows traditional fairy tales and tries to force the lives of residents whose lives already match certain factors in the fairy tales down the path of the fairy tale. So, for example, if you are a young woman whose father has recently remarried to a lady with two daughters of her own, the Tradition is setting you up to follow the Cinderella path. Hopefully, you will find your Prince and live happily ever after. But what if your Prince is too young, too old, already married, or gay? The Tradition will still try and force the traditional path to happen, leading to misery for the unwilling participants. These participants with the Tradition hanging over them are also a focal point for magic. Dark magicians can drain the magic from the people, leading to more misery and unhappiness. Fortunately, the 500 Kingdoms have Godmothers, whose job it is to watch over the lands and help direct the Tradition when things are about to go awry.

The most recent book is The Sleeping Beauty, where Lackey ties together elements of Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and the Rings of the Nibelungen. There is a princess, a prince, actually, several princes, some dwarves, and a fairy godmother to save the day. And yes, there is a romance, but you'll have to read it to find which prince wins the hand of the fair princess! Lackey's characters are not stereotypical fairy-tale characters - they are well-rounded and interesting. This was an enjoyable, quick read. Maybe not the best literature out there, but entertaining. I would recommend reading the other books in the series prior to this one, but that is not necessary as the books stand alone to a certain extent (although characters from other stories pop up from time to time). I appreciated how Lackey tied together three different fairy tales/myths that I'd never thought about together before. Both Snow White and Sleeping Beauty involve sleeping princesses, and it was interesting to see Lackey take those elements and twist them in her tale.

One interesting note: in her introduction to the novel, Lackey mentions the writer Terry Pratchett and seems to imply that she was going for Pratchett-type humour in her book. I must say I groaned at that mention. I am not a Terry Pratchett fan and really fail to find his books funny. I've even owned a few of his books and they were okay, but not laugh-out-loud funny. Fortunately for me (but perhaps not for Ms. Lackey) I failed to find the Pratchett-type humour in the novel at all. Maybe the lisping unicorn was supposed to be funny, but I didn't find it so. A little annoying to read, yes (fortunately the beast does not have that much dialogue) but funny, no. Further, these were originally meant to be a series of romance novels (which is clearly evident in the first novel, less so as the series goes on) and I would rather focus on the romance of the fairy tales and not the humour.

All in all, I would recommend Lackey's 500 Kingdoms series. You don't have to, but I do recommend reading them in order: The Fairy Godmother, One Good Knight, Fortune's Fool, and The Snow Queen. She is a very prolific writer, so there are already several books even though the first was only published in 2004. My only sad note involves the next in the series - it will be published in October 2010 (hurray) but it will only be a novella (boo!) and included in the Harvest Moon anthology. I wish it was a book as I'm not sure I will be bothered to hunt down an anthology in which I probably only read the one novella. I do like the series though, so maybe I'll console myself with getting all the novels in paperback (and then a new bookshelf!).

Here Be Dragons

Finally, some of the books that I've had on hold at the library forever came in. And, I seem to have noticed a theme in my reading lately - dragons. Yes, even the non-fantasy book Girl With a Dragon Tattoo fits that category. However, these giant denizens of the fictional bestiary are part of the fantasy realm. Sometimes, one just needs some true escapist fiction. So, which literary dragons have I been slaying?

I have been rereading several books in the Dragons of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey. I was first introduced to her works by my mother, who owned several of the Dragon paperbacks. It was only recently that I realized that some of the books were organized into trilogies, as I'd just read the books in any order. The two that are my favourites, and the ones I most recently read, are Dragonsong and Dragonsinger. These two follow the trials and travails of Menolly, a citizen of a harbour town of Pern, blessed with a distinct gift of music that her family seems determined to smother. I enjoyed reading about Menolly; she is a likeable character and (to give part of the plot away) her time at Harper Hall is very interesting and well done. Sadly, I don't like the third book in the series, Dragondrums, quite as much. It focuses on Piemur, a friend of Menolly's from the Harper Hall. In recently re-reading the books I realized that I would have much rather read a third book on Menolly and her life as a journeyman harper, instead of suddenly switching characters to Piemur, who was only introduced in the second book.

The two I borrowed from the library are The White Dragon and Dragonflight, both of which I've read before, but not lately. I will let you know my thoughts on them shortly. They are books one and three of the Dragonriders of Pern series, but I don't think one necessarily has to read the books in order.

What other fantastical dragons have appeared lately in my reading? Mercedes Lackey, a truly original and prolific fantasy author, recently wrote about dragons in One Good Knight, one in her new 500 Kingdoms series. I really quite enjoy this series, and so it deserves a special blog posting of its own. If you wish to read that series, start out with The Fairy Godmother, as it explains the basic premise of the novels. The books are highly entertaining. Maybe they aren't great literature, but you will stay up late reading them!

Since I seem to have stumbled upon the dragon theme, I thought I would take a tour around my own bookshelves to locate further reading material once my current selections are finished. There isn't a lot about dragons on the historical shelf! However, to my great surprise, I found a number of books about dragons on my fiction shelves. I have discussed them below in no particular order.

Of course, one starts first with the great classic: The Hobbit. Many people know the tale of Bilbo Baggins and the band of dwarves on a quest to take the horde of treasure from the dragon Smaug. However, once one has read the Lord of the Rings, this nice little children's book takes on new dimensions. I haven't read it for awhile and it may be time to give it another go. I am not the type to read the Lord of the Rings every year like my brother, but a little Tolkein every now and again doesn't hurt. I think I've had my copy since I was about 10 and it is showing its age: the spine is lined and the edges of the front and back covers are rounded.

A curious young adult book that somehow ended up in my collection is Dragon's Blood, by Jane Yolen. It is a short, small book about a boy who wants to train a dragon to fight in the dragon-fights. I believe it is supposed to be the start or part of a series, but I just have the one book. I haven't read it in years, so I think it's time I had another look and investigated the possibility of a series.

Another interesting fantasy novel about dragons is Ladylord by Sasha Miller. What makes this book interesting is that it approaches fantasy and fantastical animals, such as dragons, from an Eastern/Oriental perspective. Most fantasy, whether or not about dragons, seems to stem from Celtic/English based roots and a dream of Merrie Olde Englande. However, Ladylord sets its fantasy in a world that seems to be based in Chinese/Japanese roots, which makes it a welcome change. Sadly, I have never come across another book by Sasha Miller, which is a shame as she is an excellent author. Maybe some research is in order there. I'll add Ladylord to my what-to-read next pile.

Dragons are sort of mentioned in A Wind at the Door, one of Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quartet featuring the Murray family. However, since dragons aren't the central theme, I think I will put L'Engle aside to another day (and a blog post all of its own!).

I own a terrific fantasy novel called The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley. Again, it approaches fantasy from a different perspective; sort of a colonial-Victorian-Arab-desert mix. It does not talk about dragons. So why is it on the list? Well, the other book in that series, The Hero and The Crown, does talk about dragons. It is set in the same land as The Blue Sword, but at a different time period. For whatever reason, I own only one of the books in the series, not both. But I wasn't going to let that stop me from recommending a few good books, even if one of them is only tangentially connected to the subject of dragons.

And, finally, on even more of a tangent, a book that isn't really even about dragons at all, is the book Raptor Red, by Robert T. Bakker. No, it is not about a dragon. It is a fiction novel where the main character is a dinosaur. Yes, I know, dinosaurs are not dragons. However, they are as close as we are likely to get in this non-fantasy world! And, it is fiction. It is a story told entirely from the point of view of the dinosaur - she is the main character. Not fantasy - because there are no humans and dinosaurs living together, but fiction, because it is not a true story, although it is factual.

So there it is, my current dragon reading and my list of further suggestions on the topic. I also welcome any suggestions from my readers as to dragon books I should add to my quest. I'm always interested in reading new books and I'm sure I have missed plenty of good dragon books. Happy reading everyone!