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Gossamer Axe
When her lover is imprisoned, Christa—a centuries-old harper—must set her free using the greatest weapon she possesses: music
In ancient Ireland, Chairiste Ní Cummen, a harper, was trained in the secrets of music and magic, but her curiosity and pride trapped her and her lover in the realm of the fairy folk, the Sidh. Chairiste alone managed to escape, and now, living in the modern world as Christa Cruitaire, a quiet harp teacher, she is all but resigned to her inability to win her beloved’s freedom . . . until she discovers that the volume and violence of the electric guitar and heavy metal might prove brutal enough to forcibly breach the barriers between the human and fairy worlds. With the aid of her bandmates—who must themselves overcome inner demons of abuse, addiction, and prejudice—Christa is determined to use her newfound musical power to rescue the woman she loves.
Audacious and heartfelt, Gossamer Axe is an entirely original hero’s journey, an ode to the power of music and the human spirit alike, charged with rapier-sharp social commentary.
In ancient Ireland, Chairiste Ní Cummen, a harper, was trained in the secrets of music and magic, but her curiosity and pride trapped her and her lover in the realm of the fairy folk, the Sidh. Chairiste alone managed to escape, and now, living in the modern world as Christa Cruitaire, a quiet harp teacher, she is all but resigned to her inability to win her beloved’s freedom . . . until she discovers that the volume and violence of the electric guitar and heavy metal might prove brutal enough to forcibly breach the barriers between the human and fairy worlds. With the aid of her bandmates—who must themselves overcome inner demons of abuse, addiction, and prejudice—Christa is determined to use her newfound musical power to rescue the woman she loves.
Audacious and heartfelt, Gossamer Axe is an entirely original hero’s journey, an ode to the power of music and the human spirit alike, charged with rapier-sharp social commentary.
351 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 7, 1990
14 people are currently reading
1373 people want to read
About the author
Gael Baudino
20 books72 followersGael Baudino (born 1955) is a contemporary American fantasy author who also writes under the pseudonyms of Gael A. Kathryns, K.M. Tonso, and G.A. Kathryns.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
August 11, 2010
The Goodreads description is horribly off-base and should be taken with several pounds of salt. Part of the story involves how each of the band members comes to terms with the issues in their respective pasts, and, yes, each of them has been hurt by men sometime in their past. The fact that the characters deal with real forms of abuse and neglect is not misanthropy; it's crafting a believable cast of characters and showing how the events of the story impact them.
The treatment of the character who dies of AIDS is not exploitative at all; in fact, I thought that portion of the story was handled with dignity and grace.
It's been 20 years since I first read this book, and it's still one of my favorites. I consider it to be one of the classic forerunners of the urban fantasy genre, right alongside Charles de Lint's 'Moonheart' and Steven Boyett's 'Ariel'. Well worth the effort to find a copy.
The treatment of the character who dies of AIDS is not exploitative at all; in fact, I thought that portion of the story was handled with dignity and grace.
It's been 20 years since I first read this book, and it's still one of my favorites. I consider it to be one of the classic forerunners of the urban fantasy genre, right alongside Charles de Lint's 'Moonheart' and Steven Boyett's 'Ariel'. Well worth the effort to find a copy.
January 3, 2009
First I should say that I'm a guitarist and that I love rock and blues.
This is the best music-themed fantasy novel I have read, no others are even close in my estimation (though I did enjoy Stasheff's Warlock Rock--a festival express of puns, and liked The Gutbucket Quest by Leming and Anthony). It's the story of a Celtic harper who lost her lover (who happens to be a woman, but that's not the focus of the plot or story) to the land of fairie, where she is kept captive. The harper, Christa, has tried to rescue her lover using the magic of her harp music, but failed. Near the opening of the book she decides she needs the power of rock 'n' roll to overpower the master harper of fairie. She forms a band, Gossamer Axe, and without their full understanding, prepares them to battle to free her lover.
It's an all woman band, and women's issues figure prominently in the story; abuse by controlling men, parental sexual abuse, sexist rock promoters and club owners, the importance of women standing by each other ... but the story is really a story of love and a battle with a powerful immortal of fairie. While the women's issues are there, and handled with realism, tenderness, and showing real pain and the discovery of strength, the rock 'n' roll part of the story is more central, and handled beautifully. The author, Gail Baudino, really did her research (and in fact is a harper, and did take guitar lessons, and played with a band, though not professionally). There is not one false note (apologies) in her description of music theory, learning guitar, the choice of songs her teacher gives her to work on, the work of a luthier (guitar maker) or the descriptions of instruments, amps and PA equipment. As a musician I'm used to these things being done usually poorly, or at best with some of the details right, and some really, really wrong. Ms. Baudino shows mastery as a writer, and as a musician and researcher. I love her for it.
But all of these details aside, it is an engrossing tale of interesting and fully drawn characters, magic approached logically to reach her goal, and keenly described scenes of both musicians learning songs and gigging, and fierce magical combat. This would make a great movie, which I've been telling all of my director and producer friends (of which I have none {TL}). I've read 4 of Ms. Baudino's other books, and really like them as well.
This books is inexplicably (to me) currently out of print, though Amazon has it used from 20 sellers. I suggest this book to those who like fantasy, science fiction, rock 'n' roll, who care about women's issues, and especially for those who are learning rock guitar!
This is the best music-themed fantasy novel I have read, no others are even close in my estimation (though I did enjoy Stasheff's Warlock Rock--a festival express of puns, and liked The Gutbucket Quest by Leming and Anthony). It's the story of a Celtic harper who lost her lover (who happens to be a woman, but that's not the focus of the plot or story) to the land of fairie, where she is kept captive. The harper, Christa, has tried to rescue her lover using the magic of her harp music, but failed. Near the opening of the book she decides she needs the power of rock 'n' roll to overpower the master harper of fairie. She forms a band, Gossamer Axe, and without their full understanding, prepares them to battle to free her lover.
It's an all woman band, and women's issues figure prominently in the story; abuse by controlling men, parental sexual abuse, sexist rock promoters and club owners, the importance of women standing by each other ... but the story is really a story of love and a battle with a powerful immortal of fairie. While the women's issues are there, and handled with realism, tenderness, and showing real pain and the discovery of strength, the rock 'n' roll part of the story is more central, and handled beautifully. The author, Gail Baudino, really did her research (and in fact is a harper, and did take guitar lessons, and played with a band, though not professionally). There is not one false note (apologies) in her description of music theory, learning guitar, the choice of songs her teacher gives her to work on, the work of a luthier (guitar maker) or the descriptions of instruments, amps and PA equipment. As a musician I'm used to these things being done usually poorly, or at best with some of the details right, and some really, really wrong. Ms. Baudino shows mastery as a writer, and as a musician and researcher. I love her for it.
But all of these details aside, it is an engrossing tale of interesting and fully drawn characters, magic approached logically to reach her goal, and keenly described scenes of both musicians learning songs and gigging, and fierce magical combat. This would make a great movie, which I've been telling all of my director and producer friends (of which I have none {TL}). I've read 4 of Ms. Baudino's other books, and really like them as well.
This books is inexplicably (to me) currently out of print, though Amazon has it used from 20 sellers. I suggest this book to those who like fantasy, science fiction, rock 'n' roll, who care about women's issues, and especially for those who are learning rock guitar!
May 21, 2010
WOW. The GoodReads summary of the book is incredibly negative and hateful. I'm rather surprised. But please go read that for a different opinion than mine.
A Celtic harpist woman from the 600s (yes, 1400 years ago) finally broke free from the Faerie lands in the 1700s. She spent the past 200 years trying to perfect her music and magic in order to go back to the Faerie gate and win freedom for her lover. As the book unfolds (in the 1980s) Christa discovers rock and roll, and bends her energy to building a rock band that can blast its way through to Faerie before the mortal realm and faerie realm diverge too far for her to bridge.
The music theory is alternatively a plot-carrying device and a weight on the plot. What is more important are the arcs of self-realization across which the various characters move (or descend) due to Christa's influence in their lives. Christa herself changes from the mild-persona harper back to the warrior she once was, and regains her fighting spirit while helping her friends fight for their own. Among them, Kevin was kicked out of his Irish Catholic family for playing the blues and lost his touch to the magic within the music; Monica was abused by her boyfriend; Melinda was -and becomes again- a drug addict... Christa has to face the fact that she cannot fight alone, and that there is a very real possibility that she will lose this fight.
The fundamental belief that women are warriors, valued participants in society, individuals, owners of their own destiny, etc. is a constant theme in this book. Baudino uses Christa to demonstrate that small can be spirited without being brass or pushy. She brings in religion and religious rites of passage to step her characters through their enlightenments without causing too much of a break in the story line. And she tucks smaller characters into the corners to prop up her feminist agenda with care as well as craven and cunning. (Thankfully, not every male persona aside from the hero is a jerk. That would have gotten really old really fast.)
Vengeance is a topic that is usually cut-and-dried in books. Someone does X, someone else goes out for revenge. Baudino has the same character arguing both sides of vengeance within a few short pages, though she skips the moral maudlin wallow that often occurs afterward. The third time, restitution and recognition are oddly understandable, and become a part of another character's discovery of something to do with music and life beyond self enjoyment.
Gael Baudino wrote this book in 1990, and it is very much an 80's book. It's one of the few fantasy books that I've read that includes a character who died of AIDS. The main characters deal with religion, homosexuality, close-minded families/bands, abuse histories, abusive relationships, stalkers, drug addiction, and self-esteem problems. It is now OOP, sadly, so if you want to read it, you might have to go hunting.
A Celtic harpist woman from the 600s (yes, 1400 years ago) finally broke free from the Faerie lands in the 1700s. She spent the past 200 years trying to perfect her music and magic in order to go back to the Faerie gate and win freedom for her lover. As the book unfolds (in the 1980s) Christa discovers rock and roll, and bends her energy to building a rock band that can blast its way through to Faerie before the mortal realm and faerie realm diverge too far for her to bridge.
The music theory is alternatively a plot-carrying device and a weight on the plot. What is more important are the arcs of self-realization across which the various characters move (or descend) due to Christa's influence in their lives. Christa herself changes from the mild-persona harper back to the warrior she once was, and regains her fighting spirit while helping her friends fight for their own. Among them, Kevin was kicked out of his Irish Catholic family for playing the blues and lost his touch to the magic within the music; Monica was abused by her boyfriend; Melinda was -and becomes again- a drug addict... Christa has to face the fact that she cannot fight alone, and that there is a very real possibility that she will lose this fight.
The fundamental belief that women are warriors, valued participants in society, individuals, owners of their own destiny, etc. is a constant theme in this book. Baudino uses Christa to demonstrate that small can be spirited without being brass or pushy. She brings in religion and religious rites of passage to step her characters through their enlightenments without causing too much of a break in the story line. And she tucks smaller characters into the corners to prop up her feminist agenda with care as well as craven and cunning. (Thankfully, not every male persona aside from the hero is a jerk. That would have gotten really old really fast.)
Vengeance is a topic that is usually cut-and-dried in books. Someone does X, someone else goes out for revenge. Baudino has the same character arguing both sides of vengeance within a few short pages, though she skips the moral maudlin wallow that often occurs afterward. The third time, restitution and recognition are oddly understandable, and become a part of another character's discovery of something to do with music and life beyond self enjoyment.
Gael Baudino wrote this book in 1990, and it is very much an 80's book. It's one of the few fantasy books that I've read that includes a character who died of AIDS. The main characters deal with religion, homosexuality, close-minded families/bands, abuse histories, abusive relationships, stalkers, drug addiction, and self-esteem problems. It is now OOP, sadly, so if you want to read it, you might have to go hunting.
January 6, 2022
I remember standing in front of the Science Fiction/Fantasy shelves at the Waldenbooks in the Arnot Mall scanning them for something interesting to read. I was home on break from college, although I can't remember which break and I wanted to find something new and non-text book to read.
I honestly have no idea why this book jumped out at me. The cover, although not uninteresting, didn't smack of the normal Sci-Fi or Urban Fantasy that had become my main reading diet at the time. The basic plot was explained by the blurb on the back of the book. Christa has escaped from the Faerielands, but needs to return in order to rescue her lover. To do that she needs to harness the magic in rock music.
Interesting premise. And I liked how a woman was going to be the knight charging to save her lover. I gave it a try.
The plot outline only scratched the surface of the novel's many twists and turns. Christa's journey takes her through discussions of music, philosophy, religion, friendship, addiction, temptation, family, redemption, and love. Every page seemed filled with love, magic, and harmonics. The characters, which could have easily been stock characters, had depth to me, becoming real and very multi-dimensional. The story felt completely real and captured the raw essence of what music meant to many of us in the 1980's, and should mean through out history.
After my first reading, GOSSAMER AXE became my favorite novel, and one I have re-read at least a dozen times. As a writer, editor, and teacher, I am aware that ALICE IN WONDERLAND is a better fantasy novel. THE LORD OF THE RINGS is more epic fantasy, FRANKENSTEIN is more prophetic and philosophical, and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is still the greatest single work of modern literature. However, none of them have a place in my heart quite as seep and comfortable as GOSSAMER AXE.
I hope to be re-reading GOSSAMER AXE for the next twenty-five years.
I honestly have no idea why this book jumped out at me. The cover, although not uninteresting, didn't smack of the normal Sci-Fi or Urban Fantasy that had become my main reading diet at the time. The basic plot was explained by the blurb on the back of the book. Christa has escaped from the Faerielands, but needs to return in order to rescue her lover. To do that she needs to harness the magic in rock music.
Interesting premise. And I liked how a woman was going to be the knight charging to save her lover. I gave it a try.
The plot outline only scratched the surface of the novel's many twists and turns. Christa's journey takes her through discussions of music, philosophy, religion, friendship, addiction, temptation, family, redemption, and love. Every page seemed filled with love, magic, and harmonics. The characters, which could have easily been stock characters, had depth to me, becoming real and very multi-dimensional. The story felt completely real and captured the raw essence of what music meant to many of us in the 1980's, and should mean through out history.
After my first reading, GOSSAMER AXE became my favorite novel, and one I have re-read at least a dozen times. As a writer, editor, and teacher, I am aware that ALICE IN WONDERLAND is a better fantasy novel. THE LORD OF THE RINGS is more epic fantasy, FRANKENSTEIN is more prophetic and philosophical, and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is still the greatest single work of modern literature. However, none of them have a place in my heart quite as seep and comfortable as GOSSAMER AXE.
I hope to be re-reading GOSSAMER AXE for the next twenty-five years.
January 8, 2014
Urban fantasy before there was such a label, this was one of the first fantasy books with a lesbian main character that I ever read (and there still aren't nearly enough of them around, in my opinion). I was a college student, relatively recently out of the closet, and I remember loving it. I should dig up a copy and give it a reread one of these days, see how it stands up. :)
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April 8, 2009http://nhw.livejournal.com/1104000.html[return][return]The premise of the book sounds, frankly, awful. Christa, born in sixth-century Ireland but exiled to 1980s Denver, assembles an all-female heavy metal band (called "Gossamer Axe") to blast open the mystical portals and rescue her girlfriend from the twilight realm where she is imprisoned. To do this she reincarnates her magical harp as an electric guitar.[return][return]Yet it's actually rather good. Of course it is rather earnest about paganism, feminism and magic, but the only point where the writing is cringingly embarrassing is in the early sections where Christa is converted from Irish harp music to heavy metal. Apart from that, though, the various romantic and personality plot threads are compelling, and the Irish bits are not overdone. The whole thing is written with a genuine passion which in the end is easier to respect than mock. [return][return]It won the 1990 Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Science Fiction & Fantasy, and was also chosen as one of the "top 5 gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender genre works of all time" by Gaylaxicon 2000's "The List" panel. (I wonder what the others were?)[return]
May 12, 2012
I read this back when it first came out. And as I recall, a few years later when I was looking for a fun read.
I thoroughly enjoyed it at the time - it combined two of my favorite things (especially in 1990) - fantasy and heavy metal music. It would be interesting to reread it now to see how the story holds up. I would think since the main character was hundreds of years old it would do just fine.
P.S. In the author's note, it describes Baudino's personal experience as a Wiccan. I think that was the first time I had ever heard the term.
I thoroughly enjoyed it at the time - it combined two of my favorite things (especially in 1990) - fantasy and heavy metal music. It would be interesting to reread it now to see how the story holds up. I would think since the main character was hundreds of years old it would do just fine.
P.S. In the author's note, it describes Baudino's personal experience as a Wiccan. I think that was the first time I had ever heard the term.
October 1, 2018
I picked this up because it looked ridiculous and fun (Ancient Celt harpist rescues her girlfriend from a timeless dimension using the power of rock and roll!) It turns out, though, that it's actually pretty serious, and deals with a lot of dark, heavy subject matter. A lot. Child rape/incest, someone dying of AIDS, homophobia, racism, abuse--to name a few. But it's also about chose family and healing and rebirth. If you can handle the subject matter (and are okay with this being very 80s), it's a solid read. I want to read more by her.
December 31, 2007
this tale made me want to take up metal - the subculture sounded completely unappealing but the intensity and devotion of the participants...compelling.
red-haired superwoman discovers the power of heavy metal music just as she's about to give up hope, takes on faerie to win her lover back. a teenaged Emma probably would've loved this in her early days of identification with Vanyel et al.
red-haired superwoman discovers the power of heavy metal music just as she's about to give up hope, takes on faerie to win her lover back. a teenaged Emma probably would've loved this in her early days of identification with Vanyel et al.
July 3, 2008
A longtime favorite, currently re-read because of the music and magic aspect.
As a book, its starting to show its age a bit (the music world has changed a little) but there's still something about the characters that gets me every time. And there's one particular bit, on page 346 in the paperback, that has had me in tears every single time I read it: it's the "Yes, I can sing." bit.
As a book, its starting to show its age a bit (the music world has changed a little) but there's still something about the characters that gets me every time. And there's one particular bit, on page 346 in the paperback, that has had me in tears every single time I read it: it's the "Yes, I can sing." bit.
October 26, 2010
This is an old favorite of mine. It's one of the best fantasies I've read dealing with music and also one of the best dealing with a lesbian relationship. I'm so glad that the GR description of this book is now neutral and acceptable.
November 3, 2008
I loved this book- who could resist an ancient harper challenging faery with heavy metal? The fact that it was a lesbian ancient harper challenging faery to get her lover back made it irresistible!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2024
Christa lebt zurückgezogen im Denver der späten 1980er, wo sie ihr Geld als Harfenlehrerin verdient. Doch die stille Frau mit den wallenden roten Haaren hat ein Geheimnis: Geboren als Chairiste Ní Cummen im 6. Jahrhundert im alten Irland wurde sie dereinst ausgebildet in den Geheimnissen der Musik und ihrer Magie. Bis ihr Stolz sie und ihre Geliebte Siudh/Judith in die Welt des Feenvolkes führte, wo sie sich erhofften, von den wahren Meistern lernen zu können. Während es Chairiste gelangt, wieder zu entkommen, blieb ihre Geliebte zurück im sternenlosen Land ohne Wandel. Chairiste - nun Christa - hat nur eine Chance, sie zu befreien - sie muss den Harfenmeister der Sidhe im musikalischen Duell besiegen. Doch wie soll sie einen Meister mit Millenien an Erfahrung auf dem eigenen Feld schlagen? Was ihr über die Jahrhunderte hinweg mehrfach misslang, scheint in greifbare Nähe zu rücken, als Christa die elektrisch verstärkte Macht des Heavy Metal kennenlernt.
Ok Leute, das klingt jetzt erstmal total cheesy, aber stay with me and hear me out! Das Buch ist wirklich gut und hat nicht ohne Grund 1990 den Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Science Fiction & Fantasy gewonnen. Es glänzt in drei unterschiedlichen Bereichen, die es mühelos zu einer kohärenten Geschichte verbindet:
Erstens ist es keine zu unterschlagende Leistung, Musik in Worte zu fassen. Das, was ich höre und fühle, sichtbar zu machen, in Schrift auf Papier ... Wahnsinn. Dieses Buch beinhaltet einige der großartigsten Musikszenen, die ich bislang lesen durfte. Während der Proben und Bandauftritte hatte ich die schnellen Gitarrensoli, den mitreissenden Rhythmus, die ausdrucksstarke Stimme der Sängerin und die Verbindung aller durch moderne Technik im Ohr. Ihr habt Bock auf Heavy Metal? Das ist euer Buch!
Zweitens: Ich liebe es, wie die Autorin Magie und Musik zusammenbringt. Musik ist wohl neben Sprache ohnehin das nächste, was wir an "echter" Magie so haben. Aber neben diesem Aspekt wird hier tatsächlich Magie geschaffen, gewebt durch Tonleitern, Arpeggien, Harmonien und Dissonanzen, gewirkt durch geheimnisvolle beseelte Instrumente und die innere Kraft derer, die sie spielen. Ihr habt Bock auf großartige Vorbilder für D&D-Bard:innen, die nicht nur hold auf der Laute klampfen? Das ist euer Buch!
Drittens: Neben seinen magischen und musikalischen Aspekten ist dieses Buch auch tief verwurzelt in den USA der späten 1980er. Die herausfordernde Situation vieler Frauen, Schwarzer, Homosexueller (und jener, die in mehrfacher Hinsicht Diskriminierung ausgesetzt sind) ist zentraler Bestandteil der Erzählung. Die Protagonist:innen der Erzählung lösen sich aus verfahrenen Denk- und Verhaltensmustern und finden Befreiung in der selbstgewählten Gemeinschaft. Auch in dieser Hinsicht sehr lesenswert.
Das Buch hat definitiv seine Schwachstellen. Christa tritt regelmäßig als Erlöserin auf, die andere (teils gegen deren Willen) aus einer von ihr festgestellten schlechten Lage befreit und sie auf den rechten Pfad führt. Die vermeintliche Freiheit scheint mir in vielen Punkten nur der Wechsel von einer Abhängigkeit (von Männern, der eigenen Familie, verfahrenen Denkmustern) in eine andere (nämlich die von Christa und ihrer Weisheit und Anerkennung) zu sein. Auch die ganzen Wicca-Elemente und das Geschwafele um die wundervolle heile Welt der alten Iren fand ich eher beknackt. Gerade diese weltanschaulichen Elemente sorgen dafür, dass das Buch so seine Längen hat.
Trotz seiner schwächeren Aspekte mochte ich den Roman - die coolen Musikszenen und die Tatsache, dass es eine bombastische - überraschend ins Splatterige abgleitende - musikalische "Endschlacht" gibt, reißens für mich mehr als raus. Echte Empfehlung, wenn auch leider etwas schwer zu beschaffen.
Ok Leute, das klingt jetzt erstmal total cheesy, aber stay with me and hear me out! Das Buch ist wirklich gut und hat nicht ohne Grund 1990 den Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Science Fiction & Fantasy gewonnen. Es glänzt in drei unterschiedlichen Bereichen, die es mühelos zu einer kohärenten Geschichte verbindet:
Erstens ist es keine zu unterschlagende Leistung, Musik in Worte zu fassen. Das, was ich höre und fühle, sichtbar zu machen, in Schrift auf Papier ... Wahnsinn. Dieses Buch beinhaltet einige der großartigsten Musikszenen, die ich bislang lesen durfte. Während der Proben und Bandauftritte hatte ich die schnellen Gitarrensoli, den mitreissenden Rhythmus, die ausdrucksstarke Stimme der Sängerin und die Verbindung aller durch moderne Technik im Ohr. Ihr habt Bock auf Heavy Metal? Das ist euer Buch!
Zweitens: Ich liebe es, wie die Autorin Magie und Musik zusammenbringt. Musik ist wohl neben Sprache ohnehin das nächste, was wir an "echter" Magie so haben. Aber neben diesem Aspekt wird hier tatsächlich Magie geschaffen, gewebt durch Tonleitern, Arpeggien, Harmonien und Dissonanzen, gewirkt durch geheimnisvolle beseelte Instrumente und die innere Kraft derer, die sie spielen. Ihr habt Bock auf großartige Vorbilder für D&D-Bard:innen, die nicht nur hold auf der Laute klampfen? Das ist euer Buch!
Drittens: Neben seinen magischen und musikalischen Aspekten ist dieses Buch auch tief verwurzelt in den USA der späten 1980er. Die herausfordernde Situation vieler Frauen, Schwarzer, Homosexueller (und jener, die in mehrfacher Hinsicht Diskriminierung ausgesetzt sind) ist zentraler Bestandteil der Erzählung. Die Protagonist:innen der Erzählung lösen sich aus verfahrenen Denk- und Verhaltensmustern und finden Befreiung in der selbstgewählten Gemeinschaft. Auch in dieser Hinsicht sehr lesenswert.
Das Buch hat definitiv seine Schwachstellen. Christa tritt regelmäßig als Erlöserin auf, die andere (teils gegen deren Willen) aus einer von ihr festgestellten schlechten Lage befreit und sie auf den rechten Pfad führt. Die vermeintliche Freiheit scheint mir in vielen Punkten nur der Wechsel von einer Abhängigkeit (von Männern, der eigenen Familie, verfahrenen Denkmustern) in eine andere (nämlich die von Christa und ihrer Weisheit und Anerkennung) zu sein. Auch die ganzen Wicca-Elemente und das Geschwafele um die wundervolle heile Welt der alten Iren fand ich eher beknackt. Gerade diese weltanschaulichen Elemente sorgen dafür, dass das Buch so seine Längen hat.
Trotz seiner schwächeren Aspekte mochte ich den Roman - die coolen Musikszenen und die Tatsache, dass es eine bombastische - überraschend ins Splatterige abgleitende - musikalische "Endschlacht" gibt, reißens für mich mehr als raus. Echte Empfehlung, wenn auch leider etwas schwer zu beschaffen.
March 3, 2024
[gif of lady gaga wearing sunglasses saying "talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique"]
December 7, 2025
Hair metal, Irish mythology, pagan magic, the ultimate Battle of the Bands... this is all right up my alley. It touches on themes of empowerment, gay rights, AIDS, and dealing with abuse, and it's written with a lot of heart. The author also knows her stuff when it comes to both the theory and technology of music, and the whole books is loaded with musical references. (Confession: when I first read this, I thought that Yngwie Malmsteen was fictional. Oops!)
Is it a great book? No, but it's very entertaining and it's a much better book than I remember it being. I'm glad I decided, on a whim, to re-read it.
Is it a great book? No, but it's very entertaining and it's a much better book than I remember it being. I'm glad I decided, on a whim, to re-read it.
December 31, 2014
A woman who's lost her lover meets a man who's lost his music, and together they make magic.
Okay, it's a little more complicated than that. Christa and her lover, Judith, were stolen by the Sidhe centuries ago, because of their musical gifts. Christa managed to escape, but suffers horrible guilt at having left Judith behind. Meanwhile, centuries have passed, and the gentle harper now lives in the age of rock and roll. Is it possible the the musical magic of a new age is the key to rescuing Judith?
With hope in her heart, Christa starts a band, Gossamer Axe, recruiting several other women along the way, and making a friend, Kevin, who teaches her how to play guitar (though the student soon outstrips the teacher). All of Christa's companions, including Kevin, aren't quite sure what the hell is going on - they just know that being part of Christa's life is helpful and healing. Eventually Christa confesses there's magic afoot, and the band agrees to help her try to free Judith by rocking out at Midsummer, at a gate between worlds.
The novel's a little unbalanced in the sense that Christa is freaking amazing and the other characters are pretty much the walking wounded. If you look at this as a teaching story, however, a lot of things make more sense. I'm kind of impressed the library that loaned it to me dared to send it over, because this is hard to get a hold of these days, and even most used copies are ridiculously expensive. This is the kind of book a certain kind of person hopes to find by chance at the used bookstore. I know I'll be looking.
Okay, it's a little more complicated than that. Christa and her lover, Judith, were stolen by the Sidhe centuries ago, because of their musical gifts. Christa managed to escape, but suffers horrible guilt at having left Judith behind. Meanwhile, centuries have passed, and the gentle harper now lives in the age of rock and roll. Is it possible the the musical magic of a new age is the key to rescuing Judith?
With hope in her heart, Christa starts a band, Gossamer Axe, recruiting several other women along the way, and making a friend, Kevin, who teaches her how to play guitar (though the student soon outstrips the teacher). All of Christa's companions, including Kevin, aren't quite sure what the hell is going on - they just know that being part of Christa's life is helpful and healing. Eventually Christa confesses there's magic afoot, and the band agrees to help her try to free Judith by rocking out at Midsummer, at a gate between worlds.
The novel's a little unbalanced in the sense that Christa is freaking amazing and the other characters are pretty much the walking wounded. If you look at this as a teaching story, however, a lot of things make more sense. I'm kind of impressed the library that loaned it to me dared to send it over, because this is hard to get a hold of these days, and even most used copies are ridiculously expensive. This is the kind of book a certain kind of person hopes to find by chance at the used bookstore. I know I'll be looking.
May 11, 2018
Things I liked:
The premise and it was an easy, dumb read.
Things I took issue with:
1. The lead keeps calling herself gay when she clearly is bisexual. And her relationship with the depressed rocker dude is honestly revolting - it’s a weird 'we are Irish so we are of the same clan and are connected / offering my body to you as ritual healing' kind of situation and no one needs that.
2. This book deals with a lot of serious issues and does so in a really bad, really hamfisted way. How it addresses homophobia is particularly bad - the brother of the depressed rocker dude (who our lesbian heroine is boning) is gay and dies from aids, and of course, the main point of interest is how this helps depressed rocker dude (who the lesbian heroine is boning) build character. How it addresses domestic violence is also really bad - I cannot believe they killed off the one woc - also right after she has her bi awakening - to give the group drama and leave the spot in the band open for our heroine's white girlfriend.
3. Our lead being from ye older days is not made believable by randomly interjecting “‘tis” into her dialogue. The dialogue in general is bad.
4. The plot is supposedly about the woman rescuing her girlfriend and her but there’s virtually nothing on their relationship. Also the girlfriend does nothing for almost the entirety of the novel.
5. The sidh power play drama is half assed and doesn’t make any sense.
6. The talking magical instrument is ridiculous in a bad way.
7. Idk, wouldn't really recommend, but if you're bored and curious I guess, why not.
The premise and it was an easy, dumb read.
Things I took issue with:
1. The lead keeps calling herself gay when she clearly is bisexual. And her relationship with the depressed rocker dude is honestly revolting - it’s a weird 'we are Irish so we are of the same clan and are connected / offering my body to you as ritual healing' kind of situation and no one needs that.
2. This book deals with a lot of serious issues and does so in a really bad, really hamfisted way. How it addresses homophobia is particularly bad - the brother of the depressed rocker dude (who our lesbian heroine is boning) is gay and dies from aids, and of course, the main point of interest is how this helps depressed rocker dude (who the lesbian heroine is boning) build character. How it addresses domestic violence is also really bad - I cannot believe they killed off the one woc - also right after she has her bi awakening - to give the group drama and leave the spot in the band open for our heroine's white girlfriend.
3. Our lead being from ye older days is not made believable by randomly interjecting “‘tis” into her dialogue. The dialogue in general is bad.
4. The plot is supposedly about the woman rescuing her girlfriend and her but there’s virtually nothing on their relationship. Also the girlfriend does nothing for almost the entirety of the novel.
5. The sidh power play drama is half assed and doesn’t make any sense.
6. The talking magical instrument is ridiculous in a bad way.
7. Idk, wouldn't really recommend, but if you're bored and curious I guess, why not.
April 21, 2018
I read this book nearly twenty years ago and there are times I need what I call my "comfort books". Reading this with fresh eyes, Gossamer Axe is still the awesome, kick ass fantasy starring an all woman metal band, led by the ageless harper Chariste ni Cummen, who seeks her love lost to the Sidhe.
Again, a fantasy novel goes where romance books are too wimpy to tread - a female rock band, with all the attendant pitfalls of success.
Granted, I winced (a lot) at the glowing praise of a certain Swedish guitar god with a massive ego, and I kept wanting to give the characters lessons in basic music history, seeing at how they ignored the contributions of blues and jazz to what is rock and roll. And seriously, not a mention of Hendrix? If any guitar player could project emotion, soul and magic in every chord, it is most certainly him.
Anyway, this is one of those books with strong female friendships, enough music theory to make any hardcore Dream Theater fan fap away in sheer happiness, and a battle of the bands unlike any other in the world. It's wry, bittersweet, with characters who could easily be real people. It's the music industry at its best and its worst. It's young women coming into their own power.
Confession time: I first bought the book because of the awesome Thomas Canty cover. No matter what he illustrates, the book will always be amazing. Or so I found. This one remains a beloved keeper.
Again, a fantasy novel goes where romance books are too wimpy to tread - a female rock band, with all the attendant pitfalls of success.
Granted, I winced (a lot) at the glowing praise of a certain Swedish guitar god with a massive ego, and I kept wanting to give the characters lessons in basic music history, seeing at how they ignored the contributions of blues and jazz to what is rock and roll. And seriously, not a mention of Hendrix? If any guitar player could project emotion, soul and magic in every chord, it is most certainly him.
Anyway, this is one of those books with strong female friendships, enough music theory to make any hardcore Dream Theater fan fap away in sheer happiness, and a battle of the bands unlike any other in the world. It's wry, bittersweet, with characters who could easily be real people. It's the music industry at its best and its worst. It's young women coming into their own power.
Confession time: I first bought the book because of the awesome Thomas Canty cover. No matter what he illustrates, the book will always be amazing. Or so I found. This one remains a beloved keeper.
February 20, 2014
This story mostly held up over time, other than a few bits of technology. The synthesizer's computer with floppy drives, the obsession of high-level music executives with cocaine and the passing along of demo tapes were old-school, but the story itself was and is solid.
The central character began life as a harper, but in the 6th century. An odd combination of circumstances left her lover in the hands of the Sidh, the folk under the hill, and her in modern America. She was doing fine as a harp teacher, but still wanted to rescue her beloved. Then, with the aid of one of her students, she realized that the magic contained within music was NOT just limited to the old tunes. If a solo player on a harp could make magic, what could an amplified band do, if they played the right tunes?
From then on the story is about creating just the right band, as a family aimed like a weapon at the gates of the other world.
Some of the moments are powerful and touching, others a bit cliched now, but not so much when the book came out.
It was an enjoyable re-read, and just as hard to put down the second time.
The central character began life as a harper, but in the 6th century. An odd combination of circumstances left her lover in the hands of the Sidh, the folk under the hill, and her in modern America. She was doing fine as a harp teacher, but still wanted to rescue her beloved. Then, with the aid of one of her students, she realized that the magic contained within music was NOT just limited to the old tunes. If a solo player on a harp could make magic, what could an amplified band do, if they played the right tunes?
From then on the story is about creating just the right band, as a family aimed like a weapon at the gates of the other world.
Some of the moments are powerful and touching, others a bit cliched now, but not so much when the book came out.
It was an enjoyable re-read, and just as hard to put down the second time.
November 19, 2014
I wanted to give this 3.5 stars because of the weight of its main drawback: the first 50 pages are absolute drudgery. They say the exposition is the hardest to write... a good editor would have cut it right out of this book. It was very difficult to connect with the protagonist during these 50 pages, and her backstory could have been built in later as deftly as the author built in the backstory of the other characters.
That being said, this book is pretty darn amazing. It will deeply move any musician (I can't speak for non-musicians). Some of the philosophies presented are very engaging, interesting, and beautifully woven in. Spiritual musicians will come away from the book with increased faith and the belief that anything can happen. In that sense it truly is transformative.
Overall, this is a poetic masterpiece clearly written by a subject matter expert--just skip the first 50 pages and get to the rest of the story, where the balance is better struck. I would love to see this as a film as well.
That being said, this book is pretty darn amazing. It will deeply move any musician (I can't speak for non-musicians). Some of the philosophies presented are very engaging, interesting, and beautifully woven in. Spiritual musicians will come away from the book with increased faith and the belief that anything can happen. In that sense it truly is transformative.
Overall, this is a poetic masterpiece clearly written by a subject matter expert--just skip the first 50 pages and get to the rest of the story, where the balance is better struck. I would love to see this as a film as well.
December 22, 2018
I read this mostly based on the (crazy, crazy) plot summary. Immortal Celtic harpist living in the 1980s, trying to save her female lover from fairyland through the power of heavy metal??? Sign me up!
In a world where so many books seem to share one of about 10 cookie-cutter plots and can be extremely predictable, I love books that make you stop and go "what?" when you hear about them. This is certainly one of those. I've never read anything quite like it.
Surprisingly, even though I read it based on nothing but its crazy summary, it actually turned out to be a legitimately enjoyable book. A bit dated, of course, but any book written the 80s would be, and it didn't keep me from enjoying it at all. The writing is good, and the character interactions were loads of fun. Some parts of it were darkly intense, and some were laugh-out-loud funny.
I don't know that I'd recommend it to everyone, but I have told several of my friends about it, and some of them want to read it too, so maybe word of mouth will keep it alive even now that it's long since out of print.
In a world where so many books seem to share one of about 10 cookie-cutter plots and can be extremely predictable, I love books that make you stop and go "what?" when you hear about them. This is certainly one of those. I've never read anything quite like it.
Surprisingly, even though I read it based on nothing but its crazy summary, it actually turned out to be a legitimately enjoyable book. A bit dated, of course, but any book written the 80s would be, and it didn't keep me from enjoying it at all. The writing is good, and the character interactions were loads of fun. Some parts of it were darkly intense, and some were laugh-out-loud funny.
I don't know that I'd recommend it to everyone, but I have told several of my friends about it, and some of them want to read it too, so maybe word of mouth will keep it alive even now that it's long since out of print.
February 28, 2017
I have no idea how to rate Gossamer Axe, because it hits a bunch of my personal guilty pleasure buttons and I love it so much, but it is also thoroughly ridiculous and '80s-tasticly terrible. (And LITERALLY EVERYTHING about Monica's characterization and storyline is racist. That is, unfortunately, not an exaggeration.)
I suppose I'll go with 5 stars on a purely personal level, but I'd also like to state that I really do not recommend this book, unless you think "LET US VERY EARNESTLY AND VERY '80S-LY FIGHT FAIRIES WITH HEAVY METAL (AND TERRIBLE DIALOGUE) IN DENVER, COLORADO WHILE HAVING '80S-TASTIC SUBPLOTS ABOUT SUCH THINGS AS 'PAGANISM >>>> CATHOLICISM' AND 'MEN ARE THE WORST' WITH AN UNFORTUNATE SIDE OF UNINTENTIONAL BUT GODAWFUL RACISM" sounds like a good time, in which case, have at it, is this ever the book for you.
I suppose I'll go with 5 stars on a purely personal level, but I'd also like to state that I really do not recommend this book, unless you think "LET US VERY EARNESTLY AND VERY '80S-LY FIGHT FAIRIES WITH HEAVY METAL (AND TERRIBLE DIALOGUE) IN DENVER, COLORADO WHILE HAVING '80S-TASTIC SUBPLOTS ABOUT SUCH THINGS AS 'PAGANISM >>>> CATHOLICISM' AND 'MEN ARE THE WORST' WITH AN UNFORTUNATE SIDE OF UNINTENTIONAL BUT GODAWFUL RACISM" sounds like a good time, in which case, have at it, is this ever the book for you.
August 9, 2012
One of my favourite fantasty novels of all time - yes it's particularly dated now and probably wouldn't much appeal to those who didn't live through the 80s and don't have fond memories of backcombing their hair and tying bandanas around various body parts, but I still enjoy every re-read. The music parts of the book still make me desperately want to join a band despite my total tone deafness and the magic parts are lovely. Chick with a harp indeed.
March 23, 2025
I thought this was adorable.
As a music person myself, I appreciated the huge amount of music theory that was described in this book. I thought that the female-female relationship (that was not the center of the story, but rather a driving force) was adorable, and I could feel the love they had for each other. I thought the idea of metal music breaking down walls (literally and figuratively), especially by an all-girl band was socio-political statement worth listening to.
As a music person myself, I appreciated the huge amount of music theory that was described in this book. I thought that the female-female relationship (that was not the center of the story, but rather a driving force) was adorable, and I could feel the love they had for each other. I thought the idea of metal music breaking down walls (literally and figuratively), especially by an all-girl band was socio-political statement worth listening to.
January 20, 2011
I expected this to be terrible, in the way of most Lesbian fiction. Instead I found that I couldn't put it down. It's no revelation, but it is highly entertaining. I loved the author's clear feminist, I love wicca and Ireland bent. When I wasn't curious about the plot I was giggling at the clear biases. A perfect January distraction.
October 20, 2011
A fun read, especially if you have any fond memories or guilty pleasures for 80's hair metal. Not as on-course or developed as the Starlight series, but themes are still there. I've been dared to make a mix tape of the songs mentioned in this book, and perhaps I will.
November 5, 2007
When I read this book in high school I was totally titillated by the whole lesbian thing going on.
Despite that, it's a pretty damn good book. I'll have to read it again one of these days.
Despite that, it's a pretty damn good book. I'll have to read it again one of these days.
January 31, 2014
excellent and outstanding tale woven around legends of the fae....really strong female lead character...
August 28, 2016
Ancient Celtic harpers, magic, faeries, lesbian lovers, and rock & roll - what more could you want?
June 18, 2017
The Mists of Avalon and Jem & the Holograms had a pure and earnest book baby, and its name is Gossamer Axe.
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