Customer Reviews

Time Dancers (The Meq)

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

 

 

Time Dancers continues the quest started by Zianno Zezen--Z for short--and his companions in The Meq,the first book in the trilogy. During his quest, Z has learned much about being Meq, made many new friends, and found his Ameq or soulmate. Now the Meq are gathering, they have one hundred years or fewer to prepare for the Time of Remembering, when they will finally uncover their destiny.

Like the first book, this one begins with a train journey. This journey, however, is one of hope and renewal, reuniting lost loved ones and finally returning home. Unfortunately, this time of happiness doesn't last long as Z's archenemy, Xanti Otso or the Fleur de Mal, kills two of their number. The Meq are few and cannot afford to lose any of their people, especially to one of their own. So a plan is made to hunt down the Fleur de Mal and his accomplices and kill them, thereby ending their reign of terror.

Working in teams, the Meq scatter to the ends of the Earth and follow whispers, rumors, and sightings false and real.

They search far and wide, yet the Fleur de Mal is always one step ahead. He lures them into ambush after ambush, each time causing loss and confusion. During this quest, the Meq discover that they are changing--and not always for the good. Ray Ytuarte, one of Z's oldest friends, becomes deathly ill after being bitten by a mosquito, something that has never happened before in the Meq's known history.

The timeline extends from the end of World War I in 1919 all the way through the bombing of Nagasaki in 1945. In contrast to The Meq, the action moves along at a fairly even speed, although there are sections where years pass with barely a mention. Author Cash has done his research, and a constant flow of historical figures and events litter the pages. From Babe Ruth's homerun record, to Josephine Baker in Paris, to Lindbergh's solo flight and the eventual murder of his son by kidnappers--it's all included.

Being the second book in a trilogy leaves this book at somewhat of a disadvantage. Although there is a two-page recap, without first perusing The Meq, the reader has an enormous handicap.

Armchair Interviews says: Time Dancers also ends with a major cliffhanger and is obviously to be continued. This will leave the reader somewhat frustrated while they await the publication of the final segment sometime in 2007.

In 1919 Zianno "Z" Zezen, a Meq-American, is about to turn twelve for the twentieth time since he has yet to meet his soul mate, Z remains a preteen. This is the norm for his Basque ancestry who never age past twelve until they meet the one. He feels pretty good about coming home to St. Louis, but soon learns that he cannot stay long as the Time of the Remembering is upon his people.

However, he and his associates are busy at the moment; lethal Meq Fleur-du-Mal feels the necessity to commit genocide of his immortal race. He has a compatriot Zuriaa who assists him by abducting the oldest known living Meq the matriarch Susheela the Ninth in order to force her to reveal to them location of the mystical Sixth Stone that could lead to a pandemic eradication. Z and his cronies must once again stop Fleur du-Mal.

The sequel to THE MEQ, TIME DANCERS is a wild zany science fiction thriller that uses real twentieth century historical points and persona as anchors though several of the choices seem to flakily fluky to fit the plot. The story line is all over the place. But smoothly moves forward. Z and his family and friends remain fascinating characters while the assassin Fleur du-Mal seems even more deranged this time around. Fans of zany way out science fiction thrillers will enjoy Steve Cash's latest entertaining madcap ride.

Harriet Klausner

"Time Dancers" is the second book in Steve Cash's sweeping fantasy trilogy called "The Meq" (also the title of the first book in the trilogy). When forced to explain the plot of "The Meq" in one sentence, my reply is this: the story is like the Highlander TV series/movies but the immortals here are twelve years old. To get more specific, the Meq stop aging when they turn twelve until they find their ameq (their soul mate). Once they are united, the two enter what is called "The Wait" until they decide to cross over, as it were, becoming mortal and able to have a child.

The telling of this story falls on the shoulders of Zianno Zezen, one of the youngest members of the Meq. In the first book, Zianno searches for others like him after the death of his parents. Along the way he learns the significance of the stone he carries--the stone of dreams--and that there are others like it. He finds friends, both Giza (human) and Meq alike, his ameq, and a mortal (or perhaps it would be more apt to say immortal?) foe in the form of a corrupt Meq assassin known as the Fleur-du-mal. In the midst of all that, Z and his friends try to prepare for a Meq event known as the remembering which will reveal their origins and their purpose, a scant hundred years away.

Okay, so if you didn't read the first book that was all probably a bit confusing. The reason for that is simple: this trilogy isn't comprised of what can be called stand-alone novels. The sad truth is that I read "The Meq" about six months before I had the chance to pick up "Time Dancers." It took about fifty pages for me to find my stride and maybe a bit longer to really get into the book. I suspect those difficulties would have lessened if I had read the books closer together. Slow start aside, the first book had me invested enough in the characters and plot and (warning!) ended on enough of a cliffhanger-esque note that I was willing to plod along until things picked up even if it did leave me with the impression that, perhaps, the first book was better (I later revised my opinion but perhaps others won't).

Anyway, the Meq's preparations for the remembering (AKA "the Gogorati") begin in earnest in "Time Dancers." Both Sailor and the Fleur-du-Mal embark on a search for the elusive sixth stone that may be vital to the Remembering and, much worse, to the Fleur-du-Mal's continuous quest for dominance over the other Meq. Along the way, Z and his allies (which happily include all of the wonderful characters from "The Meq") cross oceans and hop continents in their quest. Though the stone proves elusive, Z forges new alliances and finds several new mysteries along the way--including a Meq whose age is without precedent and another dangerous enemy.

"Time Dancers" is a good book. But not one that readers can follow without reading its predecessor, thereby firmly grounding this novel as part of a trilogy. What I particularly like about this book is the way Cash incorporates history into the novel. Beginning in 1919 after the end of World War I and ending as World War II approaches its conclusion, this book looks at major events of the twentieth century from up close but also from an anonymous perspective. Anyone interested in history would do well to give this book a glance to see how Cash artfully incorporates contemporary history as a plot vehicle for his fantastical story.

I picked up the first book of this series after stumbling across it, liking the coverart, liking the premise, and loving the beginning time frame (turn of the 19th to 20th century fascinates me to no ends). What I didn't expect was the creative and innovative use of place and history that Steve Cash uses so well to his advantage. I will say that names and various characters who come and go at the blink of an eye for years can make keeping the plot ordered in your mind a bit challenging. I'd love a list in the front (or back) of the books with a listing of the characters and their major relationships. I haven't finished this second volume yet, though I am thoroughly enjoying my own reunion with Z, Sailor, Ray, Opari, and the rest of the Giza and Meq gang. Steve Cash also gives special attention to St. Louis, a city that obviously means a great deal to him. In a heartbeat, I'd go to St. Louis to take a tour of St. Louis with him---whatcha' think Steve?

Time Dancers take up the story of Z the boy who never grows old (but has definately grown up) right from where the Meq left off. I am still enjoying the mix of historical events with the fictional characters. I think Steve Cash has put in a good mix of suspense and tragedy. I wish there was a little more comedy to balance things out a bit. Hence the 4 stars instead of 5. I still recommend this story as one that has taken a classic plot device and turned it into a unique and ingenius entertainment.

We are anziously awaiting the third book in the series .. my teen daughter, myself, and my best friend have all thoroughly enjoyed these books. When a teenager tries to read a book in one sitting, you know it's a keeper.

Like most, I really enjoyed the first book, The Meq. However, I've been able to finish only half of Time Dancers. I'm frustrated with three things: Cash drops in historical facts to the point of absurdity, as the professional reviewer shared above; he has characters inexplicably "go away," alienating a reader who likes said character; and through all the country-hopping it's hard to keep sight of the original goal. Even the threat of the Fleur-du-Mal is not enough at this point.

What I liked about The Meq was the fact we were experiencing it through a newcomer's (Z) eyes; but here, Z is a little older, a little more wise, and there are parts where I find it difficult to sympathize with him.

What Steve Cash is doing in three books could possibly be done in two.

I want to like this book and will probably go back to it soon. I am planning to read the 3rd book to see how it all wraps up. However, I find this installment a little too frustrating.

I loved the first book about the Meg, couldn't put it down once I started it. This book is easy to put down. The characters seem to spend years running around the globe chasing the evil Meg, when they find him they stand there while he does his evil deed and then runs off again. Seems to be filling a space between the first book and a third book.