Percolations

So, I’m ordering the next installment of J. D. Robb’s In Death series, when I remember The King of Elfland’s Daughter. I came across this book a while back and was drawn to it through the introduction enthused by Neil Gaiman (Coraline) who says, in part: “…and he” (referring to Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany (1878 – 1957) author of The King of Elfland’s Daughter) “wrote The King of Elfland’s Daughter, a fine, strange, almost forgotten novel, as too much of Dunsany’s unique work is forgotten. If this book alone were all he had written, it would have been enough.”

This magical quest novel, originally published in 1924 is a fantasy similar to The Lord of the Rings - only in regard to time and place. It is by no means a Tolkien-clone since it was written thirty years before The Lord of the Rings.

Left is the frontispiece (Sidney Sime 1867-1941)* to The King of Elfland's Daughter, from the 1924 limited edition.

I happen to love this genre of story-telling, and am looking forward to receiving my copy of the 1991 republished edition.

Kindred in Death by J. D. Robb, on the other hand, is at the extreme opposite end of the spectrum in that it takes place in the future. I’ve already read all the other In Death books so all the characters and I are old friends as you certainly must have surmised when you read my review on J.D. Robb's first book in the series: Naked in Death.

The In Death series centers around NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her Irish husband, Roarke. This is the 30th installment of the series (not including the novella's that have been published).

Both books will arrive next week, just time enough for me to finish reading Harry Potter #7 which I am thoroughly enjoying.

*Sidney Sime (1867 – 1941) English Victorian artist of fantastic and satirical illustrations.
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