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From: ehrlich@sunybcs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: RE:RE:TEA rebuttal (Damiano)
Message-ID: <1558@sunybcs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 4-May-84 15:07:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: sunybcs.1558
Posted: Fri May  4 15:07:27 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 9-May-84 01:21:11 EDT
Organization: SUNY/Buffalo Computer Science
Lines: 32

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    Are you missing something as good as TWTBD (by discarding Damiano)?
Depends on why you liked the black dragon.  The two books of the Damiano
series out so far (there will be three) are different in many ways from
TWTBD.  Personally, I enjoyed them just as much, and am looking forward
(if not with bated breath) to the third.  I think it helps to be a history
buff.  This is pretty good historical fantasy, not mainstream sf (but then,
neither was Macavoy's 1st book).  Strikes me as a pleasing story with a
blend of action--much of it magical, and dream.  The period (~petrarchan)
is not my specialty but the setting has a ring of athenticity.  More, the
fantasy itself seems appropriate to the time.  The magical beings and
happenings are not so much what one finds in current "medieval" fantasy,
but seem closer to such things a fantasist of the time might have written.
    For all that, the prose is not stilted or pseudo-archaic, and though
the fantasy and the characters are of largely Christian flavour, by the
end of book 2 there is a distinct touch of ecumenism which may be closer
to the 20th century author's mind set than that of the period.  There's
also more than a little wit/humour.  The plot: Young man who has lived
somewhat sheltered life is forced by circumstance to set forth on journey
wherein he discovers the world and self.  Nothing new as basic plots go,
but there've been some fine things done with it over the years.  Damiano
may not be the finest ever, but I found it an enjoyable read... not a break-
neck pace, but far from boring.
     If you liked TWTBD because there was mention of computers and/or
Zen, you won't find them in the Damiano books.  The characters are also
rather different.  Still, if you threw down the book after a few pages,
you might find it worthwhile to pick it up again.  (Kept me up until 3AM,
but...)
                      Karen Ehrlich

k