Conference noted::sf

786.0. "Tom Dietz ..." by BOOKS::BAILEYB (too much of everything is just enuff) Mon May 01 1989 11:35

    Just finished reading a couple of books by Tom Dietz.  They were
    "Windmaster's Bane" and Fireshaper's Doom".  I haven't seen any
    entries in here by this author (well, Larry?), so I'll put one in.
    
    The story is about a country boy (David Sullivan) who somehow gets
    "second sight" which allows him to see the "tracks" that exist
    between this world and others, some of which are inhabited by the
    Sidhe (elves).  He is drawn to the tracks by music, and encounters
    the Sidhe.  The fact that he is now aware of their existence makes
    for some interesting adventures, and manipulations by the Sidhe,
    some of who are not at all happy about being rediscovered by mere
    mortals.  The discovery is further complicated by the fact that
    David is the only one who can see the tracks and the Sidhe.
    
    The books are decent light reading.  The story reminds me somewhat
    of some books I've read by Barbara Hambley or Marcia Bennett.  There
    are apparently going to be further books using these characters
    and scenario.
    
    One interesting point that the author makes, though, is that
    immortality breeds immorality.  In these two books, the "evil" Sidhe
    isn't evil, so much as he is arrogant.  And the good guys aren't
    acting out of any sense of honor so much as out of a sense of necessity.
    While the Sidhe portray their own sense of "honor", it seems to
    have little to do with the classical definition of Anglo-Saxon
    chivalry, which is portrayed by elves in such works as Lord of 
    the Rings.
    
    These books do not rate in my "Top 10" list, but they're pretty
    good reading just the same.
    
    ... Bob
    

    	I read these a while back and liked them enough that I'll pick
    up the next thing that I see by Deitz.  
    
    	As Bob said, they're a nice light read.   (Don't be misled though.
    The author doesn't always go for the easy way out.  As Bob pointed
    out, unlike many "light reads", good vs. evil is not all that clear
    cut and you can find yourself with sympathy/understanding (or lack
    thereof) on both "sides".)
                                          
    tlh