This is another tale set in the same post apocalypse future as the author's 'Davy' except that this is 47 years after the Twenty Minute War and there are still people alive who remember the technological past that younger folk believe is just a fairy tale. As in Pangborn's other novel, the pacing is a bit odd, with the beginning worked out in detail, and the ending a rushed almost-summary which becomes distant from the original focus character of Demetrios.

As with 'Davy', we have a repressive society, though here is the beginning of its development, and also the start of a religion that seems a distortion of Christianity. We also have the intrusion of an authorial voice which is a little disconcerting, though it turns out to be the voice of one of the characters,w which is not clear until late on. Again, Pangborn discusses philosophical aspects of human nature and society through his characters and although there are events that potentially form the basis of some tension, conflict and suspense, in practice those are not really developed, and the story is principally one of ideas. ( )

Set in the same post-apocalypse world as Davy, it lacks the rollicking humor of that book, and takes place much sooner after the end of civilization--some of the characters lived in the Before Times. Though the main character is a storyteller, there is only one "tale" of his in the book, and it's laugh-out-loud funny. The rest of the book is pretty somber At the first sign of conflict you think something terrible is coming, but it's mostly avoided. The characters are briefly but memorably drawn, and the identity of the "author" of the book is withheld until almost the very end. I wouldn't describe it as "exciting," but it's beautifully written and I found it an effortless and satisfying read, with a sad but hopeful ending. This post-apocalypse world is so richly detailed and such an integral part of the characters and story that it becomes real as you read about it. Pangborn wrote about it also in the novels "Davy" and "The Judgement of Eve," and in the book of short stories "Still I Persist in Wondering." All are recommended. ( )

SF