Elizabeth Bear
Blood and Iron (2006)
I put off reading Blood and Iron because I haven’t been in the mood for epic fantasy. But I added it to the pile of books I took on my trip, and picked it up when nothing else seemed to suit.
First of all, Blood and Iron is set both on the modern realm and in the world of Faerie. Elaine is half fey, and is now the Seeker for the Daoine Sidhe. Matthew Magus is a mage for the Promethean Society, a group seeking to eradicate Faerie. And everyone is searching for the new Merlin.
This is a complex tale with a wide variety of multi-faceted characters. What I liked most is that there are no villains in this tale–only different sides with different conflicting desires.
Although Elaine is one of the main characters, she is also one of the most conflicted and one who’s choices are often hardest to understand.
Strangely, as much as I enjoyed this book, I’m finding it difficult to write a review. The story ranged all over and was full of supernatural characters and every side had their own take on events and what the goals and desires were.
Rating: 8/10
Published by ROC
New Amsterdam (2007)
Imagine North America where there was never a Revolutionary War against the British. Where England and France and Spain control North American colonies. France controls Canada and Louisiana. Spain controls the West Coast. And England still controls the original colonies.
It’s 1899. Magic and technology exist together. Despite the tensions between France and England, Zeppelins cross the Atlantic ocean, carrying passengers and colonists from the Old World to the New. Necromancers and sorcerers and vampires exist along with electricity and telegraphs.
Don Sebastian de Ulloa–the great detective–is leaving the Continent to move to the New World–leaving the Old World and his circle of friends for a new life. He brings with him his protege, Jack Priest. As they travel, the disappearance of one of the passengers–from a zeppelin over the Atlantic–calls for the skills and experience of Don Sebastian.
Abagail Irene Garrett is Detective Crown Inspector for New Amsterdam–what we would consider New York. She answers only to the Crown in England and the Duke of New Amsterdam–although she must work with the mayor and his inspectors.
New Amsterdam is written as a series of interrelated short stories. The first several stories could be read independently from each other, however, although the later parts of the book were also written as short stories, those stories build upon the earlier tales. So although there are complete story arcs for each of the tales, each story brings up new questions, and not all questions are resolved. Additionally, although the arcs for each story are completed, there were multiple unresolved plot points when the book ends.
The start of the book was extremely well done. We are meet Sebastian and the other characters on the zeppelin, and learn about him as we learn about the world in which he lives. I thought this introduction was very well done and enjoyable.
The zeppelin Hans Glucker left Calais at 9:15 in the evening on a cold night in March, 1899, bound for New Amsterdam, the Jewel of British North America. Don Sebastian de Ulloa, known to the Continent as the great detective, passed his departure on the promenade, watching the city lights recede through blurring isinglass. He amused himself by taking inventory of his fellow passengers while enjoying the aroma of a fairly good cognac.
I loved the setting. I am particularly fond (for no known reason) of stories set in the 18th and 19th century. Although the world is not quite as we know it, it is familiar enough that (assuming you are comfortable with fantasy and alternate realities) it takes little adjustment to become comfortable in Sebastian’s world. And that setting is both vivid and enjoyable.
I also loved the mingling of magic and technology–especially the idea that the electric grid in Paris was built upon the plans and ideas of Doctor Tesla. I’d only recently learned that Tesla was trying to build a wireless electricity system (which made Tesla’s portrayal and part in “The Prestige” even more fascinating).
Both the primary and secondary characters were well done. Even the secondary characters had distinct personalities, and when Sebastian changes names, we’re still able to keep things straight.
About the only thing I didn’t enjoy about New Amsterdam was that the ending left many questions unanswered–questions that will most likely be answered in a sequel. But that’s one of my particular quirks, and most normal people won’t be bothered by the ending.
If you enjoy historical mysteries, such as those written by Bruce Alexander and Kate Ross, and enjoy historical-type fantasies, such as those written by Ellen Kushner, Steven Brust, and Sean Russell, then I highly recommend New Amsterdam.
Rating: 9/10
Published by Subterranean Press
Seven for a Secret (2009)
I made a mistake about a year ago. I signed up for Subterranean Press’s e-mail news letter. Why was this a mistake? Because they’re publishing an awful lot of fantasy that I want to own.
My most recent arrival was Elizabeth Bear’s Seven for a Secret. Although Abagail Irene appears in Seven for a Secret, the main character returning from New Amsterdam is Sebastian. We get a bit of Abby Irene, but she’s now in her 80s, so it’s mostly Sebastian, and two new characters we meet, teens who are part of the Prussian Chancellor’s army.
Prussia is in control of England, the English prince is hiding out in the Americas, and Abby Irene has been allowed to return to England at the end of her life. There, she, Sebastian, and others are trying to find ways to overturn the Prussian government in England.
It was depressing to see Abby Irene so old and infirm–remember that it’s the early 20th century, so 80 is quite old–but she has few regrets, and Sebastian still loves her, despite her aging. This is actually a fascinating story, because although books with vampires often have them talking about watching their friends and loved ones grow old and die, in the books their companions are always young and beautiful. It’s one thing to have a character lament the again and death of their friends. It’s something else entirely to have that character interacting with their loved ones who are approaching the ends of their lives.
Even if you have not read New Amsterdam, you should be fine reading Seven for a Secret. Some characters carry over, but Abby Irene plays only a small part, and the two teens take on a larger and larger role as the story progresses. However, if you think you’d like to read New Amsterdam, you may want to hold off reading Seven for a Secret, since it gives away some of the plot of New Amsterdam.
Rating: 8/10
Published by Subterranean Press
The White City (2010)
Abigail Irene, Sebastian,and Phoebe have traveled to Moscow, as they attempt to get over their loss of Jack. However, Sebastian spent time here with Jack, before he met Irene and Phoebe, and his memories of the place include Jack.
And murder–past and present–inserts itself into their lives, both causing problems and distracting them.
I like these stories. I like that Abby Irene is a solid middle aged woman–witch actually–with no desired for immortality despite the fact that Sebastian could give it to her.
I also like the world where magic and the supernatural exist yet the course of history trundles on, different from our history, yet it some ways, the same.
The White City shifts chapter by chapter between the past and the present. Sebastian remembers his time in the city with Jack while Abby Irene helps to investigate the murder in which they find themselves enmeshed. Sometimes I’m annoyed by stories that skip back and forth in time, but in this novella it worked well, and I had a hard time putting the story down, when each chapter left me wanting to find out what happened next.
Rating: 8/10
Published by Subterranean Press
Naked City (2011) edited by Ellen Datlow
This collection of urban fantasy stories has several of my favorite authors, so it was a no-brainer to get. The bad thing is that I’ve been reading this collection for several months, so I now have no idea what the stories at the start of the anthology were about, which is dangerous, because it means I may end up accidentally rereading several of them.
First up was Jim Butcher‘s HarryDresden story “Cursed.” I’ve become frustrated by the Dresden Files series the past couple books, so a nice short story about baseball was a pleasant change. Harry is asked to find out about a possible curse on the Chicago Cubs.
Delia Sherman‘s story was next, “How the Pooka Came to New York City.” It’s 1855 and tells how a pooka came to NY with a human, Liam O’Casey.
Worth the cost of the anthology alone was Ellen Kushner‘s “The Duke of Riverside.” I love Swordspoint, and the chance to read more about St. Vier and Alec met? Bliss.
I love Christopher Fowler‘s Bryant & May mystery series. This is an unrelated stand-alone story about, well… in theory it’s about a hold up, but it isn’t. Not really.
Patricia Briggs story “Fairy Gifts” is a vampire story, but it’s not one of those vampire stories. It’s of a boy who was forced to become a vampire, and more.
Pat Cadigan’s story “Picking Up the Pieces” was another story about fairy, but it’s also about family, and a woman looking after her sister.
Peter S. Beagle‘s story, “Underbridge” was unexpectedly dark, almost more horror than fantasy. It’s about a troll. And it isn’t a nice troll.
Naomi Novik, who wrote the Temeraire series, has a non-dragon entry–another vampire story, only this one about the problems of the housing market in New York city.
I’m not certain I’d classify Matthew Kressel’s story, “The Bricks of Gelecek” as urban fantasy. It’s not a modern setting, and it’s not especially urban. It is interesting and depressing.
Lavie Tidhar’s story, “The Projected Girl” was meloncholy. A boy discovers a magician’s diary, and wants to learn more about the magician and the trick he reads about in the book.
Holly Black’s story “Noble Rot” is a ghoul love story. Really.
The last story in the anthology is Elizabeth Bear’s “King Pole, Gallows Pole, Bottle Tree.” It’s a story of Las Vegas and memory and magic. It’s also extremely good.
Although there were several stories I didn’t care for, I believe that was more a matter of personal taste than quality. And the stories I did like, I liked very much.
Rating: 8/10
Published by St. Martin’s Griffin
Blood and Iron (2006),
Abby Irene: New Amsterdam (2007), Seven for a Secret (2009), The White City (2010)
Anthologies: Naked City (2011)
