Samantha Lee's Childe Rolande reviewed in the latest issue of Phantasmagoria

Appropriately, perhaps, for Women in Horror Month, veteran horror writer, Samantha Lee has an in-depth review of her dark fantasy novel Childe Rolande in the latest issue of Phantasmagoria by the ex-editor of Fear magazine John Gilbert:

Childe Rolande by Samantha Lee review in Phantasmagoria No 22 by John Gilbert:

WHEN I FIRST reviewed Childe Rolande in 1989, talk of gender identity was as rare as literature discussing it and books featuring hermaphroditic central characters were even rarer. Storm Constantine had begun her series of Wraeththu novels in 1987 with The Enchantments of Flesh and Spirit, but the
androgynous beings in her books were genetically altered and more akin to the “emo” and “goth” characters portrayed on screen and in the musical culture of those times.

Two years later in 1989, Samantha Lee’s Childe Rolande was published with little fanfare by New English Library in the UK but became a slow burn cult classic amongst fantasy and science fiction critics and devotees. Described as a “hermaphrodite” and “freak”, Childe Rolande is born into the fiercely matriarchal nation of Alba at a time when its fabric is crumbling. A prophecy says that one day a “Redeemer” will appear who will be “both one and the same”, and who will sweep away the age-old tyranny of Alba’s female rulers and bind the nation together in peace. Rolande fulfils all those qualifications.

This mystical being holds the wisdom of the ages in its eyes and reputedly transforms into an eagle at will, which is the hope and dream of Alba’s downtrodden males.

At the Dark Tower, Rolande must defeat the evil sorceress, Fergael, and unite the polarized kingdom if they are to fulfil their destiny. The book is written cleverly in the first person, so Lee doesn’t have to compare the main character to his/her gender. This allows Lee to step out of the political themes of the book and explore Alba, a kingdom ruled by any one part of its population. Childe Rolande also draws on poetic influences, particularly on Byron’s poem ‘Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came’ which has drawn more than one contemporary author to its portentous portals. Samantha Lee’s classic is for all fantasy fans who want to understand human politics – and perhaps, those who maybe questioning their own sexuality – through the freedom of fantasy with enough allusions to play Umberto Eco’s game of hunt the reference.

A courageous, compassionate, innovative and intriguing novel when it was first published, it marks a milestone moment in the history of science fiction and fantasy and is today an example of what can be achieved in the genre fiction.

Childe Rolande is published by Parallel Universe Publications and is available to purchase from Amazon and other outlets. —John Gilbert

amazon.co.uk

amazon.com

Phantasmagoria magazine 

Amazon UK link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BXNBF1XK

Amazon USA link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXNBF1XK