Dry Water - Hardcover

Eric Nylund has said that Dry Water is a tribute to Roger Zelazny. And so it is--this novel alludes to many of Zelazny's books, including the Amber series. One character--a deceased fantasy writer named Dolinski--is clearly meant to represent Zelazny. And Nylund works in an amazing assortment of myth and magic, as Zelazny did. Tribute aside, this is highly original contemporary fantasy. Nylund peoples his New Mexico setting with ghosts from area history, a Navajo shaman and his son who act as guides and protectors of hero Larry Ngitis, a witch who sponsors authors in her spare time, and a necromancer who goes through history murdering anybody who seems likely to bring about major historical change. Larry's work as a science fiction writer also gives Nylund an opportunity to make some witty points about the genre. The pace is manic, with Nylund cutting back and forth between characters, time periods, and locations in dizzying fashion, but the plot works and the ending is satisfyingly unexpected. Tim Powers fans will definitely enjoy this. --Nona Vero