Mister Ed inside your head

kw: book reviews, science fiction, fantasy, esp

I call it the Disney formula: a uniquely disadvantaged and abused youngster is removed, or escapes, to a place of relative luxury, or at least decent treatment, and is found to be exceptional in some way. In Foundation by Mercedes Lackey, young Mags, nearly sixteen, is a slave to a mine owner. He is removed from the mine by a Herald, one of a particularly privileged Gild (guild), because a Companion, a telepathic horse, has detected his Gift, and Chosen him. Among other things, Mags is a telepath, though his Gift has just begun to develop.

Most of the book consists of Mags's growth as a Herald Trainee in the Collegium, a newly founded training organization for the Gifted youngsters of the kingdom of Valdemar. Their Gifts pertain to three Gilds: Bards, Healers and Heralds. Based on a timeline in the front of the book, this volume is a "mid-quel", a sequel to certain of Ms Lackey's Herald series, and a prequel to others.

Mag, trained by his Companion, and taught by Gild trainers, is brought into a bit of intrigue: the King has not only his courtiers and counselors, but a second tier of information-gatherers (a more reliable one) in certain loyal families and their teenaged children, led by a trusted few Heralds. Mags is uniquely qualified to aid these youngsters.

They have troubles aplenty to occupy them, given three sources of conflict. A significant number of the Heralds are not happy that the older apprenticeship system is being replaced by the Collegium. A visiting embassage is found to be up to no good, but it is thought best to intimidate them into a more agreeable frame of mind rather than expose and embarrass them. And a psychotic killer shows up, but his demise leaves most questions unanswered, leaving plenty of room for the author to write further stories aimed at the early Collegium years.

It took me longer than I expected to read the book. Ms Lackey's prose rewards close reading; no skimming tricks will do. In her hands, a novel is a series of tapestries, full of detail that one does well not to miss.