20 June, 2002
Necromancer Nine
Sheri S. Tepper
1983
175 pp (MMPB)
This is the second book in the adventures of Peter, the young shapeshifter from King's Blood Four. It takes place something like a year after the previous book. Peter has been living in the Bright Demesne, the community of enlightened Gamesmen led by the Wizard Himaggery, but he's still enough of a child that he doesn't really appreciate the ideals of justice, compassion, and cooperation espoused by Himaggery and his allies, at least not when compared to his own adolescent angst. So, Peter sets out into the world once again, in search of his enigmatic mother, Mavin Manyshaped:
I had decided to turn myself into a Dragon and go looking for my mother despite all argument to the contrary.
Which he does. He has some interesting adventures along the way, and finally meets her in the weird land of the Shifters, Schlaizy Noithn. From there, they set off to rescue Himmagery (who is Peter's father) from durance vile. In doing so, they learn about the true history of their world, which is ultimately more science fictional than fantastic. Over the course of his various adventures, Peter discovers that he really does believe in all the values of the Bright Demesne, that he likes helping people.
In short, another solid entry in a series I've enjoyed a great deal over the years, even if nobody else I know has ever read it.