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Sharps
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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 of fencers represent their nations at this pivotal moment.
When the future of th ...more
Now, there is a chance for peace. Diplomatic talks have begun and with them, the games. Two teams of fencers represent their nations at this pivotal moment.
When the future of th ...more
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Paperback, 449 pages
Published
July 17th 2012
by Orbit
(first published July 5th 2012)
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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
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

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
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

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 or
...more

I fenced in high school and college and usually enjoy a good swashbuckling story. I was really excited about Sharps because unlike The Princess Bride or generic high fantasy novel, this was specifically about "fencers," albeit in a fantasy setting. Unfortunately, this novel reads more like a combination of Waiting for Godot and a wannabe Terry Pratchett that I found the reading difficult and the description of the fencing so absurdly technical that I don't understand how it would be appealing to
...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 flo ...more
"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

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
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

Sharps is full of action, both physical and mental, as well as mystery, humor and depth. Parker packs this single volume full of some of the most amazing, mentally engaging writing I’ve ever had the honor of reading. The characterization, depth and mystery are unparalleled. Coupled with Parker’s sarcasm and dark humor, Sharps is one of those books that sets the bar incredibly, almost impossibly high. Parker is a unique, refreshing and engaging voice in fantasy. Sharps is one of those books that
...more

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
“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

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

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

First of all, Sharps is only a fantasy novel by courtesy - it takes place on a world that isn't quite our own, with cultures that are basically European (particularly Roman) but there is no actual fantastic element other than that. That's not a flaw, mind you - the worldbuilding hits all of the usual fantasy notes and the lack of magic is more than made up for by the details of the swordplay.
It's a rather twisty story - the point of view jumps around, but for most of the book the reader knows ve ...more
It's a rather twisty story - the point of view jumps around, but for most of the book the reader knows ve ...more

My fourth KJ Parker in my recent exploration of his work, and an enjoyable read with small caveats.
Two adjacent countries are exhausted after decades of war. Both societies happen to be fanatical about fencing as a sport, with top practitioners being superstars. Despite continuing tensions between the countries a fencing team, comprised of the lead characters in the story, is sent from one country to the other as a sort of bridge building exercise. The fencers have been forced into this potentia ...more
Two adjacent countries are exhausted after decades of war. Both societies happen to be fanatical about fencing as a sport, with top practitioners being superstars. Despite continuing tensions between the countries a fencing team, comprised of the lead characters in the story, is sent from one country to the other as a sort of bridge building exercise. The fencers have been forced into this potentia ...more

A very good story of intrigue and deception set in Parker's usual universe. Two kingdoms (Scheria and Permia) have been at war for decades until a fragile peace emerges (largely, because both sides are broke). To help facilitate the peace, a diplomatic mission of a troupe of fencers from Scheria goes on tour to Permia. The Permians are absolutely mad about fencing; something like a national sport, or football for Brazil. The fencing team is comprised not exactly by volunteers; each of the four h
...more

Sharps was my introduction to K.J. Parker, and if it's not his best then I have a lot to look forward to.
Decaying empires, political intrigue, Machiavellian monks, complex characters, and lots and lots of fencing! Parker is a master wordsmith- I know I'm going to stick with an author if I lose count of the number of times I stop at a sentence and say, "Man, I wish I had written that." After a few edge-of-your-seat passages that detail fencing methods and movements, I wouldn't be surprised if he ...more
Decaying empires, political intrigue, Machiavellian monks, complex characters, and lots and lots of fencing! Parker is a master wordsmith- I know I'm going to stick with an author if I lose count of the number of times I stop at a sentence and say, "Man, I wish I had written that." After a few edge-of-your-seat passages that detail fencing methods and movements, I wouldn't be surprised if he ...more

4 stars - Metaphorosis Reviews
A mismatched group of reluctant fencers is sent on a goodwill tour through a conquered neighbour. They find that not only must they fight with un-bated swords, they're not at all up to their putative purpose, and no one seems to care.
When I first ran across K. J Parker, through his (we now know) Fencer trilogy, I was thrilled. Here was someone doing something decidedly different and interesting, rather than just regurgitating Tolkien. It's interesting, because I had ...more
A mismatched group of reluctant fencers is sent on a goodwill tour through a conquered neighbour. They find that not only must they fight with un-bated swords, they're not at all up to their putative purpose, and no one seems to care.
When I first ran across K. J Parker, through his (we now know) Fencer trilogy, I was thrilled. Here was someone doing something decidedly different and interesting, rather than just regurgitating Tolkien. It's interesting, because I had ...more

This was my first K.J. Parker book, and I think it will be the first of many that I'll read by him. I went right out and bought "The Company" after finishing this.
The story: five rag-tag professional fencers go on a tour of the country with which their homeland has had an on-again, off-again war. The idea is to mend fences (see what I did there?) because both countries are mad about the sport of fencing.
The first clue this motley crew has that things may not be what they seem is when they find ...more
The story: five rag-tag professional fencers go on a tour of the country with which their homeland has had an on-again, off-again war. The idea is to mend fences (see what I did there?) because both countries are mad about the sport of fencing.
The first clue this motley crew has that things may not be what they seem is when they find ...more

After a long and brutal war, a truce has been called between two neighboring kingdoms. There is finally a chance for peace as diplomatic talks begin. To help facilitate this new peace, there is going to be a fencing tour with the shared love of a sport bringing two previously warring kingdoms together. The ragtag group of Scherian fencers making up the tour will have to learn to work together if they want to make it home from Permia in one piece and not begin another war.
First and foremost, the ...more
First and foremost, the ...more

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

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
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

Very enjoyable. This was my first KJ Parker book and I don't know why. It's very much the sort of non-magical, politics and intrigue type of fantasy I prefer. The writing is excellent, and it's the sort of story where you can read 50 pages, realize not much has actually happened, and yet it wasn't slow or boring at all. The ending was--while not bad--not quite as dramatic as one might have hoped, and for that reason I'm only giving it 4 stars, but I'll definitely be reading more from this author
...more

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

This one was pretty good. Bloodier than I expected. I really didn't like the ending - I probably moved it from a 4 star to a 3 star just for the last scene.
Lots of hidden motives and twisty plot.
I really could have used a map. ...more
Lots of hidden motives and twisty plot.
I really could have used a map. ...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
...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; ...more
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

Although I did like Sharps, it seems as if merely liking it is a disappointment. I read The Folded Knife by K. J. Parker recently, and not only can this author create vibrant, engaging characters, but s/he can pull a narrative drive out of subject matter I wouldn't have thought I'd find compelling. So I expected to like Sharps--which has subject matter much more up my alley than The Folded Knife--quite a lot.
Instead, it was merely fine.
The characters were good, but not all of them were as inter ...more
Instead, it was merely fine.
The characters were good, but not all of them were as inter ...more

I liked this book. It's one of those rare breed fantasies without any actual magic in them. Just another world with different countries and peoples. It's not a bad thing though, I didn't miss the magical element. The characters were more than enough to keep me interested. A map would have been nice though, just to help visualise the countryside better. And I like maps.
The basic plot runs a bit like this: There was a war between two nieghbouring countries, Scheria and Permia, it ended a few years ...more
The basic plot runs a bit like this: There was a war between two nieghbouring countries, Scheria and Permia, it ended a few years ...more

Well, there it is.
I absolutely adored this. Having first experienced KJ Parker previously in the Book of Swords anthology edited by the late Gardner Dozois, I made it a mission to seek out more of his work; I was blown away with the acerbic wit, the patter of his dialogue, and the level of detail to world building, character, action, and literal sword smithing. As such, I decided on a bargain bin paperback of Sharps. Boy does this have everything I love: a dash of nihilism, unpredictable plot wi ...more
I absolutely adored this. Having first experienced KJ Parker previously in the Book of Swords anthology edited by the late Gardner Dozois, I made it a mission to seek out more of his work; I was blown away with the acerbic wit, the patter of his dialogue, and the level of detail to world building, character, action, and literal sword smithing. As such, I decided on a bargain bin paperback of Sharps. Boy does this have everything I love: a dash of nihilism, unpredictable plot wi ...more
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K.J. Parker is a pseudonym for Tom Holt.
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 was raised in rural Vermont, a lifest ...more
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 was raised in rural Vermont, a lifest ...more
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