From archive (archive) From: ut6y@vax5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU Organization: Cornell Information Technologies Subject: Shappe's Spoiler Review:_Fool on the Hill_ Really strange, neato book. Date: 6 Dec 88 18:42:50 GMT Shappe's Spoiler Review, volume 2 Number 4 _Fool on the Hill_ by Matt Ruff --------------------------------------------------------------------- These articles consist of critical reviews which may also consist of important plot information about the reviewed works or other works. Such articles are called "Spoilers" in net terms because they may spoil the appetite of those who have not yet read or seen the reviewed works. The Author takes no responsibility for spoil't appetites. Flames to the bit bucket. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Shappe's Spoiler Review, Volume 2 Number 4 _Fool on the Hill_ by Matt Ruff Anyone who's ever been to Cornell University long enough to really see the place will probably noticed that Cornell abounds with material to write about, both fact and fiction. This book takes advantage of Cornell's terrain, buildings, and incredible diverse student-and-faculty body to weave an incredible fantasy tale. That's not to say that only people who have seen Cornell can appreciate the book. While it does help, Ruff gives enough descriptions that the uninitiated will be able to enjoy. But it DOES help. Perhaps too much. After reading the book, I so enjoyed the characters that I kept searching for marks of them on the Campus as I walked to classes. People like Stephen Titus George, (= S. T. George = St. George, and yes, there will be a Dragon) a Cornell graduate, instructor, and already-famous author (almost undoubtedly modelled, to some degree, on Ruff himself) who likes flying kites. Likes it so much, in fact, he's learned how to call the wind to help him fly it. Then there's Ragnarok, The Black Night and one of the Risley Bohemians (Risley, the Fine&Preforming Arts Residential College, really exists), who drives 'round campus on a black motorcycle, dressed entirely in black with dark shades, all to avoid the memory that his father (and almost himself as well) was a Klansman. There's Luther the mongrel and Blackjack the Manx cat, who leave their wretched home in NYC in search of Heaven, which Luther insists smells like "rain and hills" (a perfect description of Ithaca, NY). According to Ruff, all animals have some telepathic communication. Dogs and cats are the most fluent. Furthermore, cats can understand humans and a few can even read, while dogs can pick up human feelings. This pair forms an interesting supporting subplot that is essentially a story in itself. Of course, no magic-fantasy would be complete without some form of fantastic life, so Ruff has brought sprites into the picture. These little people, it turns out, are actually responsible for the fact that the Clock Tower Chimes keep working after all this time, and for keeping files straight, and other little things that seem to happen for the good that noone remembers doing. Only drunk, ill, or insane humans can actually see them, however. The Sprites were decimated a century ago by a war with an evil creature named Rasferret the Grub. Now, it seems, the Grub, who numbers among his powers the ability to animate things, has returned, and even the Big People are in for it this time. And all of this is overseen by Mr. Sunshine, a Greek Original, who spends his eternity Writing without paper. Many of the chaotic things that happen in the world are the result of his Meddling. Now, he has decided that Ithaca would make the perfect setting for a really good Story, in which a human who has also, without knowing it, taken up the art of Writing without paper saves (or doesn't save -- Mr. Sunshine leaves that up to the Monkeys...) the world by stopping something evil that's brewing in Ithaca... Sound confusing? Well, it is, a little. The first half of the book just barely hints at the chaos that's coming. Indeed, the until almost 2/3rds of the way, I though the book would be without major conflict. Then -- WHAMIE -- one major supporting character is offed and all hell is breaking loose. Nice touch. For a first novel, Mr. Ruff's _Fool on the Hill_ was excellent. His prose and characters are captivating, all the more so because many of them can be at least loosely tied to similar real people and events that i know. I don't know if this book is available widely, but if you see it, grab it. Something tells me Matt Ruff will be a name to know in the future. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Uncle Mikey (Michael Scott Shappe) | BITNET: UT6Y@CRNLVAX5 208 Dryden Road Apartment 304 | InterNet: UT6Y@vax5.ccs.cornell.edu Ithaca, NY 14850 | UUCP:...!rochester!cornell!vax5!ut6y 607/277-6461 | Flames: bit!bucket ______________________________________________________________________________