Tanya Huff Resident Scholar Profiles TOP SCHOLAR: Mark Antonow SCHOLARS:
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Review Summaries
"Tony Foster is a PA (production assistant) for CB productions in Vancouver where they're filming a semi-popular show called “Darkest Night”. Everything's fine until an actress dies and the crews' shadows start roaming the set. After another co-worker almost gets killed Tony confronts the only other person who seems to notice the shadows, the special effects director. Tony finds out Arra (the special effects director) is a wizard who fled her world to escape a conquering evil wizard, the Shadowlord. Tony enlists the help of Henry Fitzroy, bastard son of Henry the VIII, who as well as being a moderately successful historical romance writer is a vampire. Along with Arra, Tony and Henry commence hunting down the shadows that have come scouting through into the city. When the Shadowlord comes through Tony, Arra, and Henry must confront him on the set of “Darkest Night” and fight the shadow controlled crew."
Mark Antonow, Resident Tanya Huff Scholar
"
Daw, April 2004, 23.95, 384 pp.
ISBN 0756401836
After living on the streets for many years, Tony Foster was taken into the home of Henry Fitzroy, bastard son of Henry VII and a four hundred and fifty year old vampire. Tony is twenty-four years old now, lives in his own apartment and remains close with Henry although they are not quite as intimate. Tony works as a production assistant for “Darkest Night” a television show about a vampire detective.
Although Tony appreciates the irony of the current situation, he's becoming worried about strange happenings on the set. Shadows seem to be moving independently of people's bodies and some are even lurking in hidden corners. Tony is determined to find out what is happening and he figures the best person to ask is Arra, the special effects person who seems to know more than she is saying. She finally confesses to Tony that she is a wizard from another world who traveled in a portal to Earth because the Shadowlord conquered her world. He is searching for her now and once he destroys her, he intends to conquer Earth using his shadow minions. Henry and Tony intend to stop him if they can and try to convince Arra to join the battle.
Readers familiar with Private Detective Vicki Nelson and Henry Fitzroy the vampire books know that Tony is a minor but important character in those tales. They will love his coming out party in SMOKE AND SHADOWS. The hero is all grown up and very mature for his age, eager to save his world although he is scared to death.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Tanya Huff Scholar
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Overall Review
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Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 10% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%
Tone of book
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- fantasy story on current Earth
Coming of age
Yes
Youngster becomes
- guardian of justice
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Horror story?
Yes
Horror plotlets
- vampires taking a quick bite
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- champion of justice
- blue collar worker
Age:
- 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- magical being
- Male
Age:
- long-lived adults
Profession/status:
- mage/magician
Has magical powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- can change shapes
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- almost none
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
Earth setting:
- current (early 21st century)
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue?
- significantly more dialog than descript
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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