She certainly said that the paranormal was a common belief for the people of those periods, but I haven't come across any instances of her saying she believed in them. I'd be rather surprised to find she believed in astrology as it wouldn't fit with the sort of mind she had. Telepathy maybe.

Good morning! On to the last in the Lymond Chronicles - Checkmate by Dorothy Dunnett - and slightly annoyed that I have to put it down to work.

I don't object to either the divining or the telepathy. I wonder if DD herself experienced anything similar and that's why she included those themes?

I object to the telepathy and I object to the divining. But the divining at least provides a bit of fun in terms of spotting the links between the two series, whereas the telepathy in CM mostly seems to convey misery in both directions

2/ Niccolo, but can't recall anyone objecting in the same way to this telepathy in the LC. Anyone got any thoughts? Or if you object to the divining to you also to the telepathy, and if not why not?

The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett... I've reread the first in the series a lot, I keep wanting to recapture the feeling I had when I first read it and suddenly realised what he was up to 😂

I'm in with The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett.
For suspense, storytelling and the accurate and perfectly researched historical background.

Dunnett didn't say he rode it *elegantly*. Just that he was on it and having what I can presume was the time of his life (to that point). I just peeked at a few videos of tourists riding ostriches in South Africa and I think a large 18-year old could do it, however brief.

Amazing and amusing as that was, I was distracted by doubt that such a large man as Niccolo could ride an ostrich without it collapsing. Almost as if Dunnett were picturing the compact Lymond as the rider rather than his forerunner.

Allie Therin's Viscounts and Villainy and Dorothy Dunnett's Pawn in Frankincense.

I’m also really feeling the sweetness and Northumberlandian practicality of Fippy after her interview with Güzel - that she and Kuzum may not have a terribly fulfilling future ahead of them, but they will make the best of it together.

My wife was a bit embarrassed on the tube every year as I started reading on the way to the airport or King's Cross. I love the standard original covers, but this is my particular favourite:

Ha😄exact same, now got 11 months to wait for Doctor. Started the Dollys with Singing Bird/Rum, in view of the Isle of Rum, a few summers ago! (though also prefer the original paperbacks where possible..) #DorothyDunnett

Agreed! I saved them - an incredible show of willpower, this - to be my first book of the summer holiday over the course of six years.