The Sword of Mary

Psalms of Herod #2

by Esther M. Friesner

The sequel to The Psalms of Herod, this book concludes the harrowing journey of Becca of Wiserways Stead. Escaping her oppressive, rural stead, Becca journeys toward the magical city where her brother lives, certain that his knowledge will save her and her kin. But after finally arriving there, she is overwhelmed by the strange ways of the Coop citizens. She soon learns that everyone, including her brother, has ulterior motives.

Genres: Fantasy, Post Apocalyptic, Dark Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Fiction

456 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 12, 1991

About the author

Esther M. Friesner was educated at Vassar College, where she completed B.A's in both Spanish and Drama. She went to on to Yale University; within five years she was awarded an M.A. and Ph.D. in Spanish. She taught Spanish at Yale for a number of years before going on to become a full-time author of fantasy and science fiction. She has published twenty-seven novels so far; her most recent titles include Temping Fate from Penguin-Puffin and Nobody's Princess from Random House.

Her short fiction and poetry have appeared in Asimov's, Fantasy & Science Fiction, Aboriginal SF, Pulphouse Magazine, Amazing, and Fantasy Book, as well as in numerous anthologies. Her story, "Love's Eldritch Ichor," was featured in the 1990 World Fantasy Convention book.

Her first stint as an anthology editor was Alien Pregnant By Elvis, a collection of truly gonzo original tabloid SF for DAW books. Wisely, she undertook this project with the able collaboration of Martin H. Greenberg. Not having learned their lesson, they have also co-edited the Chicks In Chainmail Amazon comedy anthology series for Baen Books, as well as Blood Muse, an anthology of vampire stories for Donald I Fine, Inc.

"Ask Auntie Esther" was her regular etiquette and advice column to the SFlorn in Pulphouse Magazine. Being paid for telling other people how to run their lives sounds like a pretty good deal to her.

Ms. Friesner won the Nebula Award for Best Short Story of 1995 for her work, "Death and the Librarian," and the Nebula for Best Short Story of 1996 for "A Birth Day." (A Birth Day" was also a 1996 Hugo Award finalist.) Her novelette, "Jesus at the Bat" was on the final Nebula ballot in the same year that "Death and the Librarian" won the award. In addition, she has won the Romantic Times award for Best New Fantasy Writer in 1986 and the Skylark Award in 1994. Her short story, "All Vows," took second place in the Asimov's SF Magazine Readers' Poll for 1993 and was a finalist for the Nebula in 1994. Her Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel, Warchild, made the USA TODAY bestseller list.

She lives in Connecticut with her husband, two children, two rambunctious cats, and a fluctuating population of hamsters.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sequel to The Psalms of Herod, but didn't capture my imagination quite like the first book did. Still a good read if you like book about a dystopian society.

[Sarah Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is one of my favorite stories. It's gruesome, tragic, and yet hopeful. I'd really like to see the next book come out to continue or at least finish the story.

[Christopher Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it enough to finish the series a fourth time, but the second book did drag at parts. I get that Becca's from the stead and doesn't know what anything is, but even by page 400something we still see flashlights described as tubes that spill light. Chapters end on a hook, often somewhat contrived, then pick up past the event that was about to take place, and you only hear it through dialogue that has that expository flavor or a character's reflection on it.
Still, there really isn't anything quite like this series. I grew up with it so I can't give an unbiased opinion. It's always going to be something special to me. Probably to Friesner as well, since she departed so much from her usual fare to make this.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book because I like Esther M. Friesner and I enjoyed The Psalms of Herod. I like a nice sociological science fiction post-apocalyptic novel. I didn't enjoy this one as much.

I didn't quite understand the workings of the city. I'm not sure what information I missed but I just didn't get it. The full circle was nice but still strangely unsatisfying.

I think this one will end up leaving my library. It's no The Handmaid's Tale