โ Scribed by Roberson, Jennifer
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
In her surprise-filled sixth novel featuring the sword-dancers Tiger and Del (Sword-Dancer, etc.), Roberson packs enough into the finale to more than make up for a tediously talky first half, which is short on both sword and sorcery. Established fans may enjoy the banal and idle chatter between Southron-born Tiger and his beloved "bascha," the ironic term of endearment he constantly uses for the glamorous Northerner Del, but others may wish for more action. On the isle of Skandi, where the pair has taken sanctuary, things do eventually pick up. The two fight a few human enemies, some skilled in magic, as well as the fierce and poison-clawed Sandtiger, which gave Tiger his name and threatens Del. Most exciting is the epic battle between Tiger and the man who has pursued him for years, Abbu Bensir, also a top-flight sword-dancer. But none of this prepares the reader for the warm personal revelations that follow, making this such a satisfyingly human series. In an author's note at the end, Roberson charmingly explains why she chose to use first-person point of view, and a male POV at that, when third-person is the norm for fantasy novels ("Tiger was very insistent on telling his own story"). In addition, she stresses the primacy of storytelling over feminist message, though she's "particularly proud of the male readers who've written to say that the books have altered their views of women." Sensitive readers of both sexes should appreciate how Roberson rises above the usual genre cliches. (Feb. 5)Cheysuli series (Spacehangers Song, etc.).
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Southron sword-dancer Tiger and his sworn partner, Northern sword-singer Delilah, leave the island of Skandi and travel to the desert of Punja, following a series of dream-manifestations that are the result of Tiger's newfound magic. Together, they confront the secrets of their past and the dangers of an uncertain future. The final volume in Roberson's series featuring warrior-partners Tiger and Del wraps up loose ends from previous stories, but it leaves a few enticing hints of future developments. A good choice for most fantasy collections, particularly where the series has a following.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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