mte@busch.UUCP (Moshe Eliovson) (07/16/85)
Before I give you the review I'd like to relate a short
story to you all. Here I am, I post an article to the net asking
for information about publishing a novel. Weeks later, a reply
comes back and gives me some answers. I write back with a few
more questions and get a few more answers. Then I notice who I'm
talking with. My eyes jump from our correspondence to the guest
list of Archon. Yes. I have been talking to Steve.
After sufficient time to recover I try to place the author
with his work, but I'm unable to place a name. In desperation I
run over to a bookstore on the way to the convention and look up
his books. Surprise #2 ! He's the one who wrote Jhereg, one of
THE BEST swords & sorcery (in there with such style greats as Leiber
and Le Sprague de Camp) I have most recently read. The reason I
couldn't place it is because I had borrowed this book from a friend.
Anyway, I bought the sequel, Yendi, and I'd like to spark
the interest of fantasy fans out here.
REVIEW
------
Steve has created his own world. The current time period is
about eight human generations after what is referred to as the Interregenum,
which I suppose is some kind of Apocolyptic event which is referred to
and sketchily detailed. Humans are called Easterners. The current ruling
class is some superior humanoids called Dragaerians. There are a number
of noble houses, each with a colorful background and certain specific aspects
which separate the families. These "people", with a few exceptions do not
like to associate with the plebian Easterners.
The main character is Vladimir Taltos (pronounced Taltosh). He
is an Easterner whose father has bought a title, Baronet, in the House
Jhereg, a semi-despised noble house among the Dragaerians. He was raised
by the Easterners but his father insisted on Dragaerian training too.
He is an Assasin. He is a witch. He can perform minor sorceries. But
primarily he is a Boss, the person who runs and controls an area of a
Lankmahr like city.
All the best elements of adult fantasy are here. You've got the
blood, the weoponry and fighting descriptions etc. You've got magic, in
terms of sorcerers, witches and artifacts. You've got elder power, in
terms of Chaos (this is primarily noted in Jhereg). Next you've got humor.
Steve has defined some very witty traits in his characters, which often
lead to a good smirk, grin, laugh or what have you. Characters have a
well formed background but this is developed painlessly along the course
of the story. You really get to know them through the eyes of Vladimir
and you laugh, hurt, and kill when he does.
In both these books, besides being entertained by the very well
described scenes of fighting, magic, etc. there has been some extremely
intricate major plot behind the scenes. This can be very enjoyable since
you become so distracted with things at hand- it's almost impossible to
anticipate the ending. Now the hints are all over for those who want to
break the mystery, but this is such easy reading that you'll want to finish
rather than stop and figure it out. I personally consumed weeks and months
of Steve's labor in one night (sorry buddy).
Chronologically, Yendi is placed in between the background that we
learn in Jhereg and the Major Plot in Jhereg. It is not really neccesary
to read Jhereg first, but it helps.
If all this is not enough for you I'll add this. Zelazny personally
endorses these works. He gives the longest "I recommend this" to Yendi that
I've seen.
I recommend this book to those who like:
1) general swords & sorcery like Leiber, de Camp, etc.
2) fighting and blood
3) magic
4) thievery (Jhereg)
5) elder magic (Jhereg)
The titles again in order are: Jhereg and Yendi.
Moshe Eliovson
{allegra, ihnp4}!we53!busch!mte