Swimming along with the Vlad Taltos reread, we come to volume 7, Orca. Now, the Orca are the shippers, sailors, bankers, and traders of the Dragaera. Given Brust’s sympathies, one would expect that this is the book in which he gives them a metaphorical drubbing, demonstrating his loathing of bankers and capitalists. After all, he… Continue reading The Great Vlad Taltos Reread: Orca
Tag: Vlad Taltos
The Great Vlad Taltos Reread Continues: Athyra
Moving on today to Athyra in the reread of Steven Brust’s Vlad Taltos series. I dimly recall being very disappointed the first time I read this, discovering that not only had Brust abandoned first person narration, but that the POV character isn’t even Vlad. This time, of course, I was prepared for it, and was… Continue reading The Great Vlad Taltos Reread Continues: Athyra
The Great Vlad Taltos Reread: Phoenix
And so the reread of Steven Brust’s Vlad Taltos series continues. Phoenix is the fifth volume. Much as a story follows a rise and fall in action, like a roller coaster, there — unfortunately — appears to be a rise and fall in my appreciation of each succeeding entry. I truly enjoyed Taltos, a favorite,… Continue reading The Great Vlad Taltos Reread: Phoenix
The Great Vlad Taltos Reread: Taltos
The reread continues through the cycle, with volume 4, Taltos. After the slog that was Teckla, I was glad to encounter what may be my favorite Vlad Taltos novel. Once again we bounce around in time, jumping back from the events of Teckla. Taltos tells parallel stories, the primary narrative being about his initial meeting… Continue reading The Great Vlad Taltos Reread: Taltos
The Great Vlad Taltos Reread Continues: Yendi and Teckla
Continuing my semi-serious intention to reread the Vlad Taltos books, we come to volume two, Yendi. If book one did not provide a sufficient clue that these novels will be presented in chronological order, Yendi ought to do the trick. Vlad tells a story of his early period in the organization running his own territory,… Continue reading The Great Vlad Taltos Reread Continues: Yendi and Teckla
The Great Vlad Taltos Reread: Jhereg
I may or may not manage the task of rereading Steven Brust’s Vlad Taltos series. Maybe I’ll complete it in time for publication of the last novel. I don’t know. At the moment, it seems a worthwhile, and achievable goal. Reading any given book is personal experience. Each reader has a unique relationship with any… Continue reading The Great Vlad Taltos Reread: Jhereg
Sword-and-Sorcery and Song and Dance: Steven Brust’s “Lyorn.”
Lyorn is the seventeenth installment in Steven Brust’s Vlad Taltos series. For some reason I’d believed this would the final book, as there are seventeen houses in the Cycle of his fictional universe, and one book title now corresponds to each individual house. I was, apparently, incorrect, as this novel does not tie up loose… Continue reading Sword-and-Sorcery and Song and Dance: Steven Brust’s “Lyorn.”
Top Ten S&S Characters
Swords and Sorcery fiction provides us with exciting action in memorable settings. It also drops terrific characters into those settings and lets them run free. Some of those characters have stood the test of time. I’ve selected ten of those that I consider the pantheon of the genre. There is no science here. It is… Continue reading Top Ten S&S Characters