Covers of the Pan paperback editions – the editions I own

(11) JULIAN MAY –

SAGA OF THE PLIOCENE EXILE (1981-1984)

From Julian May in the 1980s to Sarah Maas in the 2010s and 2020s – such is the fate, and some might argue the fall, of fairy fiction.

Or not, since the SF alien ‘fairies’ of Julian May are very different from the fantasy fairies of Sarah Maas.

Julian May was best known for her Saga of the Pliocene Exile series of (four) books, sadly eclipsed by fantasy fairy fiction like that of Maas these days – sadly, that is, as the former is a wild ride combining human-alien galactic space opera (for which May wrote other books), psi abilities, and prehistoric time travel to the titular geological epoch. O yes – and a few hot fairies thrown in, as the titular Pliocene exiles find the prehistoric epoch to be more populated than expected, by an alien race (or more precisely races) that resemble Celtic mythology and fairy folklore.

RATING:

A-TIER (TOP TIER)