Drum Calls

Drums of Chaos #2

by Jo Clayton

Once every generation, the two worlds of Clandair and Iomard magically move together, allowing people with special talents to walk between the worlds, but when young Cymel sees a strange wizard hovering in the air, she realizes the danger that threatens. Reprint.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction

341 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Jo Clayton, whose parents named her after Jo in Little Women, was born and raised in Modesto, California. She and her three sisters shared a room and took turns telling each other bedtime stories. One of her sisters noted that Jo's stories were the best, and often contained science fiction and fantasy elements.

Clayton graduated from the University of California in 1963, Summa Cum Laude, and started teaching near Los Angeles.

In 1969, after a religious experience, she moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, joining the teaching order Sisters of Mount Carmel as a novice. She left three years later, before taking final orders.

During her time in New Orleans, Clayton sold sketches and paintings in Pioneer Square to supplement her income.

After being robbed several times, Clayton moved to Portland, Oregon in 1983. She remained there for the rest of her life.

Clayton was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1996. Jo continued to write during her year and a half in the hospital. She finished Drum Calls, the second book of the Drums of Chaos series, and was halfway through the third and final book when she lost her struggle with multiple myeloma in February, 1998.

Literary executor Katherine Kerr made arrangements with established author Kevin Andrew Murphy to finish the third book of the Drums of Chaos series. It is now completed.

Reviews

[Althea Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

The second book in the "Drums of Chaos" trilogy, this was the last book Jo Clayton completed before her death. It continues on much like the previous book – it shows the situation unfolding on the linked worlds of Iomard and Glandair mosaic-fashion, with brief sections, quickly intercut, from a large number of characters' points of view. However, we gradually get to know two talented young people well – Cymel and Breith, friends, although they don't actually interact much in this book. Cymel goes away to school, on her own for the first time, runs into some prejudice and trouble, but finds an older mentor who introduces her to a bohemian lifestyle – and tutors her in her magic. Breith, meanwhile, as it is forbidden in his homeland to be a boy with magical talent, runs away from home to protect his family – but soon ends up victim to slavers and is sold in a foreign land... As all this is going on, a web of plots for different factions' power is in effect throughout both worlds... Again, well-done, but not really quick-moving, and I did wish that more had "happened" by the ending - which features an annoyingly rushed "showdown" scene...