Knight Fantastic

Rating:
Summary: 15 tales of knights, only 4 of Camelot
Review: Davis, Russell: "Father of Shadow, Son of Light" The warrior Kham-Ridhe, sweeping into conquest of a new continent, are great believers in fate. One of their prophecies is that a child will cause them to take up the cause of peace forever - and their commander's newborn son is that child. (This story is part of the foundation for a novel, working title _The Crown of Sands_).

DuBois, Brendan: "The Cross of God" follows (in 3rd person, time of the 1st Crusade) Brother Frederick, an abbot in Germany, woken in the dead of night because his cousin Sir Geoffrey has returned from Jerusalem to see him. But Geoffrey won't trespass on holy ground, because a wizard in the Holy Land cursed him with a horrifying vision of things to come.

Edghill, Rosemary and Edghill, India: "Killer in the Reign" combines elements of the legends of Tam Lin and Thomas the Rhymer in the same hard-boiled style as "The Maltese Feline" (see _Catfantastic V_), as a serial killer stalks the neighbourhood of Carterhaugh. Hired wand Artos of Pendragon & Lake is called in because all the victims resemble the Queen, who doesn't permit the Table Knights to handle her security arrangements.

Friesner, Esther: "In Days of Old" opens with the Sir Weylin early-warning system: Camelot's watchmen are to notify the king IMMEDIATELY whenever Weylin returns from a quest. This time, though, Llew and Baird argued too long over who'd deliver the bad news; they're dead meat if they can't get him to leave by sunrise. [I *like* this one. Guenevere being the kind of woman who'd design dopey-looking uniforms is a nice touch.]

Hoffman, Nina Kiriki: "Faint Heart, Foul Lady" (From the saying 'faint heart ne'er won fair lady.') Setting's like Malory's England, but the characterization's better and the cast differs. Young Sir Bran, the narrator, really wanted to be a bard; instead, he's a poor knight in several ways (no money, can't repair armour, terrible lancework), because his mother reared him to avenge his father's death. He's a good person, though; when Nix (a commoner who wants to be a knight) saves him, his mentor, and a damsel from a dragon on Bran's first quest, Bran wants to help Nix out. Makings of a deal, here...

Huff, Tanya: During one of the "Nights of the Round Table", Camelot's cleaning lady shows her granddaughter the ropes - and *nobody's* a hero to his cleaning lady. :)

Norton, Andre: "Red Cross, White Cross" were the emblems of the Templars and the Hospitallers, respectively - and now that Philip of France's greed has forced the Church to outlaw the Templars, the Hospitallers are to take their lands. But Michael, last left alive to keep the Templars' trust, has a brother among the Hospitallers, although he himself in a cruel jest is now a knight without a sword hand.

Patton, Fiona: "The Captain of the Guard" - Viktor Endrik - is his guards' only protection from the demon they serve: the Malik Lord, who used to hunt his own people in his nonhuman form before Endrik's bravery convinced him to prey only on his enemies. Now under siege from the kingdoms of the south, Malik captured a knight from the encircling armies who asks Endrik the key question.

Rabe, Jean: "Buried Treasures" follows the viewpoint not of the elderly Templar, last to escape from Philip's dungeons, but (in 3rd person) of Rogan, the ship's captain promised rich payment - including fabulous maps - if he can get the Templar safely away with the last of the Order's treasures. The old Templar's great integrity, more than his still-formidable fighting ability, is the most notable thing about the nameless knight, determined to continue to protect his charge from mortal greed.

Reichert, Mickey Zucker: "Squire Thorian's Trial", one way or another, marks the end of his life's dream of joining the Order of the King's Knights. Since he has not only his lady but their disabled daughter to support, if he can't earn knighthood he'll need to find a safer career than the usual runner-up choice of the army. Knowing Thorian must win at least 2 of his 3 final fights, his own squire offers him a terrible temptation, bought from the king's magician.

Schwengel, Kristin: "In a Lifetime" Gedyr, though he appears youthful, has been a sellsword for several lifetimes, always moving on. In the aftermath of the fight at the beginning of the story, Gedyr realizes that there are gaps in his memory - and that perhaps the secret of his fate lies buried therein.

Sherman, Josepha: Like Alan Dean Foster's Mad Amos, Andris has a mount at least as smart as he is - Meg, unusual enough as a "Knight Mare" even if she couldn't talk. But five years of spectacular success have brought their own punishment: a bored, aging king has set them a task designed to force Andris to choose death or dishonor.

Sinor, Bradley H.: "And the Wind Sang" Be warned that this story immediately reveals the secret of Lance's survival, although not the details provided by _Merlin_'s "Central Park". Here Nimue has a greater role; she's recalled Lancelot to post-Arthur Camelot because an old enemy has returned to kill again. The greatest shock, though, is the stranger claiming *he's* Lancelot...

West, Michelle: "The Knight of the Hydan Athe" Hydan Athe is unique among the Athelands - specially protected from the abuses of the outside world. Sanna, the innkeeper's daughter, loves the knight's only son - but Neville's only written twice since the prince took him away. Now he's returning in a time of ill-omen, as the mysterious 'white athe' - its more ominous name is not spoken - has begun growing in the wisewoman's garden, forshadowing death. [I've never seen West put a foot wrong in a short story; they're all good.]

Yolen, Jane and Stemple, Adam: "Rodergo's Song" goes one step past Yolen's poetic contributions to other anthologies, providing sheet music as well as lyrics.

Rating:
Summary: fantastic anthology
Review: This fourteen story and one song collection focuses on Knights as the lead protagonist. The prime knight or in some cases knights perform bravely and chivalrously difficult dangerous deeds of daring against impossible mundane and magical odds.

KNIGHT FANTASTIC is a fantastic anthology as each of the fourteen tales is well written and keeps reader's attention. The knights are all heroes that strive to meet the expected code of conduct in a medieval world filled with deadly mystical and human foes willing to cheat to kill them. The opening ballad is different, but adds credence that the editors and all the contributors were paying homage to one of the more interesting characters of history, The Knight of the Realm.

Harriet Klausner