Paul Kearney, The Mark of Ran

The Mark of Ran

Paul Kearney

Bantam, Dec 2005, $12.00

ISBN: 0553383612

The continent of Umer is an archipelago with numerous islands of varying size, somewhat isolated by powerful oceans that isolate people. Rol and his grandfather, along with two other people are isolated from the natives who fear them until soldiers are sent to kick them off the island. Rol makes it to a larger island, but his grandfather dies in the freedom boat trek. However his grandfather obtained a death pledge from Rol to seek out and beg for kindness from Michael Psellos.

Psellos the sorcerer owns everything on the island, whether it is the thieves' guild or those in power. He accepts Rol as his "apprentice" teaching the lad how to accumulate, use, and abuse authority, as absolute power corrupts absolutely in his hands. Of course Psellos' beautiful companion and deadliest assassin Rowen, teaches the youngster other skills that a man needs to know.

Geographically paying homage to the delightful classic Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea trilogy, Paul Kearney provides a fabulous coming of age character driven fantasy, with the twist that the youth is being trained by the dark side. Psellos is terrific as he has a bit of mystery about his origins, which in turn augments the fear and increases his power. He is a malevolent being who sees humans as so beneath him they don't matter, except in terms of what individuals can do for him. He is complemented by Rowen, a warrior siren who can kill as easily as she can kiss. These are Rol's "benevolent" teachers. This reviewer can't wait for more Sea Beggar tales starring this unholy trio.

Harriet Klausner