Lyrec

by Gregory Frost

Crossing a series of parallel universes, lovelorn Lyrec and wise-cracking Borregad seek Lyrec's lost lady and vengeance for the obliteration of their homeworld by the evil Miradomon

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Science Fiction Fantasy

267 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Gregory Frost is an American author of fantasy, science fiction and thrillers. He taught fiction writing at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania for eighteen years. A graduate of the iconic Clarion Workshop, he has taught at Clarion four times, including the first session following its move to the University of California at San Diego in 2007. He has also been an instructor for the Odyssey and Alpha Workshops.

Frost has been a finalist for every major fantasy, sf, and horror fiction award. His novelette, "Madonna of the Maquiladora" was a finalist for the James Tiptree Award, the Nebula Award, the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award, and the Hugo Award.

His latest novel is RHYMER, the first in the Rhymer series from Baen Books. His previous work, SHADOWBRIDGE, was voted one of the best fantasy novels of 2009 by the American Library Association, it was also a finalist for the James Tiptree Jr. Award.

The historical thriller FITCHER'S BRIDES, was a Best Novel finalist for both the World Fantasy and International Horror Guild Awards for Best Novel.

Publishers Weekly called his Golden Gryphon short story collection, ATTACK OF THE JAZZ GIANTS & OTHER STORIES, “one of the best of the year.” It has now been reprinted in slightly altered form as THE GIRLFRIENDS OF DORIAN GRAY & OTHER STORIES, available through Book View Cafe.

Current short fiction includes "A Hard Day's Night at the Opera" in the Beatles-themed anthology ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, edited by Michael Ventrella and Randee Dawn, and "Episode in Liminal State Technical Support, or Mr. Grant in the Bardo" in THREE TIME TRAVELERS WALK INTO... edited by Michael A. Ventrella; "Traveling On" in the Sept/Oct. 2020 ASIMOV'S SCIENCE FICTION magazine, and "Ellende" in WEIRD TALES #364.

He spent time (did time?) as a researcher for non-fiction television shows on werewolves and the "Curse of the Pharaohs," and acted in a couple of frightening (not necessarily in the sense of scary) indie horror movies.

Gregory Frost is a founding partner, with author Jonathan Maberry, of The Philadelphia Liars Club, a group of professional authors and screenwriters, and one of the interviewers for The Liars Club Oddcast , a podcast interviewing novelists, short story writers, screenwriters, illustrators, and more.

Reviews

[Tristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good old slightly campy fun! I wouldn't class Lyrec as one of the most literarily exciting fantasies I've ever read, but it is exactly what I look for when I go reading fantasy from the 80s--solid prose and a story that is more enjoyable than anything else. Obviously it doesn't exist in a vaccuum, I think that the novel has some things it clearly values (connection and friendship among them), but it is first and foremost a good yarn. Tonally it reminds me of Michael Moorcock's Hawkmoon books (not so much the ones about Corum, not that melancholy) even though it was published a good fifteen years after the end of The History of the Runestaff. (It's also less anarchist, but that's sort of what I mean about not existing in a vaccuum--I think there is a politics under Frost's novel just like there is under Moorcock's and I don't think its too anathema to me, or I wouldn't have liked the book, but it isn't the dominant presence on some level.)

The worldbuilding feels a bit haphazard in places--Frost isn't interested in providing detailed explanations of why how/why everything about the world works or came to be--but in the end every important worldbuilding element does serve the story, sometimes in really unexpected and clever ways. The plot is an exciting adventure tale--Lyrec, a traveller from another world (not that the story takes place on our world, just a world like ours) is, with his friend Borregad, in search of his lost lady and the evil Miradomon who destroyed his home planet and is on a multi-world rampage to garner power. Lyrec is nicely characterized, as is Borregard--I love their friendship and their conversation. Most of the rest of the cast are pretty solidly supporting characters (except for Miradomon, who is a marvelously evil villain), but they still largely move beyond just being paper cutouts and setdressing.

The one concern with the plot is that it takes a few chapters before you have enought pieces to start understanding how the different threads of the story you've been jumping between fit together, but if you have the time to just keep reading for the first several chapters once you start, that will help enormously. All in all recommended for a relatively lighthearted read.

[Noel]

meh. lots of naked women for no reason. everyone but the main character was stupid. there was even a naked woman with no brain... i don't. this was more dumb and less fun than i wanted it to be. no stars.

i took me 12 days to read 267 pages. I finished another book and a whole TV show in that time.

[Kevin Phyland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miradomon has laid waste to entire universes, and thinks that he has left no survivors. But on leaving the wreckage of the previous universe three refugees followed. In their previous incarnations they were humanoid with many non-human powers, but in the new cosm they are the equivalent of demigods. The followers are Lyrec, who has taken his persona from a chance encounter with a minstrel; Borregar, whose power was so diminished in his confrontation with Miradomon that he had only enough mass left to inhabit a cat-sized avatar; and Lyrec’s beloved Elystroya, whose body Miradomon kept as a vessel. Discovering early on that they are no match for their nemesis the pursuers enlist the aid of the witches known as the Kobachs to try to defeat Miradomon. Gregory Frost delivers an entertaining tale which blurs the line between SF and fantasy in this medieval-feeling quest tale.

[Sherrill Watson · Rating 2 out of 5]

See Livia and Tristan's reviews.

I thought this was going to be a light read, but there were many sword and knife fights, and maneuvering There is A LOT of horse stabbing and killing. If you can get thru the first seven pages without turning away, you can read this book. Borregad the cat added some refreshment, but not nearly enough. I thought Lyrec was NEVER going to find Elystroya, and I didn't much care.

[Noah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know, I just wasn’t into it the entire time. Had some fun parts but was also just dragging along

[Chris Tognotti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Lewyn and her Father, King Duker, are attacked and she is taken captive while her father is murdered. Enter our hero Lyrec. Lyrec is not from this world and is searching for his lost love Elystroya, who has been kidnapped by the evil Miradomon, destroyer of worlds. With the help of another of Miradomon's victims, Borregad, who in this world has taken the form of a large black cat they start on a terrifying quest. Join Lyrec and Borregad as they learn how to travel among the human world trying to locate their enemy who is now trying to wreak havoc in this one. Great way to spend and afternoon in the sun.

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a light easy going science fiction fantasy cross as a space traveller who is tracking an evil doer travels to a medieval land with his trusty aide. He is a swordsman, his aide becomes a cat and the evil doer is a god. I read this book about every 5 years and each time it just a wisp of a book but its finely done.

[Livia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot resist a book with a talking cat, but I do recommend this book to anyone, not just cat lovers. It is fast-paced, beautifully written and packed with very interesting concepts of time and space. The world building of Gregory Frost is carefully woven into a plot full of dangers that culminate in a thoroughly satisfactory cliffhanger ending.

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strange book. The science fiction elements feel odd, as they could easily be replaced by fantasy ones. Also, it feels as if there should be more material before the start of the novel, as the backstory is rather vague. The world in general feels underdeveloped in fact.

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

received from early reviewers group. i'm sure there's something here because there's like 542 pages if i'm using mobireader.

i just seriously can't read this right now. the first page was so stupid it hurt. is this supposed to be a joke? i didn't read on to confirm. sorry. k bye