Robert White (1:134/40) wrote to Fred Runk at 10:46 on 27 Sep 1997:
 RW> I have been trying to read a bit every night before I go to sleep,
 RW> and have been going through a few books this summer. Among the
 RW> better ones are: 
 RW> 'The Holy Thief' by Ellis Peters.  I'm coming to the end of the
 RW> Brother Cadfael series, I think there is one more book in this
 RW> series, and I have enjoyed everyone of them. Peters was criticized
 RW> over the years for not being historically accurate in some of her
 RW> depiction of life in the 12th century, but I guess you'd have to be
 RW> something of an expert on Medieval England to really spot the
 RW> mistakes.  I've never caught Brother C dispensing an aspirin, or of
 RW> anybody dying from a burst of automatic weapons fire. I find the
 RW> books believable and in character, without getting so caught up in
 RW> obscure terminology as to make it a drag to read.  The sub-plot of
 RW> the war between King Stephen and his cousin Empress Maud for the
 RW> crown of England is particularly fascinating, I want to search out
 RW> a history of the time to see how it all turns out.
Neither Stephen nor Maud wins as Henry II becomes king in 1154.  I'd hoped 
that Ellis Peters would get us closer to that point but then she disappointed 
me by passing on.
As for anachronisms in her work, she wrote superb historical works under the 
name of Edith Pargeter so they would have been an oversight.  And like you, I 
haven't caught any.
 RW> 'Zombies of the Gene Pool' by Sharon McCrumb.  I read her earlier
 RW> volume 'Bimbos of the Death Sun' the prefaces this book and found
 RW> it so-so. It was more on the weird world of SF fans and their
 RW> conventions, with the mystery as such taking a distinct second
 RW> place. 'Gene Pool' is similar with the murder almost an incidental
 RW> part of the story about 3/4 of the through the book. McCrumb does
 RW> seem to know what she is talking about regarding fandom and SF
 RW> fanzines, and as I occasionally stray across the line into that
 RW> genre I appreciated the references and background, but I'd not
 RW> recommend it to any real mystery fan.
The best McCrumb books I've read are the ones set in Appalachia -- She Walks 
These Hills, The Rosewood Casket, The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter and one 
other which has Peggy-O in the title.  All evocative and delights to read.
What I'm now waiting for is the latest Inspector Morse book.  I want to read 
what "E" stands for.  
Take care,
Steven Horn (shorn@yknet.yk.ca)
Moderator CAN_SYSLAW 
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