Diamond Mask

Diamond Mask continues the Galactic Milieu trilogy which starts in Jack The Bodiless. If you have not read that book and the preceding series (The Saga Of The Pliocene Exile and Intervention) then you should not read this book. It is a well thought out and interesting book on its own, but it holds far more value when viewed in context with it's predecessors.Diamond Mask is once again told as the recollections of Rogi Remillard, though for the most part this device dissolves into standard storytelling except when Rogi is directly involved. The book primarily focuses on Dorothea MacDonald (aka Diamond Mask). Her childhood, early life and her connection to the Remillard family through the entities Fury and Hydra (and later through Jack) are explored in this book. The development of her mental abilities and her major role in the Galactic Milieu takes center stage for most of the book. Fury and Hydra also become more of the focus of the book as Diamond Mask is heavily influenced by them in her childhood and in her later adult life.Another focus of the book is Marc Remillard and his continuing development and increasing influence on the Galactic Milieu. This along with the growing rebellion against the Milieu is one of the main subplots to the book that get explored further in Magnificat, the third book in the series.The characters are once again well thought out and though many years are skipped at times to move the story along it keeps us focused on important events instead of boring details. The pacing of the book is quick and the events revealed are momentous and it leaves you itching to get to the next book in the series. This is everything a second book in a series should be. It is holds up well on its own, but it also neatly links up the preceding and following books in the series.

This is a magnificent and intriguing publication. It is written with a magnificent sense of prose, and I literally devoured it in a few sittings. The journey of Dorathea Macdonald as develops into a paramount operent is filled with tragedies, loves, and denial. To be concise, its a great book!

Diamond Mask was wonderful for its introduction of Dorothea McDonald, the newest paramount grandmasterclass operant who comes practically out of nowhere to become one of the strongest characters of the whole series. Her incredible journey, and all the relationships she forms along the way are done in classic May style - ie with tons of colorful details, suspense, mystery, and humor, and a heck of a lot of heart. And there's enough Remillard mixed in there to feed that Jones. I am proud to say I now have only "Magnificat" to go before I am finished with all nine of these demanding and rewarding Julian May books, having read the four books Saga of Pliocene Exile, followed by the Surveillance, the Metaconcert, Jack the Bodiless, and most recently, Diamond Mask. You may wonder which one I have enjoyed best. Although it appears that each book theoretically could stand on its own, all of the books really are - like minds in a metaconcert - parts of a greater whole. Thus, they should all be judged together as one whole epic tale, and not compared to each other as separate parts. Having said that,however, I think Jack the Bodiless was the best so far. I recommend that everyone start with either "The Many Colored Land" or "The Surveillance" and proceed in order therefrom. All nine books are a big commitment, and the reading is sometimes tough and slowgoing, but the sacrifice pays off in spades. Too bad I only have one more book left - I may have to reread the whole series. It's the kind of thing that you just don't want to end. Get Julian May a Regen-Tank. And long live Aiken Drum!

May's work is fantastic. I've never been a sci-fi fan. In fact I pretty much detested it. That is, until I read this book. This book was required for a class called "Female Heroes in Speculative Fiction" and I thought, "Oh boy, sci-fi, ick." I was pleasantly surprised. May masterfully develops her universe of characters into a riveting plot. She keeps your interest even to the last line where she drops a bomb, devastating all you thought you ever knew. To keep your sanity you must therefore read the next book. I can't wait to read all of the Galalctic Milieu and hopefully the Pilocene Exile as well. If you like to think, enjoy losing yourself in a good book, and relish being enthralled with superior writing, you owe it to yourself to read Diamond Mask.

May wrote an excellent series of books, and this book is a fastastic example of her work. SHe takes you through Diamond's development as a power from her childhood to her successful accomplishments as a planetary leader. It is worth the purchase (but read Jack the Bodiless first to understand more fully).