Julie E. Czerneda, a former biologist, is now a full-time writer. She published her first science fiction novel in 1997. Her work has received international acclaim, multiple awards, and best-selling status. You’ll find her work in anthologies as well, as she enjoys working with other writers. Julie also enjoys speaking about writing, science, and the use of science fiction to promote scientific literacy. When not writing, Julie and her photographer husband like to grab their canoe and disappear into the glorious wilderness surrounding their central Ontario home. Find more information at www.czerneda.com.
The Gossamer Mage by Julie E. Czerneda
I really wanted to like The Gossamer Mage (2019) by Julie E. Czerneda, because there is so much to like in it: the premise, the themes, the character cores. But more than usual, I felt the book was fighting me the whole way, so that while it always was in the realm of wholly enjoyable, something always got in the way of it reaching its full potential.
The story is set in the relatively small, isolated land of Tananen, apparently the only place in this world that still has magic, though it’s a particularly costly form. The magic is a “gift” from the Deathless Goddess, who bestows her magic words in different fashion to men and women. Men with the “gift” can be mage scribes, people who can write the Goddess’ words with “intention” and thus create made creatures such as unfailing oxen, powerful bodyguards, illuminating insects, etc. (Som... Read More
