THE JARGOON PARD

If "jargoon pard" sounds like either an obscure spoonerism or an anagram, put yourself in a properly somber fantasy.receptive frame of mind and be advised that a jargoon is a semiprecious stone and a jargoon pard is thus a (leo)pard skin belt of magical werepeople properties with the power to turn young Kethan into a snarling pard beast. Announced as a "companion piece" to The Crystal Gryphon (KR, 1972), this is not a sequel, but a second chance for Andre Norton to expand on the Welsh accented neverland setting and the potential of half man/half animal natures. Expand she does with more gravely archaic dialogue, a full tarot reading for Kethan, an evil sorceress Ursilla heading up a cast of villains working at unfathomable cross purposes, and a full spectrum of magic, Green, Yellow and Red. All a bit overdressed for our taste, although anyone so inclined may immerse himself in a dazzling variety of supernatural spells, purple flames, moonflower wands, moly charms, Star Towers, snow cats, Arvon powers and so on. . .even a parting promise that "the whyfor will come to be discovered in time." Perhaps.