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by(Tor, US$26, 350 pages, hardback; September 2003; ISBN: 0765308185.)Rating: "A". Near-perfect light, funny fantasy-California adventure stories. Kage Baker's first venture into book-length fantasy is out, and it's a winner. The setup: three linked novellas, opening with "The Caravan From Troon" (Asimov's, Aug 01) [note 1]. The scene: a fantasy-California (more or less). The star: "Smith", an assassin who's trying to change careers. The supporting cast: Lord Emenwyr, a sickly demigod, half- (or is it a quarter?) demon. Nurse Balnshik, Emenwyr's minder, 100% demon, but glamorous: "Do you know any other midwife who can also tear apart armored warriors with her bare, er, hands? Lovely and versatile." Mrs. Smith (no relation, note 2), two-time winner of the Troon Municipal Bakeoff, caravan cook and, later, co-owner of the Hotel Grandview, Salesh-by-the-Sea. -- and a host of Keymen, Runners, more Smiths, Yendri, bandits, barmen, demons, gods, parents, siblings.... Plus one yellow journalist, recently deceased. And a really, really dumb real-estate developer.
The inspiration: "The author would be remiss in not thanking the shades of Thorne Smith, Fritz Leiber, L. Sprague De Camp and Noel Coward for their inspiration; but primarily this world owes its existence to stories made up in preliterate childhood, when the author peered at Maxfield Parrish's fantasy illustrations and tried to imagine what they represented..." I should add that Anvil reads something like a Pratchett novel, if Pterry were a native Californian and had a Vancian knack for lush description. The wide-screen plot and wiseass characters are Baker originals. Not to mention Lord Ermenwyr's verbal-abuse death-duel.... Do give the book a chance to get moving, as the introduction is largely scene-setting, and it's a bit slow-moving. And the episodic, "fix-up" structure has annoyed some readers (not me). Otherwise, it's a near-perfect light fantasy: cinematic, witty, funny, amiable, rambling, baroque, romantic, and fun. If you've liked earlier Kage Baker books, what are you waiting for? And if you haven't tried her yet, Anvil would be a fine place to start -- especially if you prefer fantasy to SF. Other opinions (with plot-outlines, and possible SPOILERS):
Note 1) The rest of the book is first published here. [...back to main text] Note 2) -- and at least five other minor, unrelated characters named Smith, all distinct. A bit of an authorial showoff, and a play on Thorne, but a welcome contrast to books with characters who have different names but all sound alike... [...back to main text]
![]() Review by Peter D Tillman; more of Peter D Tillman's reviews can be found at: SF Site and Amazon.com. Google "Peter D. Tillman" +review for many more! ![]() Elsewhere in infinity plus:
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