BL: The Unwilling Warlord
Lawrence Watt-Evans, The Unwilling Warlord
Del Rey (1989) ISBN: 0-345-35413-3
Score: 3
Another Ethshar novel; you don't need to read the others first (though The Misenchanted Sword helps explain the political history). Sterran, a street gambler in Ethshar of the Spices (he's mysteriously lucky at dice), is kidnapped and told he's inherited the title of Warlord of Semma, one of the Small Kingdoms near the southern edge of the World. In this case, "small" means one castle and a handful of villages. Semma has maintained its independence by playing its neighbors off each other; unfortunately the current king has managed to insult not only both his neighbors (each significantly larger), but also their neighbors. Unfortunately for Sterran, abandoning his duties is considered treason (punished by summary execution) and furthermore, it's traditional for defeated warlords to be executed by the victorious side. Includes lots of information about warlockry, shows what the edge of the World looks like, and how the Empire of Vond got started. Also includes additional information about wizardry (and the Wizard's Guild), witchcraft, and theurgy.
Next Book: Garth Nix, Across the Wall
Del Rey (1989) ISBN: 0-345-35413-3
Score: 3
Another Ethshar novel; you don't need to read the others first (though The Misenchanted Sword helps explain the political history). Sterran, a street gambler in Ethshar of the Spices (he's mysteriously lucky at dice), is kidnapped and told he's inherited the title of Warlord of Semma, one of the Small Kingdoms near the southern edge of the World. In this case, "small" means one castle and a handful of villages. Semma has maintained its independence by playing its neighbors off each other; unfortunately the current king has managed to insult not only both his neighbors (each significantly larger), but also their neighbors. Unfortunately for Sterran, abandoning his duties is considered treason (punished by summary execution) and furthermore, it's traditional for defeated warlords to be executed by the victorious side. Includes lots of information about warlockry, shows what the edge of the World looks like, and how the Empire of Vond got started. Also includes additional information about wizardry (and the Wizard's Guild), witchcraft, and theurgy.
Next Book: Garth Nix, Across the Wall