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A Tapestry of Magics
Exiled to the Beyonds for irresponsibility, Sir Crassmor encounters visitors and invaders who arrive there from other universes
289 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
3 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Brian Daley
46 books97 followersBrian was born in Englewood Hospital in Englewood, New Jersey on Dec. 22, 1947. A blizzard kept him and his mother at the hospital over Christmas, and the nurses sang "Away in a Manger" to them.
His middle name is Charles. He grew up in Rockleigh, NJ. His mother's name was Myra and his father's name was Charles. He has an older brother, David, and a younger sister, also named Myra. He had no children of his own, but he was always great with his two nieces and four nephews.
He went to Nathan Hale Elementary School in Norwood, NJ, and a consolidated High School - Northern Valley Regional High School in Old Tappan, NJ.
Brian loved to read, drive his '74 Corvette Stingray, spend summers with me on Martha's Vineyard, and travel to wild and exotic places like the jungles of Guatemala and Mexico, and the mountains of Nepal.
He said he wanted to write from an early age, about third grade. He also read a LOT of science fiction as a kid, and that inspired him.
After he graduated from high school in 1965 he joined the army and went to Vietnam for a year's tour of duty. Then he went to Berlin, Germany.
After the army he went to Jersey City State College, majoring in media. While attending college and working as a waiter at a local steak house, he also wrote his first novel, Doomfarers of Coromande. Del Rey Books accepted it and started him on his writing career. The editor picked Brian's manuscript out of the "slush" pile (unsolicited manuscripts) because it was the most neatly typed, but it wasn't accepted right away. The editor made Brian do a lot of re-writing.
When the first STAR WARS movie came out Brian saw it, and he was elated. He said he came out of the theater fundamentally changed. His editor asked which character he would like to write about for a movie-related novel. Brian said he picked Han Solo because Han was the only one who made a moral decision... he started out on the wrong side of the law, but joined with the good guys. And to tell you the truth, Brian was a whole lot like Han, a maverick.
He died of pancreatic cancer in February of 1996. He had just turned 49. He wrote the adaptation for National Public Radio drama THE RETURN OF THE JEDI while he was undergoing chemotherapy. He died at his house in Maryland the night the Jedi radio cast was toasting him at their wrap party, having finished the taping of the shows that day.
When they posted the notice of his death, messages began coming in from all over the world. The gist of them was that his passing created a "disturbance in the Force."
Brian Daley's first novel, The Doomfarers of Coramonde, was published on the first Del Rey list in 1977. It was an immediate success, and Brian went on to write its sequel, The Starfollowers of Coramonde, and many other successful novels: A Tapestry of Magics, three volumes of The Adventures of Hobart Floyt and Alacrity Fitzhugh, and, under the shared pseudonym 'Jack McKinney', ten and one half of the twenty-one Robotech novels. He first conceived of the complex GammaL.A.W. saga in Nepal, in 1984, and worked on its four volumes for the next twelve years, finishing it shortly before his death in 1996.
His middle name is Charles. He grew up in Rockleigh, NJ. His mother's name was Myra and his father's name was Charles. He has an older brother, David, and a younger sister, also named Myra. He had no children of his own, but he was always great with his two nieces and four nephews.
He went to Nathan Hale Elementary School in Norwood, NJ, and a consolidated High School - Northern Valley Regional High School in Old Tappan, NJ.
Brian loved to read, drive his '74 Corvette Stingray, spend summers with me on Martha's Vineyard, and travel to wild and exotic places like the jungles of Guatemala and Mexico, and the mountains of Nepal.
He said he wanted to write from an early age, about third grade. He also read a LOT of science fiction as a kid, and that inspired him.
After he graduated from high school in 1965 he joined the army and went to Vietnam for a year's tour of duty. Then he went to Berlin, Germany.
After the army he went to Jersey City State College, majoring in media. While attending college and working as a waiter at a local steak house, he also wrote his first novel, Doomfarers of Coromande. Del Rey Books accepted it and started him on his writing career. The editor picked Brian's manuscript out of the "slush" pile (unsolicited manuscripts) because it was the most neatly typed, but it wasn't accepted right away. The editor made Brian do a lot of re-writing.
When the first STAR WARS movie came out Brian saw it, and he was elated. He said he came out of the theater fundamentally changed. His editor asked which character he would like to write about for a movie-related novel. Brian said he picked Han Solo because Han was the only one who made a moral decision... he started out on the wrong side of the law, but joined with the good guys. And to tell you the truth, Brian was a whole lot like Han, a maverick.
He died of pancreatic cancer in February of 1996. He had just turned 49. He wrote the adaptation for National Public Radio drama THE RETURN OF THE JEDI while he was undergoing chemotherapy. He died at his house in Maryland the night the Jedi radio cast was toasting him at their wrap party, having finished the taping of the shows that day.
When they posted the notice of his death, messages began coming in from all over the world. The gist of them was that his passing created a "disturbance in the Force."
Brian Daley's first novel, The Doomfarers of Coramonde, was published on the first Del Rey list in 1977. It was an immediate success, and Brian went on to write its sequel, The Starfollowers of Coramonde, and many other successful novels: A Tapestry of Magics, three volumes of The Adventures of Hobart Floyt and Alacrity Fitzhugh, and, under the shared pseudonym 'Jack McKinney', ten and one half of the twenty-one Robotech novels. He first conceived of the complex GammaL.A.W. saga in Nepal, in 1984, and worked on its four volumes for the next twelve years, finishing it shortly before his death in 1996.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 20, 2016
First off, I do not consider this a novel in the true sense of a single story. No, this is a collection of three novellas loosely tied together.
Part 1 - In All Probabilities...
Part 2 - "By What External Streams..."
Part 3 - As Fate Would Have it...
All three novellas follow the adventures of Crassmor Tarrant written in third person omniscient, or some simulation thereof. Although it is never revealed, I am of the impression Crassmor is a man in his early twenties due to the years of servitude as a squire, before knighthood which occurs late in the first novella. He lives in a land called the Singularity which is connected to lands called the Beyond and all other Realities connect to the Beyond. Different characters get lost in their Reality, enter the Beyond, then some eventually find the Singularity. A number of actual real people who have gone missing are mentioned as well as fictional ones. Think of the Singularity as the center of the universe connected to everything and any time by the Beyond.
The writing, especially in the first two parts appears aimed at young adults though certain few scenes implying adult actions do not fit such an audience. Still, the whole number of big sword fights and damsels in distress combined with the dialogue and actions made me think the work best suited for 12-14 year olds.
Spoilers from here.
The first part involves a race of lizard riding warriors bent on conquering the Singularity. Practically the whole thing boils down to two sword fights that barely made it above the yawn level. 2 stars
The second part deals with a lady held hostage and Crassmor having to use subterfuge to rescue her. 2 stars
The third involves a plot to capture the Tapestry, a floating piece of cloth that predicts the future and ties the Singularity to everything. 4 stars
Although I somewhat enjoyed the third part, in total the book is a Meh at best.
Part 1 - In All Probabilities...
Part 2 - "By What External Streams..."
Part 3 - As Fate Would Have it...
All three novellas follow the adventures of Crassmor Tarrant written in third person omniscient, or some simulation thereof. Although it is never revealed, I am of the impression Crassmor is a man in his early twenties due to the years of servitude as a squire, before knighthood which occurs late in the first novella. He lives in a land called the Singularity which is connected to lands called the Beyond and all other Realities connect to the Beyond. Different characters get lost in their Reality, enter the Beyond, then some eventually find the Singularity. A number of actual real people who have gone missing are mentioned as well as fictional ones. Think of the Singularity as the center of the universe connected to everything and any time by the Beyond.
The writing, especially in the first two parts appears aimed at young adults though certain few scenes implying adult actions do not fit such an audience. Still, the whole number of big sword fights and damsels in distress combined with the dialogue and actions made me think the work best suited for 12-14 year olds.
Spoilers from here.
The first part involves a race of lizard riding warriors bent on conquering the Singularity. Practically the whole thing boils down to two sword fights that barely made it above the yawn level. 2 stars
The second part deals with a lady held hostage and Crassmor having to use subterfuge to rescue her. 2 stars
The third involves a plot to capture the Tapestry, a floating piece of cloth that predicts the future and ties the Singularity to everything. 4 stars
Although I somewhat enjoyed the third part, in total the book is a Meh at best.
October 20, 2014
This is one of my favorite books.
I really wish he had wrote a sequel.
It has hints of amber, harold shea, and other multidimensional science/fantasy mishmash adventures.
I really wish he had wrote a sequel.
It has hints of amber, harold shea, and other multidimensional science/fantasy mishmash adventures.
October 18, 2019
A TAPESTRY OF MAGICS by Brian Daley - I found this very engaging: the title comes off to me as being somewhat generic, and did not prepare me for the book itself. It’s kind of a pastiche that transcends pastiche by fully remaking, reimagining the different elements it borrows from. There are three “acts” each which seems to be drawing on a different subgenre of fantasy: things start out in the vein of Robert E. Howard/Heavy Metal sword and sorcery, the action/tone then shifts to a kind of whimsical comic fantasy (parts of which reminded me of THE PRINCESS BRIDE), and then, finally, into otherworldly political drama a la Zelazny’s Amber novels. Each section is full-realized, and the magic of the book is that, despite the differences of approach and tone in each section, it ends up cohering into something bigger than its individual parts. Highly recommended.
May 5, 2020
I enjoyed the hell out of this book as a kid. I found it on the shelves at the Walden books in Andover one afternoon after school. I haven't read it in decades, so I hope it holds up. I remember when I learned the sad news of Mr. Daley's passing, my first thought was that we'd never see more of Crassmore.
February 21, 2023
I read this old favourite to round out the Brian Daley fantasies. This is classic Daley - fast moving and highly visual, a mish-mash of fantasy and crossovers to other worlds. At times desperate action it also has its fair share of humour. It plays intentionally on cliches, tongue in cheek. Overall I can't help wishing this was turned into a movie. I am sure it would fair better that many of the 'original' scripts we have been subjected to lately.
It is set in The Singularity, a "wood between the worlds" stable spot surrounded by landscapes and people from our world and others including fictional worlds, some by other authors. Characters from other fiction aren't critical but do get some interesting shout outs.
It is not so much a single novel but a series of three linked novellas, although the seeds planted in the first bear fruit right to the end. It is clearly open ended with the potential for more adventures in the same setting. It's a great pity Daley is no longer with us and no sequels will ever happen.
It is set in The Singularity, a "wood between the worlds" stable spot surrounded by landscapes and people from our world and others including fictional worlds, some by other authors. Characters from other fiction aren't critical but do get some interesting shout outs.
It is not so much a single novel but a series of three linked novellas, although the seeds planted in the first bear fruit right to the end. It is clearly open ended with the potential for more adventures in the same setting. It's a great pity Daley is no longer with us and no sequels will ever happen.
July 21, 2024
This book was not at all what I was expecting from both the back cover blurb/synopsis and cover art. Rather than the serious, relatively low fantasy/romance it implies, we get a delightful high fantasy romp.
Imagine if the Amber series were less burdened by philosophy and seriousness. Imagine if Tanelorn was a place of silly and entertaining. Imagine if Callahan's were a medieval kingdom.
The Singularity (long predating that terms questionable use in transhumanism) is a kingdom like those above, a meeting place of countless realities, populated by the wanderers from them all.
We follow Crassmore, one of the many knights of the kingdom, through a variety of adventures. This is not a novel, but rather a collection of three novelettes of his adventures. We get a variety of interesting cameos from history and fiction of all sorts. There's some really great world-building going on here, and I with Daley would have found the opportunity or inspiration to return to it. Fun, action packed, funny, and creative.
Imagine if the Amber series were less burdened by philosophy and seriousness. Imagine if Tanelorn was a place of silly and entertaining. Imagine if Callahan's were a medieval kingdom.
The Singularity (long predating that terms questionable use in transhumanism) is a kingdom like those above, a meeting place of countless realities, populated by the wanderers from them all.
We follow Crassmore, one of the many knights of the kingdom, through a variety of adventures. This is not a novel, but rather a collection of three novelettes of his adventures. We get a variety of interesting cameos from history and fiction of all sorts. There's some really great world-building going on here, and I with Daley would have found the opportunity or inspiration to return to it. Fun, action packed, funny, and creative.
March 9, 2021
Not a good book! Brian Daley never met an over-the-top dialogue tag he didn't love. It was occasionally entertaining, but more for the occasions on which the characters guffawed, hollered, panted, and crooned their dialogue than for anything else happening on the page. The plot was cliched -- not a bad thing in and of itself! But it wasn't made up of cliches I particularly enjoy. Still, not terrible enough to earn one star.
Apparently the author also wrote the Star Wars audiodrama that aired on NPR, which is kind of surprising because I've enjoyed the parts of that I've heard. On the other hand, audiodrama does not have dialogue tags.
Apparently the author also wrote the Star Wars audiodrama that aired on NPR, which is kind of surprising because I've enjoyed the parts of that I've heard. On the other hand, audiodrama does not have dialogue tags.
April 7, 2022
I knew I should have put the book down when I learned that the main character’s sword was named “Shhing,” but I stubbornly stuck with it for another two chapters.
I want that time I spent on those two chapters back.
I want that time I spent on those two chapters back.
January 3, 2024
Part 1 and Part 3 are pretty boring, but Part 2 shines through as creative. Combat is not described ambitiously, and relationships are shallow or pre-established. Realistically, this story should not hold my interest, but the world held enough intrigue to keep me reading.
November 11, 2018
Wouldn't have minded some sequels to this; a much wider, possibly infinitely wider, scope is suggested. Unfortunately, we never got them and never will.
March 24, 2020
Loved this book! If you really enjoyed the Amber books, and just wanted more, this is a great story for you.
January 25, 2016
pg 37/590
Haven't quite grasped all the different realms and worlds. I think there are 3- these guys' realm, and two others who are fighting over some land, and encroaching onto theirs. (pg38: savages vs mechanized army) One are lizard-riders, the others are jeep riders (kindda), who've run out of fuel and bullets for their guns (seems like our world).
But...
old man’s lack of faith in his younger son’s martial spirit. Too, there had been Crassmor’s adolescent irresponsibility, with a period of fairly frequent peccadilloes and predisposition toward sins of the flesh.
*sigh* and I thought in a YA fantasy (supposedly well-written), I'd get away from the whorish heroes. my mistake.
--------------------
pg71
And now we have some tribe of Coyotes... of which there is a 'Coyote'... and Sandur is talking to Saynday about Pecos, White Man's son (?), also called Bill (grrh... this is just too hard to follow)
-------------------
pg161, Ch7
Story has picked up; makes a little more sense. Oh, and Sandur (the H's elder brother) is dead. I liked the fact that the other king is depicted... as having honor.
Not sure I like Ironwicca (the good guys' king) as much. lol. (Is he modeled on Richard the Lionheart?)
--------------------
Ch10: about to start.
So... before leaving for the Beyonds, Willow comes to see off Crassmoor, and they do it under a tree (no descriptions). Okie. And then Ch9 we see our H having lascivious thoughts about Alanna (a girl who has just walked into the bar). Then we find that if he's appealed to as a knight, and refuses aid, he can be drummed out of the order and will have to take vows of sth sth. BAsically, become a priest. "Celibacy, sobriety, and, no doubt, the cold silence of a praying cell—he began to sweat just thinking about it." Sobriety and cold silence he's been doing without. I'm guessing he hasn't exactly been celibate either. bleh.
Alanna turned to Crassmor, who, when not worrying about his cousin Bint, divided his time between unhappiness at going into danger and disgruntlement with his own failure to seduce Alanna
Although Willow still held his heart without qualification, he saw no reason to lead the life of a Klybesian, given a willing companion
DNF. I'm sure his adventures are amazing, and worth reading, but ...
----------------
okay, so I skimmed to the end. Last chapter, the H is in the bar (from Ch 9), there's Alanna (he's apparently had to leave Willow, again.) and some stuff happens (a recreate of the scene from ch 9?) and... i think it's supposed to be funny. What a waste of time.
It's as if this book couldn't make up it's mind what it's supposed to be. I should've made up my mind to not read it!
Haven't quite grasped all the different realms and worlds. I think there are 3- these guys' realm, and two others who are fighting over some land, and encroaching onto theirs. (pg38: savages vs mechanized army) One are lizard-riders, the others are jeep riders (kindda), who've run out of fuel and bullets for their guns (seems like our world).
But...
old man’s lack of faith in his younger son’s martial spirit. Too, there had been Crassmor’s adolescent irresponsibility, with a period of fairly frequent peccadilloes and predisposition toward sins of the flesh.
*sigh* and I thought in a YA fantasy (supposedly well-written), I'd get away from the whorish heroes. my mistake.
--------------------
pg71
And now we have some tribe of Coyotes... of which there is a 'Coyote'... and Sandur is talking to Saynday about Pecos, White Man's son (?), also called Bill (grrh... this is just too hard to follow)
-------------------
pg161, Ch7
Story has picked up; makes a little more sense. Oh, and Sandur (the H's elder brother) is dead. I liked the fact that the other king is depicted... as having honor.
Not sure I like Ironwicca (the good guys' king) as much. lol. (Is he modeled on Richard the Lionheart?)
--------------------
Ch10: about to start.
So... before leaving for the Beyonds, Willow comes to see off Crassmoor, and they do it under a tree (no descriptions). Okie. And then Ch9 we see our H having lascivious thoughts about Alanna (a girl who has just walked into the bar). Then we find that if he's appealed to as a knight, and refuses aid, he can be drummed out of the order and will have to take vows of sth sth. BAsically, become a priest. "Celibacy, sobriety, and, no doubt, the cold silence of a praying cell—he began to sweat just thinking about it." Sobriety and cold silence he's been doing without. I'm guessing he hasn't exactly been celibate either. bleh.
Alanna turned to Crassmor, who, when not worrying about his cousin Bint, divided his time between unhappiness at going into danger and disgruntlement with his own failure to seduce Alanna
Although Willow still held his heart without qualification, he saw no reason to lead the life of a Klybesian, given a willing companion
DNF. I'm sure his adventures are amazing, and worth reading, but ...
----------------
okay, so I skimmed to the end. Last chapter, the H is in the bar (from Ch 9), there's Alanna (he's apparently had to leave Willow, again.) and some stuff happens (a recreate of the scene from ch 9?) and... i think it's supposed to be funny. What a waste of time.
It's as if this book couldn't make up it's mind what it's supposed to be. I should've made up my mind to not read it!
February 7, 2016
Brian Daley's books are always filled with the coolest most interesting characters. Daley somehow always seems to make all the secondary characters as interesting to me as the main ones. Daley's books are always engrossing and hard for me to put down. High recommended
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December 9, 2018#12 1987
May 4, 2010
Very unique fantasy adventure novel.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews