Helpful Score: 1
The characters didn't prove to be as interesting as I'd hoped.
It's, you know, basic fantasy adventure, not too heavy on the portentousness. Setting old-world, dialogue vaguely American. I did buy this book for the story, but kept it for the beautiful cover painting by Michael Whelan.
This was medieval-England in the 1970's, again beset by the ancient Evil that had kept in the Dark Ages from ever lightening. Half the country was in the grip of the fell Harriers, and it was through these Harried lands that Duncan of Standish would have to make his way to Oxenford. His mission was to authenticate a long-lost testament which offered the only hope against the terror.
Beset by Harriers, Duncan is saved by Diane, great-gradndaughter of a renegade wizard, and joined by the strangest company ever assembled: a timid hermit, a ghost who knows nothing of ghosthood, a banshee, a grumpy goblin, a witch who could never make herself evil enough, and a demon who is AWOL from hell.
Beset by Harriers, Duncan is saved by Diane, great-gradndaughter of a renegade wizard, and joined by the strangest company ever assembled: a timid hermit, a ghost who knows nothing of ghosthood, a banshee, a grumpy goblin, a witch who could never make herself evil enough, and a demon who is AWOL from hell.
The dark ages never lifted from Europe and a supernatural evil is plaguing Mankind. Duncan must travel through the Harried Lands to find a long-lost testament that my be the only hope against the evil. He is joined by a menagerie of beings including a banshee, a grumpy goblin and a demon who is AWOL from Hell.
For all the fighting scenes it is at heart a gentle story about tolerance, inclusion, and faith. But still, it's not terribly involving, the quest doesn't get where they're going, the reason for the alternate history timeline is silly, and every character sounds exactly the same. If you're one who wants your SF and fantasy to have Christianity in it, you'd like this. Otherwise, it would be fine to read if you find it on someplace's free shelf, but I wouldn't go out looking for it.
