cover image Fang the Gnome

Fang the Gnome

Michael Greatrex Coney. Dutton Books, $17.95 (345pp) ISBN 978-0-453-00575-3

Against a background of space-going genetic engineers seeding planets with intelligence, Coney's Song of Earth series spins such extravagant, hand-me-down yarns as his vision of a celestial steam locomotive. This installment offers three ""happentracks'' (alternate worlds) in which the children of the godlike Starquin meddle. One is a pale rendition of Arthurian legend, one an object lessona rustic land upset by the noble, violent example of those chivalrous talesand the third and most substantial is a peaceable kingdom of unicorns and gnomes. Those cute, wee homebodies are quickly revealed, however, to be Coney's trite, garrulous version of Tolkien's hobbits. The muddled narrative also buries a potentially interesting three-part look at the social dynamics of heroism. (February)