MacAvoy, R. A. (1949– )
Roberta Ann MacAvoy made her debut with the
contemporary fantasy Tea with the Black Dragon
(1983) and then added 10 more novels, one of
them science fiction, before apparently abandoning
writing in 1994. Her first novel made an immedi-
ate and lasting impression because of its strong
characterization and its original treatment and
concept. The protagonist is a young woman who
strikes up a friendship with a man who is actually
an ancient shape-changing dragon. When her
daughter is kidnapped, the twosome team up to
track down the criminals and rescue her.
MacAvoy followed this striking novel with a
trilogy of historical fantasies, Damiano (1984),
Damiano’s Lute(1984), and Raphael(1985). Set in
an alternate Renaissance Italy, the sequence opens
as the son of a magician who has been taught to
play music by the angel Raphael himself sets out
to find a legendary sorceress who he believes has
the power to save his people from getting caught
up in a war. The interference of a demon inter-
feres with his plans, and although he wins the
opening engagement, he and his protector,
Raphael, are dogged by the forces of evil from that
point forward. In the concluding volume Lucifer
outsmarts Raphael, tricking him into taking
human form and by doing so precipitates the final
confrontation.
The Book of Kells(1985) is a magical story of
time travel in which a contemporary artist travels
back to 10th-century Britain. Twisting the Rope
(1986) brings back the protagonist from Tea with

the Black Dragon,this time to rescue her grand-

daughter. Although an entertaining story, it lacks

the charm of her first adventure. The Grey Horse

(1987) is also a historical fantasy, this one involv-

ing the early history of Ireland and the appearance

of a mystical horse.

MacAvoy’s last fantasy work was the Lens tril-

ogy, consisting of Lens of the World(1990), King of

the Dead(1991), and The Belly of the Wolf(1993,

also published as Winter of the Wolf). The trilogy

chronicles most of the life of a young man who

rises above his humble beginnings to become a key

player in the future of his people. MacAvoy’s sub-

sequent inactivity has deprived fantasy of one of its

freshest and most original voices.

MacDonald, George (1824–1905)

George MacDonald was a Scottish writer whose

several nonfantastic novels have largely been for-

gotten, although his fantasy, both for children and

for adults, has enjoyed intermittent popularity ever

since. His pioneering role in modern fantasy is well

established. His first fantasy novel was ostensibly

for adults. Phantastes (1858) is an episodic and

rather disorganized narrative in which the protago-

nist enters various magical situations by means of

his dreams. As he explores these mystical realms,

he begins to perceive the rules that hold sway

there, not always in time to avoid making serious

mistakes. On more than one occasion he errs de-

spite clear warnings against his proposed course of

action. Much of the story is a Christian allegory

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