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Dancing Bears
On the brink of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, an American hunter is chased across Russia by a nobleman with the preternatural ability to turn into a bear--a metaphor of Russia's own transformation. Reprint.
380 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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About the author
Fred Saberhagen
335 books497 followersFred Saberhagen was an American science fiction and fantasy author most famous for his ''Beserker'' and Dracula stories.
Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.
From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.
Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.
From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 19, 2010
An American big game hunter travels to the Czarist Russia of the early 1900s, a few years before World War I, at the request of a Russian friend --there have been reports of a man-killing bear attacking people near the friend's old family estate in the Russian hinterlands. But there is more to this bear than our hero bargains for. In crafting his tale, the author draws on the Russian folklore of werebears, who have many of the characteristics of werewolves, but take ursine rather than canine form. Like Anthony Boucher's werewolves, werebears have a morally neutral shape-shifting ability, in Saberhagen's conception, and are not themselves necessarily evil --but as the villain here amply demonstrates, they certainly can be.
The story here is filled with adventure, and set against the background of the dying autocracy and the background of rising, violent revolutionary unrest; Saberhagen ties his plot into the 20th-century political history of Russia in a highly creative and original way. Throw in a romance between a gallant hero and brave heroine (there is some premarital sex in the book, but none described explicitly), and you have the ingredients of a read most genre fans will enjoy! There were a few passages where I thought the amount of time passing between one paragraph and another was indicated rather awkwardly; but in the main the author plies his craft capably, and both the Russian cultural and natural environment are brought to life well.
(I originally gave this one three stars; but thinking about it again after the passage of some time to allow perspective, I gave it four.
The story here is filled with adventure, and set against the background of the dying autocracy and the background of rising, violent revolutionary unrest; Saberhagen ties his plot into the 20th-century political history of Russia in a highly creative and original way. Throw in a romance between a gallant hero and brave heroine (there is some premarital sex in the book, but none described explicitly), and you have the ingredients of a read most genre fans will enjoy! There were a few passages where I thought the amount of time passing between one paragraph and another was indicated rather awkwardly; but in the main the author plies his craft capably, and both the Russian cultural and natural environment are brought to life well.
(I originally gave this one three stars; but thinking about it again after the passage of some time to allow perspective, I gave it four.
November 3, 2017
This is the first of Saverhagen’s books that I’ve read, so I was looking forward to getting into the story. Considering the concept, one would have thought that this book would be an exciting page-turner. It’s not.
The book is awkwardly written, and none of the characters make much of an impression. We’re never given much of what makes them tick, or really why they do what they do. I kept hoping that things would get better, and they do near the end, but not by much. Certainly not enough to make this a book that I would recommend. Especially since much is left unresolved. The most I can say is that is wasn’t so terrible a book that I couldn’t finish it.
The afterword, I guess, was supposed to be a wow moment, but I saw it coming once that particular character was introduced.
The book is awkwardly written, and none of the characters make much of an impression. We’re never given much of what makes them tick, or really why they do what they do. I kept hoping that things would get better, and they do near the end, but not by much. Certainly not enough to make this a book that I would recommend. Especially since much is left unresolved. The most I can say is that is wasn’t so terrible a book that I couldn’t finish it.
The afterword, I guess, was supposed to be a wow moment, but I saw it coming once that particular character was introduced.
July 21, 2022
Definitely not what I was expecting. It started out with great momentum and an interesting premise. Halfway through it felt like the author didn't feel like working on this story anymore. The ending was anti-climactic and I wasn't attached to any of the characters. Disappointing since I really enjoyed Saberhagen's writing style and he provides a lot of historical and cultural information on Russia in the early 1900s.
April 7, 2021
This was wild. There were bears, were-bears, romance, Russian revolutionists, and a somewhat meaningful metaphor that went entirely over my head because I thought this was going to be a fantasy book about a village of bears in a remote part of Russian.
March 12, 2016
Saberhagen takes a great idea and then waters and dilutes it down with poor writing, awkward plot development, and removes almost all feeling of suspense. He does this to get to his punchline, something he probably thinks was a clever twist at the end... but the novel led up to that one page-- that one moment-- when Saberhagen wants to punch us with-- but instead leaves the reader thinking "WHAT A LAME ENDING!"
Sherwood is an American who returns to early 20th century Russia with his hunting companion. His purpose is to hunt a strange bear that is killing peasants. Saberhagen immediately tells the reader that this is going to be a were-bear story, and thus, kills most of the suspense of the novel. The Russian reveals that there is a myth that members of his family can become bears. Upon reaching the Russian's home they discover that the father was killed by the bear. The brother is missing and shock of all shocks-- the father's gun was loaded with silver bullets. When the brother turns up some days later-- the reader already knows.. he is the bear... There is no spoiler here--- Saberhagen telegraphs it as surely as if he were working for Western Union. He doesn't even try to build any suspense about it.
The author uses silver items to advance the story and that's probably the best part of the story.
The climactic endings is anti-climactic and its historical punchline just served to tick me off. If you want to write a novel where a historical figure is some sort of vampire, werewolf, abominable snowman.. then make the novel about that character. Let Wild Bill Hickok be a vampire, but make the story about him...
Several times in the story, Sherwood calls Natalya "Nellie" and it just doesn't fit. There are a few places where a paragraph seems out of sequence, perhaps the work of an overzealous editor. There are times the author attempts to convey a switch between the formal and informal Russian language by using King Jamesish English as a translation for the formal. Even this gets muddled and awkward..
A decent idea, but just barely worth reading. Poorly written, nearly lacking in suspense that a werewolf story should have, and mostly a real turn off to this kind of story.
Sherwood is an American who returns to early 20th century Russia with his hunting companion. His purpose is to hunt a strange bear that is killing peasants. Saberhagen immediately tells the reader that this is going to be a were-bear story, and thus, kills most of the suspense of the novel. The Russian reveals that there is a myth that members of his family can become bears. Upon reaching the Russian's home they discover that the father was killed by the bear. The brother is missing and shock of all shocks-- the father's gun was loaded with silver bullets. When the brother turns up some days later-- the reader already knows.. he is the bear... There is no spoiler here--- Saberhagen telegraphs it as surely as if he were working for Western Union. He doesn't even try to build any suspense about it.
The author uses silver items to advance the story and that's probably the best part of the story.
The climactic endings is anti-climactic and its historical punchline just served to tick me off. If you want to write a novel where a historical figure is some sort of vampire, werewolf, abominable snowman.. then make the novel about that character. Let Wild Bill Hickok be a vampire, but make the story about him...
Several times in the story, Sherwood calls Natalya "Nellie" and it just doesn't fit. There are a few places where a paragraph seems out of sequence, perhaps the work of an overzealous editor. There are times the author attempts to convey a switch between the formal and informal Russian language by using King Jamesish English as a translation for the formal. Even this gets muddled and awkward..
A decent idea, but just barely worth reading. Poorly written, nearly lacking in suspense that a werewolf story should have, and mostly a real turn off to this kind of story.
January 25, 2012
The concept of were-bears in Pre-revolutionary Russia sounded very intriguing to me but something has gone terribly wrong in the execution. Its just not really that interesting or even exciting. And I have a problem with the writing style its. . . not purple exactly but just. . . I find myself distracted from the story by word choices I find irritating. Am forcing myself to slog through it, at first it was in the hope things would get better, but am more then half way through and I don't think its gonna get better.
So. I finished. And, no. . . am sorry, it didn't get better. The concept just feel flat for me. The characters were not that compelling. The myth seemed not that well thought out, the bear having "powers" or abilities that just seemed to convenient and made up to suit the plot. And the plot was "meh". There is an attempt to ground it in history by having a minor recurring character all of a sudden be a "big bad" of the hinted at Communist revolution but it just seems kind of pointless instead of a big revelation.
I wanted to like this, but am afraid I didn't
So. I finished. And, no. . . am sorry, it didn't get better. The concept just feel flat for me. The characters were not that compelling. The myth seemed not that well thought out, the bear having "powers" or abilities that just seemed to convenient and made up to suit the plot. And the plot was "meh". There is an attempt to ground it in history by having a minor recurring character all of a sudden be a "big bad" of the hinted at Communist revolution but it just seems kind of pointless instead of a big revelation.
I wanted to like this, but am afraid I didn't
November 28, 2012
I really enjoy Saberhagen's work.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews