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[ariel05]

Peter Beagle's novels can all generally be filed under "Fantasy", but they're all much more than that.

This one is very complex, and about the uses and misuses of power, and real power vs. illusory power, and reality vs. illusion, and loss, and growing older. One of the main backdrops of the book is the gatherings of the local chapter of something very much like the SCA, only everybody seems richer and dresses better, and some of the participants get way too much into character.

The novel ended in such a way that there could easily be a sequel.. and I hope it's never written. Sometimes it's better to imagine them.

I can't really go too much more into the book, or I'll spoil it, and, like Oryx and Crake, this is another one definitely worth the read to get the whole story.

This is the second time I've read the book. I enjoyed it much more this time around - possibly because I'm older, and understand many of the themes more clearly. (Maybe it's time for me to reread "A Fine and Private Place".)

I'm glad I already own a copy; according to Amazon, it appears it's unfortunately out of print.