Dave Freer

Pyramid Scheme by Eric Flint, Dave Freer a delightful, improbable comic romp through Greek and Egyptian mythologies, brought to life through alien technology, seeking to enslave humanity to its will. But the aliens can't handle human's willfulness, let alone their gods, and the ancient Greek, Egyptian, and modern worlds collide in a grand slam conclusion.

Be prepared to laugh; do not drink beverages while reading.

This gets an extra star because it is a sequel James Schmitz’s 1966 classic The Witches of Karres and it is good to see the old characters come alive again. I enjoyed this sequel for the most part and would recommend it to anyone who really liked Witches but it falls short of the original. The plot (which I won’t give away as a spoiler) is a bit shaky and feels contrived. The main characters lack the charm they had and diverge from the personalities Schmitz built for them in subtle but show more perceptible ways. The minor characters feel cartoonish and two dimensional. You can see how the authors attempted to recreate the feel of the original 1960’s space opera and I applaud the effort but I’m afraid they couldn’t quite pull it off. show less

It’s been a while since I’ve read a hefty fantasy book, and I loved getting back to the genre that made me fall in love with reading in the first place. While I was thoroughly confused as to what exactly was happening for the first 50-75 pages of this book, it all eventually came together beautifully and I ended up really enjoying the slow way I was able to get to know the characters and fall in love with them.

The worldbuilding in this story is incredible; it really made me feel as show more though I was in 16th century Venice, and the added bonus of religious magic being a real thing is such a great twist. The plot is pitted as a good vs. evil kind of story, and I liked how each religious sect had its baddies and good guys. This book has complex situations that make it feel so genuine and really just helped me to immerse myself in the plot.

The characters were what sold it for me, though. I absolutely loved every single one of them, and I really enjoyed being able to get the story through each of their eyes. It made me feel really connected to everything that was going on, and added to that wonderful dramatic irony that these authors are so good at building. The mix of personalities is so fun and different that I feel like any reader would be able to latch onto at least one character as a favorite.

I am very much looking forward to the sequels and hope that they continue to be this immersive!

Also posted on Purple People Readers. show less

Dave Freer's Norse mythology pastiche doesn't overstay its welcome, nor take itself too seriously. The result is a fast, enjoyable, "holiday"-type read with an enjoyable setting.

An alternate middle ages where the Holy Roman Empire reigns supreme and magic is rife is the basic milieu, with this particular adventure taking place in the far north.

Manfred, Prince of Brittany, is sent north by his emperor uncle to track down a missing arm-band for a Norse kingdom, and to ensure that no strife show more breaks out. He gets more than he bargained for, however, with a secret corsair, magical pledges and enchantment aplenty.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Don't misunderstand; it's not going to rock anyone's world, but Freer's using a setting we rarely see in fantasy nowadays and it gives the whole novel a shine of originality. His dialogue is a weaker point, but it's compensated for by generally good quality prose and a clear affection for Norse mythology.

Additionally, Freer doesn't take his story too seriously. Manfred and the other characters are not afraid to laugh at themselves, or others. It's not silly - I generally can't abide that - but there's a jocular tone to the novel which is needed for the faintly ridiculous shenanigans that go on. I suppose it could be described as a bit of a romp - and in true sword and sorcery fashion, there's absolutely nothing apocalyptic going on.

A fast, fun read, A Mankind Witch made for a very pleasant diversion whilst I was moving house. show less