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From: Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: Re: The Rivers of London Series
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2024 19:40:18 -0400
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On 8/13/24 5:53 PM, Bobbie Sellers wrote:
>      The Rivers of London series
> 
> "Tales from the Folly" by Ben Aaronvitch is another set in the
> World of the Rivers of London which are short pieces about
> characters from previous stories. This was very good but you
> have to know something about the series from other stories
> to enjoy them. So though I do not have a copy on hand to verify
> details of names I thought I would type up bit of information
> starting below.
>      The Folly is the ancient building which is used as
> headquarters for the Magicians who work for and are officers
> of the Metropolitan Police Force and are called for any case
> with the hint of the other than natural.
> 
> As in the Laundry Files doing magic can be very hard on the
> brain and spells are difficult to learn but the hero is gaining
> power and control as he works.  He has an ancient Mentor who
> survived horrific magical actions in WW II when most of the
> British and I believe German magicians were wiped out. Mentor
> seems to used life extending magics.
>      The Mentor has some secrets hidden in a vault and is
> relentless in refining the skills of his apprentices, one of
> whom goes over to the enemy but seems to sympathize with the
> Folly at times. The Senior Apprentice remaining is a
> dark-skinned Brit whose father is a jazz musician and mother
> is from the Islands with a touch of family magic.
>      Some magicians were disabled by the war experience so
> that they have retreated from cities to more comfortable environs.
> The Enemy is a powerful magician committing crimes and attempting
> to gain access to immense power. So far he has eluded arrest by
> presenting the SA with choices of damage to others if captured
> or saving the innocents.  He has done some very vile things using
> his magic and even more vile things to gain and increase his power.
>   There also have a magically powerful cousin of the SA who is
> getting preliminary tutoring but will be on staff when she finishes
> High School at least; The Folly may send her to college.  SA meets
> and socializes with the Deities of the Rivers of London and one
> called Beverly Brook will fall in love with him and make him a
> father.  So SA gets to travel to the scenes of crimes both inside
> London and in the provinces.
> 
>      No better reading for the people sick of the doom that
> came from tailpipes or politics so read Ben Arronvitch's work
> for a good time.
> 
>      bliss
> 

As coincidence would have it, I just finished Winter's Gifts last night; 
and I read Tales from the Folly back in January. I very much enjoy the 
entire Rivers of London series, and I'm looking forward to future entries.

Tony