BARNETT, Lisa A.

PERSONAL: Born in Dorchester, MA. Education: University of Massachusetts, M.A. Hobbies and other interests: Gardening.

ADDRESSES: Home—Portsmouth, MA. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Heinemann, P.O. Box 6926, Portsmouth, NH 03802-6926.

CAREER: Writer. Baker's Plays, Boston MA, editorial assistant; Heinemmann, Portsmouth, MA, editor and book producer.

AWARDS, HONORS: Lambda Literary Award for Science Fiction/Fantasy, Lambda Literary Foundation, 2002, for Point of Dreams.

WRITINGS:

(With Melissa Scott) The Armor of Light, Baen Fantasy (New York, NY), 1988.

(With Melissa Scott) Point of Hopes, Tor (New York, NY), 1995.

(With Melissa Scott) Point of Dreams, Tor (New York, NY), 2001.

editor

Gerald Chapman, Teaching Young Playwrights, Heinemann (Portsmouth, NH), 1991.

Scott Miller, From Assassins to West Side Story: TheDirector's Guide to Musical Theatre, Elsevier, Reed, Inc., 1996.

J. Allen Suddeth, Fight Directing for Theatre, Elsevier, Reed, Inc., 1996.

Terry Chayefsky, Acting in Prime Time: A Guide toBreaking into Show Business for the Mature Actor, Heinemann (Portsmouth, NH), 1997.

Gus Edwards, Monologues on Black Life, Heinemann (Portsmouth, NH), 1997.

Patricia Sternberg, Theatre for Conflict Resolution: In the Classroom and Beyond, Heinemann (Portsmouth, NH), 1998.

Betty Jane Wagner, Educational Drama and LanguageArts: What Research Shows, Heinemann (Portsmouth, NH), 1998.

Also coauthor with Melissa Scott of "The Carmen Miranda Gambit" in Carmen Miranda's Ghost Is Haunting Space Station Three, Baen Fantasy (New York, NY), 1990.

SIDELIGHTS: Lisa A. Barnett has worked in publishing for two decades and is the co-author of a series of fantasy books with Melissa Scott. In her publishing career, Barnett has used her background in English, acting, and directing to help produce and edit a series of instructional books on the theatre. Working with Scott, an historian and author, Barnett also incorporates her expertise in English and the theatre to co-write books involving fantasy, magic, and mystery in an Elizabethan-age setting.

Born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, Barnett attended an all-girl Latin school. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts in Boston, she took a job with Baker's Plays as an editor. In 1988 she went to work for the publisher Heinemann and began developing and editing a series of books focusing on teaching students about various aspects of the theatre, such as writing and directing plays.

Barnett's first collaboration with Scott was Armor of Light. Published in 1988, the novel is an alternate history and fantasy set in Elizabethan England that features as its central heroes the historical figures Sir Philip Sidney, a Renaissance English soldier and courtier, and playwright Christopher Marlowe. In this alternative history, Sidney and Marlowe do not die as they did in real life, but live on to help the queen of England, whose horoscope warns of a threat from a Scottish wizard. The fictional Sidney and Marlowe, who are both well-versed in the art of magic, set out for the Scottish Court to face the threat and become involved in a world of intrigue, including appearances by such real-life characters as Sir Walter Raleigh and William Shakespeare. Writing in the Wilson Library Bulletin about how science fiction and fantasy incorporate themes pertinent to modern life, Don Sakers said that the authors "succeed in creating a historical fantasy that would be perfectly at home on the shelves with pure historical novels" and that the book "evokes the Elizabethan Age perfectly." Sakers also noted that the authors incorporate the theme of magic as "both a tool of terrorism and a servant of politics." He went on to say, "Replace 'magic' with 'technology' and you have a book that wrestles with one of the primary worries of [late twentieth-century] American society . . . : the place of technology in our lives."

Barnett's next collaboration with Scott, Point of Hopes, also involves a medieval world of fantasy, magic, and deceit. The authors introduce the Kingdom of Chenedolle, where all major decisions are based on the horoscope and magic. During the city of Astreiant's annual fair, children begin to go missing and the handsome Nicholas Rathe, a "pointsman" or policeman, is appointed to find them and solve the mystery. In the process Rathe enlists the aid of ex-soldier Philip Eslinger and necromancer Istre B'Estorr. Writing in Booklist, contributor Roland Green said "this book features good writing, good characterization, and exceedingly superior world building." A Publishers Weekly reviewer noted that although "intricate world-building" sometimes overpowers the plot, Point of Hopes "offers intriguing looks" at the guilds of the time, the early art of printing, and how the people of medieval times viewed magic. The reviewer also noted, "It also offers considerable delight to those who enjoy intellectual puzzles of the fantastic kind." Another reviewer wrote in the Library Journal that "Strong, likable protagonists and a vividly detailed supporting cast bring an emotional veracity to this well-wrought tale."

Barnett teamed with Scott again for another tale featuring pointsman Rathe and his partner Eslinger, who is by now also his lover. In Point of Dreams the authors incorporate Barnett's expertise in the theatre to set up a plot revolving around the City of Astreiant's midwinter annual masque, a short allegorical drama performed by masked actors. This time the mystery revolves around a dead body found on the masque's rehearsal stage. Apparently, the cause of death was drowning, but there is no water nearby. To further complicate the plot, the masque occurs at the same time of year when ghosts walk the earth because of the conjunction of the stars. Rathe begins to investigate the murder as the death toll mounts due to the untimely demise of several persons associated with the masque and its actors.

In Publishers Weekly a reviewer said the authors "have created an unusual and successful blend of fantasy and mystery." The reviewer also said, "Having deftly, and gratifyingly, entwined two different genres, Scott and Barnett have produced a page-turner that is sure to win them new fans." Library Journal contributor Jackie Cassada commented, "Alchemy, herbal magic, and mystery work together to create a fascinating and exotic tale of fantasy intrigue." Writing on the Strange Horizons Web site, Rob Gates noted that the authors "explore in great depth the inner workings of a theatre." He also said, "Point of Dreams is at times a fantasy of manners, at other times a mystery, at yet other times a swashbuckler, and yet still poetic through it all." On the Internet SF Site, contributor Victoria Strauss noted, "Scott and Barnett have created a setting so densely detailed that it's at times hard to remember you aren't reading about a real place."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

periodicals

Booklist, November 1, 1995, Roland Green, review of Point of Hopes, p. 458; February 15, 2001, Roland Green, review of Point of Dreams, p. 1122.

Library Journal, October 15, 1995, review of Point ofHopes, p. 91; February 15, 2001, Jackie Cassada, review of Point of Dreams, p. 204.

Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, July, 1996, review of Point of Hopes, p. 40.

Publishers Weekly, October 30, 1995, review of Point of Hopes, p. 49; January 8, 2001, review of Point of Dreams, p. 52.

Wilson Library Bulletin, February, 1989, Don Sakers, "SF Universe."

online

Book Browser,http://www.bookbrowser.com/ (October 15, 2002), review of Point of Dreams.

New England Science Fiction Association,http://www.nesfa.org/ (December 22, 2002), "The Armor of Light."

Pointsman.net,http://www.pointsman.net/ (October 15, 2002).

Romance Reader,http://www.theromancereader.com/ (October 15, 2002), review of Point of Dreams.

SF Site,http://www.sfsite.com/ (October 15, 2002), Victoria Strauss, review of Point of Dreams.

Strange Horizons,http://www.strangehorizons.com/ (October 15, 2002), Rob Gates, "Sophisticated Renaissance Fantasy: The Astrology, Necromancy, and Phytomancy of Melissa Scott and Lisa Barnett's Point of Dreams."

Wavelengths Online,http://www.wavelengthsonline.com/ (October 15, 2002), review of Point of Dreams.*