Lost Books - Tea with the Black Dragon & Twisting the Rope by R. A. MacAvoy (original) (raw)

Tea with the Black Dragon
by R. A. MacAvoy � Copyright 1983

Twisting the Rope
by R. A. MacAvoy � Copyright 1983

Review by D. D. Shade � June 23, 2000

Roberta Ann MacAvoy applies words to a page as delicately as Monet added water colors to canvas and with the economy of Scrooge. When reading a work by R. A. MacAvoy, there is a deep sense of being in the hands of a master craftsman. There is also a touch of wonder. Clute and Grant* note that most of MacAvoy's novels are witty tales that cover unfamiliar ground. As such, her little known books make delightful, refreshing reading. Her novels also have the wonderful aspect as being about as thick as speculative fiction novels from the Golden Era (300 words or less, usually less), especially in this day of the never ending series. If you are in the need of a good read that won't take all week, the two books reviewed here may be just the prescription for you.

As a testimony to the holding power of MacAvoy's writing, a dear friend of mine once thanked me for loaning her a copy of "Tea with the Black Dragon". You see, it had helped her make it though the most painful night of her life. She was very pregnant and very past her due date for her first child, and the solace she found that night in "Tea with the Black Dragon" helped her think of something other than the contractions that were getting ever closer but at a snail's pace. MacAvoy's talent for covering unfamiliar ground, kept my friend's mind far far away from her reality. No wonder "Tea with the Black Dragon" won Ms. MacAvoy the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 1983.

Imagine a 2,000 year old Chinese Black Dragon which has taken the form of a man. Add to that a middle-aged woman who plays the violin in a traditional Irish Band, a missing daughter, computer hacking 1980's style, bank robbery, kidnapping and you have all the makings of an excellent contemporary fantasy. Put it all in a blender, add a little mystery, puree, and you are ready to read.

Mayland Long. is a 2,000 year old dragon who felt frustrated with his life's inertia. I suppose being a dragon could become boring after 2,000 years. He is instructed by a Tao Master in China to come to America, take the form of a man, and wait until he meets the one person who can help him progress in his quest to know more of life. We do not know how long Mayland Long has been waiting in San Francisco but given the description of his room and his customary habits, it appears to be quite some time. Mayland meets Martha the first night of her visit to San Francisco. Her daughter has secured her a room in the same hotel where Mayland Long resides. They meet at the bar and he invites her to dine with him immediately sensing that she could be the person for whom he has been searching. This is not the search for a lover but for a companion, for someone who can lead the way. After a few meals together and enchanted conversation, Martha turns to Mayland for help when she discovers her daughter is missing.

Martha Macnamara is no ordinary woman. We learn early in the book that her daughter, Elizabeth, is of the opinion that Martha is wasting her talent playing Irish Folk Music. It is to visit with Elizabeth, that brings Martha to San Francisco and ultimately to Mayland Long. Martha is highly intelligent, energetic and exudes a mist of competence. She has come immediately at her daughter's call sensing, as all mothers seem to do, that something is wrong. When she asks Mayland Long for his help, she has no idea how much she needs him or his power as an ally.

Mayland Long is a Superhero's superhero. Superman cannot withstand Kryptonite, Batman never resolved his Oedipal complex due to the early death of his parents, The Thing (Ben Grimm - my favorite) has really bad skin, Mr. Fantastic can't keep his hands to himself, the Invisible Woman is invisible, the Human Torch is hot under the collar, Thor is obsessed with the size of his hammer (another Freudian problem), and Spiderman really wants to be the Silver Surfer. All great heroes have a weakness. It's what makes us care about them - that at least in one way we can relate to them. Mayland Long's only weakness seems to be his devotion to Martha Macnamara. Reason is his first and best weapon yet he can break any bindings. jump from speeding cars with nary a scratch and pay little attention to a gunshot wound.

"Twisting the Rope" is the sequel to "Tea with the Black Dragon". Although there is not as much cloak and dagger, it is still an entertaining read and a nice follow up to its predecessor. The sequel is an account of one of Martha Macnamara's gigs. Her Irish Musical Group is on the road and one of her musicians in murdered. Mayland Long is there as Martha's self appointed road manager and financier, relying on the vast wealth the Black Dragon accumulated over the past 2,000 years. As in the first novel, Mayland takes it upon himself to solve the murder. One of the things that make these two books so much fun to read are the unconventional means by which Mayland Long goes about these tasks.

I was able to find numerous sources on the web where the paperback version of "Tea with the Black Dragon" can be purchased for 5.00to5.00 to 5.00to25.00. Signed, first edition, hard covers were priced much much higher.

As mentioned above, "Tea with the Black Dragon" won Ms. MacAvoy the John W. Campbell Award in 1983. According to my database, this first novel has also received the following awards, nominations and recommendations:

Locus Magazine Award - 1983
Nebula Award Nomination - 1983
Philip K. Dick Memorial Award Nomination - 1984
Compton Crook Memorial Award-First Novel Nomination - 1984
Hugo Award Nomination - 1984
Locus Reader's Poll-Best Fantasy Novel - 1984
Locus Reader's Poll-Best First Novel - 1984
World Fantasy Award Nomination - 1984
Modern Fantasy-The Hundred Best Novels - 1988

Other books by R. A. MacAvoy:

The Trio For Lute Trilogy:
-Damiano
-Damiano's Lute
-Raphael

The Lens of the World Trilogy:
-Lens of the World
-King of the Dead
-Winter of the Wolf

R. A. MacAvoy Singletons:
-The Book of Kells
-The Grey Horse
-The Third Eagle

*Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1997)

Lost Books