Customer Reviews

The Day Of The Dissonance

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
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In the field of fantasy, there is an inadequately explored sub-genre that I feel needs addressing. The fact that this is a genuine sub-genre is not in doubt, if one only looks at its proliferation in graphic novels and comic art. It is the genre of animal anthropomorphics.

Today's fantasy authors are so often concerned with rewriting Tolkien, Grimm and Herbert that they often neglect this field, which does remarkably well when published (view the success of Brian Jacques), as "childish". Disney has done a lot to bring this impression about, causing "serious" fantasy writers to steer clear of bipedal animals as strictly grade-school stuff, preferring the "mature" elf- and dragon-lore instead. (Although Tolkien had talking eagles. Are you going to argue with him?)

Alan Dean Foster's "Spellsinger" world, it would appear, is animal mostly by default. The key theme of these books is the "rock singer making magic with music", and the animal inhabitants of the alien world seem often to be just an attempt to add a sense of novelty to the proceedings.

Which is a shame, because elements of the books, and this one in particular, really bring a sense of charming reality to the "anthromorphic animals" idea. In this book, Jon-Tom, our "wizard rock-musician", travels across the ocean to find a mysterious remedy for his wizardly mentor, a turtle wizard named Clothahump. Travelling with him is a licentious otter, Mudge, a seven-foot tiger named Roseroar (who speaks in a sort of Scarlett-O'Hara dialect for some reason) and a deceptively aged ferret named Jalwar. Along the way they encounter many adventures, some of them exciting (the pirate ship, the Friends of the Street) and some downright embarrassing (the Muddletup Moors, the cannibal fairies). All of the Spellsinger books are episodic by nature; for some reason Foster is not keen on sustaining a single narrative thread throughout the book. And as some of the adventures are more inspired than others, the characterization as a result suffers. At times Mudge is heroic; at others he is a coward. The revelation about Jalwar at the end is a surprise, to be sure, but not a convincing surprise. There are times when the whole "quest" is subverted by schtick and filler tissue.

But there are tantalizing moments: Folly, a human girl, hints at not being a virgin because of the crew of the pirate ship that abducted her. Since the crew is at least 98% non-human, this brings up some interesting issues that are thrown away by Foster. The idea of skunks being law-enforcers because of their unique natural weapons; the suggestions of unusual inter-species dynamics; the aimlessness of society because of a lack of a single common thread of understanding. There are moments in the book when Foster seems to want to explore these issues and make an intriguing story out off it but suddenly realizes he's writing a cheap paperback fantasy and should snap out of it. The man is as prolific as Asimov and therefore probably feels that he should waste no time on intricacies of plot, characterization or theme; particularly not on a silly book that deals with magical rock singers and talking animals.

Sigh. The "anthropomorph" genre's day will come, I'm sure; it's only a pity that Foster wasn't able to make it happen as it is clear he could have

There is a rather ludicrous sense of majesty surrounding the Spellsinger series. A sometimes comic, sometimes morbid world where the imagination of one obvious rock fan can proceed uninhibited by the averages of fantasy guidelines. Mr. Foster, accidently, I believe, created a bit of a masterpiece when he sculpted the first of the Spellsinger series,which has, all the way through it's last installment, Chorus Skating, supplied new and various dishes for those travelers on this world which the offer never bothers to identify. This book, in particular, captures the sheer ridiculousness and fun at the heart of the Spellsinger series; it's a kind of jovial feeling you sense that the characters would partake of as well, were they confronted with this astounding piece of literature. Now, all I want to know is...will there be any more? : ) I can only pray and hope!

There are a few lyrics to the Eagle's 'Take it Easy' that would fit this book: the love of Jon-Tom's life has gotten cold feet and run off; he tries to get himself out of a jam and conjures up a seven foot tigress that's a little bit sweet on him; and he meets a pretty girl that really wants to be his friend - too bad she's jailbait! And to top it all off, Mudge gets into trouble with the ladies at every turn.

I read this series for the first time as a teenager, and I have to note with some sadness that I think it's definitely lost stars for me as an adult reader.

The premise of the Spellsinger series is that an aspiring singer/lawyer (Jon-Tom) is pulled into an alternative universe where all animals except lizards can talk and think and he has magical powers as a spellsinger. But since all he knows are rock songs from our western world, his results are occasionally unpredicatable.

In this book, Jon-Tom has to go searching for medicine for his mentor Clothahump. On the way he picks up a 7-foot high white tiger, his irascable companion Mudge, and a teenage street kid named Folly. Hilarity and mayhem ensues.

The spellsinger books are light on the realism and heavy on the humor. Note that many of the jokes are dependent on knowing pop culture from the 80s. I laughed at the Def Leppard jokes. Current teens may not get them.

Took me not more than two days to read it. Think I'm addicted. Characters sometimes puzzeling, nevertheless welldone. What surprised me most, was the ending. Thats the kind of humor I really like about Foster.

"The Day of the Dissonance" is the amusing third volume in the Spellsinger adventure about Jon-Tom and colleague Mudge.

Back cover of book:

Fantastic Voyage

Clothahump, the wizard, is dying. All that can save him are rare medicinal powers to be found across the Glittergeist Ocean, past distant Snarken, Jon-Tom, the Spellsinger, sets out on the most perilous pilgrimage of his still-young career armed with only his music-making duar and a reluctant Mudge, the otter, as his guide. Along the way he conjures up Roseroar, Amazonian tiger, rescues Jalwar, the ferret, and together they free Folly, the beauty, from bondage! Spellsinger and his motley crew press on, confronting a forest of Fungoid Frankensteins on the Muddletop Moors, a parrot pirate on the high seas, cannibal fairies in the enchanted canyon, and the evil wizard of Malderpot who poses the greatest challenge of all!

End back cover of book.

The reader is introduced to new individuals while most characters outside of Mudge and Clothahump are given notable mentions. I found Roseroar particularly appealing as a character whereas Mudge and his occasional juvenile antics bordered on bothersome (but I still love the little otter). With a wide selection of idiosyncrasies to choose from, parallel personalities are available for every species. The ending left a huge impression on me 20 years ago and I wasn't disappointed.

As a fan of the classical, rock, and heavy metal music genres, I find the magic Jon-Tom creates with his duar exciting since I believe a well-constructed song can affect people with its intensity and power in a primal aspect.

Thank you.