Outlawed at birth and raised by two remarkable old women, Demne sets out on a perilous journey to find the secret of his parentage, unaware that the strange worlds of men and monsters will reveal to him a glorious destiny. Reprint. AB. PW.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Paxson ( The White Raven ) and Martine-Barnes invent the childhood and adolescence of the legendary (possibly third century A.D.) Irish outlaw/poet, Fionn mac Cumhal in this first of several promised volumes. Raised in hiding by the wisewoman Bodbmall and the Liath Luachra (female warrior) to save him from his murderous druid grandfather, Demne (Fionn's childhood name) is torn by his foster mothers between a life of learning and one of action. As a youth he wins the spear-toss in the festival games, is honored by High King Conn and then must flee from Clan Morna, blood enemies of his dead father, warrior Cumhal mac Trenmor. Wandering nameless through the land, gaining knowledge of the world as he works as dog boy, fire tender and then apprentice to a smith, he eventually encounters his father's discredited fian (martial band) after killing an enchanted boar. Passing the fian 's manhood tests, he is set to join them, possibly as their next leader, when he feels impelled to flee once more to avert their destruction by Clan Morna. The mythic and mundane are artfully blended in this heroic, highly satisfying coming-of-age saga.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
Raised in isolation by a druid and a warrior-woman to protect him from those who would kill him, the young man called Demne spends his boyhood learning the paths of wisdom and war until a fateful encounter with the outside world awakens him to his larger destiny. Celtic specialist Martine-Barnes and fantasy author Paxson ( The Wolf and the Raven , LJ 3/15/93) combine their talents to recount the adventures of one of Ireland's legendary heroes. Vividly detailed and meticulously researched, this title will appeal to Celtophiles and fans of heroic fantasy.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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More About the Author
I was brought up in southern California, but came north to attend Mills College and never left. I got my M.A. in (medieval) Comparative Literature from the University of California in 1966, the same year I put on the first tournament of what was to become the Society for Creative Anachronism. Since 1971 I've lived at Greyhaven, a hundred-year old house in Berkeley, with successive generations of family, friends, cats and dogs.
It's a literary family, including my husband, Jon DeCles, and the late Marion Zimmer Bradley, who was my mentor as a writer as well as colleague in founding Darkmoon Circle. My first published novel was Mistress of the Jewels, which began the chronicles of Westria. After I had written several historical fantasies, Marion, whose health deteriorated after she wrote Mists of Avalon, asked me to help her with The Forest House, which is how I ended up writing the Avalon series.
Much of the spiritual experience in my novels comes out of my work in the pagan community. I have now begun to publish that material in a series of non-fiction books, the most recent being Trance-Portation. My most recent novel is Sword of Avalon, set at the end of the Bronze Age, which gave me an opportunity to explore the end of the Homeric Age and the techniques of bronze- and iron-forging.
For more about my work, see:
www.westria.org
www.avalonbooks.net
www.seidh.org
It's a literary family, including my husband, Jon DeCles, and the late Marion Zimmer Bradley, who was my mentor as a writer as well as colleague in founding Darkmoon Circle. My first published novel was Mistress of the Jewels, which began the chronicles of Westria. After I had written several historical fantasies, Marion, whose health deteriorated after she wrote Mists of Avalon, asked me to help her with The Forest House, which is how I ended up writing the Avalon series.
Much of the spiritual experience in my novels comes out of my work in the pagan community. I have now begun to publish that material in a series of non-fiction books, the most recent being Trance-Portation. My most recent novel is Sword of Avalon, set at the end of the Bronze Age, which gave me an opportunity to explore the end of the Homeric Age and the techniques of bronze- and iron-forging.
For more about my work, see:
www.westria.org
www.avalonbooks.net
www.seidh.org
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Novelization of a Legend,
By
This review is from: Master of Earth and Water (Paperback)
The strangest thing about this fantasy trilogy is that it is not a new story. It is both a retelling of an Irish folk legend and a modern fantasy trilogy, and it succeeds admirably as both. This series will appeal to Celtophiles and fantasy buffs everywhere, as well as those who simply enjoy a good story whatever the genre. The Gaelic names and place spellings lend it a taste of authenticity that may be deceptive, but enhance the cultural feel of the story.This first book covers the childhood and coming of age of Fionn Mac Cumhal (Demne Mael as he is called in his childhood), the Irish hero and sage of legend. Fans of Ender's Game or other Orson Scott Card books will likely enjoy the saga of this boy, destined for greatness, finding his identity and coming into the legacy left by his parents. Card seems to excel in this sort of story, and this pair of authors do it quite well in this book. The authors bravely struggle to fit into the story all the events that are attributed to Fionn in his lifetime, which sometimes happens at the cost of the fluidity of the story. This is rare, though, and for the most part, the story flows smoothly and interestingly. Where most folklore is told in a dry academic style, this telling is more immersed in the style of modern fiction, which is a very refreshing change. There should be more of its kind in the world. Instead of a new story, the authors tell a good story and at the same time educate the reader in Irish folklore. A good series, and a fantastic legend retold in fascinating style. A good book if you can find it.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Master of Earth and Water,
This review is from: Master of Earth and Water (Paperback)
This book tells the story of a boy and his childhood and coming of age. There is alot to this story as Demne is destined for greatness, but first must find his identity and come into the legacy left by his parents. I could not put it down and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
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