The Blue Star

The fabled Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series began with the publication of this novel, and set the tone of the series immediately: high literary quality & genuine imagination, as opposed to by-the-numbers adventure. The word "adult" really applies here, in its best sense, because this is a tale of intrigue, nuance, and characterization. To be sure, there's plenty of world-building ... but it's a world not unlike that of Europe in the 1800s, where a certain amount of despised magic works, while gunpowder doesn't. No pseudo-Medieval claptrap here! Rodvard is a minor clerk in the bureaucracy of a corrupt, crumbling empire, who becomes caught up in an underground revolutionary movement to overthrow the current regime. To that end, he's assigned to seduce the young witch Lalette. As her lover, he'll gain access to the Blue Star of the title, a talisman allowing him to see if others are telling the truth or not. A useful tool for any revolution! Both Rodvard & Lalette are drawn as real human beings, both with unlikeable qualities, both rather shallow at first. They don't particularly like one another, and the heights of swooning romance don't enter into it at all. They're essentially using one another for their own purposes, and neither understands how unimportant they actually are in the greater scheme of things. At least, not at first. To me, this makes them far more interesting than the latest clones of heroic clichés found in too many identical fantasy novels -- but it also explains why this novel is currently out of print, since it doesn't fit any neat mass-market niche. And that's a pity, because it's truly imaginative & different. So be warned! Those expecting swordplay, buckets of blood, and monsters of every special effects variety will be disappointed. Those who want an exceptionally well-written novel, however, set against a fascinating background, will find much to enjoy in these pages. And if possible, get this first Ballantine edition, with the gorgeous cover art & the informative introduction by Lin Carter, whose love for the genre comes through in every word. Highly recommended!

This fantasy novel is set in a parallel world modeled on 1700s Austria; it's a conversation and society-building story, as opposed to a blood-soaked sword and sorcery tale. In this world, witchcraft works, and the talent is passed from mother to daughter at the moment the daughter is no longer a virgin. The daughter's lover takes possession of a five-pointed talisman from the young witch, the blue star, and with it can read the true thoughts of anyone by looking into their eyes. Rodvard is an ineffectual clerk in the government geneaological offices. He becomes part of a secret organization called Sons of the New Day, who want to destroy the whole corrupt Empire and build a totally new system. He is pushed into seducing a virgin witch named Lalette, so he can use her Blue Star to enhance their political schemes. Neither of them really care for the other. The whole affair quickly goes wrong, and they are both forced to flee an empire that barely tolerates witchcraft. This is a quiet story, though not without its moments of adventure. It will take some effort on the part of the reader, but it is very much worth it.