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Reviewer praise for SONGS OF THE DYING EARTH — Best Afterword!

My editor sent this to me, which comes from an Amazon.com reviewer.

Story 14 by John C. Wright. Aside from having the best Afterword, this story is a most worthy capstone sequel to Guyal of Sfere. Poetically written passages. Occasional wry notes. Names sound authentically Vancesque. The story is a treasure trove of DE allusions (Magnatz, IOUN stones, Archveult, forest-gleft, oast), but furthermore provides tribute nods outside of DE, as Ska (Lyonesse), ahulph and Anomus [Anome] (Durdane), Sacerdotes from Aerlith (Dragon Masters), Pnumekin (Tschai), and even Effectuator. Presents a most imaginative futurian "mechanics" of the Curator’s magical staff/baton. This story (as others) may send readers to the dictionary, but it finds a place for one of Jack’s evident favorite unusual word: nuncupatory. A tremendous tribute story.

My comment: I am really impressed that anyone caught the reference to the Pnumekin, because I only gave the name of the constellation (Argo Navis) in which the star Carina appears, and you have to be a true Vancephile to remember the name of the star that shines on the planet Tchai.

About

John C. Wright is a practicing philosopher, a retired attorney, newspaperman, and newspaper editor, and a published author of science fiction. Once a Houyhnhnm, he was expelled from the august ranks of purely rational beings when he fell in love; but retains an honorary title.

August 18, 2009 @ 8:54 am
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