book reccomendation

[reverancepavane]

If one is going to read Steven Brust's new novel Dzur then one would heartily suggest dining first at a good restaurant. That way, one won't be unduly distracted by the introduction of each chapter, which describes a meal at Valabar & Sons, the premiere eating establishment in Adrilankha. Mouth watering, and very important with setting the tone, especially with regard to the warrior-berserks of House Dzur. This is the 11th book in the planned 19 book series [1] describing the exploits of Vlad Taltos (pronounced TAL-tosh, as in Hungarian for witch). Chronologically it is set immediately after the events described in Issola and no attempt is made to get the reader up to speed. Which is good, because most of the previous books make excellent and enjoyable reading. However much of the book relies on the reader knowing of previous events and relationships (including some from the prequel "trilogy") in order to make sense of things, and features the reintroduction of many old characters, as well as the possibility of having introduced an old character (personally I don't believe it is him, but...). [2]
	"My sword is called Nightslayer." "What is the Serioli name for it?" "Um ... I think it was something like-" He made a sound that, if it had been louder, might have made the staff think someone was choking to death. "Okay, and that means what, exactly?" "Sethra said it means something like, `Loci for different levels of energy from various phases of existence.'" "Loci for different... How did they get Nightslayer out of that?" "Oh, they didn't. I call her Nightslayer because I like how that sounds. You know, dangerous, and evil, and like that." He grinned. Dangerous, and evil, and like that. "Okay." [3]
Many have complained that little substantive occurs within the novel, but I am of the belief that a lot of the greater arc is written between the lines, and this novel serves as the calm that comes before the storm that is the result of the creation of the Great Weapon named Godslayer. [1] Brust plans to write one book for each of the seventeen Great Houses, and two additional books, of which only one is written ("Taltos") so far. This ignores the six-volume "trilogy" (the last "book" is written in three parts, as per the origional source material) written in the style of Dumas that explores the fall of the Empire (also a highly enjoyable read). Be warned that the order of publication of the Taltos stories is not the chronological order; I always prefer to begin with Taltos [UK: Taltos and the Paths of the Dead] than Jhereg [UK: collected in Taltos - see it's not confusing <lies down for a little sleep>] [2] That would be telling, but it's obvious on reading it whom I am referring to. [3] The Seventeen Great Weapons were made by the Serioli and half way through the series you discover that their cool-sounding common names are corruptions of their Serioli titles. Thus Morollans's famous sword Blackwand is actually "Wand for causing death in the shape of a black sword." An appropriate name.

Comments

[shadow-5tails.livejournal.com]

Wow, he's up to eleven [insert Spinal Tap joke here] already. I've yet to read the more recent ones, and am still very much hoping to acquire more of the series at some point.

Though the jumps between present and past were a little disturbing, since the ones set earlier in his life were marvellous adventures and spirited hijinx, and the latter ones are angst and inexorable crumbling and disturbing hints at the past. Still, it was very effective - I'm utterly hooks, and intrigued as to where he's going with it all.

Meanwhile, now I'm hungry for both the books and the requisite find dining experience recommended as an accompaniment. *grin*

[reverancepavane.livejournal.com]

The quality of the books fell off around the time of Athyra and Cowboy Feng's Space Bar and Grill due to the death of his father, which, according to his friends, hit him very hard. But it's starting to get back up to speed, and Vlad is starting to become his old insouciant self. Although I do admit that my favourite ones are also the early ones (Taltos, Jhereg, Yendi), although I also thoroughly enjoyed the Phoenix Guards trilogy. Then again, I've always liked reading Dumas (even in the original language).

[shadow-5tails.livejournal.com]

I received a copy of The Phoenix Guards from a dear friend for my birthday (he seems to have taken it upon himself to gradually remedy this particular hole in my library, and I can't say I object!), and I look forward to reading it. I regret that Dumas senior is conspiculously absent from my reading list, and while I attempted to correct this glaring omission earlier this year, my inadvertently borrowing the last of the trilogy first meant I didn't actually read it, preferring to start at the beginning, go on 'til I came to the end, then stop...

As for Brust, so far I have been impressed by his ability to construct an overarching narrative that'll bear out such a long series, and it'll be interesting to see how it all ties together.