They Fly at Ciron

Young David Bathory returns to his ancestral home where he faces two choices, the first involving the immediate torments of hell, and the second, the acceptance of his birthright as the heir to the vampire throne in exchange for his immortal soul.

Delany's latest, a rare foray into fantasy, is a masterful revision and expansion of a story first drafted in 1962. {€}Ciron is an almost idyllically peaceful, isolated village. The only imagined threat to it comes from the mysterious, black Winged Ones who fly overhead--the only threat, that is, until a brigade of violent intruders arrives. Led by the brutal prince Nactor, the invading Myetrans soon enslave the native {€}Cironians with their advanced weaponry and an easy willingness to kill. Struggling to maintain their peaceful values while being treated as beasts, the {€}Cironians form a sudden, fortuitous alliance with the surprisingly friendly Winged Ones and drive off the Myetrans on their own terms. Delany's added years of craftsmanship lend subtlety, depth of characterization, and even philosophy to an otherwise ordinary battle story. Must reading for Delany's fans and, for newcomers, a good introduction to an enduring talent. Carl Hays