6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
8 short stories spanning generations, May 27, 2002
This review is from: Deryni Archives (Mass Market Paperback)
"Catalyst" - Written for _Moonsinger's Friends_, an anthology dedicated for Andre Norton, so Kurtz produced a coming-of-age story concerning Camber MacRorie's children (including the eldest son who was killed off early in the novels), as well as using her own cats as characters. Camber's children, including the fosterling Rhys, are receiving a Michaeline education - not because of their tutors' sometimes overzealous application of ethics, but simply because it's virtually the finest schooling to be had. Young Joram, predictably, has announced his intention to join the order when he's old enough, while Rhys doesn't know yet what he wants to do with his life. Lots of typical rainy day squabbling among the kids opens the story, as Rhys' lack of strategic insight becomes woefully apparent during a chess game with Joram. The adults are out hunting - but the kids turn out not to be the only people who know about the absence of most of the MacRorie household, when a bandit gang tries a sneak attack.
"Healer's Song" - Set after the central incident from _Saint Camber_. While giving us a more detailed portrait of the traditions surrounding Healers and their training in Rhys Thuryn's day, the central incident of this story isn't concerned with Rhys' own training, but that of the birth and baptism of his third child, when the infant's Healing potential is discovered.
"Vocation" - Set late in the reign of Uthyr Haldane, Cinhil's grandson, when the anti-Deryni reactionaries have shaped policy for half a century or so. Gilrae d'Eirial, whose calling to become a priest was set aside for his role as his father's heir, has long taken comfort in visiting the ruins of St. Neot's - although the monastery was Deryni and he is not, it brings back childhood memories. It's far too late now, though - both accident and illness have combined to leave him physically unfit for either priesthood or military service. He's just come to visit his childhood sanctuary, and his old friend the hermit Simonn who lives here, this last Christmas Eve before his father's death seals his fate.
"Bethane" - Set 20 years before the old crone Bethane's appearance in _Deryni Checkmate_; she was an eccentric, elderly widow even then, but not one to put up with children - even noble-born children - amusing themselves by scaring her sheep. We find out a little more about her background, and whether or not she was really a witch.
"The Priesting of Arilan" - One of the strictures of the Council of Ramos was that Deryni were forbidden to enter the priesthood on pain of death. This story explores the means used by the church to detect Deryni making the attempt, and how Denis Arilan managed to foil the system.
"Legacy" - Kelson's father Brion, as we know from various references to the story in later years, killed Charissa's father, the Marduk - representative of the Deryni claimants to the Gwynedd throne through the Festillic line, descendants of an incestuous union though they are. This version of the Marduk story is an eyewitness account, but from Charissa's viewpoint. It also provides a sidelight on Wencit of Torenth. (Kurtz promises in passing to one day tell the story of how he as second son came to be king of Torenth.)
"The Knighting of Derry" - How Morgan and Derry first met, and how Derry took service with Morgan.
"Trial" - While attending a convention in need of funds, Kurtz offered to auction off a one-page scene involving the highest bidder with the character of his or her choice. Since the fans reacted like piranha to meat and began pooling resources, the end result is that the pair who won got a 2-page scene which grew into this story. Stalker got his wish to be a King's Ranger courting a Deryni minstrel girl, while Ferris the wandering swordsmith, as a foreigner, gets into difficulties as a stranger in a strange land.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun collection, November 19, 2004
This review is from: Deryni Archives (Mass Market Paperback)
This series of snapshots into the lives of Deryni and non-Deryni alike is wonderfully entertaining, from the story of how Rhys Thuryn found his calling to the tale of how Denis Arilan found his way around the deadly drug Merasha to became the first Deryni priest in centuries.
Sean Lord Derry deserved a story of his own; a well-done one too.
I especially liked "The Priesting of Arilan." Of course, I was hooked from the time I first found out he was Deryni. But it's strange that all his later associates...Kelson, Morgan, and Duncan, don't seem to grasp at all who he is. Kurtz will have to tell us if it really was a miracle someday...or at least how Arilan manipulated things so that Duncan could safely be ordained!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
How fun!, December 27, 2002
This review is from: Deryni Archives (Mass Market Paperback)
I found these short stories only brought about more curiousuty. I would love to see many of them that were about little known characters developed into their own novels, and am greatful for the additional information on characters that have already been introduced. Thanks are due to Mrs. Kurtz for putting together this anthology.
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