Tomes of Spellcasting

Welcome to the land of mystery, where the impossible is possible, and the improbable the reality. Join me as I investigate worlds filled with magic and meet the souls that wield this wondrous powers.

W A R N I N G !

This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the book.

That said, on to the review!

Title: Above the Lower Sky
Author: Tom Deitz
Publisher: Avon Books
Format: Paperback
Copyright Date: 1994

Journey to the 21st century, where technological advancements have reshaped the world politically and socially. Innovations allow people to implant phones within them, and medicine now permits a person to acquire gills temporarily for long term diving. Beneath it all, however, lies an everpresent layer of magic and mystery. The time will come that reality and science confronts fantasy and magic. That time arrives in Above the Lower Sky.

Three descendants from magic-heavy cultures--two Irish (now Eirish) and one Native American--come together to deal with a series of brutal murders and mutilations. Kevin Mauney lets a selkie into his house and later watches it die when two strangers send bullets to do what a car couldn't. Thunderbird Devlin O'Connor walks down the beach and discovers a man being flayed--skinned alive. Carolyn Mauney-Griffith investigates a series of dead dolphins, all mutilated in precisely the same way. Something is going on in the world; to their surprise it's all connected.

This is probably a novel worthy of the title "sci-fant," but it becomes easy to lose track of all the "sci" as the "fant" builds itself up into a monster of monstrous proportions. Instead of looking for answers in the scientific present (our future), the three characters must look backward to their own heritages--one isn't even entirely human--for strength and tools to use before overwhelming odds in a battle that transcends the species barrier...for magic is not an ability restricted to humans. Beyond the grim enormity of the tale, however, there is the occasional touch of humor that immediately lightens the mood--in a strange, almost surreal way: being kidnapped in only metallic gold underwear that isn't even yours is a rather amusing image to contemplate.

Tom Deitz seamlessly meshes science with magic, and traditional Celtic mythology with Native American (northern and southern) cultural mysticism. The harmony he creates (pun intended; you'll understand if you read the book) between these varying elements invigorates and excites the imagination with potential possibilities and possible potentialities.

Rating: Thumbs up! Fantasy lovers--and sci-fant lovers--this is a must read!

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