Sun In Glory And Other Tales Of Valdemar [Mass Market Paperback]

The four strong stories are by Ms. Lackey herself, Rosemary Edghill, Nancy Asire, and Tanya Huff. Ms. Huff's story, "Brock," was the most off-concept, as she wrote about a mentally challenged man who had all the attributed of a Herald, but could not be one due to his other problems. Despite that, he was exemplary, and even though he couldn't realize he wasn't a *real* Herald, the actual Heralds mostly left him alone, or helped him.

I also enjoyed Ms. Edghill's story, "Icebreaker," which was another off-concept story. Her hero wanted to be a Herald, but when he got a taste of it, he decided he wanted no part of that. Which is realistic; Valdemar needs more than just Heralds, or the kingdom will die out. It needs its scribes, its scholars, its librarians.

And those people make just as much of a difference as the others. Just in a quieter way.

Ms. Asire's story, "The Cat Who Came to Dinner," was amusing and moving. It was about Reulan, the last truly good head Sun-priest in Karse before Solaris (a several century gap). Reulan is a plainspoken man, a good priest, someone who cares about his flock. And who knows nothing about Firecats, until he meets one.

Great story.

And Ms. Lackey uses some of the material from Ms. Asire's story in her own "Sun in Glory," which concludes this collection. "Sun in Glory" is a sort of outtake that explains how Talia gained ascendance in Karse, and shows Alberich's more quiet reunion.

The other stories are hit and miss. Some are good. I liked most of them. But they weren't as outstanding as these four.

The one really poor story, that makes no sense in the established chronology of the whole world of Velgarth as Ms. Lackey has conceived of it, was Catherine McMullen's "Herald's Journey." I don't care how young Ms. McMullen is; she needs to read over her chronology again. Errold's Grove could not have come into being like this. It's too close to Iftel, which is protected; we find out why in the "Storm" books and at the tail end of the "Mage Winds" trilogy. Basically, the Kaled'a'in went to Iftel, and stayed there. That's why Iftel has been so reclusive. Those people were afraid, and they didn't want to come out of hiding until they were absolutely sure either no one could catch them, or do anything with them, or it was absolutely necessary.

I can't believe anyone would want to get that close to the remains of their own people, yet refuse to go the rest of the way to Iftel. And if those mages were powerful enough to feel the rupture of the earth halfway across the globe, they should have been able to feel those refugees in Iftel.

Plus, the story isn't all that well written. It's fine for a twelve year old, but it's not professional, and I don't know why it's in this book.

It's by far the weakest story in it, and it leads off everything else. I have to say that choice puzzles me. I'd have led off with Ms. Asire's story, as it was hundreds of years before any other story in the book outside of Ms. McMullen's.

That being said, I recommend this anthology, but also recommend that you check out the superior "Sword of Ice." Four stars.

Barb Caffrey

SUN IN GLORY AND OTHER TALES OF VALDEMAR is clearly intended for two audiences: the Valdermar die-hard supporters and those wanting a taste of what this series is all about. Each tale adheres to the Lackey laws of the realm yet provides each author's personnel stamp on the story. Well written and fun, Valdermarites will especially appreciate the magic of this book.

Harriet Klausner