Beyond The Pale

Mark Anthony

The first in a so far three part series, with I don't know how many more coming. This is becoming a trend with fantasy novelists, which if they keep up with it is ok, but when they keep missing their promised publishing dates (not mentioning any names - Rawn, Martin) is really, really annoying. (On a tangent, the new Jordan book is due out soon enough for me to have put in a hold request at the library.) Mr Anthony's books are not very sophisticated, they kind of remind me of sci-fi/fantasy written for teens, but the author has his moments, and his imagery can be quite good. I was very taken with the opening of this novel, and quite amused by it.

Ailments Cured - Faith Restored - Souls Redeemed Come On In We Want To Save You announces the sign on Brother Cy's Apocalyptic Traveling Salvation Show. Reminescent of Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes, the dilipidated tour bus pulls up on the outskirts of Castle City, and disgorges a load of black clad passengers who immediately commence erecting an old fashioned circus tent described as "torn and patched in so many places it looked as if it had been sewn from the trousers of a hundred penniless clowns". There the resemblance to Bradbury ends as this book is not at all about the Salvation Show, nor really about Brother Cy although he does appear once or twice. Castle City, Colorado is the town that time forgot, horse hitching posts still line the main streets, time moves along slowly and nothing unexpected ever happens.

Until a chill autumn evening when saloonkeeper Travis Wilder, is warned "A darkness is coming". Later in Denver, a strange little girl with violet eyes warns ER doctor Grace Beckett "A darkness is coming". Separately they both find themselves confronted by Brother Cy who warns them "A darkness is coming", but at least he gives them each a token to bolster their faith. Later still, Grace and Travis find themselves transported to Eldh, which is, (what else?) a world in jeopardy from Great Evil (TM).

As in any good (or even not so good) fantasy Grace and Travis find themselves in the center of the battle for Good. Ultimately they triumph... this time (or it wouldn't be a trilogy and beyond)

The story itself is a little uneven, and even predictable in spots. Or maybe I've been spoiled by the Fire and Ice saga, but it was interesting and fun enough for me to look forward to picking up book two in the series.