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Sharps

3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 · rating details · 356 ratings · 66 reviews

K.J. Parker's new novel is a perfectly executed tale of intrigue and deception.

For the first time in nearly forty years, an uneasy truce has been called between two neighbouring kingdoms. The war has been long and brutal, fought over the usual things: resources, land, money...

Now, there is a chance for peace. Diplomatic talks have begun and with them, the games. Two teams...more

Paperback, 480 pages

Published July 17th 2012 by Orbit (first published 2012)

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Jul 11, 2012 Liviu rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012_release_read, genre-fantasy, read_2012, review_fbc, top_25_2012_novels

Sharps is vintage KJ Parker but also the most complex of the author's standalone novels, while bringing elements from all the author's oeuvre and connecting with earlier works like Purple and Black which is alluded in the book - though of course as it is KJ Parker, the details may not be precisely the same in so far the Empire in P&B worshiped the Invincible Sun (like the Western Empire and Scheria here, Scheria being the country of our heroes and either former province of the Western Empire...more

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Apr 04, 2013 Morgan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Two countries wallow in an uneasy bankrupt peace after a devastating war. A fencing expedition is formed in the first country to go on a goodwill tour of the second. Fencing is almost all they have in common. But the members of the tour are a surly and problematic lot: a lothario who accidentally killed a senator plucked from execution; an angry young woman with a grudge against the world; the quiet son of the country's greatest general; and an alcoholic shellshocked soldier who is the country's...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Geof Morris rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I enjoyed the pace of this one. I generally liked it, but there were some plot holes:

1. Other than the reveal that the Bank and the Invisible Sun people were hopelessly entwined, and that the Bank had leveraged itself out and needed a war with Permia to make themselves whole, those plotlines didn't really make a lot of sense. The Abbot didn't really need to die. Perceptuus's role wasn't very clear to me.

2. It was never clear at all why Iseutz was on the trip. Parker refers to that several times,...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Ryandake rated it 3 of 5 stars

K.J. Parker does one thing really, really well: s/he ties the reader up in knots, trying to figure out who's plotting what, and why.

Sharps is full of a bunch of different factions maybe trying to start a war, not so long, as it happens, since the last one ended. a small group of fencers is sent to a neighboring country as a goodwill tour, theoretically to mend fences and as a token of peace.

except that each of the fencers is hiding something; at least one (but which one?) is surely an assassin;...more K.J. Parker does one thing really, really well: s/he ties the reader up in knots, trying to figure out who's plotting what, and why.

Sharps is full of a bunch of different factions maybe trying to start a war, not so long, as it happens, since the last one ended. a small group of fencers is sent to a neighboring country as a goodwill tour, theoretically to mend fences and as a token of peace.

except that each of the fencers is hiding something; at least one (but which one?) is surely an assassin; and all have been coerced into joining the tour. the fun begins before they even cross the border.

so it's a great deal of fun, trying to keep up with revelations and sort and re-sort the pieces, trying to make them fit.

you can never fault a K.J. Parker novel on plot.

but this one, alas, is rather thin on character. they're not terribly complex, our fencers, more symbolic than real. the case of Iseutz, the lone female fencer, is particularly disappointing--she's just a ball of anger through most of the book. it might have been more fun to explore why a woman whose only option in life is to get married might be a ball of anger, rather than just use it to score points. we have also a coward, a soldier with a bad case of PTSD, an old man who just wants to be left alone, and a the spare of the "heir and a spare." Parker pulls some fun twists with each of these, and to be sure there are unexpected turnings in the book, but in terms of insight or change, none of these characters is particularly well-illuminated.

which would also be ok, but that it makes it hard to care about whether the war that's maybe going to get started, or stopped, or ya this time really started but by a different faction, actually does get started. there's just nobody to hang an attachment on, to care whether they live or die or get rolled over by a war machine.

i've read quite a few of Parker's books by now. the Engineer trilogy was, in my opinion, the best of them--there were quite a few characters in there to care about, to genuinely despise, to sustain an interest in. but i have, overall, a wish that Parker would write a little deeper.

maybe s/he writes just to develop these origami plots, and this is where the fun lies for him/her. i don't know. but i am generally just a little wistful when i finish a Parker book: may I have some more, please?
(less)

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May 11, 2013 Martin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, library

I first came across, and was bowled over by, K. J. Parker with Colours in the Steel back in the 90s, and went on to read Belly of the Bow. For some reason after that I lost track of her (the general assumption seems to be that Parker is female, though the writing never suggested that to me), until I recently thought to look up more recent work, and hence Sharps (I have the Engineer trilogy on order).

My first thought on getting into it was to bet that Parker was a significant influence on Joe Abe...more

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Oct 04, 2012 Aran rated it 4 of 5 stars

Consummate craftsmanship laced with the driest mirth. This is perhaps closer to a quest narrative than Parker's other works, but like those other works it's too original, too mature to be classed as genre fantasy. In many ways, closer to the tradition of Dostoevsky than of Tolkien. Refreshingly, you never have the sense that a certain character is bound to triumph because they're the hero, that the whole book is lurching towards a telegraphed outcome.

The central images here are the messer - an i...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wonderful. I went into this book with high expectations, and while I can't say that things turned out as I expected (and they never do with Parker), I was not disappointed at all.

The novel revolves around the tenuous relationship between two neighboring - and fairly young - nations. They are called Scheria and Permian, and though war ended several years ago, tensions are still high over the looming debts both countries have shouldered, the presence of lingering mercenaries, and the fate of the D...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Kam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, fantasy, mystery

One of the very first martial arts I developed an interest in was fencing. I remember watching the 1993 Disney version The Three Musketeers, starring a very young Chris O'Donnell and Kiefer Sutherland, and absolutely adoring the action depicted onscreen: sword-blades flashing quicksilver-bright as thrusts and counter-thrusts were delivered, all mingled with witty retorts and daring escapes. To be sure, a lot of the action wasn't entirely period-accurate (the movie owes a lot to Hong Kong action...more

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Nov 25, 2012 Andrea Santucci rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, letture_2012, pub_date_2012, top_letture_2012

Recensione approfondita qui: http://ilsociopatico.wordpress.com/20...

Dopo quarant'anni di guerra, tra le nazioni di Permia e Scheria è stata negoziata una tregua alquanto instabile. Per cementare i rapporti diplomatici, la squadra nazionale di scherma di Scheria viene invitata a disputare degli incontri a Permia, dove la scherma è lo sport nazionale. Ma nell'ombra, come sempre accade in questi casi, a qualcuno la pace sta stretta e si impegna a fare di tutto affinché la missione diplomatica dive...more Recensione approfondita qui: http://ilsociopatico.wordpress.com/20...

Dopo quarant'anni di guerra, tra le nazioni di Permia e Scheria è stata negoziata una tregua alquanto instabile. Per cementare i rapporti diplomatici, la squadra nazionale di scherma di Scheria viene invitata a disputare degli incontri a Permia, dove la scherma è lo sport nazionale. Ma nell'ombra, come sempre accade in questi casi, a qualcuno la pace sta stretta e si impegna a fare di tutto affinché la missione diplomatica diventi la miccia che innescherà una nuova guerra.

Sharps è l'esempio di un romanzo low fantasy. La storia segue le concretissime vicende dei quattro schermidori inviati a Permia, un ex soldato, un assassino politico, una donna dell'alta società e il figlio di un generale eroe di guerra, del loro allenatore e del misterioso "accompagnatore politico" che pare abbia il potere di scomparire quando c'è bisogno di lui, mentre, attorno a loro, si dipana una matassa di intrighi e doppi giochi che rischia di mettere in pericolo l'equilibrio dei due stati. E forse, chissà, uno di loro è pure coinvolto in questi intrighi.

L'assenza dell'elemento puramente fantastico (un elemento tipico delle storie della Parker, mi pare di aver capito) ha contribuito a spostare l'attenzione sugli intrighi politici che, da soli, sono perfettamente in grado di reggere la storia. Sharps si legge più come romanzo storico, quindi. Ad esempio, se vi piace Ken Follett, questo è il libro che fa per voi. Ma sono convinto che anche gli amanti del fantasy apprezzeranno il world building e la descrizione della società permiana. Inoltre, gli appassionati di significati reconditi riusciranno a leggere nel libro riferimenti alla primavera araba e si verranno nelle mutande perché il romanzo fa anche critica sociale.

I personaggi principali sono ben caratterizzati e hanno tutti una storia alle spalle che li rende interessanti. Inoltre, l'atmosfera di incombenza che il libro trasmette è seriamente angosciante. Sapere che ogni mossa dei protagonisti potrebbe causare una guerra apocalittica, di certo aiuta a spingere avanti nella lettura.

Ho apprezzato in particolar modo la moralità in scala di grigi. Fino all'ultimo non si capisce che è cattivo e chi buono e, una volta che lo si è scoperto, l'eroe non è eroico e l'antagonista non è malvagio. I buoni sono i cattivi, i cattivi sono i buoni, i cattivi sono simpatici e i buoni antipatici. Insomma, un bel casino, ma pur sempre un casino che suona realistico.

Sharps è stata una buona lettura e K.J. Parker è un'autrice che scrive del buon fantasy, del fantasy maturo, e che, per chissà quale motivo, è ingiustamente sottovalutata.(less)

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Jul 25, 2012 Karlo rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, own

This was my first book by KJ Parker. I generally enjoyed the plot, history and characters, but found a few faults that hampered my enjoyment of this otherwise solid book:

- The berzerker character, Suidas, was more than a little over the top in terms of his ability to kill dozens of training mercenaries. Almost superhuman even.

- The calm, relaxed, Quizatz-Haderach-like Addo, who sees maps once and memorizes them, who catches blades in his hands after 2-3 tries, who reminded me of Ozymandias in Th...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Sasha rated it 3 of 5 stars

Finally finished! After loving KJ Parker's Engineer Trilogy, I was delighted to find Sharps at the Library. I know about nothing about fencing, but figured it's KJ Parker, so I gave it a shot.

This book took me awhile to get into. I was worried with all of the character introductions that I didn't know who was where, why they mattered, and I surely didn't think I'd be able to keep track of them all. I almost gave up, but I always try my best to finish books that I've started, so I pushed the worr...more

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Dec 17, 2012 Erik Nelson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Having never read a KJ Parker book, maybe I was expecting something different. More sword-fighting and less politics. While I liked the setting and most of the characters, it seemed like Parker was intent on sticking this fencing team into carriages most of time where they sat around and conveniently didn't talk about the things going on around them. At some point I began wondering why they were all being so passive, and could only imagine that it was convenient for the author that they do so.

Wh...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Tanus rated it 4 of 5 stars

I used to fence, so from an angle the core of the book excited me a bit more than the average reader.
This being said, Sharps could have been truly epic but for some reason lost it at the permian border.
Everything could be done better. The writing style, even if perfect, is somehow dry. At least it's what I felt. The pov jumping techniqe in the same page doesn't help a lot, tough.
I can't help but compare Parker, at least in this book, to Abercrombie, for obvious reasons that i'm too lazy to expla...more

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Mar 07, 2013 Zedsdead rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Zedsdead by: Loaned by Tim

The war between Scheria and Permia has ended. In an attempt to secure the peace, a team of Scherian athletes tours Permia, bonding with their former enemies over their one shared obsession: fencing....until various powerful Permian political and economic leaders begin dying. It appears someone on the team is trying to start another war.

As he did so well in his Engineer trilogy, Parker once again weaves a politically complex and technically impressive tale. The politics and espionage managed to b...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Reed rated it 3 of 5 stars

Sometimes you find a book that you know is well written, you know has engaging characters and critical support, and yet somehow it just doesn't click for you. That was my experience with K.J.Parker's Sharps.

I was fully expecting to be bowled over by the novel, but sadly, was underwhelmed. While Parker's language was quite fine, I found the excessive focus on mining, metalwork, and so forth somewhat dull. But I can deal with authorial exposition that seems at times a bit off-topic. My greatest co...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Stefan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: advance-reading-copy, ebook, fantasy, www-tor-com-review, far-beyond-reality-review

The last war between the neighboring countries of Permia and Scheria ended when Scheria’s greatest general redirected the course of a number of rivers and flooded one of the enemy’s cities, thereby killing tens of thousands of people and gaining the charming nickname “the Irrigator.” Some years later, as K.J. Parker’s newest novel Sharpsstarts off, the tension between the two enemies shows signs of thawing, so much so that there’s talk of sending a mission of goodwill across the Demilitarized Zo...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Manuel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Despite the fact that I have been interested in reading KJ Parker’s novels for a while now, I never really got the chance to pick one up. However, now that I have read Sharps, I can safely say that I'm not sure I will be reading more from this author, if this work is anything to go by (I'll give him one more try to convince me...).

I had a few nagging issues. The plot seemed somewhat contrived. The character's behaviour looked to me a bit far-fetched, to say the least. That's enough for me to lo...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Mihir rated it 4 of 5 stars

Full Review Originally at Fantasy Book Critic

SHARPS is a tale about several things, one way the author summarizes is “Sharps is rather more about the Arab Spring than the economy or the war, but just as elements of the war and the economy impinged on events in Egypt and Libya in real life, so in the book.”

It’s also perhaps a tale of fencing or as the author quotes it as “a conversation in steel”. Most reviewers who have read it have had fulsome praise for it. For me it’s a tale of people th...more
Full Review Originally at Fantasy Book Critic

SHARPS is a tale about several things, one way the author summarizes is “Sharps is rather more about the Arab Spring than the economy or the war, but just as elements of the war and the economy impinged on events in Egypt and Libya in real life, so in the book.”

It’s also perhaps a tale of fencing or as the author quotes it as “a conversation in steel”. Most reviewers who have read it have had fulsome praise for it. For me it’s a tale of people that are talented fencers but are sent on a mission of peace, warriors that have to use their martial skills to help broker peace between warring provinces lest ruin might touch both. It’s an inherent contradiction in terms of the characters and the plot that makes this book a good one and another excellent fable from the cunning mind of K.J. Parker.

The story begins in a meandering manner, wherein the author introduces all the main characters. And the lot is varied, a murderer, an ex-soldier, a son of a famous general and a couple of others. Amidst the introduction, the background situation is revealed through character dialogue as is the vogue seen in previous KJP novels.

From here on the story slowly unfolds as the reader is taken in to Permia along with the fencing party and slowly and surely the reader picks up on details regarding the war, character backgrounds and Permian-Scherian culture. The first part of the book has an uneven pace until the story reaches near the middle point wherein a few key events occur that shake up certain status quos and reveal what truly is at stake.

The pace then picks up and it is from here on that KJP’s cynicism and trademark dialogue flow to make the story reach a tumultuous but very much satisfying ending. The characterization of the book is the one thing that is the best piece of this entire story, as the reader will get to know these flawed but highly captivating characters that make you engrossed in the story without a care of the world outside.

What also helps is that each character is unique and interesting; they individually could power a singular story themselves and in KJP’s hands make the story intriguing beyond a doubt. Another excellent point about the book is the dialogue across several occasions while seeming focused on the events in the book has a very crucial subtext about human nature and the vagaries of life, war and history.

This book came very close to her previous work “The Folding Knife” which is an all-time favorite of mine because of the characterization and plot however TFK was a story wherein everything clicked. Not so much the case in this one as the uneven pace of the earlier half might hamper the read for some readers’ especially first time readers. I would very much request all virgin KJP readers to start with TFK just because I think it’s the epitome of her storytelling style.

“Sharps” is another excellent story from a devious mind and with it being given the requisite push from the publisher as well. It will only help KJP’s cause and perhaps spread the world among fantasy fans about one of the most under-appreciated fantasy writers of the 21st century. If you haven’t read any of her books, do so soon if you want something different in your current fantasy reads.(less)

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Dec 04, 2012 Algernon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, favorites

short review version: quintesential Parker.
Those already familiar with the works of the author will recognize familiar themes and characters, signature plot twists or moral dillemas. Also instantly recognizable is the dry style and the black humor. Yet, Parker appears capable of infusing fresh blood into these familiar territories, making the swordfighters in Sharps are different from the ones in the Fencer, Engineer or Scavenger books, yet members of the same family of slightly psychopatic lone...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Kat Hooper rated it 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars Originally posted at FanLit.

"Sharp swords, dirty books and pickled cabbage. Why has everything on this trip got to be horrible?"

The neighboring kingdoms of Permia and Scheria have always been enemies. Some of their citizens like it this way — particularly those of the military aristocracies who are valued (and therefore kept in power) by their countrymen when the two kingdoms are at war. The last war ended, though, when General Carnufex of Scheria managed to divert a few rivers and flo...more 4.5 stars Originally posted at FanLit.

"Sharp swords, dirty books and pickled cabbage. Why has everything on this trip got to be horrible?"

The neighboring kingdoms of Permia and Scheria have always been enemies. Some of their citizens like it this way — particularly those of the military aristocracies who are valued (and therefore kept in power) by their countrymen when the two kingdoms are at war. The last war ended, though, when General Carnufex of Scheria managed to divert a few rivers and flood a major Permian city, killing its entire population of thousands of people. It’s been years since General Carnufex (now known as “the Irrigator”) pulled out of Permia and the two countries, separated by a demilitarized zone, have mostly left each other alone.

Many people in each country (especially those of the lower classes) would like to forget the past and try to forge friendship and cooperation with the neighboring country. To this end (ostensibly) the Scherian government, with the help of its church and bank (a major force in Scherian society, since it holds the money) has decided to send a peace delegation consisting of five fencers and a couple of managers across the demilitarized zone and into Permia. The Permians are crazy about fencing and will surely treat the Scherian fencers as adored heroes.

The team is made up of six characters who are not especially eager to go to Permia. There’s Iseutz, an aggressive woman who is escaping an arranged marriage; Addo, the Irrigator’s useless youngest son; Suidas, the alcoholic Scherian fencing champion who can’t afford his girlfriend and turns out to be a berserker; Giraut, who accidentally killed the senator who was about to push through some major reforms; Phrantzes, an accountant and former fencing champion who just married a prostitute; and Tzimisces, an inscrutable man who seems to be in charge.

Each character has his own story and his own reason for reluctantly joining the team. It turns out that they were right to be reluctant because the problems begin even before they get to the border and the entire trip is an exercise in suffering. Nothing goes as it’s supposed to and the team has to deal with equipment failure, travel delays, bandits, bad weather, hunger, fatigue, riots, fire, language barriers, unpredictable mercenaries, an aspiring writer, and lots of pickled cabbage. But worst of all is the discovery that they won’t be fencing the way they’re used to because the Permians don’t use fencing foils — they use “sharps.” They’re also expected to fight with a nasty curved blade aptly called a “messer.” The Scherian fencers know they may not survive, but refusing to play the Permians’ way could ignite another war. To make things even worse, the team gradually starts to suspect that they are being used by some agency in their own country to further its political or economic goals...

I haven’t read all of K.J. Parker’s novels, but I’ve read enough to know that anything s/he writes goes directly to my TBR list. No need to ask my friends, no need to check Amazon or my favorite review sites, just put it on the list, and somewhere near the top. So, really, I shouldn’t have to say anything about Sharps except that “it’s written by K.J. Parker.” But just so you won’t think I took the easy way out, I’ll say some more stuff:

Sharps is completely entertaining from page one. The story is compelling, mysterious, often hilarious (though it’s definitely not a comedy), and written in Parker’s epigrammatic, no-nonsense, perfectly paced style. Parker’s world is described briefly but comprehensively enough that we understand the relevant political, economic, and social pressures. Parker uses these pressures to consider such topics as tax law, land redistribution, slavery, competition, class warfare, and trade relations.

Each of Parker’s characters is introduced quickly but thoroughly enough to engage our empathy, each is fun to listen to (and they have a terrific dynamic together), and each develops significantly over the course of the story, though a few of them never completely reveal themselves and I didn’t believe in the romance that developed between two of the characters. (This didn’t detract from the story, but a more believable relationship would have been much more satisfying.) My favorite character was Suidas Deutzel; I would love to see Parker write a prequel to Sharps from his perspective. (Please, K.J. Parker, whoever you are?)

Sharps is a novel that I’ll read again — something I very rarely do. I’m sure it will be one of my favorite novels of 2012.(less)

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Jan 20, 2013 Devi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: action, genre-fiction

I know I'm biased, but who can blame me? Parker is an amazingly unique voice, wry, entertaining and sometimes horrifying, and Sharps is no less blackly humorous than the best of the author's work to date; a kind of Martin Scorsese meets Shakespearean comedy of errors with a technician's obsessive fascination for the way in which things (this time politics and the sport of fencing, sort of) - seemingly senseless in isolation - fit together to make an efficient, working whole. One would think that...more

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Nov 27, 2012 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars

I’ve heard a lot of good things about K. J. Parker, her/his (the author’s name is a pseudonym) Engineer Trilogy (amongst two other earlier series) has been well regarded amongst critics. With all the praise for Parker’s previous work buzzing in the background I decided to the give the author’s recent stand alone novel, Sharps, a shot. As the novel begins there is an uneasy peace between the nations of Scheria and Permia; two nations that have been at war for nearly 40 years. As diplomatic talks...more I’ve heard a lot of good things about K. J. Parker, her/his (the author’s name is a pseudonym) Engineer Trilogy (amongst two other earlier series) has been well regarded amongst critics. With all the praise for Parker’s previous work buzzing in the background I decided to the give the author’s recent stand alone novel, Sharps, a shot. As the novel begins there is an uneasy peace between the nations of Scheria and Permia; two nations that have been at war for nearly 40 years. As diplomatic talks are begun a team of Scherian fencers are selected and sent (not all willingly) on a fencing tour of Permia; pitting themselves against the best that the other nation has to offer. Of course all is not quite as it seems and intrigue and betrayal dog the steps of our often hapless fencers across every inch of their journey.

The definition of fantasy is something that can be argued about nearly without end. Truth of the matter is (at least in my view) is that beauty of fantasy is that it can be anything we want it to be. I note this because in Sharps the elements of the fantastic are completely non-existent. Parker has invented a whole new world in which to set this novel; drafted a rich, vibrant and violent history but beyond the setting there is little else to distinguish this as a fantasy novel. No dragons, no mages, no eleves, no fairies just a realistic world that isn’t ours. Truth be told this sort of pure realistic fantasy isn’t my particular cup of tea. However Parker’s exploration of two societies born and grown accustomed to war and violence works best when unencumbered by our own historical past; by crafting a unique world Parker frees readers from expectations set forth by our own experience.

Over the course of Sharps, Parker introduces readers to a cast of well drawn and realistic characters. Parker assembles a motley team of fencers consisting of Suidas (a drunk, a fencing champion, and a war hero), Iseutz (a woman looking to avoid marriage who seems to be perennially cranky), Giraut (a student and amateur fencer whose amorous tendencies landed him in jail) and Addo (son of the great general Carnufex and pacifist). Leading this group you have an aged wool merchant and former fencing champion, Phrantzes, strong-armed into position. Watching over the whole “diplomatic tour” is the completely slimy and utterly distasteful Timizces who never seems to be around when the trouble starts. As the novel starts readers are introduced to many of these characters and the situations which has prompted their placement on the fencing team. Once these characters are brought together Parker’s ability with characterization comes to the forefront as the interaction of the team’s members further begins to define their personalities and motivations.

As the fencing team sets out on their journey it becomes immediately obvious that all is not as it seems and that there are plots afoot in which the fencers appear to be mere pawns. Disaster upon disaster seems to follow the team on their journey and Parker does a great job at keeping readers guessing as to what exactly is going on. It becomes increasingly easy over the course of the novel for readers to internalize the frustration and anger of the fencers whose perspectives make for the bulk of the novel. Parker also shows a keen grasp when it comes to action scenes with the duels the fencers participate in some of the most entertaining one-on-one action scenes I’ve ever read.

Intrigue, humor, and action propel Sharps forward. Lightning quick dialogue and strong sense of character further draws the reader in. While it might not appeal to fans of magic-laden fantasy, readers that enjoy strong writing in a realistic if fictional setting should definitely give Sharps a shot. In the midst of all the action and excitement, and thanks mostly to the deft characterization and world-building, Parker has produced a novel with a surprising and welcome amount of emotional and philosophical weight that examines the deep scars and last wounds left by prolonged war and ingrained violence. I’ll definitely be looking for whatever K. J. Parker comes out with next.(less)

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Oct 29, 2012 Ranting Dragon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: stephan

http://www.rantingdragon.com/review-o...

There’s this relatively new rage in fantasy, and I’ve never been a fan of it. Authors—like Daniel Abraham and Joe Abercrombie—create a rich world with a lot of history, but zoom in on only one aspect of their world’s story in each book. Unlike the stories told in traditional fantasy, these are tales of characters instead of events. Think of it as the siege of Gondor in The Lord of the Rings, told solely from the viewpoints of a rider in the army of Rohan a...more

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Dec 28, 2012 Lara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-in-2012

Sharps is a strong fantasy following a mismatched group of people on a supposed diplomatic sporting exposition in former enemy territory. Both countries are in terrible financial shape following the war, and several of the team are scarred by the war as well.

No one seems to know what is really going on, or why these unprepared people have been sent, and things go terribly wrong from the start. The team is unprepared for the circumstances in which they find themselves, and fencing is practiced q...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Andrew Miller rated it 5 of 5 stars

I guess this would be called fantasy, but mostly because I can't think of anything else to call it. I'd call it an alternate history political thriller/sports novel, but it isn't set in our world. So fantasy it is.

This is my first experience with K.J. Parker and it couldn't have gone better. I'm a bit unclear on whether or not Parker's other books take place in the same world as Sharps, but I gather that everyone else is a bit unclear on that point as well. It doesn't really matter either way....more

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Aug 30, 2012 Stacy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

It was the cover that hooked me--sword fights? Count me in! But after hearing Parker's books so highly praised, I was even more curious.

Sharps is a peculiarly compelling combination of political commentary and character study. I disagree with the reviewer who said the characters are flat but the plot drives the book. For the first half, it wasn't clear to me that there was a plot of any sort; instead, the book's opening is an introduction to the minds and circumstances of three characters, Girau...more It was the cover that hooked me--sword fights? Count me in! But after hearing Parker's books so highly praised, I was even more curious.

Sharps is a peculiarly compelling combination of political commentary and character study. I disagree with the reviewer who said the characters are flat but the plot drives the book. For the first half, it wasn't clear to me that there was a plot of any sort; instead, the book's opening is an introduction to the minds and circumstances of three characters, Giraut, Suidas, and Phrantzes, who get dragooned into practicing ping-pong diplomacy, touring a former enemy state (Permia) to give exhibition fencing bouts. Despite everyone's assurances that it's all terribly important for the sake of peace, it's obvious they're lambs for the slaughter, as they've all been given An Offer They Can't Refuse. The other two members of the team are Iseutz, the only woman, whose brief introduction opens the book, and Addo, whom we don't meet until later, initially encountering him only through the machinations of his cousin, who is basically the equivalent of the Pope. Addo's father is the (in)famous general who won the war with Permia by flooding a major city and thus drowning its thousands of citizens.

Once the team is finally on the road to Permia, the pace picks up, it becomes clear that several interests have reason to want them dead and more than one team member may have ulterior motives. Add to this the fact that they've wandered into a Permian civil uprising (which they may or may not be encouraging), and things get dicey fast. At last, the plot appears, and it's actually a mystery: who sent the team and why, who's a double agent and why, and how they're ever going to make it home alive.

Parker's writing style is discursive and dialog heavy--much exposition is given in "invisible conversations," in which one or more speakers are nameless and faceless, strictly there for the purpose of giving a named character a reason to talk. At several points, particularly in the first half, this strategy drags the action to a dead stop, and it's mainly because of the extremely uneven pacing that I don't give the book five stars. However, the dialog is often witty and revealing, and Parker can certainly turn a phrase, making it well worth a trudge through the less interesting verbiage.

Two other quibbles: It's a pity the sole female character has to be such a shrew, almost to the point of caricature. I like her anyway, partly because her incessant complaints are mostly justified, and at least she becomes a little less strident toward the end. There's also a late introduction of a plot twist involving brutal foreign mercenaries and a politically powerful cleric that left me scratching my head; I'm going to have to re-read that to see if I can make sense of it. (less)

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Jul 26, 2012 Kyle Hajek rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm a huge KJ Parker fan, so I was anticipating this book a lot, and it didn't dissapoint. In fact, it rather exceeded my expectiations in quite a few ways. The plot sounds pretty straightforward- as an effort to strengthen a peace treaty between two nations, one sends a fencing team to the other to go on a sort of goodwill tour. This being a KJ Parker novel, though, there's at least one person plotting in the background, with the details and implications being slowly revealed as the novel progr...more I'm a huge KJ Parker fan, so I was anticipating this book a lot, and it didn't dissapoint. In fact, it rather exceeded my expectiations in quite a few ways. The plot sounds pretty straightforward- as an effort to strengthen a peace treaty between two nations, one sends a fencing team to the other to go on a sort of goodwill tour. This being a KJ Parker novel, though, there's at least one person plotting in the background, with the details and implications being slowly revealed as the novel progresses.

I was very impressed by how the author played to their strengths in this one- there's the usual explanations of complex subjects (in this case, chess and fencing) but all of it either illuminated or foreshadowed an aspect of the plot in a way that let you process it on your own, rather than beating you over the head with it. The fencing was especially well done, even if you're unfamiliar with it- there's only two actual scenes where they get to participate in the tournament, but they're riveting, and if you're wondering how there could be high stakes in a fencing match...well, the book isn't called "Foils" for a reason.

The rest of the usual KJ Parker flair is still there- people doing horrible things for what they hope is the right reason, people doing horrible things for what they know is the wrong reason, that very distinct sense of humor, all the usual, but one thing that's really been ramped up in this book is the sense of history to the world. All of KJ Parker's books are in the same setting, but this one shows the history of the world a bit more, and it also shows some of the aftermath of earlier books (The Folding Knife in particular, and a bit of the Engineer Trilogy as well). It helped give the story some added weight, since now it had weight- whatever happened in this book could effect the setting later on in some pretty big ways, and seeing the tie-ins was a nice little bonus for anyone who's read the other books in the setting. No worries if you haven't, though, since the story itself stands alone (though I still recommend reading The Folding Knife first).

All in all, a great book. I ended up short on sleep from staying up far, far too late so I could keep reading on more than one occasion, which is always a good sign.(less)

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Aug 10, 2012 Bane of Kings rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, orbit, 2012-releases-read, notable-2012-releases, 25-best-2012-releases

Original Post: http://thefoundingfields.com/2012/08/....

“Enthralling, Original. A Delight to read, fans of fantasy will enjoy this.” ~The Founding Fields

Despite the fact that I have been interested in reading KJ Parker’s novels for a while now, I never really go the chance to pick one up. However, now that I have read Sharps, I can safely say that I will be reading more from this author, if this work is anything to go by. Despite a few nagging issues that I had with this title, I still found it...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Saphana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Surprise. This is the first book of Parker's that can claim a happy end. Of sorts. A compelling read. Until very late in the book, I hadn't even the slightest idea what the bigger picture is. I still have a question left. Suspense to the last page.

It's a Parker, so you get what Parker is famous for: witty dialogues, prose that is joy to read. A thoroughly edited book, there's nothing excessive in there. True details, Parker even went to a fencing school to get all the technicalities right.

Finest...more

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Jan 19, 2013 Christopher rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Political intrigue, strong characters, brief lessons in macroeconomics, and lots and lots of fencing--what's not to like? As always, Parker's style is ultra clean and readable, very akin to Tom Holt's (which is evidently of some relevance, since they seem to at least know each other personally).

I don't know how much of Sharps I'll remember in a year. But it was a blast to read, and I have to admit I really liked the 'Rambo' analog.

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About K.J. Parker

K.J. Parker is a pseudonym. The author's true name has never been revealed.

According to the biographical notes in some of Parker's books, Parker has previously worked in law, journalism, and numismatics, and now writes and makes things out of wood and metal. It is also claimed that Parker is married to a solicitor and now lives in southern England. According to an autobiographical note, Parker wa...more

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Devices and Desires (Engineer Trilogy, #1)

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