Tales of Emoria: Future Dreams

Mindancer
Silver Dragon Books
193092822X

Tales of Emoria: Future Dreams is the first in the Tigh & Jame chronology, although not the first Emoria tale published, and the reader may benefit from reading the stories by the characters' timeline. C.A. Casey AKA Mindancer creates an interesting complex fantasy world in her Tales of Emoria series. This pre-industrial and non-gun powder world is a semi-feudal, loose confederation of city state cultures. Refreshingly non-homophobic societies where pairs seem to run as commonly same sex as not, with amusing little twists to gender roles. Future Dreams is the story of how a young arbiter and a former warrior meet, fall in love, save each other and themselves.

Tigh is the eldest daughter of a successful merchant family from Ingor. The Ingorian culture is based on commerce, thus getting the best deal is the important goal. A few years ago, when war threatened Ignor and the surrounding city states, a plea went out for volunteers to for a new special unit, the Elite Guard. Tigh's family negotiated a very good deal for the then 13 year old's service. Using a cross between "magic" and medical techniques the Elite Guard was a marginally controlled, extremely aggressive, ultra strong, "berzerker" type warrior group.

Tigh, who was known as "the Terrible" during the war, rose to a position of leadership and authority during her years in the Guard. After the war, the government is faced with rounding up and "cleansing" the soldiers of their violent tendencies. This rehabilitation process includes a legal evaluation of the soldier's potential danger to society. The question is who will provide legal counsel to Tigh the Terrible?

Emoria is a women-only city-state hidden in the mountains. This isolated culture of warrior women is ruled by a queen and council and known for producing the best knives and swords in the land. In the last several decades Emoria has been increasingly isolationist and the ruling council is not entirely pleased that their heir apparent, Jame, has sought an education, and even worse, is considering a career outside of Emoria. The petite Jame has never entirely fit into Emoria's warrior culture. Emoria's mores, education, attitudes and values have marked Jame. Yet, she is also struggling to define herself and it is increasingly clear that being an arbiter is part of that self definition.

Jame is the only student Arbiter who is not afraid of Tigh. From a warrior culture herself, she understands Tigh and begins a process to defend and befriend the young woman. Can these two women help one another find a new place in the world?

Casey is another writer whose work could technically be considered Xena Uber, with the symbolic (and symbiotic) characters as well as the theme of redemption. These similarities have more to do with their archetypal quality than any real connection to the TV show. Casey provides an engaging beginning for her Tales of Emoria. She also asks some interesting questions in regard to society's responsiblity toward the dangerous soldiers that it creates, then attempts to discard after their usefulness. If you enjoy fantasy quests, consider a trip to Emoria, and begin with this volume.

-MJ Lowe

BN: Future Dreams was re-released by Mindancer Press http://mindancerpress.wordpress.com/ ISBN 0-9759555-5-1

Glass Houses

Ciaran Llachlan Leavitt
Renaissance Alliance Publishing
1930928238

Glass Houses had the potential to create a new level of Xena uber. It's "uber uber," if you will, depicting the making of a motion picture adaptation of the novel, Tropical Storm by the fictionalized Holly Wulfenden. -- Tropical Storm really is a Xena uber novel by Melissa Good, arguably the best known and most successful of the Xena Fan fiction writers. Along with her uber novels, Good wrote scripts for some of the XWP TV show's episodes. -- Taking the uber element one more step removed from its reflection of the show, provided Leavitt the opportunity to explore the archetypal elements these characters represent in a slightly different way. It's six degrees removed, if you will. Regretfully, Leavitt does not entirely succeed.

The artistically acclaimed, hard working young director, J.A.E. Cavanaugh (known to most as Jae) is facing a career making opportunity. The chance to turn the novel, Tropical Storm into a well made, Hollywood motion picture. The first third of Glass Houses, focuses primarily on Jae and her struggle to balance her love of and drive for the creative work of film making against her relationships with people. Leavitt's characterization of the honorable and ethical workaholic Jae is nicely developed. All of this young bard's energy goes into her work, yet her life is missing love with its potential redemption for Jae and possibly for others. This portion of the story is engrossing, amusing and engaging. Jae's character is vivacious and witty and this reader often found herself rooting for Jae's success.

However, the further along into the story Leavitt takes us, the more references to Tropical Storm require the reader to know Good's book to understand the scenes being filmed and the changes being made to the script. This becomes distracting to the reader. Leavitt's understanding of the motion picture creative process is quite interesting although some elements could be better explained.

The enigmatic actor Reed Lewis is set to play the cutthroat corporate executive, Dar in the movie. Despite being more than a little homophobic, Reed is bound by contract to portray this strong confident lesbian character. Nicknamed the "Amazon Ice Queen" Reed is hoping that she can make this film and "get out of Dodge" as she has more than a few secrets and personal demons that she must shoulder.

The last third of the book focuses more on Reed. Leavitt does not seem to have decided exactly what issues Reed must face. The supposedly Xena-esque Reed does not really fulfill the uber requirement. No vengeful warlord, corporate or otherwise, she does not need redemption so much as a few years with a good therapist! Despite Reed's reputation as a cold-hearted, spiteful prima donna, she is actually hiding her own victimization with her abrasive demeanor. The layers of "secrets" turn out to be more traumatic than necessary.

Reed was misused as a young actress by a manipulative director and continues to struggle with the consequences of those years. Furthermore, she lives with the loss of her parents at 14 and survivor's guilt for having escaped the fatal fire. Yet there are still more tragic secrets hiding in Reed's poor damaged psyche! Too much for Reed to be able to deal reasonably without some professional assistance.

Glass Houses is fast, easy reading and contains many charming moments in it's 481 pages. The plot, however, seems to wander. Poor handling of the issue of child sexual abuse is very annoying and allows for the perpetuation of negative homophobic stereotypes. Glass Houses has a good premise with some well developed characters, however, it is badly in need of editing. Also troublesome is the extensive use of many contemporary song lyrics, apparently without permission, at least according to the copyright page. Glass Houses is Leavitt's first novel and shows many promising qualities. This reader sincerely hopes that she will write more and that Leavitt finds better editorial assistance in future efforts.

-MJ Lowe

Shadows of Aggar

Chris Anne Wolfe
1886383308
Pride Productions

Diana n'Athena is ready to go home. An "Amazon" from the all female planet of "dey Sorormin" (which Wolfe translates as the Sisterhood), Diana is a sociologist employed by the Terran Intergalactic Empire for the last 20 years as a Cultural Liaison and Feild Operative. Approaching forty, Diana has served the last five years on Aggar, a patriarchal, pre-industrial, semi-feudal planet located on the Empire's border. Over six foot tall, lean, strong and brown-eyed, Diana must pass as male to work effective on Aggar. Such a charade is not uncommon for Amazons serving on "primitive" planets, but it does wear on their spirits. Facing her last mission before she can return to her home world, Diana must locate and rescue a Terran pilot. He carries information that may mean the salvation of the Empire which is on the brink of war.

After years of working alone, Diana is not pleased when Aggar's ruling Council of Ten assigns her a native "Shadowmate." Shadows are individuals trained for years to act as guides, protectors, linguists, trackers, companions and whatever else is needed to aide the individual whom the Council has determined is important to the future of Aggar. Such assignments are one of the ways the Council "tips the balance" of fate for pivotal individuals and gently guides the planet's future.

Diana's Shadow, Elana is particularly special. In addition to her training and expertise, she bears the rare "Blue Sight." This extrasensory gift (genetically linked with blue eyes) allows her to read people's intent via their aura and create illusions. For years Elana has been training to become a Shadow. For the last five years she's been experiencing dreamlike visions of the Amazon that she is to Shadow.

Shadows of Aggar is a classic heroic quest. As such, the journey itself, what happens to both women during the trek and what they learn from the various encounters, is as important as the result of the quest. -- Although having the end of the empire as it is known hang in the balance does build the suspense! -- There are some similarities between Aggar and some other fantasy realms. Yet these parallels reflect cultural archetypes and Wolfe, who died in 1997, created some interesting, unique details and characteristics for three cultures: Aggar, Amazon and Terran. For example, imagine a race of humans whose skin color changes with excitement or exertion, thus making the racial differences we know, moot. Furthermore, Wolfe created the basics of a language for the "dey Sorormin" and provided a glossary of words from Aggar and the Sisterhood in the back for reference.

"Shadows" was originally released in 1991, and this reader has returned to it at least twice in the last decade. The story and characters hold up to re-reading. The same is true of Wolfe's second Aggar novel, Fires of Aggar. Happily, the publisher has made a commitment to keep Wolfe's titles in print. The new covers of both titles are disappointing and distracting. Yet, to coin a phrase, don't judge the book by it's current cover. If you like fantasy stories with strong female leads that explore complex issues of gender roles, societal pressures to conform and their impacts on the individual -- not to mention a good old fashioned adventure with a touch of lavender romance -- you'll enjoy Shadows of Aggar. Pick up a copy of it and its companion book, Fires of Aggar.

-MJ Lowe

Tumbleweed Fever

L.J. Maas
Yellow Rose Books
193092805X

In Tumbleweed Fever, a debut novel by L. J. Maas, it's the late 1800s and cowhands in the Oklahoma territory have been finding notes tied to blowing tumbleweed. The notes, apparently written by a woman, ring with a romantic longing and loneliness. Trying to figure out who is the author of these missives, has become a popular passtime at the local saloons and ranch hands who are enamored with the mystery are said to suffer from "Tumbleweed Fever." One of those ranch hands, or "riders," who has fallen under the spell of these notes is Devlin Brown. Tall, dark and deadly, Devlin is a reformed outlaw who is struggling to leave her past behind.

Much to her surprise, Devlin finds herself coming to the aid of Sarah Tolliver, the recently widowed mother of two children, who is trying to continue on the ranch she and her late husband homesteaded. Intelligent and capable, not to mention stubborn and articulate, the small, blond widow is not what Devlin expects her to be. Indeed, over the year the two women spend working the Double Deuce Ranch together, Devlin finds the attraction she held for the mystery writer of the tumbleweed notes being displaced by her growing respect, attraction, and love for Sarah. Readers of Tumbleweed Fever might notice from the characters and the redemption theme plot, that it is a "traditional uber-Xena" story. In addition to characters, there are a few direct references to the Xena TV show that fans will recognize, including the "soulmate" concept. Interestingly the American West locale is apparently a fairly popular uber setting. This reader knows of at least two other published uber novels set in the 19th century American West.

Of Maas' current three novels, this first effort is not her best work. The plotting is not as tight; there are some odd incongrencies; a few story lines are not as fleshed out as one might wish; and the uber references are sometimes detracting. However, with each novel since Tumbleweed Fever, Maas' storytelling improves. None So Blind and Meridio's Daughter, Maas' second and third novels have much fewer of these faults and are much better entertainment.
Even with these mild annoyances, Tumbleweed Fever is a very engaging novel. One can't help but enjoy the charm of Sarah and her family, to root for the triumph of Devlin over her past, and finally relish the couple's realization that their love is mutual. The plot is fast moving and interesting, including depictions of a band of Choctaws (who remind us that condemnation of women who love women is a Judeo-Christian concept that did not enjoy sway in most Native American cultures). This reader is looking forward to Maas' soon to be released sequel, "Prairie Fire" -- Maas' first unposted novel -- to find out what happens with Sarah and Devlin as they continue their life together.
-MJ Lowe

Love Shook My Heart 2

Jess Wells, Editor
Alyson Books
1555836178

Despite the sensual and somewhat provocative, cover, Love Shook My Heart 2, like it's predecessor, is not an anthology of erotica. Rather it's a touching sampler of stories with lesbian characters from a range of writers. The stories cover a spectrum of eras and are peopled with women of all ages.

The settings range from the very contemporary, urban America as in the cyberworld of "Reply" to a thoughtful, if saddening interpretation of wise women in Medieval Europe in Jess Wells' "Jacqueline." With characters who span adolescence -- as Devvie in Deborah J. Archer's "At Fourteen"-- to a widowed octogenarian -- who discovers new feelings for a woman in her nursing home in Karen X. Tulchinsky's touching story, "Penny a Point."

Amusingly, Barbie dolls have cameos in several of the stories with childhood and adolescent characters subjecting Barbie to everything from kidnapping and hostage situations in Barth's "Lovingkindness," to being photographed while being devoured by a poodle in "My Dead Aunt's Vodka." Several of the stories have a delightful sense of humor as in Anderson's "Kiss of Death, Inc.," where a rather jaded photographer specializes in capturing those celebratory moments in the lives of lesbian couples, all of whom she tells us will split up eventually. "Her Clear Voice Undid Me" will have anyone who has worked in retail, particularly in lower socio/economic areas, chuckling at the absurdity of the system and encouraged by Cooper's sense of fair play and justice as the Low-Cost's "slowest shopper."

Ta'Shia Asanti brings Bessie Smith to life for her first trip to Europe and first lesbian relationship in "Bessie and Sweet Colleen." M.Christian reminds us that we need to be true to ourselves in "The One I Left Behind;" while a cancer survivor is reminded that she needs to respect herself in Bellerose's "The GirlsClub." Kristin Steele's "Recycled" is a sweet little story where Morgan finds herself struggling with the death of her father, and, more stressfully, the survival of her mother. Morgan also finds herself charmed by Kate, an artist driving a very big truck.

Not all of the 28 stories in Love Shook My Heart 2, touched this reader. However, the range of style and settings is broad enough to provide some interest and pleasure for most readers. For those who like short stories, certainly there are more than enough satisfying stories to justify the purchase.

-MJ Lowe