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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An absorbing and refreshingly original fantasy, 16 Feb 2004
Hats off to Steve Cockayne. He made an impressive debut with 'Wanderers and Islanders', the first in his Legends of the Land series, but with this second volume has delivered something even better. Not only is 'The Iron Chain' an excellent book in its own right, but by picking up and developing plot-lines and characters from 'Wanderers', it manages to fill out much of what occurred in that first volume, enhancing the reader's enjoyment of both.We are reintroduced to some of the main charecters from 'Wanderers' - Rusty Brown, Leonardo Pegassus and his multiple empathy engine - as well as many of the supporting cast and several newcomers. As the story develops, the characters' lives follow their own paths, frequently crossing - sometimes just in passing, sometimes for longer periods - with even the most casual encounters proving to have greater significance than the individuals themselves may realise. It is as if they are all weaving an intricate pattern, performers in an elegant dance with the author as the choreographer. Mr. Cockayne handles the narrative masterfully, with flashes of wry humour, although this is by no means a comedy and never threatens to spill over into farce. In that respect, it is vaguely reminiscent of Hope Mirrlees 'Lud-in-the-Mist', though in a more modern context. In truth, the writing is refreshingly original and defies such comparison. The author shows great skill in creating characters with bizarre, often sinister aspects and yet - because he leads us through their lives, showing the reader how such aspects develop - we find them acceptable, even reasonable. The story contains much warmth but also has a darker side and as the tale progresses, the shadows at its fringes creep ever nearer to the light. Mr. Cockayne presents us with fantasy served from a different angle, viewed from a different perpective. The Land and its inhabitants take on a richer substance with each volume and I look forward to reading the third. 'The Iron Chain' is a tremendously imaginative and enjoyable book, which I cannot recommend highly enough to any reader.
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by Steve Cockayne
by Steve Cockayne
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