Goa

by Kara Dalkey

Book Overview

On the cusp of the medieval and modern worlds, dream-haunted journeyman apothecary Thomas Chinnery sets sail on Bear's Whelp for Cathay to trade in drugs for his master. But the Whelp's captain wants... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312860005
• ISBN13: 9780312860004
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 252 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Good series, but not for kids.

I picked up this book at the library a couple years ago after reading the Water triligy. The books were great! I love myths so I enjoyed the book. But, being 13 at the time, I found that some of the book was a little inapropriate. If you're thinking of gettting this book for a kid, get the Water triligy instead, wait a few years for this one.

The Inquisition vs. a Powerful Indian Goddess!

In the 1500s the Inquisition was going strong, with its persecutors going after anyone who wasn't strictly confined to the doctrines of the Catholic church. This generally included Jews, Protestants and suspected witches, but in "Goa" there's a twist on that idea. This time the hounds of God are on the trail of a mysterious person that is producing a magical substance...the blood of an Indian goddess that supposedly can raise the dead. To the church, the mysterious goddess must be the incarnation of evil, and anyone who uses her blood for magic must be punished However, there is a secret mission on behalf of one of "God's men"...to gain control of the secret of the blood and use it for his own purposes. Normally I read historical fiction to learn about history, but I enjoyed this sidetrip into a little fantasy, which also included some danger and suspense. The author had a great idea here, however, I think the she did herself a disservice by not combining the three shorts books of the trilogy into one bigger, more impressive book. Goa is followed by "Bijapur: Blood of the Goddess", and then "Bhagavati".

Goa is an atypical fantasy.

Such a book comes only once in a great while. An eastern/western conflict intertwined with restrained fantasy properties and historical details, all in a fantasy novel. Awesome.