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scentman
10th January 2005, 09:12 PM
Are there any Kurtz fans here?

I loved the Deryni series. Esp. the first trilogy: 'Deryni Rising', 'Deryni Checkmate', and 'High Deryni'.

For those of you who may not know, these books are set in an alternative medieval Wales called Gwynnedd. The social/government structure is a hereditary kingdom coupled with a powerful (Roman) Catholic Church. In this world the ability to perform magic is genetic: if you have the gene, you can do magic and are a Deryni, if you don't, you can't do magic and are a human. At one time the Deryni ruled, but were replaced by a human ruler several generations ago because the Deryni rulers had become despots. Link that legacy with the Church suddenly declaring all magic anathema, and you have a series that holds my attention - magic bloodlines going into hiding and are being 'lost'. Anti-magic sentiment reaches almost Nazi proportions in the recent past, and the story is set in a time when these fears of magic are subsiding, but have not completely disappeared.

Our protagonist the human Prince Kelson becomes King Kelson when magic treachery takes the life of his father Bryon. With the help of an unusual priest and a half-blooded Dreyni Duke, he must protect his throne from this attempted coup by a descendant of the Deryni kings.

AnnMarie
10th January 2005, 10:53 PM
Kurtz is an excellent writer. I really enjoy how she portrays the "magical" abilities of the Deryni in such a way that there is no religious confict.

scentman
11th January 2005, 02:57 PM
Kurtz is an excellent writer. I really enjoy how she portrays the "magical" abilities of the Deryni in such a way that there is no religious confict.

Yes, her 'magic rituals' are very Catholic/Christian in appearance - lots of "Papist Mummery" and appeals to saints and angels as well as the holy trinity. I do like the way she describes them, and the results they produce, however, they are not free from conflict. I recommended the series to an acquaintance once - and got chewed out for "promoting satanic literature" [this same person wouldn't watch Ghostbusters because to do so would be communing with evil spirits]. Oh well, closed minds are a thing we have to endure.

Watch out for that merasha laced communion wine!

Hans
11th January 2005, 09:15 PM
Yep, another Kurtz fan here and "brought to her" by Cheryl (yes, that Cheryl) :)

What topped it all was meeting her in person at Anne's real Kitchen Table :D
Oh, Anne said, you know, I could call her and ask her over for tea this afternoon... she did and... well, suffice it to say we had a very pleasant afternoon! :heart:

A memory I treasure more than many an autographed book! (as you might imagine)

scentman
11th January 2005, 10:06 PM
Yep, another Kurtz fan here and "brought to her" by Cheryl (yes, that Cheryl) :)

What topped it all was meeting her in person at Anne's real Kitchen Table :D
Oh, Anne said, you know, I could call her and ask her over for tea this afternoon... she did and... well, suffice it to say we had a very pleasant afternoon! :heart:

A memory I treasure more than many an autographed book! (as you might imagine)

Cooool Hans! That memory does sound priceless - you can probably eventually find another autographed copy of book if need be, but that afternoon you spent together can never be recreated exactly as it was. :ok:

AnnMarie
12th January 2005, 01:47 AM
Yep, another Kurtz fan here and "brought to her" by Cheryl (yes, that Cheryl) :)

What topped it all was meeting her in person at Anne's real Kitchen Table :D
Oh, Anne said, you know, I could call her and ask her over for tea this afternoon... she did and... well, suffice it to say we had a very pleasant afternoon! :heart:

A memory I treasure more than many an autographed book! (as you might imagine)

OOOOOHHHHH! I am SOOOOOO jealous!

Anneli
12th January 2005, 10:59 PM
Me too in that

a) Cheryl introduced me to the Deryni books :applause:
b) I was also at Anne's Kitchen Table when Katherine came round :bow:
c) I actually had her latest book (at that time King Kelson's Bride) with me as Cheryl had brought a copy over for me from the US, so not only did I get a photo of me sitting between Anne and Katherine, I also got a book autographed :bouncy:

*go on, cap that one* ;)

Yep, another Kurtz fan here and "brought to her" by Cheryl (yes, that Cheryl) :)

What topped it all was meeting her in person at Anne's real Kitchen Table :D
Oh, Anne said, you know, I could call her and ask her over for tea this afternoon... she did and... well, suffice it to say we had a very pleasant afternoon! :heart:

A memory I treasure more than many an autographed book! (as you might imagine)