Publisher's Weekly
Against a background of space-going genetic engineers seeding planets with intelligence, Coney's Song of Earth series spins such extravagant, hand-me-down yarns as his vision of a celestial steam locomotive. This installment offers three ''happentracks'' (alternate worlds) in which the children of the godlike Starquin meddle. One is a pale rendition of Arthurian legend, one an object lessona rustic land upset by the noble, violent example of those chivalrous talesand the third and most substantial is a peaceable kingdom of unicorns and gnomes. Those cute, wee homebodies are quickly revealed, however, to be Coney's trite, garrulous version of Tolkien's hobbits. The muddled narrative also buries a potentially interesting three-part look at the social dynamics of heroism. (February)

Library Journal
When the ''happentracks'' of humankind and gnomedom overlap, only the courage of a young gnome named Fang and the fanciful stories of a woman name Nyneve can avert disaster. The cosmic world view of Coney's The Celestial Steam Locomotive and Gods of the Greataway intersects with Arthurian legend in this imaginative, offbeat fantasy of gnomes, knights, and starships. Illustrations not seen. Recommended for fantasy collections. JC

Genre: Fantasy