Yesterday we saw Mermaids by Esther M Friesner

(Review by Jane Beaumont, Cape Town, South Africa)

During a short, compulsory break from my Hambly-fest (library all out) I looked on my goodie shelf and found the proverbial slim volume, picked up on one of those "everything-for-one-price-clear-out-the-stockroom" sales.

Possibly she's renowned in various fields but I'd never heard of Esther M Friesner. I was, however, charmed by the title. Well, good thing I chanced the odd buck because Yesterday we saw Mermaids is that rarity in fantasy, something truly new!

Taking Christopher Columbus' little sailing trip West as a starting point, Friesner weaves an intricate web around religion, history & myth, leaving you bemused as to reality, probability and wish fulfilment.

She writes lyrically and with insight. This is the 'author', a young 15th century Spanish nun designated the scribe and chronicler, talking of an Eastern beauty:-

"Nothing so lovely could go unloved, for the world is all injustice. To be plain is to await death and gloat over the grave's harsh way with beauty."

There's magic (or magicks) aplenty in the book, all intermingled with snippets of history and legend. There's also great beauty as well as a shudder or two. But basically, reading it was the most innovative entertainment I've had since "The history of the world in 10½ chapters". It's a mere 154 pages long; so, if you can find it, do try and sandwich it in between the wristbending sagas. You won't regret it!