Spirits white as lightning.

(Bedlam's Bard). Baen. 502p. c2002. 0-7434-3608-3. $7.99. SA

This installment in the Bedlam's Bard series brings back Bard Eric Banyon, now a Juilliard student, and many of his friends from the previous novels. The novel also introduces a new character, Hosea Song-maker, a banjo-picking Bard-to-be from Appalachia who becomes Eric's apprentice. The lengthy tale contains several intertwined plots more convoluted than Celtic knotwork. It is impossible to outline them succinctly, save to say that Lord Aerune still wants to avenge his only love's death by destroying humanity, and the rest of the plots manage to tie into this one, however indirectly.

The narrative is readable and the writing fairly competent, although the characterizations tend toward the two-dimensional. A firmer editorial hand could have made it leaner. Characters are created and discarded just to make the point that Eric is a GOOD person, adding to the fluff content, and the long-winded explanations of the obvious wouldn't be missed. Finally, the incessant wish fulfillment via magic or money becomes tiresome. Avid followers will snap it up, however, so purchase is warranted for libraries with a following among their readers. Donna Scanlon, Children's Libn., Lancaster Cty. Lib., Lancaster. PA