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Fantasy
The term "fantasy" conjures up images of wizards performing great feats of magic, barbarians with rippling muscles wielding massive swords, and mighty dragons flying through the air setting villages aflame. As two new books demonstrate, this description only covers a small portion of the genre. |
REVIEWS BY STEVEN H. SILVER
When the novel opens, King Liam of Torenth has just reached his majority after serving in Kelson's court as a squire for four years. Kelson is preparing to travel with Liam to Beldhour, the Torenthi capital, for Liam's coronation. Most of the novel is taken up with this mission to Beldhour and the political intrigues that ensue. An attempt is made on the lives of the two kings, and Kelson and his comrades must decide who among the Torenthi they can trust. At the same time, Liam's accession to the throne raises the specter of Kelson's succession. In previous novels, Kelson has been on the verge of marriage twice. His first bride, Sidana, was assassinated by her brother before the union took place. The second potential mate, Rothana, still loves Kelson, but has elected to return to the church. On his journey to Torenth, he arranges to meet with his distant cousin Araxie to decide if marriage to her is a possibility. In King Kelson's Bride, Kurtz explores not only the Kingdom of Gwynedd, but also the world beyond, by sending her characters on a diplomatic mission. With this plot twist, she can show attitudes and practices which she had only alluded to in earlier novels.
By Katherine Kurtz Ace Books, $22.95 ISBN 0441007325
De Lint's attitude seems to be summed up by the character Donal Greer, who points out that "there's magic everywhere you turn, if you pay attention to it. Little miracles, like your being in the right place at the right time. . . ." His magical world is populated by people trying to find their place in the world. In Forests of the Heart, those people can be artists, musicians, or the Gentry, the spirits of Ireland who have migrated to North America. While the Gentry were considered dangerous in Ireland, in America they have become less desperate, using the artists of Kellygnow and their acquaintances to gain power over the local spirits, the manitou. Forests of the Heart spotlights de Lint's strength in creating strong, sympathetic characters, a realistic, slightly gritty world, and a powerful sense of magic.
by Charles de Lint Tor Books, $25.95 ISBN 0312865198
Steven Silver writes from Northbrook, Illinois.
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King Kelson's Bride is Katherine Kurtz's 13th novel set in the kingdom of Gwynedd. As with many fantasies, it has pseudo-medieval trappings. What sets Kurtz's writing apart is her understanding of the era's Byzantine political situations, which are often based on personal relationships. Despite the title, King Kelson's Bride focuses on these political mechanizations.
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Just as fantastic as Gwynedd is the land depicted in Charles de Lint's Forests of the Heart, although de Lint has elected to set his story in a version of the modern world. Unlike Gwynedd, where magic can be used and controlled, in de Lint's vision, magic underlies everything in the world, whether it is noticed or not.