Charles de Lint, my favourite author, is a writer of Urban Fantasy, stories of the imagination, set in realistic scenery. He is the best urban fantasist that i know of, and i am looking forward to reading all his books. The following are the three that i have read, and a bit about them.

Charles De Lint's Home Page

Memory and Dream

This is my tied-for-most-favourite book in the world (so far). It is a remarkable book, truly a must read! It is the story of an artist, Isabelle, who can bring across the images that she paints from the 'otherworld', and make them real. She runs into trouble, tho, when her old mentor comes back to haunt her life again. The second plot is about Isabelle's old friend, Kathy, and an emotional wound that has recently been reopened. This is the best book by Charles de Lint that i have read (so far) -- Highly Recommended.

Dreams Underfoot

This is a collection of short stories centered around Charles de Lints fictional city of Newford and its occupants. Each of the stories describes some kind of fanastical event or being encountered by an everyday person. A certain character Jilly Coppercorn, keeps popping up, and she is also mentioned in Memory and Dream. My favourite story from this book would have to be either Ghosts of Wind and Shadow, or Winter Was Hard. Or maybe Freewheeling. But also Timeskip. Oh i give up, its too hard to pick a favourite. Anyway, again, i highly recommend it.

Jack of Kinrowan

This is the only other book by Charles de Lint that i have read so far. It is a combination of two previously published novels, Jack the Giant Killer and Drink Down the Moon. The characters int the first part are Jacky Rowan and Kate Hazel, two humans who get mixed up in the doings of the Seelie and Unseelie courts with disasterous, but ultimately successful results. The second part is about the Fianna Sidhe, and again features Jacky and Kate, but also with Jemmi Pook, a Fianna, and Johnny Faw, a fiddler turned Fiddle wit. All in all, a good book, and definately worth reading.

Trader

This is an extraordinary story about 2 souls trading places. Max Trader, a respectable, all round good guy, and Johnny Devlin, an unemplyed loser, inexplicably wake up one morning, in each others bodies. they must deal with the change and make do with the others life. this is easy for Devlin, as he has gotten a better life in the bargain, but Trader ends up penniless, homeless, and friendless. as he goes about trying to figure out what happened and how to reverse it, he makes new friends, and learns more about his true self. the ending is not how youd expect, with all the problems completely resolved, but it is very satisfying anyway! i Loved This Book! another fine de lint to add to my growing collection of favourites!

Marion Zimmer Bradley, another of my most favourite authors, is a fantasy author. She has written many novels, has a series, Darkover, and a magazine, Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine.

MZB's Home Page

The Mists of Avalon

The Mists of Avalon is the story of King Arthur with a twist -- its told from the point of view of the women of the time. Morgaine Le Fey, Vivianne, Lady of the Lake, and Guinevere, all tell the tale of legends thru their own eyes. The love between Lancelot and Guinevere, Morgaine's trials as a Priestess of Avalon, Vivianne's struggle for Pagan power in a Christian world, all make up the plot of this once-in-a-lifetime book. A Must-Read if there ever was one.

The Forest House

The Forest House is a prequel (as opposed to a sequel) to The Mists of Avalon. It tells of what happened in the earlier years of Vivivanne's life, and how the sanctuary at Avalon was founded. It sets the scene for the coming of Arthur, and the making of a legend. This book does not necessarily need to be read before Mists, in fact, maybe even Mists should be read first.

The Firebrand

The Firebrand is a tale of the ancient city of Troy, told by the prophetess Cassandra (spelled with a K in this version) She chronacles the downfall of Troy and tells of the final battle, describing the events with such vivid images that you feel as tho you were there. Her story is so heartwrenching, you will finish this book feeling as close as kin to Kassandra, and it will stay with you for a long whlie. A very good read.