Storm Constantine, WRAETHTHU (Tor/Orb)

reviewed by Paul W. Cashman

pellaz1@comcast.net

Tor Books' Wraeththu is an omnibus trade-paper edition collecting three full-length novels. I originally read each book individually so I've split this review into three parts based on the original novels. The series is full of surprises, and the central character is not who you expect him to be. Each review covers the events in each book fairly heavily, but I've also provided a quick summary for each book that you can jump to if you'd prefer to be completely surprised.

The three novels collected in Wraeththu are, in order:

  1. The Enchantments of Flesh and Spirit
  2. The Bewitchments of Love and Hate, and
  3. The Fulfilments of Fate and Desire.
First published in the US as individual paperbacks by Tor in relatively small quantities, the first and third paperpacks were never too common, while Bewitchments has proven even more elusive. Thankfully, Tor/Orb's omnibus edition has made the series more accessible to readers in the States, and, while an uncommon find, it has remained in print. Ironically, the series was out of print for years in England, where Storm herself resides, but has now been reissued by her own publishing arm, Immanion Press, in new definitive editions.

Spoiler warning! When Tor collected the three books into this Wraeththu omnibus, they included the list of characters and (horrors!) the glossary from the last book, Fulfilments, in the back, and the map from Fulfilments in the front. First-time readers beware: the glossary is chock-full of spoilers (it's the same glossary that followed the last book, with all the prior events included), and the map and characters will not be needed until the third book, so skip over 'em. Alas, the appendices, especially the list of Wraeththu castes and levels, ARE useful, so be careful when flipping pages in the back!

For more general info on the Wraeththu, Wendy Darling's Wraeththu Companion resource is invaluable, although now slightly out of date.

Reviews: Enchantments | Bewitchments | Fulfilments |
Series summary and closing thoughts (Contains some spoilers :)) | Account of Storm's first-ever visit to the States

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Some slight spoilers below.  :)
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Series Summary

I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a well-written fantasy tale with many trappings of SF -- a post-apocalyptic world, etc. -- and a depth of feeling so often lacking in the genre. Storm's prose style is so unique that it alone can make these books enthralling. If you enjoy Wraeththu, please drop me e-mail at pellaz1@comcast.net; fans are still relatively scarce here in the States.

A reminder: the subject material of these books can cause some consternation for those with provincial outlooks on transgenderal relationships and hermaphrodism -- but it can also forge quite an affinity for these books for those who, through lifestyle or open-mindedness, don't mind a bit of fun with gender and sexual crossovers. Your mileage will vary, but I hope you enjoy these books as much as I did: my car's license plate now reads PELLAZ. (Only because CALANTHE is too long.:))

I also had the pleasure of inviting, then welcoming Storm Constantine and her partner (now husband) Jim Hibbert to America for their first visit ever, in June of 1996, and they were a delightful couple to be with. The following year she returned again as a guest, and she returned again in the Fall of 1998. After paving the way, more of Storm's work was published in the States due in part to her visits here as a Dragon*Con guest. She says I had something to do with that; if so, it's one of the best accomplishments of my life. She deserves it. :)

--Paul <pellaz1@comcast.net>

Books by Storm Constantine:

Cataloguing-in-publication data for the Wraeththu omnibus edition:



%A   Constantine, Storm
%T   WRAETHTHU
%I   Tor/Orb
%C   New York, NY
%D   1993
%G   ISBN 0-312-89000-1
%O   US$17.95 / CA$24.95
%S   Wraeththu


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