cover image HE STANDS ALONE

HE STANDS ALONE

Randy Lee Eickhoff, . . Forge, $23.95 (224pp) ISBN 978-0-312-87021-8

One of the foremost authorities on the literary tradition of ancient Irish myths and legends takes an in-depth look at Ireland's chief hero, Cúchulainn. This fifth installment of the Ulster Cycle (after The Destruction of the Inn) is a series of interlocking stories that covers his life from birth to a battle with spirits from the underworld. Cúchulainn's warrior training parallels that of many legends from different cultures as he undergoes a series of tests of his ability to hunt, fight and earn the admiration of the fair sex. The most compelling chapters deal with his romance with Emer, starting with a courtship story in which the two would-be lovers invent a private, romantic language. Emer proves to be a worthy foil for Cúchulainn as their love evolves: she cautions him against doing battle with his impetuous son in what proves to be a tragic incident, then she tries to spark him in his fight against the demons. As usual, Eickhoff offers a series of effective explanations and footnotes on the background and origin of his various yarns, but the decision to break up the book into separate stories proves to be more problematic, robbing it of some narrative momentum and making for a choppy read. Those issues probably won't matter much to readers who follow Eickhoff and love the Irish mythic tradition, and overall Cúchulainn is brought admirably to life. (Mar.)