BOOK REVIEW - Harm None (Novel)
Mike Gleason
2000 Willow Tree Press ISBN 0-9678221-0-6 378 pages paperback
$8.95 (U.S.)
I owe a debt of gratitude to a young lady that, less than two months ago, I
didn't know. We were chatting at a function in Salem, Massachusetts and I
told her I was looking to review more Pagan-friendly fiction. She asked if
I had ever read any of M. R. Sellars' novels. I hadn't, so I did a Google
search to see if I could find out who to contact. I found the publishers
(Willow Tree Press) and they responded favorably to my request for review
copies.
Mr. Sellars writes from experience, that much is obvious from the very first
pages of this book. Of course, in the "Author's Note" before the start of
the book he makes it clear that what follows is a fictionalized story, but
that much of the information is factual. I can agree with that, even if I
don't see eye-to-eye with him. Anyone who has been in the Craft for any
length of time will recognize these truths.
Previous reviewers have compared Rowan Gant to Mercedes Lackey's "Diana
Tregarde" and I have to agree with them. The story is told crisply and
efficiently. The hero is very human in that he struggles to find the
answers and blames himself when he fails to live up to his own expectations
(while reminding others not to do the same thing).
By the end of this, the first book in the series, he finds himself cast in a
role which he had not anticipated. He finds that his religious beliefs have
made even deeper inroads into his day-to-day existence than he had thought.
He finds his mundane job of protect8ing others' computer systems has
prepared him for a job of protecting other members of the Craft.
He and his wife, Felicity, help to solve a series of murders and then have
to assume the leadership of a coven left suddenly leaderless. He finds
himself going from relative obscurity to being a police consultant. He
confronts prejudice and manages to change a few perceptions. It doesn't
happen instantly, it isn't total, and it comes with hidden costs.
As an introduction to a new series, I found it entertaining. It lays the
groundwork and makes you want to see more of Mr. Gant. It is well worth the
money and effort to add this book to your fiction collection. If you enjoy
good mysteries, add this to your list of books to read.
Mike Gleason
Sellars © 2001 Willow Tree Press ISBN 0-9678221-1-4 412 pages
paperback $8.95 (U.S.)
Rowan Gant is back. And his life hasn't improved markedly since we last saw
him. He is still reliving his experiences from the first book; still
recovering from the miscarriage of his child; and still trying to convince
members of the Police Department in St. Louis that Wiccans are not involved
in ",,,lurid orgies by the light of the full moon for the purpose of
spawning demon children."
I commented in my previous review (Harm None) that earlier reviewers had
compared Rowan Gant to Mercedes Lackey's Diana Tregarde. I said then that I
agreed with them, but I feel that Gant, in several ways, surpassed Ms.
Tregarde. Of course the author of this series has a few things in his favor
that Ms. Lackey did not have. First and foremost is the explosion of
interest in Forensics and "Crime TV" on the cable networks. There is an
atmosphere of acceptance that was not present before. Secondly, there is an
indefinable appeal that Rowan Gant exudes that was missing with Diana
Tregard.
There are, currently, four more books upcoming in this series with more (I
hope) in the offing. Diana Tregarde's adventures stopped after three books
because there wasn't a market for "occult" crime fiction. Thankfully that
has changed.
If you have not read these books; if you enjoy Pagan/Wiccan friendly fiction
for adults; if you are willing to look beyond the shelves of your local
mega-bookstore, do yourself a favor and buy these books. Use Amazon.com, do
a Google search to find out where else you can find them, but buy these
books.
It is such a pleasure to read adult fiction from an author who knows
modern-day Wicca, that I find it hard to recommend these books too much.
There will be things you won't agree with; Gods know I've got a couple of
issues with Mr. Sellars' views. Don't let that stop you from reading these
books and enjoying them.