Nifft The Lean (Paperback)

First, the author has almost a Tolkien-like ability for description, without losing his sense of pacing. Imagine suddenly waking up in a strange room and your mind races to absorb the details. What made this book succeed where most others fail, was the bridge from the recognizable to the comicly foreign and demented. Too often fantasy writers just expect the reader to follow them into their artificial world that looks all-too-familiar. Expect to be blown away with Nifft. Its that dusty attic door you were always too afraid to open. Nifft opens it for you, and pushes you in, but comes along for support.

Second, the characters. Again, I refer to Tolkien only to say this book is decidedly un-Tolkienlike in that there are very few characters. The two main characters (Nifft and his friend Barnar) have quite a bit of dialog. They joke with each other, get on each other's nerves, anger each other, and sacrifice themselves for the other. Somehow, Shea has included a very nice "buddy" story amid the horrors of imagination. Never seen it before, and it works beautifully.

Third, the imagination of Shea is almost too wild to comprehend. Who would of thought sneaking into Hell with your buddy would be so shocking and revolting, yet so much fun? Shea struck a perfect balance between dread and absurdity. Its as if he took the dare other fantasy writers wouldn't take, and blew through the artificial ceiling of "fantastical" thought.

As I recall, this book is actually four separate stories. This works actually better than one very large novel as it gives broader scope to the characters. Things take place in different times and places. My personal favorite is "Fishing in the Demon Sea". I still have memories of it, even though its been a few years.

This book really isn't SF or Fantasy. Its literature. Its high-level reading. If you can survive the opening chapters, you'll love the book. Unfortunately, I now have a much higher standard for authors who attempt new realities. You will find many other authors utterly fail to live up to your new standards after you read this book. That's okay, competition is good. I just wish Shea would write more.

I've read a lot of fantasy (and science fiction, and science fantasy) over the years. Very few books in this genre hold a candle to Nift. Was there ever a story richer, more inventive or more delightfully horrifying than 'Fishing in the Demon-Sea'? Was there ever a character in all of dark fantasy as strange and evocative as the Privateer? Or an action sequence with more edge-or-your-seat excitement than the hell-ride down the mine shaft? (Did Steven Spielberg read this story before he made 'Temple of Doom' - you bet he did.)

After so many years it is baffling to come here and find that this book is still not recognized for a classic of dark fantasy. That it is Still out of print. All I can say is get your hands on a stinky, dog-eared copy of this book and read it - you can't have mine!