The Selkie

This book is one of the best I've ever read. It has a storyline that is unusual, it has in-depth, rich characterizations, and it is sexy beyond belief. I wonder how two science fiction writers came up with this novel (they never wrote another one like it that I can see). Some very cruel things happen in the story but it fits in well to the plot. The Selkies are inhuman even though they have human mothers and they have they ability to cloud women's minds. They Selkies are an endangered species that live in their caves along the northern Scottish coastline. They most reproduce with women, preferably from the McVeagh clan, in order to thrive. No one knows they are there except through rumors and folklore. It takes a younger Selkie male who can shapeshift from human to Selkie, a seal like man, to safeguard the Elders who live permanently in the caves and have lost all human characteristics--including working legs or sex drives. Enter an American energy firm assessing the Scottish coastline where the caves are for a nuclear power plant and a young beautiful wife of one of the engineers working on the project.

I stumbled across this book in a used book store. The title is what caught me. I found it in the same section that Peter Benchley's JAWS is located, and I don't normally have an interest in these kinds of books. Well, I finished it in about 3 days - and I have a toddler! :DThis book was very well written and like others have mentioned, I was torn between not liking Jamie, and then wanting a Selkie of my own! It would have been a nice twist to see him actually fall in love with Mary, however, the reality is that he was just using her and the other women for one purpose. Again, very good book.

I have to agree with that lady above in Florida;) I first read this book when I was 17, and appreciate it even more now that I'm in my 30s. I related to Mary's charachter since I'm a writer myself, and an artist. Jamie filled me with conflict, since his loyalty to the Elders came before everything else, even innocent human lives. In some ways I really liked him, but his uncaring murders of the women he used and pretended to love ruined what good he had in him. Petherton's endurance amazed me, and I feel sorriest for the poor pastor Walter Campbell, who was only trying to protect the people of Laxford. Only one complaint I have...Selkies and Blue Men of the Minch are two different species. Besides, if Jamie was a Selkie, then Mary could have stolen his seal skin and had control over HIM;) I'd like to see a sequel to this book very much...I might even write one myself. I'm not a MacVeagh, but I am a Stewart who has ancestral ties to Scotland...hence part of my interest. A few pictures of the charachters are in order too, especially Jamie;) If anybody wants to contact me regarding this interest in the book, please email me at: [email protected]

It's hard to believe it's been 20 years since this book first came out. I've since read it several more times since 1982, something I rarely do with a book. I don't usually read fantasy either but "The Selkie" is a fantastic book. Some of its high points: very unique and unusual subject matter, sexy, good character development (even the minor characters from the pub are interesting), and excellent descriptive passages of the remote Scottish hinterlands. I recommend this book, it's an entertaining read. Like all good fiction, it puts you into its own little world. They've even included a map inside the front page! Now if only they would have included a sample of Mary's strange Lochinver perfume...

Selkie grabbed my attention in a way few other books have. It was filled with twists and turns, which were hard to predict. I found myself taking extra long lunch breaks, as it was impossible to put down. I'm looking forward to reading more novels by Mr. Sheffield/Bischoff. Thanks!