The Deryni Archives: Catalyst; Healer's Song; Vocation; Bethane; The Priesting of Arilan; Legacy; The Knighting of Derry; Trial

by Katherine Kurtz

Book Overview

An anthology of stories and anecdotes dealing with the half-magical Deryni race features both previously published and new fiction, including her first Deryni tale and an account of how Denis Arilan... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0006FATGO
• Release Date: January 1986
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 207 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Fun collection

This series of snapshots into the lives of Deryni and non-Deryni alike is wonderfully entertaining, from the story of how Rhys Thuryn found his calling to the tale of how Denis Arilan found his way around the deadly drug Merasha to became the first Deryni priest in centuries. Sean Lord Derry deserved a story of his own; a well-done one too. I especially liked "The Priesting of Arilan." Of course, I was hooked from the time I first found out he was Deryni. But it's strange that all his later associates...Kelson, Morgan, and Duncan, don't seem to grasp at all who he is. Kurtz will have to tell us if it really was a miracle someday...or at least how Arilan manipulated things so that Duncan could safely be ordained!

How fun!

I found these short stories only brought about more curiousuty. I would love to see many of them that were about little known characters developed into their own novels, and am greatful for the additional information on characters that have already been introduced. Thanks are due to Mrs. Kurtz for putting together this anthology.

a nice treat

Fantasy worlds seem ripe for short story collections. An author may not want to visit favorite characters for a brand new book and many authors refuse to publish books during the historical times mentioned in their novels. For a reader and a fan, it would be a fun and entertaining experience to revist old friends like that and learn more about how things came about in our favorite worlds. Happily, Katherine Kurtz published the Deryni Archives, a collection of short fiction set in her Deryni universe. The Deryni series has left many unanswered questions about the history of the Deryni race, The Camberian Council, as well as Camber's children (and grandchildren). I would like to know more about them. This book does revist both major and minor moments in the history of the the Eleven Kingdoms and i have no complaints with the book. I just want more! The stories contained in this book are short treats. We see some of the kinder moments that would have no place in a full novel, are nice glimpses into the lives of the characters. We see how a Deryni bishop is ordained. I can only hope that Katherine Kurtz will release another set of Archives (not Deryni Tales, i mean more stories actually written by Kurtz).

8 short stories spanning generations

"Catalyst" - Written for _Moonsinger's Friends_, an anthology dedicated for Andre Norton, so Kurtz produced a coming-of-age story concerning Camber MacRorie's children (including the eldest son who was killed off early in the novels), as well as using her own cats as characters. Camber's children, including the fosterling Rhys, are receiving a Michaeline education - not because of their tutors' sometimes overzealous application of ethics, but simply because it's virtually the finest schooling to be had. Young Joram, predictably, has announced his intention to join the order when he's old enough, while Rhys doesn't know yet what he wants to do with his life. Lots of typical rainy day squabbling among the kids opens the story, as Rhys' lack of strategic insight becomes woefully apparent during a chess game with Joram. The adults are out hunting - but the kids turn out not to be the only people who know about the absence of most of the MacRorie household, when a bandit gang tries a sneak attack."Healer's Song" - Set after the central incident from _Saint Camber_. While giving us a more detailed portrait of the traditions surrounding Healers and their training in Rhys Thuryn's day, the central incident of this story isn't concerned with Rhys' own training, but that of the birth and baptism of his third child, when the infant's Healing potential is discovered."Vocation" - Set late in the reign of Uthyr Haldane, Cinhil's grandson, when the anti-Deryni reactionaries have shaped policy for half a century or so. Gilrae d'Eirial, whose calling to become a priest was set aside for his role as his father's heir, has long taken comfort in visiting the ruins of St. Neot's - although the monastery was Deryni and he is not, it brings back childhood memories. It's far too late now, though - both accident and illness have combined to leave him physically unfit for either priesthood or military service. He's just come to visit his childhood sanctuary, and his old friend the hermit Simonn who lives here, this last Christmas Eve before his father's death seals his fate."Bethane" - Set 20 years before the old crone Bethane's appearance in _Deryni Checkmate_; she was an eccentric, elderly widow even then, but not one to put up with children - even noble-born children - amusing themselves by scaring her sheep. We find out a little more about her background, and whether or not she was really a witch."The Priesting of Arilan" - One of the strictures of the Council of Ramos was that Deryni were forbidden to enter the priesthood on pain of death. This story explores the means used by the church to detect Deryni making the attempt, and how Denis Arilan managed to foil the system."Legacy" - Kelson's father Brion, as we know from various references to the story in later years, killed Charissa's father, the Marduk - representative of the Deryni claimants to the Gwynedd throne through the Festillic line, descendants of an incestuous union though they are. This version of the Mar

This book is filled with interesting, short stories!

It allows a further look into the lives of Camber's children and the healer, Rhys Thuryn. I reccomend it to people who would like to learn more about the Deryni world.