Raymond's Reviews #159

%T The Mummy, or Ramses the Damned
%A Anne Rice
%I Ballantine
%D October 1991
%O paperback, US$5.99
%P 398
%G 0-345-36994-7

Like Rice's celebrated vampire novels, the plot of "The Mummy" turns upon the struggles of immortal beings to cope with the changes time has made in the world they knew. Here, however, the immortals are not vampires, and unlike vampires cannot be killed -- even by fire. Once the reader realizes these facts, the basic plot of "The Mummy" becomes rather predictable. Readers who fancy the idea of horror-tinged romance set in turn- of-the-century London and Egypt, however, will enjoy this novel for the sheer sensual pleasure of plunging into the turn-of-the- century ambiance painted by Rice's pen. [CCO]

%T The Dragon Knight
%A Gordon Dickson
%I TOR
%D November 1991
%O paperback, US$5.99
%P 503
%G ISBN 0-812-50943-9

This sequel to Dickson's minor classic The Dragon And The George demonstrates once again that he's at his best when he's writing humor. Gone is the unbearable pomposity of mega-turkeys like The Final Encyclopedia and Wolf and Iron (RR#043). Instead we get a sort of tribute to Pratt & De Camp's Incomplete Enchanter, as the displaced 20th-century grad student who's become the Baron of Riveroak in a magical alternate England hares off to rescue the heir to the British throne from the clutches of an evil sorcerer. Gently funny and lots of fun, if you've read the prequel.

%T Explorations
%A Poul Anderson
%I TOR
%D November 1991
%O paperback, US$3.99
%P 317
%G ISBN 0-812-51536-6

This anthology repackages six excellent stories by one of SF's best, all often anthologized before, all likely quite familiar to the serious fan. Not much more to say than that.

RECEIVED BUT NOT REVIEWED:

Freejack by Robert Silverberg (TOR). This reissue from 1960 is just a promo for the upcoming movie.

The Lord Of Chaos by Elizabeth Boyer (Del Rey). Quest fantasy.

Dream Babies, by Bruce McAllister (TOR).

My Father, Immortal by Michael D. Weaver (Avon).

The Outcast by Louise Cooper (TOR). Second volume, never saw 1st.