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Summary: Political Fantasy, Power Scrabbles, and Strange Chivalry...
Review: While "Voyage of the Shadowmoon" is a switch to fantasy for Sean McMullen, a lot of his style from the "Greatwinter" Trilogy carries over to this book. His sense of epic remains unchanged - the end of the book is far, far away (both geographically and plotwise) from the beginning. His plot twists can sneak up on you - unlike some authors (notably Robert Jordan) plot developments surprise you without a lot of narrative foreboding. He continues his passion for unstable academics - the learned in his world frequently have more depth (and insanity) than any of his other characters. Perhaps most importantly, though, his sense of humor remains unchanged - it can be slippery at times, but he's just as comfortable in the dry and sardonic as he is in the silly. Oh, and he still has a taste for strange romances."Voyage of the Shadowmoon" follows a circle of world leaders, spies, priest-academics and a vampyre in the ultimate chase for the ultimate doomsday weapon. As with his "Greatwinter" series, he's quite content to begin with Earth-shattering events (almost literally) and then explore what people will really do in the face - or the lure - of unstoppable power. In that, this book works equally well as political allegory (nuclear winter, anyone?) and epic fantasy. His chases are gripping, his ability to think through a given situation thoroughly impressive, and his sense of timing truly offbeat, which makes this - for my money - the most original fantasy novel since George R. R. Martin's "A Clash of Kings". I really can't praise this novel enough - even the characters are thoroughly memorable - especially the chivalric vampyre Laron, who after seven hundred years of otherworldly exile has little left to hold on to beyond his chivalric code and a morbid sense of humor. His world is very well realized and plays out with threads and references taken from across two thousand years of human literature. If you liked the "Greatwinter" series, this one is every bit as good - and has at least some potential to continue as a series (although it could easily be left as a standalone novel as well). If you're looking for something to tide you over until the next Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind or George R. R. Martin novel comes out, this is an excellent place to look. Even if you're just a fan of political or historical fiction, it still works. Give it a shot.
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