Customer Reviews

Gossamer Axe

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am very saddened to learn that this book is no longer available in print. It is without a doubt one of the best books I have ever read, and is well worth the time it takes to search it out.

At the begining the premise seems a bit strange; a 200 year old Celtic harper forms a heavy metal band in order to save her lover from her fairie prison? As bizzare as it may sound, this is the truth. Christa's lover is imprisoned in a land where music can be used as a weapon, and only music can set her free. After several attempts to free the lover using her harp, Christa decides that only rock and roll is strong enough to win this battle.

Social issues of the 80s are addressed clearly; drugs, alcohol, rape, abuse, homosexuality, the church, and people's misconceptions of rock and roll music. A word of warning, there is some strong content here, and it may not be sutible for younger teenagers.

Musicians will find this book especially interesting. The theory is all there and correct, everything from modes to circle of fifths.

Do whatever you have to to get your hands on a copy of this book!

This pagan lesbian rock and roll fantasy is one of the best books I've ever read. Sadly it's far and away the best thing Ms.Baudino (one of my faves) ever wrote. I've read it at least six times and it is one of the three books I buy up every copy I see and pass out like trick or treat candy. It is the story of Christa, an ancient pagan druid harper in modern day colorado. And her quest to use heavy metal to free her lover from the clutches of The Fey. The music scenes are realistic as is the human interaction. I reccommend this book to anyone who likes pagans, heavy metal, or lesbians

This book somehow manages to be both highly entertaining, truly innovative, and deeply profound. The storyline--ancient Druid learns to play heavy metal in order to rescue a long-lost love--sounds almost silly, but Baudino makes it plausible and fun. The exploration of such themes as family ties, sexuality, and religious oppression is done with a light and even hand--though Christians may find themselves a little offended by the (mostly realistic) portrayal of Christianity. Pagans, homosexuals, and anyone who has ever felt like an outcast will find this book to be a healing spiritual experience. I don't suppose I really believe in a Goddess, but when reading Gossamer Axe I felt touched by Her hand. The amount of love and tenderness that Baudino put into this book is truly amazing.

This early work by Gael Baudino may appear rather hokey at first glance but it is definately worth the read. The main character is a 500 year old Celtic harper who emerges in the 1980's to become a heavy metal guitar virtuoso. The premise may seem bizarre but it gives Ms. Baudino, herself a harper, a wonderful opportunity to discuss a myriad of musical topics within the context of magic, druid spirituality and feminist empowerment. This is a great book for fantasy lovers but it will probably be most appreciated by those with a musical background. And kudoos to Ms. Baudino for her non-judgemental treatment of sexuality -- be it gay, bi-sexual or straight

A Celtic harpist woman from the 600s (yes, 1400 years ago) finally broke free from the Faerie lands in the late 1700s. She spent the past 200 years trying to perfect her music and magic in order to go back to the Faerie gate and win freedom for her lover. As the book unfolds (in the 1980s) Christa discovers rock and roll, and bends her energy to building a rock band that can blast its way through to Faerie before the mortal realm and faerie realm diverge too far for her to bridge.

The music theory is alternatively a plot-carrying device and a weight on the plot. What is more important are the arcs of self-realization across which the various characters move (or descend) due to Christa's influence in their lives. Christa herself changes from the mild-persona harper back to the warrior she once was, and regains her fighting spirit while helping her friends fight for their own. Among them, Kevin was kicked out of his Irish Catholic family for playing the blues and lost his touch to the magic within the music; Monica was abused by her boyfriend; Melinda was -and becomes again- a drug addict... Christa has to face the fact that she cannot fight alone, and that there is a very real possibility that she will lose this fight.

The fundamental belief that women are warriors, valued participants in society, individuals, owners of their own destiny, etc. is a constant theme in this book. Baudino uses Christa to demonstrate that small can be spirited without being brass or pushy. She brings in religion and religious rites of passage to step her characters through their enlightenments without causing too much of a break in the story line. And she tucks smaller characters into the corners to prop up her feminist agenda with care as well as craven and cunning. (Thankfully, not every male persona aside from the hero is a jerk. That would have gotten really old really fast.)

Vengeance is a topic that is usually cut-and-dried in books. Someone does X, someone else goes out for revenge. Baudino has the same character arguing both sides of vengeance within a few short pages, though she skips the moral maudlin wallow that often occurs afterward. The third time, restitution and recognition are oddly understandable, and become a part of another character's discovery of something to do with music and life beyond self enjoyment.

Gael Baudino published this book in 1990, and it is very much an 80's book. It's one of the few fantasy books that I've read that includes a character who died of AIDS. The main characters deal with religion, homosexuality, close-minded families/bands, abuse histories, abusive relationships, stalkers, drug addiction, and self-esteem problems. It is now OOP, sadly, so if you want to read it, you might have to go hunting.

G.Boudimo is one of the most versatile writers, this book is not only enchanting it is totally captivating. Never in my life did i feel more alive than after reading this book. Amazing and out of this world, talented to say the very least.

Even though I don't understand enough music theory to really grasp more than half of the "color" imagery swirling around the axioms of magic used in this book, I have to say that this is one of my all-time favorites. Ever since I got my copy almost a decade ago, I find myself coming back to this book over and over again, rereading favorite parts, and visualizing them vividly. The very idea of a bard from ancient Ireland blending the magic of legendary harpers with heavy metal music grabbed me immediately. Baudino takes that idea and expresses it through quiet but powerful characters who work through their tragedies and flaws to come out triumphant -- and gracious in triumph. And the climactic battle sequence has to be one of the best in all modern "urban" fantasy.

This is a beautiful, brilliant rock & roll fantasy about a harper from the land of Faerie who forms a heavy-metal rock & roll band 2 try & blast a hole thru reality & retrieve her lost love from The Other Side -- & it works. The adventures on The Other Side I found kinda boring, truthfully, but the main story is heartfelt, involving, vivid, & Baudino has the rock & roll Dtails down solid. The feeling of Bing in a rock band is perfectly evoked, & the way the heroine's faith, confidence & optimism rescues not only her lover but her bandmates makes 4 a glorious happy Nding. Not sure why this book failed 2 sell a million copies, but it's 1 of the great overlooked fantasies of R time. Fans of GOSSAMER AXE might also Njoy Lewis Shiner's GLIMPSES, which tackles some of the same tuff life-issues in a rock & roll framework.

...of people I want to send a copy to. Read this book, you won't be disappointed. You don't have to be pagan, a lesbian, or a musician to love this book. (I'm none of them myself). It is a beautiful book with a great heart. The characters will live with me for a long time.

That's the core question the members of the heavy metal band Gossamerr Axe must consider. It's vital to the success of the leader's quest that the women of her band at least believe in the power of their music to do more than entertain others and make them rock stars. "chick with a harp". the next Van Halen, a sixth century woman from ancient Ireland in twentieth century Denver - all of these describe Christa Cruitaire whose vow is to rescue her lover from the clutches of the Sidh before time runs out.
This is one of those book I never forget why I love. When I purchased it in 1990, I read and then re-read it. Since then the book gets read at least once annually (sometimes more). If you like different forms of magic in your books, this is a must read.