(see Roe v. Wade). Blackstock College is partially based on Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, which the author attended as an undergraduate (1971–1975). In the "Author's Note", Dean states: Readers acquainted with Carleton College will find much that is familiar to them in the architecture, landscape, classes, terminology, and general atmosphere of Blackstock. They are earnestly advised that it would be unwise to refine too much upon this. Blackstock is not Carleton. Historical figures as characters In the novel, a key revelation is that two of the Classics majors, Robin and Nick, are in fact the same Robert Armin and Nicholas Tooley who performed with The King's Men during the time when William Shakespeare was writing plays for the troupe. The story even alludes to a theory that the historical Armin's singing ability influenced some of Shakespeare's plays (as it gave the Bard a new form to work with). It is implied that they had been mortals who had joined Medeous' faerie band in the early 17th century, which is why they are alive at Blackstock in the 1970s. Awards and nominations 1992, Mythopoeic Awards, Adult Fantasy category, finalist. Release details 1991, U.S., Tor Books (Tom Doherty Associates), , , March 1991, hardcover 1992, U.S., Tor Books (Tom Doherty Associates), St. Martin's Press, , , April 1992, paperback 2006, U.S., Firebird Books (Penguin Group), , , August 3, 2006, paperback Notes External links Lyrics of the traditional Scottish ballad "Tam Lin" (on a website devoted to the ballad) 1991 American novels American fantasy novels Novels set in Minnesota Mythopoeia Feminist novels 1991 fantasy novels Novels set in the 1970s Campus novels Tor Books books