Ricardo Pinto: Stranger in a Strange Land (revisited)

In the past few years, Fantasy writer Ricardo Pinto has been drastically revising his “The Stone Dance of the Chameleon” – once a trilogy, it will now come out as seven volumes. I expect that it’ll have lost none of its punch, and will only have gained in relevance in the last decade. Likewise the title of the interview Angeline did with him a decade ago for Strange Horizons – A Stranger in a Strange Land: Ricardo Pinto and The Stone Dance of the Chameleons (do click the link to read it!)

Ricardo moved to the UK half a century ago, and still it’s made increasingly clear that those like Ricardo, when all is said and done, are still regarded as strangers, and the hostile environment is making itself known in the bureaucratic hoops that suddenly have to be jumped through, and is bleeding through in the micro-aggression against immigrants encountered in politics, press and society.

Remco’s portrait of Ricardo Pinto

We’re really looking forward to these new editions of The Stone Dance of the Chameleon, and over the years have recommended them to several people. There’s so much happening that it’s difficult to describe in a few sentences – “Dune meets Gormenghast,” perhaps? Or LeGuin’s “The Dispossessed” mixed with Bakshi/Frazetta’s “Fire and Ice”? Is it an LGBTQ book? Well, there are gay relationships, but the story is about so many other things too. Is it Fantasy at all, and if so what to make then of the scenes of pure horror? (You’ll never be able to look at the word “render” the same again)

If you like your fiction safe and comforting, and your Fantasy to be about a ragtag band of elves, dwarves and humans on a Quest, you might look elsewhere. If you want to read something like you’ve never read before – look no further! The digital version is now available on Amazon UK and Amazon US; in a few days it should also be available in hard copy! I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that the strange but exquisite cover art is by Ricardo himself! For more info on The Stone Dance of the Chameleon, and the new editions, go to Ricardo’s website.

Part one of the new edition of The Stone Dance of the Chameleon. Art by Ricardo Pinto

PS: Happy birthday, Ricardo!

2 thoughts on “Ricardo Pinto: Stranger in a Strange Land (revisited)

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