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Coyote #1
New Coyote
The creatures of legend have come upon hard times. Their power stems from human belief, but humans believe in "Science" now. We have little use for magic. Even Coyote - shiftiest and most adaptable of them all - can't quite comprehend this new view of reality. He refuses to accept defeat, however, and devises a plan to have himself reborn without memories so that he can grow up within our contemporary culture, and fully understand our way of thinking. And where would Coyote go for formative guidance, anyway? Why, a commune, of course. Sunbow Farms, to be precise. It's peaceful, wild, and very private. Very private indeed. Marijuana plantations are like that. So the Narks have come and raided his new home - Coyote can deal with that. And there's the flood, of course, and trigger-happy coyote-blasting neighbors, and troublemaking by Coyote's magical Spirit Pups . . . all no problem. Even local prejudice against his all-too-coyotish appearance can be dealt with, somehow. It's those death threats from Fox that are hard to take. How can Fox say that Coyote needs to be killed for his own good? That just doesn't make sense.
- GenresFantasy
376 pages, Hardcover
First published August 5, 2005
132 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 4, 2017
Very rarely do you come across a book that combines a truly unique concept, unique perspective, a fresh voice, a merging of genres that really works, excites, that draws you in and won't let you go, and then stays with you for years after reading it. Rarer still do you find it in an author's first novel. I found it all here.
Michael Bergey manages to combine traditional Native American Lore and Modern Urban Fantasy in a humorous, romantic, chaotic adventure that excites. Coyote, being the screwed up trickster he is, tries for a new approach allowing part of himself to be reborn in the modern world without the benefit of his medicine. Instead, He must begin anew, learning the "science" medicine of our time and culture.
Michael creates unique, engaging characters; human, animal, spirit and something in-between. He is not afraid to make real people: the strong-willed, vegan, pot farmer woman who adopted the new coyote pup; a blind girl who needs a friend even more than a guide dog; the nasty neighbor who is there in second to help when trouble hits; the good friend with a dark secret; the bad man you love to hate, who is still just a man...and the just plain strange. You don't find shining light perfect people or pitch black villains. You find people, with all their flaws and their beauty. He uses romance, humor, orneriness and intolerance to bring in other cultures and other places, breathing new life into old legends without diminishing the cultures they arise from.
With a surprising skill in both narrative and dialogue, he creates conflicts and resolutions that keep the reader engaged and not willing to let go until the last page is turned. This is the first book of a trilogy that dares to be different. It is one of the top three books by a new author that I have read in the last 45 years. I not only highly recommend it, but believe that to not explore the world he creates and the philosophical, cultural, spiritual and sociological questions he dares to explore is to do a disservice to yourself.
Pick it up. It won't let you down...it won't even let you put it down.
Michael Bergey manages to combine traditional Native American Lore and Modern Urban Fantasy in a humorous, romantic, chaotic adventure that excites. Coyote, being the screwed up trickster he is, tries for a new approach allowing part of himself to be reborn in the modern world without the benefit of his medicine. Instead, He must begin anew, learning the "science" medicine of our time and culture.
Michael creates unique, engaging characters; human, animal, spirit and something in-between. He is not afraid to make real people: the strong-willed, vegan, pot farmer woman who adopted the new coyote pup; a blind girl who needs a friend even more than a guide dog; the nasty neighbor who is there in second to help when trouble hits; the good friend with a dark secret; the bad man you love to hate, who is still just a man...and the just plain strange. You don't find shining light perfect people or pitch black villains. You find people, with all their flaws and their beauty. He uses romance, humor, orneriness and intolerance to bring in other cultures and other places, breathing new life into old legends without diminishing the cultures they arise from.
With a surprising skill in both narrative and dialogue, he creates conflicts and resolutions that keep the reader engaged and not willing to let go until the last page is turned. This is the first book of a trilogy that dares to be different. It is one of the top three books by a new author that I have read in the last 45 years. I not only highly recommend it, but believe that to not explore the world he creates and the philosophical, cultural, spiritual and sociological questions he dares to explore is to do a disservice to yourself.
Pick it up. It won't let you down...it won't even let you put it down.
March 18, 2011
What happens when the native american animal spirits realize they are losing their powers due to the science of the white man? They have some scientist help them genetically create a coyote that containtes the soul of their brother Sin-Ka-Lip the wily coyote spirit. In order to relate better to the white man they have taken his memories so he can't use his magic and will learn science to help them. But when you have the soul of a spirit animal, odd and evil things tend to happen that the lack of memories make harder to fight. This is a really unique book and I loved it. I look forward to reading the second one.
December 18, 2009
One of the most fun reads i've ever had, if only the sequel were as compelling.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews