Among the modern masterworks...

Praise from Terri Windling at Endicott Studios:

"Also from Small Beer Press comes Water Logic, Book 3 in the "Elemental Logic" quartet by Laurie J. Marks. This series belongs, in my opinion, among the modern masterworks of "imaginary world" fantasy by writers like Ursula Le Guin, Gene Wolfe, Guy Gavriel Kay, and Patricia McKillip. Why, then, are Marks' books not better known? Partly, it's a problem of timing. Le Guin, Wolfe, Kay, and McKillip all appeared on the fantasy scene when the genre was younger and smaller, allowing new books to receive more attention, and more time and space on bookstore shelves. The first two books of the "Elemental Logic" series, by contrast, appeared (from another publisher) at a time when the fantasy genre was flooded with swords-and-sorcery books featuring female heroes. I initially resisted reading them myself, turned off by the generic swordswomen on the covers -- for there was little about the packaging to suggest how literary, complex, and completely fresh Marks' writing is. (I'm indebted to Delia Sherman for persuading me to give the books a try.)

Marks must also (sadly, for this day and age) resist pigeon-holing or marginalization as an openly gay writer. Yes, there are gay characters in her books. There are also straight characters, tall characters, short characters, strong characters, weak characters...in short, the books are peopled with people, not types. If, like me, reading too many mediocre "imaginary world" fantasies has made you grow a little weary of the form, then try the "Elemental Logic" books. They're both muscular and tender, both adventurous and thoughtful, both earthy and utterly magical. They'll restore your faith in the genre."