Dreambuilder

Soulsmith Trilogy #2

by Tom Deitz, Tim White (Illustrator)

In the Georgia backwoods stands a magnificent estate--its inhabitants the possessors of awesome powers passed on from generation to generation. Local residents look upon those who dwell within with respect and fear... trusting their fortune and the future to the mysterious Master of Cardalba.

For five years Ronny Dillon has denied the pain and the power that is his birthright--hiding away in the halls of academia from from Welch County, Georgia. But an urgent summons has arrived from his half-brother, and Ronny knows he must return to the ancestral mansion--where his past was erased, his dreams damaged... and his future and life very nearly destroyed in mists of magic and illusion. For there awaits his destiny--a mystery of love and loss, a miracle of renewal... and a terrifying challenge beyond any he has ever known.

cover art by Tim White

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

418 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 1992

About the author

Thomas Franklin Deitz (January 17, 1952- April 27, 2009) was an American novelist from Georgia. He had a B.A. and M.A. in medieval English from University of Georgia. He was the author of the "Soulsmith Trilogy," comprised of the books Soulsmith , Dreambuilder , and Wordwright . He also wrote a popular series consisting of Windmaster's Bane , Fireshaper's Doom , Darkthunder's Way , Sunshaker's War , Stoneskin's Revenge , Ghostcountry's Wrath , Dreamseeker's Road , Landslayer's Law , and Warstalker's Track . His stand-alone novel The Gryphon King centers around a few of the characters from the later novels in the last series mentioned.

Deitz also won the Phoenix Award in 2007. This award is given at the annual DeepSouthCon to a professional who has done a great deal for Southern Fandom.

Deitz was a well-liked college instructor as well, with stints as an adjunct English faculty member at Gainesville State College, Lanier Tech, and Tri-County Community College, and received a tenure-track appointment as assistant professor in Fall 2008 at Gainesville State College. He was recognized as GSC's adjunct faculty member of the year in 2008.

In addition to writing, Deitz's creative outlets included visual art (murals, fantasy art, and more); drama (with minor roles in a number of community and college productions); model automobile collecting; costumery; and other pursuits via the Society for Creative Anachronism. He was a founding member of the SCA's Barony of Bryn Madoc.

Deitz died on Monday, April 27 2009 of heart failure. He had a heart attack in January of this year and was a candidate to receive a Ventricular assist device (VAD) but had suffered too much damage to his heart for the device to be implanted.
(From Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally enjoy a book by Tom Deitz, and did enjoy the first book of this series. I had a hard time with this one as I didn't like how the characters from Soulsmith matured, and the new characters were pretty annoying. I'm hoping for better as the trilogy ends.

[Meghan]

Terrible writing, memorable world.

[James]

After five years of denial, Ronny Dillon returns to his ancestral home in Georgia, where he must face his tortured past and rediscover his destiny.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]