From Publishers Weekly
Nebula and Hugo winner Delany's latest novel expands on a short story he wrote in 1962, which his friend James Sallis "reworked" in 1969. In a prefatory note, Delany acknowledges Sallis's critical assistance but explains that none of Sallis's additions have been retained. It's not as stunning as Dhalgren , et al., nor as complex as the Neveryon fantasies, but it's enjoyable and stimulating nonetheless. Here, the peaceful village of Ciron faces conquest and domination by the army of Myetra, led by a cruel prince. A village youth, Rahm, encounters a Myetran advance scout, Lt. Kire, in the forest, and the Cironian's innocence confirms the already doubting Kire in his disgust for Myetran violence. Still, the Myetrans subdue Ciron, killing many and enslaving the rest. Rahm escapes and befriends one of the fearsome Winged Ones, humanoids with batlike wings. Meanwhile, led by the young village garbage collector and an itinerant singer, the Cironians resist where they can, as Kire struggles with his conscience and tries to ease the Cironians' burden. Delany invigorates a traditional fantasy plot and stylistic elements with his sensitivity and evocative language--the characters, even the Myetran soldiers, are portrayed with depth and sympathy.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Delany's latest, a rare foray into fantasy, is a masterful revision and expansion of a story first drafted in 1962. {€}Ciron is an almost idyllically peaceful, isolated village. The only imagined threat to it comes from the mysterious, black Winged Ones who fly overhead--the only threat, that is, until a brigade of violent intruders arrives. Led by the brutal prince Nactor, the invading Myetrans soon enslave the native {€}Cironians with their advanced weaponry and an easy willingness to kill. Struggling to maintain their peaceful values while being treated as beasts, the {€}Cironians form a sudden, fortuitous alliance with the surprisingly friendly Winged Ones and drive off the Myetrans on their own terms. Delany's added years of craftsmanship lend subtlety, depth of characterization, and even philosophy to an otherwise ordinary battle story. Must reading for Delany's fans and, for newcomers, a good introduction to an enduring talent.
Carl Hays
