Master of Earth and Water

The Chronicle of Fionn mac Cumhal #1

by Diana L. Paxson, Adrienne Martine-Barnes

Outlawed at birth and raised by two remarkable old women, Demne sets out on a perilous journey to find the secret of his parentage, unaware that the strange worlds of men and monsters will reveal to him a glorious destiny. Reprint.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Ireland, Mythology, Historical Fantasy, Magic, Cultural

395 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Diana L. Paxson (born 1943) is a novelist and author of nonfiction, primarily in the fields of Paganism and Heathenism. Her published works include fantasy and historical fiction novels, as well as numerous short stories. More recently she has also published nonfiction books about Pagan and Heathen religions and practices.

In addition to her multiple novels and collaborations, she has written over seventy short stories. Her best-known works are the Westria novels, and the later books in the Avalon series, which she first co-wrote with Marion Zimmer Bradley, then took over sole authorship of after Bradley's death.

Paxson was nominated for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards twice, in 1989 for the "White Raven" and in 1983 for "Lady of Light".

Paxson's non-fiction books include Taking Up the Runes, Essential Asatru, and Trance-Portation. She writes a regular column for the women's spirituality magazine, Sagewoman.

Paxson has been active in the leadership of a number of organizations. She hosted the first activities of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and was subsequently among that group's founding Directors and Corporate Officers when it incorporated[1]. She was the western regional director of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, and is a frequent panelist at science fiction conventions, especially Baycon, where she was the 2007 Fantasy Guest of Honor.

A leader in the Neopagan and Heathen revivals, Paxson is the founder of the The Fellowship of the Spiral Path and has served as First Officer of the Covenant of the Goddess. She has been Steerswoman of the Heathen group, The Troth, a member of its Board of Directors, and currently edits its journal, Idunna. She is a pioneer in the revival of Oracular Seidh, which she has taught and performed at many Neopagan and heathen festivals and retreats.

She composes and plays music for the harp. She currently lives at her home, Greyhaven, in Berkeley, California.

More can be found on her blog: http://dpaxson.livejournal.com

Reviews

[James]

This is a great trilogy by one of my favorite authors. A mystical story based on Irish mythology follows the life of a mortal born boy who is destined to be the bridge between the worlds of men and spirits. His life's quest is to keep peace between the clans of men while keeping the gods of the spirit side from destroying the world of men.

Seth still has all 3 or these books that I let him borrow back in 2001. You done reading them yet, Seth?

[James]

Outlawed at birth and raised by two remarkable old women, Demne sets out on a perilous journey to find the secret of his parentage, unaware that the strange worlds of men and monsters will reveal to him a glorious destiny. Reprint. AB. PW.

[Nicholas Whyte]

http://nhw.livejournal.com/826664.html[return][return]This is a fairly fat novel, dealing entirely with the boyhood deeds of Finn MacCool and concluding with the only incident I can remember from the original legend (the cooking of the Salmon of Wisdom). It is a good effort, a Bildungsroman about a character with superhuman powers, and with unusual care taken to avoid anachronism - no Christian-era personal names, no potatoes, not too much wishful thinking about how perfect and emancipated pagan Irish society was. I enjoyed it more than I had expected to.

[James]

I bought this when I was in elementary school. I was easily distracted and forgot all about this book. I found it a recently (almost 20 years later) and I loved it. Great story telling and a nice blend of otherworld culture and understandable language. This book is the beginnings of the Hero Fionna Mac Cumhal. Long before he realizes his true potential but still a champion even at a young age. I recommend giving this a try even if you aren't a die hard fantasy reader.

[Victoria]

Prequel to the story of Eire's hero Finn mac Cool. Well written, realistic emotions. Lovely to have magic in tales of the distant past. Perhaps we read these because we miss the feeling of magic in our everyday, technological lives.

Darn, just discovered it's one of a series that I'm sure not to read. *sigh*

[Jcwblackstone]

Its a fantasy set in dark ages Ireland, its very interesting, more so with the references to names and locations than the story itself.

[Christine]

The whole series is a re-telling of Irish Legend. If you have read her series based on the Ring cycle, you should check this out as well.

[Mariah]

Diana Paxson's retelling of Fionn MacCumhal's saga

[Bill Tillman]

A very good novel, perhaps a tad to graphic on intimate relationships for my taste but otherwise an excellent tale.

[Etna Webb]

You do not get bored, it keeps you on your toes.

[Scott]

awesome trilogy and Reading again