by Calren Crenlon

Created on: April 04, 2010   Last Updated: April 08, 2010

Book lovers have various favorites they use to bring outsiders into our hobby. Some direct friends to their favorite book from years past, while others suggest best sellers exclusively. Many books are wonderful to read, but several people suggest titles that are difficult for non-fans to keep up with. So what can be suggested to newcomers to the fantasy genre? I like to suggest the The Shadow of the Lion by Mercedes Lackey with Dave Freer & Eric Flint.

The Shadow of the Lion is a Historical Fantasy, meaning it is based on some facts, such as locations and various famous figures. The bulk of the novel takes place in Venice, Italy in 1537. In this alternate universe the Greek Scholar Hypatia was not killed in 415 A.D. but rather converted to Christianity and saved the Library of Alexandria from destruction. The records held within formed the basis for Christian Magic and shifted history significantly.

While the city's complex canals, dozens of locations to remember, various words in Latin and Italian, and various characters to remember may be overwhelming to the naked eye, the novel contains a glossary, maps, and some family trees to help the reader keep track. However the book is laid out quite well to the reader. The prologue entices the reader with the start of the story, giving the reader a loose understanding of what's going on without too much detail. The next few chapters keep the character count respectably low. Only after the reader has had time to digest the basics of each character do more get added.

Well written characters are also a must. Those with a sense of depth, that make the reader care about their troubles and outcome make the story worth reading. Characters such as Marco Valdosta with his naive perceptions and total lack of street smarts are well balanced against his brother Benito's life as a petty thief. It is with the comparisons and contractions between characters that the story gains a larger sense of realism and can pull the reader in.

So to summarize the previously stated points:

* A simple but not slow start

* A strong story that keeps the reader enthralled without drowning the pages in technical details

* Resources to help the reader keep facts straight

* Enjoyable and realistic characters

In closing, I want to say that while The Shadow of the Lion is the book I use to bring in new fans it is not the only one that can be used. There are several books by authors such as Piers Anthony, Andre Norton, and Lois Bujold McMaster that also come to mind. The main key is to match up the theme of the book to the newcomer's interests or points of view. By making their first fantasy book as interesting and relevant to them as possible, you make it more likely that it won't be the last one they read.

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