Customer Reviews

Catastrophe's Spell (Dance of the Gods, Bk. 1)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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Mayer Alan Brenner wrote 4 books back in the early 90's. They were a crossover science/fantasy series that combined the magic and smart-aleck wit of Stephen Brust's Jhereg series with the heroic characterization that typified Roger Zelazny's works and the advanced science/speculation of Greg Bear. A bit like Jack Chalker's works, but without the kinky dominance/submission and gender-crossing.

No, for titillation Brenner instead relied on tight plot, counter-plot, counter-counter-plot, twists, turns, counter-twists, counter-turns, and smart talented individual characters you could believe in.

And it worked. The books were good--darn good. Re-reading good. Re-re-reading good. And rumors are they are to be re-released soon. None-too-soon for me, as my copies are wearing out.

What can I tell you? Read this guy! I don't know what he's doing or where he is now, but the series is more than worth it. If you like Douglas Adams, Robert Rankin, Roger Zelazny, Greg Costikyan - well, you'll love Mr. Brenner.

(OK, the gods don't literally dance, so far.)

I don't remember how I came to know about this little book, but I'm glad I did. It's a little older fantasy, 1989, and the first book in the Dance of the Gods series. I believe it's available for download as an eBook, possibly free of charge, but I prefer to have the physical book (and it's not expensive at all).

In a world where Technology has come and been kicked out by the gods, replaced by magic that drains physical strength (body mass) from the caster, Maximilian the Vaguely Disreputable gets dragged into a power play between some powerful gods when he agrees to help his friend Karlini find a way to escape a castle that won't let him leave. Also, the castle moves. The guy (probably a god) responsible for trapping Karlini seems to be throwing his weight around in the city of Roosing Oolvaya. Max's friend Shaa is wandering around fulfilling his destiny by diving into a another adventure, in Roosing Oolvaya. A detective in Roosing Oolvaya is commissioned by a god, against his will, to find out why there is a magical barrier around the city. As you may think, Roosing Oolvaya isn't in for a good time.

One thing I really liked, though it confused me at the beginning making me think the book was a sequel, is that all the characters seem to have actually had lives and adventures before this book started. Why is Max called the Vaguely Disreputable, and what dealings has he had with gods and the undead in the past that make him eager to avoid them? How did Shaa come to be cursed and how did he find out he has to go on adventures? Who is Gashanantra (whatever) and why did he pick the detective to help him? Etcetera. Not all these questions are answered, but as the story goes on you learn more about the characters and their past.

Not only did the characters have unknown back-stories, but they were mostly fairly intelligent. Sometimes predictable, always practical, and not averse to calling each other 'nincompoop'.

I found the writing, and the thoughts and actions of the characters very amusing. I've read some opinions that the author was trying too hard, but I thought it was very well done. It's somewhat satirical, almost like Terry Pratchett, but in truth I enjoy Brenner's humor more. I was hooked around page 3.

The magic is fun, the descriptions pretty wild. They get a little hard to follow, especially near the end with the climax that involves a lot of magic, there was a lot of 'pulsing' and such, but I had to skim very little. I liked that Max and co. were still discovering what magic could do, and experimenting throughout the book.

I liked the characters, the plot was fun if not entirely resolved, but I'm going to hunt down the next book and begin reading!

I recommend you try this book if you're up for a short amusing adventure fantasy.

As the author explained to me when I wrote a rare email of praise, this series came out at a time right when the company was unable to promote it. I don't remember the exact reason, but all I could think was what a shame.

The gritty, "realistic", thoughtful fantasy - full of well-defined magical systems and characters so well-crafted they pop off the page - that has been so popular for the last ten years was presaged by this excellent four-book series that came out in the early to mid nineties.

I found them somewhere in electronic format, and then spent eight glorious days reading the series, and then immediately re-reading it.

This is just some damn good writing. I only wish I had found them earlier.

Currently, I'm sending this as a Christmas gift to all my Kindle-owning friends, and will be buying the entire series immediately after.

If you like Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan, Patrick Rothfuss, Brent Weeks, or even Alan Dean Foster (think Spellsinger without the contrived comedy), you will enjoy this series immensely.