The Curse of Chalion 91
| The Curse of Chalion | |
| author | Lois McMaster Bujold |
| pages | 442 |
| publisher | EOS |
| rating | 8/10 |
| reviewer | michael |
| ISBN | 0-380-97901-2 |
| summary | a solid work of fantasy from an author known for solid space opera |
Cazaril has had a bit of a hard life. He's a competent military captain - perhaps too competent - who has fought in every significant war of the past 20 years. And been on the losing side each time. In his most recent campaign, he held a fortress against besiegers for many months, till he and his men were reduced to eating rats and the besieging army was thoroughly annoyed with him. At the conclusion of that campaign, he was sold off as a galley slave - chained to his oar, being whipped for the slightest disobedience. The experience has left him a bit the worse for wear, but with a selection of good stories which he recounts throughout the book. When asked if he knows the local geography, he replies, "What I haven't ridden over, I've walked, what I haven't walked, I've been dragged across. Or through. I've had geography ground into my skin. And I've rowed round half the Archipelago at least." This could have been a really good book with a few more stories from Cazaril.
There's more than a bit of humor in the book. Miles' disability was such that it couldn't be laughed at, but Cazaril has the necessary self-humor about the hard times he's had.
At a loss as to where to go after his miraculous rescue from the galley, Cazaril returns to his boyhood haunts, where he is promptly employed as a tutor to a reckless young noblewoman. They are promptly thrust into a political mess, which turns out to be deeper and darker (of course) than either suspected. Cazaril has to safeguard his charge while unraveling the mess, saving the kingdom, battling evil, and all the usual troubles that a protagonist must contend with.
One highpoint of the book is a complex yet self-consistent religious system. Most western fantasy authors tend to use poorly camouflaged versions of christianity, or gloss over religion. The religious system in Chalion is nothing like any real religion that I know of, but well done - it's probably more consistent than most real religions.
If you enjoy the Vorkosigan books, you'll probably like this one. If not, probably not. Well, I guess there are some people who adore science fiction and hate fantasy or vice-versa, but aside from them... I had solved most of the plot by about half-way through, but one key detail eluded me until the very end. Although looking back, there were enough hints for me to have gotten it.
While I'm at it, I ought to mention another Bujold "book" recently released - Miles, Mystery and Mayhem. You might expect from the title that this would be a new Vorkosigan book. You would be wrong. This is one of those sneaky publishers' tricks, a book consisting entirely of several previously published works about Miles. One novel, one novella, and one short story, if I remember the word counts correctly. All of which I've read before. There was no indication of this on the online site where I purchased this book. There is no indication of it in the brief blurb from the publisher which most places use to describe the book. There is no indication of it on the cover of the book itself - ensuring that scans of the cover won't give away the ruse. I'm sorely tempted to return it, though I probably won't - I'll just read the next few Bujold books in paperback or from the library, until my irritation with this trick fades. Bujold and/or her publisher did all her readers a great disservice with this sleazy trick.
You can purchase this book at Fatbrain. Want to see your own review here? Read the book review guidelines, then submit using Slashdot's web-submission page :)
No other Fantasy novels? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:No other Fantasy novels? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:No other Fantasy novels? (Score:2)
Yes, that's "The Spirit Ring" not "The Smoke Ring" (Score:2)
The URL's right, though!
Vorkosigan or Retief - which came first (Score:3, Informative)
Back in the first days of large-scale network computer gaming, I used the Corps Diplomatic Terran (CDT) of Retief as the genesis for many of my subculture archons in a number of empires - including those played within Cluster I, Cluster II, and some of my own play-by-mail role-playing games.
Now that's not to say I haven't enjoyed Bujold's works - they've always been a good read.
-
Re:Vorkosigan or Retief - which came first (Score:1)
Retief is quite a different character and the Retief books are quite different from the Miles books in that they are mostly political/diplomatic satire, rather than just straight out "smarter and funnier than average" space opera.
For one thing, Retief is only an anti-hero in that he is anti-establishment and unconventional in his methods. In all other ways (intelligence, style, confidence, etc.) he is far superior and in many ways more "heroic" than many regular heroes. Miles, OTOH, has to deal with tremendous physical setbacks from the beginning (not to mention tremendous self-doubt and anxiety that constantly threaten to overwhelm his intelligence and confidence - although he usually ends up winning that battle
I'm in complete agreement that there are many precedents for Bujold's type of anti-hero in SF (or lit in general) but I really don't see such a direct connection between Retief and Miles. I'm really just nitpicking because I have such a strong image of each in my mind and I don't really connect the two at all.
That said, I enjoy both - but I read each expecting (and getting) very different things
If both are well-characterized, who cares? (Score:2)
But hasn't the body to accomplish it all. Part of his brain thinks he ought to be a strapping big fellow six feet tall, which is what he'd have grown up to, save for his "difficulties."
But runs into the dilemma that he works for a pretty "imperial" intelligence service that sometimes has some dirty work that must be done.
And runs into the problem that his family has been "doing politics" for generations, and the given is that political situations always get pretty dirty.
There's a whole lot of "necessary evil" there.
Frankly, the only sort-of-antihero part is the bit of "realism" that gets thrown in concerning the dirt of politics and the messiness of real life.
Michael can read? (Score:1, Funny)
Whom? (Score:1)
Flames will be used to save on energy bills.
Re:Whom? (Score:2, Informative)
That's because you don't know your sci-fi too well. She got the Nebula in 1989 and 1990, and the Hugo in 1990 and 1994:
award list [dendarii.com]
book list [dendarii.com]
Re:Whom? (Score:2, Informative)
Not really a sneaky trick (Score:5, Informative)
Despite that, Amazon.com also had quite an obvious note that it was a compiliation (under Book Information, right before the reviews). Baen's website had a similar note, as does Bujold's website. Just because fatbrain.com didn't happen to mention it doesn't mean you should blame the publisher or the author.
Availability in Hardcover Not A Sneaky Trick... (Score:2)
I suppose it might be "sneaky" if you headed to Amazon, [amazon.com] saw it was a new title, failed to bother to check the reviews, which conspicuously mention that it's a "retread," and just bought it on virtue of title and author making no attempt to see what's inside.
Re:Not really a sneaky trick (Score:2)
And I purchased the book when it first came out - before any reviews were available. I would guess that the prominent notes on these sites now are due to complaints received.
Re:Not really a sneaky trick (Score:2)
Speaking of which, there's a real new Miles book coming out in May... Diplomatic Immunity. I'll probably read the escriptions copy, then buy the PB when it comes out. (Hey, the author gets $1.85 or so from my escriptions fee, which is probably actually more than the cut on a HC these days... plus the pennies from the PB purchase later. I'm quite happy with it, from the getting the early read perspective, and I get this nice whatever format I prefer electronic copy to read from a computer or PDA... and the author gets well compensated. Funny, given Jim's reputation for nasty contracts to newbie writers.)
Re:Not really a sneaky trick (Score:1)
huh, what are you talking about?
Re:Not really a sneaky trick (Score:1)
from the site:
What is WebScriptions?
A web based re-creation of the serialized novel using Science Fiction published by Baen Books. Each novel will be published in three segments, one month apart, beginning 3 months before the actual publication date. Each month 4 books will be available. The intent is to use all Frontlist book for that month. If less than four books are published, or if one or more of them are unavailable, books from the backlist will be used.
What do I get?
For each month purchased, you will receive internet access to a directory containing four books.
Three months before publication subscribers receive the first half of all 4 books.
Two months before publication subscribers receive the third quarter of all 4 books.
One months before publication subscribers receive the last quarter, completing all 4 books.
and about two weeks after the last quarter is delivered, bookstores around the country will begin to stock these titles.
WebScriptions does not require subscribers to purchase every month offered. Purchase of an individual month will deliver that months complete books whether other months are purchased or not.
I'm a regular purchaser, 30+ ebooks purchased and happy with them. it's $10 for a month (4 books)
Re:Not really a sneaky trick (Score:1)
And the notices were up months before you could even get the book.
Not sneaky, just disappointing (Score:1)
Baen got into the annoying habbit of reprinting Drake's stuff in different packaging, sometimes obviously, sometimes not so obviously. And then they'd throw in a short story to make you think you were getting your $9.99 Cdn worth. Sad. I like Drake as an author (similar to Bujold in enjoyability, not content) but I won't repeatedly buy the same words just to get at the few new ones scattered amidst the old.
When are these publishers going to wise up and let us buy short stories or novellas separately? I suppose this hinges on a workable internet micropayment scheme (or not, given the cost of a novella...) but it would sure be handy. Then I could get all the works of author X without worrying about buying a given piece more than once.
Or is that a stupid idea?
tired plots (Score:5, Interesting)
[protaganists] pulled from their village by [druid, sorcerers, other heros] just before [ultimate bad guy's servants] arrive to get [protagonist or whatever item he possesses]. A chase ensues, the [bad guys servants] chasing the [protagonist] trying to [kill / steal item from] him. Throughout the chase the [protagonist] discovers his [powers] just in the nick of time to [kill very lethal enemies] until arriving at [his destination].
So much fantasy I've read starts off that way, it may change later in the novel/series, but a lot of it owes the first few chapters/books to tolkien.
Anyone know any good fantasy that doesn't start off this way?
Re:tired plots (Score:1, Troll)
You can still find dwarves and elves and hobbits, if you are into that sort of thing, and it may be a little formulaic, but definitely a departure from Tolkien.
Or is that not what you meant by fantasy?
Re:tired plots (Score:1, Informative)
Re:tired plots (Score:3, Insightful)
First is the fact that the evil lord plays almost no part in the story at all, and that there is not a confrontation with him as occurs in most if not all of the copies.
Other thing that i realized, (and this is completely off topic), is that Sam was the real hero of the story and Frodo really played a much more minor role.
Re:tired plots (Score:2, Interesting)
Add that to the fact that there are only a limited number of plot types, and you are going to see the same basic things over and over.
Yet another issue, is if someone wants to write a book where people with magical powers battle to save the world, it's obviously going to be Fantasy. If howver, one wants to write a book that details the life of some average citizen looking for love, or happiness or looking for their long lost father just to find him, not because he is acrually a Prince or something, then they are usually not written in a fantasy setting. Some types of stories demand to be set in World War II, in space, in Camelot, or in 1632.
Fantasy and science fiction is very good for showing how people would react in situations very much unlike what we have today, to explore values and views. Unfortunatly, the bad action-adventure type is as common as bad works in every other genere.
I have found Bujold an enjoyable author to read. She deals with a lot of issues in her books, where characters have morally tough decisions, and sometimes don't make the right ones.
She is also online... she joins in the discussion boards about her books on a regular basis at www.baen.com which is interesting. (It also sells e-books there, which I give as an example on how to do e-books RIGHT. I am a happy customer.)
Re:tired plots (Score:1)
It's not "tired" if it's done well (Score:2)
To the extent to which plots are archetypal, you're certainly going to see the same archetypal elements over and over, because they're inherent to the medium.
It's fair to say that there can only be a very few "best works;" if you run though vast numbers of sub-par fantasy books, it seems unremarkable that this could get tiresome. LOTR is certainly one of the best, and readily arguable to be the best. (It's the only fantasy book I have in hardcover, on acid-free paper. Interpret that as you will. :-).)
Re:tired plots (Score:4, Interesting)
If you want something original, check out George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones. I'm still reading it, but it's totally blowing me away. Some of the best fantasy I've ever read. Very political, low magic, credible characters who he's not afraid to kill off.... Good stuff. Very good.
Re:tired plots (Score:2)
> series).
Glen Cook. Also check out his Garrett series:
(Sweet Silver Blues, Cold Copper Tears, et. al.).
Noir meets fantasy, complete with Sam Spade with
a sword (well, a weighted stick, usually. City
Guard tends to take violent exception to civilians
with long bladed weapons). Great stuff.
Chris Mattern
Zelazny or Moorcock (Score:2, Informative)
Moorcock has several good series revolving around his "Eternal Champion", and most of his stuff is very good, and undercut with a lot of that 70's style trippiness and sexuality. The Elric series is good, Hawkmoon, etc... and most have been recently reissued in collected sets.
Re:Zelazny or Moorcock (Score:2)
I would also recommend:
- E.R.Eddison's The Worm Ouroboros (pre-LOTR; rather quirky, but well worth reading)
- Jack Vance's Lyonesse trilogy
- Fritz Leiber's stories about Fafhrd and the Mouser (If you get the series that puts them in internal chronological order you may find the first couple of "prequel" stories somewhat weak. But persevere, because the series gets much better.)
- The original Conan stories (but not the syndicated drek that has been coming out since the '80s)
Also, though not quite 'fantasy' as usually conceived, try David Drake's Birds of Prey and Vettius and Friends. These are set in the late Roman empire, with a bit of [spoiler] thrown in to make them fantasy-esque. (Alas, this recommendation does not generalize to a recommendation of Drake's stuff that's targeted at the mainstream fantasy market.)Re:tired plots (Score:5, Funny)
Yeah, I loved the Three Musketeers as well. Damn fine book.
--
Evan
Re:tired plots (Score:2)
Moon's stuff is derivitive of Tolkein, but the story is fairly original and fresh. Feist is definately a succesor of Tolkein's as well and perhaps a bit too close to your example of standard fantasy, but it's much less black and white than Tolkein. Gentle's books are as original as any fantasy I've ever read weaving millitary history, fantasy, and even quantum mechanics into a compelling story. YMMV of course.
Mary Gentle (Score:1)
But Mary can tell a good story. And I'm told she throws a mean die in tabletop games too!
Feist's Riftwar books - derivative but well-told (Score:1)
Tolkien "Black and White" ?!?!? Sure, there are some characters of each, but there's so much depth and complexity! You certainly couldn't call Smeagol/Gollum black or white (though he's occasionally kinda clear :-), and even major characters like Frodo have their very visible limitations.
Re:Feist's Riftwar books - derivative but well-tol (Score:1)
But who cares!? They both spin ripping yarns and are well worth having read.
The plotlines (Score:1)
You might want to read Joseph Campbell's book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. In it Campbell explains how myths and legends from all around the world have certain themes and events recurring.
These themes include for example a phase of the myth/story/whatever when the Hero goes to the Abyss (eg. the bad guys beat him up), but via a divine transformation (eg. dead partner saying Get up! Get UP!) the Hero emerges and goes on to slaughter the enemies and inflict various kinds of revenge upon them. You know, the standard Steven Seagal / Die Hard / whatever action-movie plot.
So... it's classical stuff, real classical. All the great myths, legends, hero epics, world creation stories and such have common elements. Since they're great stories, it's obvious that there becomes a "pattern" of a story which is then followed. Naturally the script writers, authors and so on would like to recreate the great mythical epics so they take influence from there. If they don't, they should. Rewriting something like Gilgamesh or just about any of the great stories to a space-epic cyberpunk screenplay would kick Matrix's ass.
Hell, you could even think of Campbell's book as equivalent of Gamma's Design Patterns for storytellers (script writers, book authors, etc.) all around the world!
Decent Plots (Score:2)
Ms. Bujold definitely has these; she tells an EXCELLENT story! I was particularly impressed with A Civil Affair, which is basically a romantic comedy in the space armor of a classic space opera (or at least in the Barrayar setting). See also The Spirit Ring for an original take on the ghosts-and-summoning-spirits-of-the-dead novel.
Re:Decent Plots (Score:1)
And another: (Score:2)
Re:tired plots (Score:2)
Re:tired plots (Score:1)
Anyone know any good fantasy that doesn't start off this way?
Gormenghast, by Mervyn Peake
The Earthsea books by Ursula LeGuin
The Amber series by Zelazny
Terry Pratchet's Diskworld books
Different kind of fantasy wanted? (Score:1)
He also has a realistic slant on the average life expectancies of mercenary soldiers, and how a military unit would act to remain viable.
He DOES share one thing with Tolkien, though: he evokes a true sense of history. The characters remember their world's history the way you do, as part of daily life.
Damn, now I've got to go dig them all out and read them again . . . Enjoy!
Re:tired plots (Score:1)
decent fantasy isn't that hard to find, though accidentally stumbling on crud can make the search kind of painful. since you asked here follows my humble opinions.
The good stuff includes :
Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time (a continuing saga so if you're just starting it, take your time the end is not yet in sight) - one word : EPIC
Steven Brust's Jhereg series (short, simple, well written in an extremely full-blown world) - massively enjoyable stuff, bit of magic, bit of sorcery (an important distinction) some good swordplay and an introspective hero with a sarcastic bent
David Eddings' The Belgariad (The Mallorean/Tamuli/Elenium etc. are good too but they don't really compare to the Belgariad) - he likes gods that you can talk to and writes good characters - gotta love Silk
Weis & Hickman's original Dragonlance 3 book saga (prototypical fantasy with elves, dragons and magic - damn good) - they drop off pretty precipitously in their other series (though the Twins trilogy is good if you liked the Raistlin/Caramon characters)
Ursula K. LeGuin Earthsea trilogy - though i think this is another misnamed trilogy. this series is the prototypical hinted-at-but-never-revealed fantasy
David Gemmell - i'll read pretty much anything this guy writes, he likes heroes with problems and he also likes to mix unexplained history with current events
Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar Tapestry is a good series that mixes a little Arthurian legend into the story
Raymond Feist's The Riftwar Saga is another classic, he brought Midkemia to life and managed to keep things interesting through the first three books, the later additions aren't quite as compelling he's gotten a little to carried away with a particular type of character & has kind of lost track of the plots
The stuff that shows promise :
George R.R. Martin's A song of fire & ice is starting pretty well though it is kind of uneven - he enjoys killing characters off and it's rapidly turning into a medieval soap opera
David Farland's The Runelords is also moving apace, it's a bit more typical fantasy & less soap opera with an interesting twist on the magic (though it's tending slightly towards the Shannara series which isn't necessarily a good thing)
The crap :
Terry Goodkind's The Sword of Truth is pretty much unredeemable junk - the characters are almost completely one-dimensional and his writing is painful to read, though the plots are definitely original which explains why i keep reading them i guess
The best unmentioned fantasy series to date :
C.S. Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy - this is an excellent set of books, i've read more then enough fantasy & these books blew me away. well written, complex characters - the interplay of good and evil and the shades in between. ask for it for Xmas, you won't regret it.
cjm
Faith and Loyalty (Score:5, Interesting)
What does it mean to give yourself totally to a higher power or cause? What are the ramifications of such a dangerous promise, whether given to a physical instantiation (a queen or lord) or spiritual one (a god)? Cazaril in particular is forced to deal with these questions. Given how many fantasy books treat religion either as a source of hot-and-cold-running spells or as a system divorced from the everyday life of a world's inhabitants, I found the approach Bujold took in Curse of Chalion to be a refreshing change.
Re:Faith and Loyalty (Score:1)
This is a highly significant theme in the Barrayar series as well. Not from the religious angle (Miles Vorkosigan isn't religious although he does burn an offering to the dead once or twice). But if the series is "about" any one thing, it's about faith and loyalty: upward to the Emperor and (perhaps especially) downward to the troops Miles commands. In fact, all in all it gives as good a portrayal as any fiction I've ever read of the human side of leadership: loyalty, relationship-building, and, dare I say, moral character -- as opposed to the technical-competence side (e.g., how to attack a wormhole).
Bujold's web board.. (Score:1, Informative)
Lois Bujold has a web board at Baen.com.. it's at
http://bar.baen.com/guests
click on MilesToGo
.
Crippled but intelligent? (Score:1)
Not the most flattering use of the word "but." As if to say most crippled people are drooling idiots or something?
Re:Crippled but intelligent? (Score:1)
Same old plots?? (Score:3, Interesting)
But if you people think there isn't any good or
original fantasy nowadays, you just need to pick
up George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" saga, made out of three books so far: "A Game of Thrones", "A Clash of Kings" and "A Storm of Swords". Amazing characters, incredible plot with millions of subplots. Best fantasy I've ever read since LOTR, and it is comparable. Yes, comparable to LOTR. It is that good.
You guys may know George R.R. Martin already from his science fiction, "Tuf Voyaging" or "Fevre Dream". Read this. Believe me.
The first eight chapters are available on-line (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.harpercollins.com/hc/features/eos/cu
"Could have been..." (Score:1)
THIS book will be, at the very least, a Nebula Award nominee, and I'm betting it will be the winner. I've already read it three times, and will be returning to it again in the future.
Re:"Could have been..." (Score:1)
George RR Martin (Score:1)
./bot
pencil-necked geeks (Score:2)
Re:pencil-necked geeks (Score:1)
> How do you identify with Conan the Barbarian when you weigh less than his sword arm?
If you weight less than Conan's sword arm you obviously haven't been eating enough pizza and Snickers bars to maintain good standing in the geek community.
Either that, or else you've been getting some unauthorized exercise.
Re:pencil-necked geeks (Score:1)
Not a sleazy trick, writer can't read. (Score:2, Insightful)
Baen once more accused of a sleazy trick.
The author obviously did not read the Miles, Mystery, and Mayhem information that was available. There are sample chapters [baen.com] that have the cover blurb included which clearly states:
Publisher's Note: Miles, Mystery & Mayhem was previously published in parts as Cetaganda, Ethan of Athos, and "Labyrinth." This is the first unified edition.
As well as the Table of Contents which shows:
Miles, Mystery and Mayhem
Table of Contents
Cetaganda
Ethan of Athos
Labyrinth
Afterword
Baen probably puts more information on-line about their books than anyone, with sample chapters, cover blurbs and you can read them on the cheap as un-encrypted e-books through their WebScriptions. But if you don't read the information, it won't do you much good.
Crippled protagonist? (Score:1)
Skip the fantasies. (Score:2)
That said, skip the new hardcover collection. "Cetaganda" is one of the lesser works in the series, and "Ethan of Athos" is generally considered the worst. Start with "The Warrior Apprentice".
The books in the series vary widely in genre. "The Warrior Apprentice" is space opera. "Memory" is a detective story. "Cetaganda" is a spy novel. "Komarr" is a gadget story. "A Civil Campaign" is a comedy of manners. No other author in SF has shown a range like that in a single series.
Dark lord? (Score:3, Funny)