Duster by Adam Stemple

‘Duster’ is the phenomenal new fantasy novel from Adam Stemple, The subject of dead gods has been presented to readers before, but never told quite like this. Adam has a gift for storytelling, weaving his words around you and ensnaring you in his world.

There was war, and oddly enough, the Gods were losing. The Galloch, a race of giants, was winning. To turn the tide, the Gods were forced into creation - the Illenthrell from stone, Duarsteri from cats, and mankind from young Haggan’s own hands. And so the battle was won, at least temporarily. But the Gods’ creations turned on each other.

Mika is long retired from the King’s Own army, when marching and fighting the Duarsteri, or ‘Dusters’ kept him busy. He has happily settled into this calmer existence, running a tavern with his lovely wife Jehannna in the town of Cairburn, watching as his three sons grow into men. Life is good and Mika is content, for the most part.

The happy picture is torn apart when a Duster half-breed comes seeking the couple’s middle son, Ferran. The Duster doesn’t ask nicely, and Mika finds himself forced to use his wits to get rid of his assailant. Then comes the immediate question, why is a Duster looking for Ferran?! The boy is known to be a bit of a party animal, enjoying his ale and the very addictive Mad Apple. For the life of him, Mika cannot figure it out. He immediately goes in search of his son, hoping to find him before anyone, or anything, else does.

One of the first stops is the local den of darkness, run by Gair, Mika’s best friend and army mate. Gair offers prostitution and gaming, alcohol and Mad Apple, anything to suit the clients vices - but no help for Mika. Although… as he continues his search,  Mika is rather clumsily followed by one of Gair’s working ladies, who tells him that his friend desires a night time meeting. Mika wonders at all the secrecy surrounding the meeting, and why Gair couldn’t have just told him what he knew. Little does he know that this almost perfect world is about to be spun around, torn inside out and upside down, then blasted apart at the seams!

A tale rich with imagery, action and love; the kind a bard would love to put to tune. It’s a rollicking great read from start to finish!

Are You Ready, Steve? by Steve Priest

 Steve Priest, bassist and a founding member of the British band ‘SWEET,’ lets us have a realistic look at a band that set the sparkly, sequined standard for what became known as ‘glam rock.’ We get to understand the hazards musicians face, from self-induced to problems with managers, audiences, and of course, the media. 

 

As Steve himself warns in the foreword of this book, it’s definitely NOT for children. I found it not as graphically racy as some out there, but it is a very open and blatantly honest look at the lifestyle of rock and rollers in the 70’s. Steve does give a very honest and open account of the band and himself. In fact, he was a self-proclaimed “almost serial shagger.” As Steve once told the Guardian, “If it breathed and was female, it was fair game,” going on to say, “The 70’s were magical. They were like the 60’s only crazier. God knows how we got away with it.” 

 

Honestly, if they pulled some of their antics today, the keys would have been thrown away. Motley Crüe thinks they were bad... hah! 

 

Steve’s glam rock persona was hilariously, playfully campy with his own inimitable style. His sense of humour was probably misunderstood by many, as the majority seemed to think the entire band were gay. In fact, if Steve was approached and asked if he was gay, he had a tendency to answer, “would you like to find out?!” Mischievous to a fault! “Milky skin, wavy red hair, puckered lips....’I looked like a 12 year old girl,’” he once stated.

 

His writing style is as openly gregarious as he is, and you almost feel as if you’re kicking back having a chat. This is an ebook worthy of an attentive read - and if you are so lucky as to be able to get your hands on a hard copy, well then cherish it! 

 

Steve handled some pretty fun lyrics, you’ll pick him out in Blockbuster (we just haven’t got a clue what to do), Ballroom Blitz (oh, I see a man at the back as a matter of fact, his eyes are as red as a sun, and a girl in the corner let no one ignore her, cause she thinks she’s the passionate one, oh yeah), and Fox on the Run (Foxy on the run), among numerous others. He had a great time, and that really comes across to his fans.

 

Sadly, as many readers will already know, Steve Priest passed away June 4, 2020. The cause is undisclosed, however it was reported that he went into the hospital in March and didn’t leave again. Steve leaves behind a wife and 3 daughters, and 3 grandchildren. He was predeceased by bandmates Brian Connolly (1997) and Mick Tucker (2002).

www.thesweetband.com

Riddle of the Wren by Charles de Lint

If one chooses to, one can go back and find the time when any author was 'unknown.' For Canadian fantasist Charles de Lint, that time was at an end with the release of Riddle of the Wren, published by Ace Fantasy in June of 1984, with a second printing in March of 1985. This novel is very hard to come by, but well worth the effort of searching for, as I well know. I spent years haunting used bookstores, only to run across it last spring by pure chance. And I almost overlooked it, noticing it only on the second glance through the 'D' section. My patience was well rewarded with the wonderful journey this tale took me on.

Riddle of the Wren is actually the second book that Charles de Lint ever wrote. The Harp of the Grey Rose was the first he finished writing. The first book published was De Grijze Roos ("The Grey Rose:" collection), Een Exa Uitgave, trade paperback, Belgium 1983.

In Riddle of the Wren, we find a much different approach than we are used to seeing from de Lint. It is a tale of high fantasy, although still woven with his lyrical prose, which at times seems to flow with a life all its own. It reaches out almost spell-like to entwine about, and entrance, the imagination.

The protagonist, a heartbreakingly innocent young lady named Minda, is thrown headlong into the proverbial battle of good versus evil. In this case good takes the form of Huorn the Hunter, while Ildran the Dream-master and eater of souls convincingly portrays evil.

Each world has a magical gateway in the form of Standing Stones, or Menhirs, which Minda is able to open. Using the Standing Stones, Minda travels from world to world, with death and destruction hot on her heels. A battle that threatens to rip apart the delicate cloth of reality, as woven by de Lint, it spreads throughout the many realms like a dark tide.

Minda gains many allies as she moves from world to world, sometimes only a breath in front of Ildran. Sadly, some of these allies even perish for her and her cause: to free the 'Heart of the Moors' from his wrongful imprisonment by Ildran. The final battle, however, is still one that Minda must fight alone. A very simple riddle for the Wren to solve. And solve it she does, but the story does not end there, far from it in fact. Minda has learned much of herself, and of the workings of the worlds. She has a new life to begin.

This is a fanciful tale on the surface, but with de Lint's mastery of subtleties, he creates many sub-layers within which to delve. It can be read again and again, seeming slightly different each time. I recommend losing yourself within its pages -- if you can find a copy. Meet a very different, yet disconcertingly similar, Charles de Lint.

Even in this, his first novel published in North America, there are overtones of what he is to become with time -- a master, or perhaps the master of urban fantasy. I admire his ability to find magic within the mundane and to share it with an appreciative and ever- growing audience. I have yet to be disappointed by a de Lint work.

Published by: Ace, 1984 & Firebird, 2002

This review was quoted on the back cover of the Firebird re-release edition of “Riddle of the Wren” by Charles de Lint in 2002. “A tale of high fantasy that reaches out almost spell-like to entwine about, and entrance, the imagination.”