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Fencer Trilogy #1
Colours in the Steel
Perimadeia: the famed Triple City and the mercantile capital of the known world. Behind its allegedly impregnable walls, everything is available. Including information which will allow its enemies to plan one of the most remarkable sieges of all time.
The man called upon to defend Perimadeia is Bardas Loredan, a fencer-at-law, weary of his work and of the world. For Loredan is one of the surviving members of Maxen's Pitchfork, the legendary band of soldiers who waged war on the people of the plains for many years, rendering an attack on the city impossible. Until now...
But Loredan has problems of its own. In a city where court cases are settled by lawyers disputing with swords not words, enemies are all too easily made. And by winning one particular case, Loredan has unwittingly become the focus of a misplaced curse from a young woman bent on revenge. The last thing he needs is to be made responsible for saving a city.
The man called upon to defend Perimadeia is Bardas Loredan, a fencer-at-law, weary of his work and of the world. For Loredan is one of the surviving members of Maxen's Pitchfork, the legendary band of soldiers who waged war on the people of the plains for many years, rendering an attack on the city impossible. Until now...
But Loredan has problems of its own. In a city where court cases are settled by lawyers disputing with swords not words, enemies are all too easily made. And by winning one particular case, Loredan has unwittingly become the focus of a misplaced curse from a young woman bent on revenge. The last thing he needs is to be made responsible for saving a city.
503 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 4, 1998
137 people are currently reading
2399 people want to read
About the author
K.J. Parker
134 books1,663 followersK.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 lifestyle which influenced Parker's work.
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 lifestyle which influenced Parker's work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
February 18, 2015
In a way, this could be considered the most 'standard' of KJ Parker's books, especially if publishers insist on his/her books being categorized as Fantasy. It's the only Parker novel (thus far) that has something which could be considered magic, even though calling it such is a sort of running joke throughout. It has the closest thing I could call a "hero of the story" to any other Parker book I've read. The plot is actually fairly straightforward compared to other Parker novels too, no grand mechanisms of scheming the reader must follow, per se. There is a fair amount of straightforward action as well, and it's all rather exciting. ...so given all those easily identifiable components in most fantasy, I might recommend Colours in the Steel as an introduction to someone new to Parker's work.
That being said, just because it is the most like a standard fantasy out of Parker's books doesn't mean it is really anything like a standard fantasy, and so expecting such would disappoint a new reader. Fans of KJ Parker have come to expect cynicism, irony, cleverness, moral ambiguity and a hearty dollop of sociopathy/psychopathy. There seems to be something hardwired about KJ Parker that makes him/her express such things so consistently and well; this might worry me if I thought about it for too long, so luckily I don't. His/Her books are also always very well researched and informative; in fact, it may not be too far off to say that most of what I know about medieval technology I know from reading KJ Parker books. Such a declaration either says great things about KJ Parker's books, or says terrible things about my knowledge base; I might fret if I thought about it too long, so luckily I don't.
The more I read from Parker the more I realize I've become an actual, genuine, bona fide fanboy. Something I thought I could never be. Since almost all of my favorite authors are dead, it's rather strange to have a faceless pseudonym as one of my favorite living authors; it might even be disconcerting if I thought about it too deeply, but luckily I don't.
That being said, just because it is the most like a standard fantasy out of Parker's books doesn't mean it is really anything like a standard fantasy, and so expecting such would disappoint a new reader. Fans of KJ Parker have come to expect cynicism, irony, cleverness, moral ambiguity and a hearty dollop of sociopathy/psychopathy. There seems to be something hardwired about KJ Parker that makes him/her express such things so consistently and well; this might worry me if I thought about it for too long, so luckily I don't. His/Her books are also always very well researched and informative; in fact, it may not be too far off to say that most of what I know about medieval technology I know from reading KJ Parker books. Such a declaration either says great things about KJ Parker's books, or says terrible things about my knowledge base; I might fret if I thought about it too long, so luckily I don't.
The more I read from Parker the more I realize I've become an actual, genuine, bona fide fanboy. Something I thought I could never be. Since almost all of my favorite authors are dead, it's rather strange to have a faceless pseudonym as one of my favorite living authors; it might even be disconcerting if I thought about it too deeply, but luckily I don't.
October 20, 2014
In the city-state of Perimadeia, "the sword of justice" is more than just an expression, and it’s the lawyer who does the fighting. All commercial law is decided in trial by combat to the death. While this may make court cases rather more exciting, it does mean that careers in the law tend to terminate rather abruptly. Bardas Loredan, fencer-at-law, has managed to make a go of his profession for over a dozen years. Between his time as a soldier terrorizing the “savage” clansmen around the city and his career as an attorney, Loredan has met a lot of interesting people, but usually only once.
One of those people had a niece who thinks that justice is blind, and she is willing to take any lengths to correct the error. When she manages to rope a wizard into her cause, Loredan’s life is about to get a lot more complicated.
It may have been only one meeting, but Temrai remembers Loredan vividly, a stony face perched above a body of steel. He remembers his family’s cries, his village going up in flames. And now Temrai is in the city. Making weapons.
All of the characters are interesting, flawed, multifaceted people. It’s just a pity that they’re all trying to kill each other.
I mean that in all seriousness. Loredan, the main protagonist -- or at least the main target-- is complex and multilayered. A reasonably talented fencer, he has no aspirations of fame or glory, but simply the desire to keep on slogging along, risking his life over the squabbles of merchants and for the greater glory of coal sellers. His main characteristic, and the one that has seen him through countless duels, is a ruthless, detached, fatalistic practicality. Beset by guilt over his past, he is still willing to do whatever it takes to stay alive, but once the excitement is over, he returns to his normal state of detachment. When faced by crisis, he becomes terrifyingly cold and calculating, able to view risk, even to himself, as simply a cost to be weighed against the potential benefits. At the same time time, he is willing to apply the same fatalistic detachment to his own circumstances, accepting almost any outcome from prison to death with darkly cynical amusement and his catchphrase of “Fair enough.”
I loved the world that Parker creates. I love the city of Perimadeia, where there’s a market in oil lamps in the shape of hedgehogs, where foreigners are met with curiosity and a casual sort of friendly racism, where there's a bar for every occasion, where the reaction to a threat to the city is a massive shopping spree:
I love the way that magic is portrayed in the world: as a science as abstract and impractical as topology or theoretical physics, but like theoretical physics, with a disturbing tendency to occasionally go off with a bang. Most of all, I love the humour that pervades the writing, as might be clear by my numerous reading updates. A few of my favourites:
All the same, I’m an escapist reader. I have a weakness for dark worlds and black irony, but I desperately need to feel some sort of glimmer of hope, or the sense that the struggle is against something greater. This is all an ugly little squabble between human beings, with everyone in the wrong and no one in the right, exactly like the world I seek to escape. I don’t see any hope in the world that Parker creates, and in all honesty, I don’t have the heart to finish the series. The book itself is introspective and slow-paced, often seguing into long technical details of armaments and weaponry. But at the same time, it is an examination of war, of the cruelty and thoughtlessness that can forge a hatred that can only be sated by blood.
Excerpted from my review on BookLikes, which contains additional quotes, comments, and spoilers that I was too lazy to copy over.
One of those people had a niece who thinks that justice is blind, and she is willing to take any lengths to correct the error. When she manages to rope a wizard into her cause, Loredan’s life is about to get a lot more complicated.
It may have been only one meeting, but Temrai remembers Loredan vividly, a stony face perched above a body of steel. He remembers his family’s cries, his village going up in flames. And now Temrai is in the city. Making weapons.
All of the characters are interesting, flawed, multifaceted people. It’s just a pity that they’re all trying to kill each other.
I mean that in all seriousness. Loredan, the main protagonist -- or at least the main target-- is complex and multilayered. A reasonably talented fencer, he has no aspirations of fame or glory, but simply the desire to keep on slogging along, risking his life over the squabbles of merchants and for the greater glory of coal sellers. His main characteristic, and the one that has seen him through countless duels, is a ruthless, detached, fatalistic practicality. Beset by guilt over his past, he is still willing to do whatever it takes to stay alive, but once the excitement is over, he returns to his normal state of detachment. When faced by crisis, he becomes terrifyingly cold and calculating, able to view risk, even to himself, as simply a cost to be weighed against the potential benefits. At the same time time, he is willing to apply the same fatalistic detachment to his own circumstances, accepting almost any outcome from prison to death with darkly cynical amusement and his catchphrase of “Fair enough.”
I loved the world that Parker creates. I love the city of Perimadeia, where there’s a market in oil lamps in the shape of hedgehogs, where foreigners are met with curiosity and a casual sort of friendly racism, where there's a bar for every occasion, where the reaction to a threat to the city is a massive shopping spree:
“The clerks of Perimadeia had decided that the end was probably nigh, in which case they might as well indulge themselves while they still had money and their money was still worth something; and if it wasn’t the end of the world, they had cause for celebration, best effected by buying things.”And I loved how Parker defied our expectations. For example, take the "savage" clansmen. We know that the plainspeople are identifiable by appearance alone, but the particulars are only mentioned once, in passing: they are slighter and fairer than the cityfolk. (Take that, Martin! Plus, it fits neatly into the sense of Perimandeia as Rome and the plainspeople as Celtic warriors.)
I love the way that magic is portrayed in the world: as a science as abstract and impractical as topology or theoretical physics, but like theoretical physics, with a disturbing tendency to occasionally go off with a bang. Most of all, I love the humour that pervades the writing, as might be clear by my numerous reading updates. A few of my favourites:
"She was supposed to come straight back here, and that was four hours ago. By now, she’s either dead or shopping."
“Contrary to popular belief the official doctors didn’t kill quite as many people as the lawyers did, though not for want of trying.”
"They were like two men shipwrecked on an entirely unknown continent; everything they came across was new and unknown, which they could spend a lifetime studying if they weren’t so entirely preoccupied with staying alive and somehow getting home again."
"I’m starting to get the enemy and the auditors muddled up in my mind. I’m terrified of both of them, but the auditors know where I live."However, despite all of the tongue-in-cheek wit and wordplay, I realized that I won't be picking up the next book. All of the protagonists are antiheroes to some extent, and almost all of their misery is self-inflicted. They fall into the same traps again and again, with the inevitability of a Greek tragedy. There is no ultimate evil here; there are only people who hold grudges and misjudge each other and get everyone else around them killed. Parker’s portrait of war is not glorious or heroic or pulse-racing; it’s occasionally horrific, sometimes technical and boring, but always ugly, and always sad. This didn’t precisely surprise me. I’ve encountered quite a few of Parker’s short stories, and every single one was a vehement protest of war and all its trappings.
All the same, I’m an escapist reader. I have a weakness for dark worlds and black irony, but I desperately need to feel some sort of glimmer of hope, or the sense that the struggle is against something greater. This is all an ugly little squabble between human beings, with everyone in the wrong and no one in the right, exactly like the world I seek to escape. I don’t see any hope in the world that Parker creates, and in all honesty, I don’t have the heart to finish the series. The book itself is introspective and slow-paced, often seguing into long technical details of armaments and weaponry. But at the same time, it is an examination of war, of the cruelty and thoughtlessness that can forge a hatred that can only be sated by blood.
“Put the steel into the fire and watch it change colour; straw to orange to brown to purple to blue to green to black. According to some smiths he’d talked to, there’s a certain point at which something happens to heated steel. Make it hot enough and the flexibility changes to cutting hardness, at which point the skill lies in tempering it, quenching the heat with skill and care in such a way that the steel stays hard without becoming brittle. It’s a delicate business, the perfect balance of fire and water; although there are some smiths who prefer to temper in some kind of oil, and others who use blood. Blood, they say, puts something into the steel at that crucial moment of tempering, an extra touch of hardness on the outside of the metal that doesn’t affect the flexibility and resilience of the core.”I love Parker’s imagination, xyr ability to create characters who breathe, who are so filled with that paradoxical mixture of flawed humanity that I can ache for them and be disgusted by them in turns. Above all, I love xyr humour. And even if I won’t be continuing in this series, I will be trying Parker's books again.
Excerpted from my review on BookLikes, which contains additional quotes, comments, and spoilers that I was too lazy to copy over.
December 10, 2024
Parker is a favourite author. I have read all his works (including award winning) and enjoyed them immensely. For some reason or another I decided to read his first trilogy (the only books of his I have not read) and quickly realized I had made a mistake.
Lesson? Don’t be a ‘Backwards Billy’.
Edit: Better this time around. 4⭐️
Lesson? Don’t be a ‘Backwards Billy’.
Edit: Better this time around. 4⭐️
October 4, 2016
EXCEPTIONAL!!! I had so much fun with this fantasy book :) I loved it!!!!
Full Review to Follow
Full Review to Follow
May 29, 2009
Unbelievably good; the tale of the Loredan family unfolds slowly with twists and turns galore; similar in style and prefiguring the Engineer series in content to some extent, I think I liked this one the most of all KJ Parker novels so far and that's a tall order since I absolutely loved the Engineer 1/2 and the Scavenger 1/2 novels als.
Not for everyone with its dry humor and matter of fact tone, the antithesis of pathos in sff, this novel solidifies the place of KJ Parker as my top fantasy author for now.
Not for everyone with its dry humor and matter of fact tone, the antithesis of pathos in sff, this novel solidifies the place of KJ Parker as my top fantasy author for now.
December 3, 2019
That was great! Review to come, hopefully very soon!
November 21, 2010
Such a frustrating story, because you want both sides to win, and you know they can't. And yet so very enjoyable.
It's interesting, I've basically read Parker's 3 trilogies in reverse order of when they were published, and there are so many themes in this book that s/he apparently liked so much that she wanted to explore them at much greater length in the others. (the biggest one being, of course, the effects of more sophisticated technology on medieval-ish societies, but also: blacksmithing, swordfighting, military camaraderie, revenge, past misdeeds coming back to haunt you in ironic ways, bossy women, the invention of explosives, calmly competent engineers, mysterious not-really magic, etc.)
And bonus: this one actually passes the Bechdel Test!
It's interesting, I've basically read Parker's 3 trilogies in reverse order of when they were published, and there are so many themes in this book that s/he apparently liked so much that she wanted to explore them at much greater length in the others. (the biggest one being, of course, the effects of more sophisticated technology on medieval-ish societies, but also: blacksmithing, swordfighting, military camaraderie, revenge, past misdeeds coming back to haunt you in ironic ways, bossy women, the invention of explosives, calmly competent engineers, mysterious not-really magic, etc.)
And bonus: this one actually passes the Bechdel Test!
August 10, 2013
This is an ugly series through and through. If you want something positive and uplifting, don't. If you want something that shows the good through evil, don't. If you want something that will finally pull through and relieve you of all the mire and filth it's dragged you through, don't.
Nothing. Happy. Happens. If you like books where it's utterly hopeless from start to finish, where there is a not a breath of fresh air in all the squalid characters and lands around you, where you are not given a single bit of positivity to encourage perseverance- by all means, wade on in.
I plugged through this entire series, because at first, it seemed as if it really would go somewhere that I could finally swallow. In all honesty, the characters are intensely original as far as fantasy goes, and if you like the war-type medieval plot-lines, this was a really, really good start. Very life-like, gritty and intense, it really does suck you in, and distances itself from the all-too mainstream fantasy plots very well.
But then...you realize...there's no getting out. I understand, I guess, that the author wanted to show us just how abysmally futile being alive or making effort is, but... as far as writing goes... you can't simply have one horrible occurrence after the other without a single bit of sunshine. I needed a good, long shower after I finished this series.
Nothing. Happy. Happens. If you like books where it's utterly hopeless from start to finish, where there is a not a breath of fresh air in all the squalid characters and lands around you, where you are not given a single bit of positivity to encourage perseverance- by all means, wade on in.
I plugged through this entire series, because at first, it seemed as if it really would go somewhere that I could finally swallow. In all honesty, the characters are intensely original as far as fantasy goes, and if you like the war-type medieval plot-lines, this was a really, really good start. Very life-like, gritty and intense, it really does suck you in, and distances itself from the all-too mainstream fantasy plots very well.
But then...you realize...there's no getting out. I understand, I guess, that the author wanted to show us just how abysmally futile being alive or making effort is, but... as far as writing goes... you can't simply have one horrible occurrence after the other without a single bit of sunshine. I needed a good, long shower after I finished this series.
December 12, 2018
This was the pseudonymous Parker's first novel in his style; perhaps because I fell in love with his later work, I wasn't able to devour this one with as much relish. All his definitive themes are here, though, just under the surface, almost exploratory: morality, necessity, love, ambiguity.
Untempered KJ Parker, but the material is as fine as ever.
Untempered KJ Parker, but the material is as fine as ever.
June 23, 2020
I believe this was Parker's first fantasy novel, and the best of any of his I have read. The story takes place largely in Perimadeia-- a large trading/mercantile city surrounded by plains and situated on the ocean. Like Venice or Amsterdam in their heydays, most of the trade takes place via shipping. A variety of clans live on the plains, modeled after something like Mongols. The city used to have 'Maxen's Pitchfork', a small but efficient mounted army that would periodically harass the clans to keep their distance. The city also has proud, tall walls and sea defenses that have not been breached in 1000 years. When Maxen died due to sickness, the army disbanded, leaving only a skeleton crew to periodically man the city's defenses. So much for backstory.
Colours in the Steel (CITS) is really a character driven story overlaid with an exquisite attention to detail regarding the functioning of the city. The title refers to the welding/forging of steel when making swords, and Parker details this process nicely (along with the tech behind waterwheels and various siege engines). Bardas Loredan, a former solder under Maxen, now serves as a lawyer, but in the City, legal disputes between parties (if not settled before hand) go to court to be settled by lawyers via a courtroom duel. The best lawyers/duelers are paid accordingly. Bardas has been doing this for 12 years or so, and after a particularly close call, decides to become a fencing instructor. Bardas is a richly complex character and the main protagonist. The other main character is the new chief of the plains clan Temrai. Temrai as a child watched Maxen and Bardas torch and kill his entire family (except his father, the prior chief) and vowed revenge. Temrai waltzes into the city and while working in the armory, learns all he can about ways to sack the city. When his father dies, Temrai returns to lead the clan to siege the city.
Maybe because this was his first fantasy novel, CITS does not have the formulaic feel of some of his later work; also, the characters possess emotion and empathy unlike the largely socipathic characters found, say, in the Engineer trilogy. Parker's sharp humor and snarky dialogue move the story along a tightly plotted arc.
Finally, this CITS is the only novel of his I have read that has a magic system, albeit a bizarre one, that allows certain philosophers and 'naturals' to intervene in important events in the future by 'nudging' outcomes in various directions. It quickly becomes clear, however, that no one really controls the magic, and some nudges can produce outcomes not desired and sometimes catastrophic! The story begins with a 'curse' that permeates the entire story. To sum up: CITS has all the things I love about Parker, but lacks the things, like sociopathic characters, that bother me in later works. This would be a good place to start if you are considering his work. 4.5 rounding to 5
Colours in the Steel (CITS) is really a character driven story overlaid with an exquisite attention to detail regarding the functioning of the city. The title refers to the welding/forging of steel when making swords, and Parker details this process nicely (along with the tech behind waterwheels and various siege engines). Bardas Loredan, a former solder under Maxen, now serves as a lawyer, but in the City, legal disputes between parties (if not settled before hand) go to court to be settled by lawyers via a courtroom duel. The best lawyers/duelers are paid accordingly. Bardas has been doing this for 12 years or so, and after a particularly close call, decides to become a fencing instructor. Bardas is a richly complex character and the main protagonist. The other main character is the new chief of the plains clan Temrai. Temrai as a child watched Maxen and Bardas torch and kill his entire family (except his father, the prior chief) and vowed revenge. Temrai waltzes into the city and while working in the armory, learns all he can about ways to sack the city. When his father dies, Temrai returns to lead the clan to siege the city.
Maybe because this was his first fantasy novel, CITS does not have the formulaic feel of some of his later work; also, the characters possess emotion and empathy unlike the largely socipathic characters found, say, in the Engineer trilogy. Parker's sharp humor and snarky dialogue move the story along a tightly plotted arc.
Finally, this CITS is the only novel of his I have read that has a magic system, albeit a bizarre one, that allows certain philosophers and 'naturals' to intervene in important events in the future by 'nudging' outcomes in various directions. It quickly becomes clear, however, that no one really controls the magic, and some nudges can produce outcomes not desired and sometimes catastrophic! The story begins with a 'curse' that permeates the entire story. To sum up: CITS has all the things I love about Parker, but lacks the things, like sociopathic characters, that bother me in later works. This would be a good place to start if you are considering his work. 4.5 rounding to 5
February 10, 2019
42 WORD REVIEW:
The original K J Parker novel, introducing all those elements—the detailed world building and practical intricacies, the tragedy-driven plots, hubris-plagued protagonists and gallows humour—that would prove characteristic of her/his work. Fencer barristers make for the most apt of jumping-off points.
ADDENDUM:
The Goodreads algorithm moves in mysterious ways.
The original K J Parker novel, introducing all those elements—the detailed world building and practical intricacies, the tragedy-driven plots, hubris-plagued protagonists and gallows humour—that would prove characteristic of her/his work. Fencer barristers make for the most apt of jumping-off points.
ADDENDUM:
The Goodreads algorithm moves in mysterious ways.
February 27, 2022
La Tripla Città.
La lacrima degli Dèi, una perla che risplende fra il biancheggiare delle onde marine.
Perimadeia la Remota, Perimadeia la Splendente, culla di belle donne, porta sull'infinito.
Ma che bello questo romanzo. Da dove cominciare a tesserne le lodi?
Dal fatto che parte come un classico high-fantasy per poi trasformarsi in una cosa “cruda, sporca, cattiva”?
Oppure dall'originale idea dei "fencer-in-law", avvocati/spadaccini, le cui dispute legali sono un duello all'ultimo sangue?
E ancora, descrizioni di tecniche di scherma e scorrerie che, lungi dall'annoiare, forniscono profondità al romanzo.
Personaggi ottimamente caratterizzati, complessi e mai banali.
Scritto in modo divino, fluido, dannatamente scorrevole, e molto british, con la giusta dose di ironia. Parker tiene sempre dritta la barra della narrazione ed è talmente facile girare le pagine una dopo l'altra, ancora e ancora...
Un fantasy adulto e completo: non avevo grandi aspettative ed invece è proprio un gioiellino.
Punti a sfavore: la parte dell'assedio alla città è forse un pò decompressa; il finale non c'è perchè, come con Martin o Abercrombie, è un’unica lunga storia che prosegue nei volumi successivi.
Per il resto, come detto, è un gioiello.
La lacrima degli Dèi, una perla che risplende fra il biancheggiare delle onde marine.
Perimadeia la Remota, Perimadeia la Splendente, culla di belle donne, porta sull'infinito.
Ma che bello questo romanzo. Da dove cominciare a tesserne le lodi?
Dal fatto che parte come un classico high-fantasy per poi trasformarsi in una cosa “cruda, sporca, cattiva”?
Oppure dall'originale idea dei "fencer-in-law", avvocati/spadaccini, le cui dispute legali sono un duello all'ultimo sangue?
E ancora, descrizioni di tecniche di scherma e scorrerie che, lungi dall'annoiare, forniscono profondità al romanzo.
Personaggi ottimamente caratterizzati, complessi e mai banali.
Scritto in modo divino, fluido, dannatamente scorrevole, e molto british, con la giusta dose di ironia. Parker tiene sempre dritta la barra della narrazione ed è talmente facile girare le pagine una dopo l'altra, ancora e ancora...
Un fantasy adulto e completo: non avevo grandi aspettative ed invece è proprio un gioiellino.
Punti a sfavore: la parte dell'assedio alla città è forse un pò decompressa; il finale non c'è perchè, come con Martin o Abercrombie, è un’unica lunga storia che prosegue nei volumi successivi.
Per il resto, come detto, è un gioiello.
July 27, 2025
The same book as Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City, but written twenty years earlier and without the misogyny or extremely clunky racism-against-white-people throughline. Also there's magic! In a better world SWTDAWC would've been written first, and Colours in the Steel would represent an improvement.
January 1, 2025
3.5 Stars
July 11, 2013
K.J. Parker has a very interesting writing style, which I found both entertaining and frustrating in turns. It's a style full of contradictions, focused on the intense realism of certain details, but built on blatantly unrealistic premises, given to engaging, compelling characters, but with a tendency to zip right past the most powerful moments of their stories without a second glance. The book has a certain wry humor, a sardonic tone which is very pleasing, but it seems incapable of taking anything straight. Even truly horrific scenes were handled with wry black humor, rather than faced head on. I like that as part of a balanced approach, but in this case, the inability to ever handle a tragedy sincerely was something I ultimately found dehumanizing.
The author is clearly a craftsperson, and I don't mean one of words. She (she? It hasn't been revealed. We'll go with "she") goes into close detail regarding many of the objects in the world, how they are made, and the secrets and tricks involved in making them. If you fancy a story that regularly has blacksmiths explaining the tips and tricks of hammering a fine sword, or engineers describing in detail how exactly a trebuchet works, down to the measurements of each beam, but then moves obliquely past the war in which they are actually used, then this is for you. If you aren't riveted by the placement of each rivet in a winch, then you may find, as I did, your eyes glazing past significant portions of the text.
What I found frustrating about the intense focus on realism in these crafty details is that it didn't extend to the rest of the book. For example, the book holds that in the big city, legal disputes are handled by duels to the death between hired "lawyers." The lawyers are simply fencers, prepared to fight to the death for money.
I'm sorry, no legal system in the world would support an attrition rate of one lawyer per legal dispute. Where would you keep getting lawyers? Do you know how many legal battles there would be in a year? You would depopulate the fencer population inside of a few months. It's a cute idea, sure, but it doesn't make a lick of sense.
Beyond that, the whole premise is one in which nomadic plainspeople with their "uncountable numbers" are laying seige to the largest city in the world. I'm sorry... the nomadic plainspeople lifestyle doesn't support a large population. Just ask the American Indians. Not only would the city have a far greater population, but it's described in the story as being very technologically advanced and having impregnable defenses. It doesn't hold water that the plainspeople would be able to pose a real threat in a direct siege.
Last but not least, though the characters were, more or less, compelling and interesting, they were inconsistent. Early in the story, Temrai makes it clear that he doesn't get why his father wants to burn down the city. But later, he's leading the charge. Early in the story, the 'mysterious girl' wants vengeance against Bardas because he killed her uncle, but she doesn't want to /kill/ him, because her entire point is that killing is wrong. But then later she becomes a fencer, a killer for hire, just like Bardas was. What! ooghlebooghleWHAT?
I wouldn't complain if we say /why/ and /how/ she changes, but we're not shown that. Without the insight into the character's decision making process, it's not character growth, it's inconsistency.
Yet, for all that, the book remains a good read. If you can get into it at all, it quickly becomes engaging and fast-paced, despite the length. The humor keeps things moving. The characters aren't the stuff of great literature, but they're compelling enough to keep you interested. I can say this for it: it's a very unique brand of fantasy novel, unlike anything else I've ever read. Looking forward to checking out her later works and finding out if she improves over time.
The author is clearly a craftsperson, and I don't mean one of words. She (she? It hasn't been revealed. We'll go with "she") goes into close detail regarding many of the objects in the world, how they are made, and the secrets and tricks involved in making them. If you fancy a story that regularly has blacksmiths explaining the tips and tricks of hammering a fine sword, or engineers describing in detail how exactly a trebuchet works, down to the measurements of each beam, but then moves obliquely past the war in which they are actually used, then this is for you. If you aren't riveted by the placement of each rivet in a winch, then you may find, as I did, your eyes glazing past significant portions of the text.
What I found frustrating about the intense focus on realism in these crafty details is that it didn't extend to the rest of the book. For example, the book holds that in the big city, legal disputes are handled by duels to the death between hired "lawyers." The lawyers are simply fencers, prepared to fight to the death for money.
I'm sorry, no legal system in the world would support an attrition rate of one lawyer per legal dispute. Where would you keep getting lawyers? Do you know how many legal battles there would be in a year? You would depopulate the fencer population inside of a few months. It's a cute idea, sure, but it doesn't make a lick of sense.
Beyond that, the whole premise is one in which nomadic plainspeople with their "uncountable numbers" are laying seige to the largest city in the world. I'm sorry... the nomadic plainspeople lifestyle doesn't support a large population. Just ask the American Indians. Not only would the city have a far greater population, but it's described in the story as being very technologically advanced and having impregnable defenses. It doesn't hold water that the plainspeople would be able to pose a real threat in a direct siege.
Last but not least, though the characters were, more or less, compelling and interesting, they were inconsistent. Early in the story, Temrai makes it clear that he doesn't get why his father wants to burn down the city. But later, he's leading the charge. Early in the story, the 'mysterious girl' wants vengeance against Bardas because he killed her uncle, but she doesn't want to /kill/ him, because her entire point is that killing is wrong. But then later she becomes a fencer, a killer for hire, just like Bardas was. What! ooghlebooghleWHAT?
I wouldn't complain if we say /why/ and /how/ she changes, but we're not shown that. Without the insight into the character's decision making process, it's not character growth, it's inconsistency.
Yet, for all that, the book remains a good read. If you can get into it at all, it quickly becomes engaging and fast-paced, despite the length. The humor keeps things moving. The characters aren't the stuff of great literature, but they're compelling enough to keep you interested. I can say this for it: it's a very unique brand of fantasy novel, unlike anything else I've ever read. Looking forward to checking out her later works and finding out if she improves over time.
February 1, 2020
Random Thoughts:
1.
Why is Parker's fiction classified as fantasy? This is, at best, just Medieval fiction. As much as I love his stuff (and I do, don't get me wrong here; it's probably an unhealthy amount of affection I have for his fiction), I've wondered this. There are a few moments I can think of throughout his works where magic has played a role in the story, but it's usually so incidental (and so rare) that it's hard to think of his work as fantasy.
Whatever it is, though, I dig it.
2.
So much of the narrative involves describing weapons and how to use them. It doesn't sound like much, but Parker makes it all so compelling and interesting that it's hard to stop reading. Parker uses it as an allegory, especially here. He uses the structure of the bow to illustrate sources of power, and the titles of the books in the trilogy are names for significant parts of the weapons used in the battles, and Parker uses them to represent characters. It's fascinating stuff.
3.
Parker has a way of putting things that makes you pay attention. Allow me to draw your attention to:
Perfect and succinct. These kinds of lines are all over the place in his fiction.
4.
Parker disarms you with his style. It's easy to think his stories are larks, what with his wry wit, but rest assured, he's working toward yanking the cloth from the table and leaving the place settings intact. In my review of Prosper's Demon, I mentioned how his stories have a moment where you stop, hold your breath, and say, "Oh"; that's when you know you're reading a Parker book.
1.
Why is Parker's fiction classified as fantasy? This is, at best, just Medieval fiction. As much as I love his stuff (and I do, don't get me wrong here; it's probably an unhealthy amount of affection I have for his fiction), I've wondered this. There are a few moments I can think of throughout his works where magic has played a role in the story, but it's usually so incidental (and so rare) that it's hard to think of his work as fantasy.
Whatever it is, though, I dig it.
2.
So much of the narrative involves describing weapons and how to use them. It doesn't sound like much, but Parker makes it all so compelling and interesting that it's hard to stop reading. Parker uses it as an allegory, especially here. He uses the structure of the bow to illustrate sources of power, and the titles of the books in the trilogy are names for significant parts of the weapons used in the battles, and Parker uses them to represent characters. It's fascinating stuff.
3.
Parker has a way of putting things that makes you pay attention. Allow me to draw your attention to:
"... service is what makes you stand in the line [of battle] when nobody would try and stop you, if you ran away, and honour is what's left when every other conceivable reason for staying there has long since evaporated."
Perfect and succinct. These kinds of lines are all over the place in his fiction.
4.
Parker disarms you with his style. It's easy to think his stories are larks, what with his wry wit, but rest assured, he's working toward yanking the cloth from the table and leaving the place settings intact. In my review of Prosper's Demon, I mentioned how his stories have a moment where you stop, hold your breath, and say, "Oh"; that's when you know you're reading a Parker book.
November 14, 2024
non un fantasy.
TRAMA: manuale di ingegneria bellica medioevale scritto con maestria
(contiene tralci di una storia)
PS: ho letto l'intera trilogia (mentre stavo male come mai prima nella vita) a piccoli pezzi tra lo scemare di una crisi e l'insorgere della successiva, sempre annebbiata da dolori forti e non so se ho davvero capito ciò che ho letto, la verità e che l'ho odiato e non saprò mai se è un libro da 1 oppure 4⭐ (tre mi sembrava un buon compromesso)
TRAMA: manuale di ingegneria bellica medioevale scritto con maestria
(contiene tralci di una storia)
PS: ho letto l'intera trilogia (mentre stavo male come mai prima nella vita) a piccoli pezzi tra lo scemare di una crisi e l'insorgere della successiva, sempre annebbiata da dolori forti e non so se ho davvero capito ciò che ho letto, la verità e che l'ho odiato e non saprò mai se è un libro da 1 oppure 4⭐ (tre mi sembrava un buon compromesso)
April 27, 2017
I'm not much of a fan of dark humor, so while I appreciated this for its decent world building and twisted but often appealing characters--and, once they got under way, battles--I don't feel any need to read the sequels.
Memorable line: "You look as if you died a week ago and they gave you to the apprentice embalmer to practise on."
Memorable line: "You look as if you died a week ago and they gave you to the apprentice embalmer to practise on."
September 22, 2018
This book felt clean and heartfelt to me. It was so much fun. Getting to know Bardas Loredan and the people of his world was a joy, made better by getting to know the characters through the lense of different POVs. Very well done.
November 17, 2024
După o bună bucată de timp revin la K.J. Parker, un autor care mă fascinează în egală măsură în care mă intrigă. Romanul de față, primul dintr-o trilogie, și debutul lui Tom Holt cu acest pseudonim, are toate atuurile pentru a atrage viitorii fani ai săi și probabil pentru a-i alunga pe alții. Lent, dar bine construit, interesant prin lumea pe care o construiește cu migală, dar sărac în evenimente, scris cu răbdare și într-o engleză bogată (care nu de puține ori mi-a pus probleme), Colours in the Steel pare un pariu câștigat de autor. Pe mine m-a pus pe gânduri cu siguranță.
Mai jos o scurtă recenzie:
https://vderevlean.wordpress.com/2024...
Mai jos o scurtă recenzie:
https://vderevlean.wordpress.com/2024...
January 7, 2014
Fantasy Review Barn
I believe it was George Carlin that said the key to any joke is wherein lay the Colours in the Steel exaggeration. Most of the set up must ring true or the specific absurdity that makes everything funny won’t have the impact. In many ways I believe fantasy fiction works the same way. It is okay by me if there are a few items that stretch the limits of credibility; it isn’t fantasy without something extraordinary going on. But even with these specific exaggerations I must believe in the rest of the world the author sets in front of me or the entire thing falls flat.
K.J. Parker is a master at making me overlook the exaggerations. Of course they are there; the protagonist of this book is afencer for hire in a city that relies on duels to the death in a courtroom setting. The main conflict comes from a nomadic group of people who almost instantaneously change into industry barons, all on the knowledge of one man who went to work in the city. Completely absurd? Sure, looking on it like that. But one hundred percent believable due to the way it is written, full of all the little things that fit together ever so nicely.
I recently commented that Parker’s books should be boring; they are full of the little details that should drive me nuts. Do I really need to know the entire process of sword making? Should I know when to use water and when to use oil, which is better for cooling at what stage? Is any of this really necessary? You bet it is. No idea why, but I loved every nitty gritty detail thrown at me.
What should a reader expect from The Colours in the Steel? Well, fans of Parker who may have skipped her early stuff shouldn’t be disappointed if they go back, it is a familiar ride. People who may not know her? Seems as good a place to start as any. The book is dark and gritty, just how I like it. Even characters that start off likable work their way into the unlikable stage, but that simplifies Parker’s characters too much. There is no easy way to view any of the characters. Some are not good people but immensely likable, others show nothing too apparently evil but never less are unlikable. But unlikable doesn’t have to be uninteresting; I was interested in every major character arc. (In later Parker books I have seen complete casts that are horrible people; it was actually a bit surprising to see a few nice people in The Colours in the Steel).
Dark humor a plenty, again presented in a subtle way. Loredan (have I mentioned the protagonist’s name yet? Well, there it is) finds a particular potent recipe for a weapon hidden in a book that also included necromancy and voodoo; and considered giving them a shot when said weapon worked better than expected. A list of stock letter offerings amused me in ways I can’t even begin to explain.
We see a just a hint of magic, though the practitioners of it will balk at calling it magic at all. We enjoy a couple of genius characters; one completely in charge and thus dealing with his own failings, the other answering to a group and getting blamed for everything.
This is not my favorite book by the author, but it was still damn good. With plotting so complex I would expect some logical inconsistencies to slip through but I never really understood what one character’s long term plan was; nor how he was so confident it could be pulled off. As the original plan fell apart and other options were explored I the issue took care of itself, but for a while it bugged.
Like other books by the author I was entertained throughout. The humor is dark and hits me right and the little details kept me trying to out think everyone in the book. As I received the whole series of course I will continue on, but being that this is Parker that was a foregone conclusion anyway.
4 Stars
I believe it was George Carlin that said the key to any joke is wherein lay the Colours in the Steel exaggeration. Most of the set up must ring true or the specific absurdity that makes everything funny won’t have the impact. In many ways I believe fantasy fiction works the same way. It is okay by me if there are a few items that stretch the limits of credibility; it isn’t fantasy without something extraordinary going on. But even with these specific exaggerations I must believe in the rest of the world the author sets in front of me or the entire thing falls flat.
K.J. Parker is a master at making me overlook the exaggerations. Of course they are there; the protagonist of this book is afencer for hire in a city that relies on duels to the death in a courtroom setting. The main conflict comes from a nomadic group of people who almost instantaneously change into industry barons, all on the knowledge of one man who went to work in the city. Completely absurd? Sure, looking on it like that. But one hundred percent believable due to the way it is written, full of all the little things that fit together ever so nicely.
I recently commented that Parker’s books should be boring; they are full of the little details that should drive me nuts. Do I really need to know the entire process of sword making? Should I know when to use water and when to use oil, which is better for cooling at what stage? Is any of this really necessary? You bet it is. No idea why, but I loved every nitty gritty detail thrown at me.
What should a reader expect from The Colours in the Steel? Well, fans of Parker who may have skipped her early stuff shouldn’t be disappointed if they go back, it is a familiar ride. People who may not know her? Seems as good a place to start as any. The book is dark and gritty, just how I like it. Even characters that start off likable work their way into the unlikable stage, but that simplifies Parker’s characters too much. There is no easy way to view any of the characters. Some are not good people but immensely likable, others show nothing too apparently evil but never less are unlikable. But unlikable doesn’t have to be uninteresting; I was interested in every major character arc. (In later Parker books I have seen complete casts that are horrible people; it was actually a bit surprising to see a few nice people in The Colours in the Steel).
Dark humor a plenty, again presented in a subtle way. Loredan (have I mentioned the protagonist’s name yet? Well, there it is) finds a particular potent recipe for a weapon hidden in a book that also included necromancy and voodoo; and considered giving them a shot when said weapon worked better than expected. A list of stock letter offerings amused me in ways I can’t even begin to explain.
We see a just a hint of magic, though the practitioners of it will balk at calling it magic at all. We enjoy a couple of genius characters; one completely in charge and thus dealing with his own failings, the other answering to a group and getting blamed for everything.
This is not my favorite book by the author, but it was still damn good. With plotting so complex I would expect some logical inconsistencies to slip through but I never really understood what one character’s long term plan was; nor how he was so confident it could be pulled off. As the original plan fell apart and other options were explored I the issue took care of itself, but for a while it bugged.
Like other books by the author I was entertained throughout. The humor is dark and hits me right and the little details kept me trying to out think everyone in the book. As I received the whole series of course I will continue on, but being that this is Parker that was a foregone conclusion anyway.
4 Stars
December 13, 2012
In 1998, Parker's first novel Colours in the steel was published in Dutsch. 15 years and some 18 novels later, remains the only novel by Parker to be released in the dutschspeaking market. Why? Why the f* publish the first part of a trilogy and not the rest? Is it that exceptionally horrible? I've decided to give this book a second read, just to find out what's so wrong about it. I've checked the negative reviews to see what bugged people and i’m gonna try and pay extra attention to it.
Well, let's just say that this is a very good fantasy book by any standard. Ok, call it fantasy light cos no elves and orcs make their appearance and the magicians claim they can't do magic, but nevertheless, Parker uses and alternative world as setting, so fantasy it is. In my opinion, the fact that Parker doesn't bore us with all kinds of made up races, devices, language etc, is one of this book's key strengths. So no Jack Vance style.
The storyline itself is pretty cool with no real loose ends. Some might claim that the use of magic (which isn’t magic because no one can change people into toads) is some sort of easy solution but it sure ain’t some deus ex machine thrown in at the end to tie things together. I think it’s actually a pretty clever way to beat the critics a priori. What could easily be dismissed as too accidental, convenient, uncanny is now a major part of the storyline i.e. the Principle. How is it possible that Bardas and Gorgas manage to meet up in a large city that is overrun by invaders with fighting, death, carnage, burning houses everywhere? It’s The Principle, stupid! Very convenient but nevertheless..
Somehow, Perimadeia, the city where Bardas resides, reminds me of Rome: the capital of an ancient reich gone decadent. The days of warriors are over. Instead of an army posh kids parade in shiny armour. Politicians run the place for their own benefit. There are barbarians at the gate, but if they are polite, they can come in and live in the city. It goes without saying that decline will end in fall.
Parker goes beyond the classic good versus evil plot. (S)he manages to portray both sides as OK. On the one hand you want the city to survive, but on the other hand you want Temrai , the leader of the tribal clan get revenge for the injustice/ slaughter he had to go through as a kid. This way, Parker shows us the ambiguity of war and the relativity of good (or evil). The cruelty of war is well pictured too. Children are being killed, men are sacrificed. War ain’t fun, let alone glorious. The moral (d)evolution of Temrai shows how people in power look different at war than the guys who have to fight frontline: acceptable loss and collateral damage versus personal human tragedy.
It’s true that neither Bardas nor Loredan are likeable chaps. They’re not totally disgusting either so I don’t see why some people complain. In real life people suck too, so what’s the problem? I could use a bit more romance or a fair bit of shagging in the storyline. That’s my only beef.
There’s bit of Pratchett in this book. Especially the part where the people in the city use the first moments of panic to loot, plunder and pillage. It made me laugh out loud. The magicians who can’t do magic because they can’t turn people into frogs is another Pratchettian joke.
I found this book entertaining and easy to read. It’s true that Parker spends a lot if not too much time on the crafting of swords and siege weapons but it sure beats endless descriptions of the landscape if you ask me. It’s not high literature, a common thing for fantasy/sci fi, and it won’t change your life but it’s a good read. Add some titties and it would even get 5 stars.
Well, let's just say that this is a very good fantasy book by any standard. Ok, call it fantasy light cos no elves and orcs make their appearance and the magicians claim they can't do magic, but nevertheless, Parker uses and alternative world as setting, so fantasy it is. In my opinion, the fact that Parker doesn't bore us with all kinds of made up races, devices, language etc, is one of this book's key strengths. So no Jack Vance style.
The storyline itself is pretty cool with no real loose ends. Some might claim that the use of magic (which isn’t magic because no one can change people into toads) is some sort of easy solution but it sure ain’t some deus ex machine thrown in at the end to tie things together. I think it’s actually a pretty clever way to beat the critics a priori. What could easily be dismissed as too accidental, convenient, uncanny is now a major part of the storyline i.e. the Principle. How is it possible that Bardas and Gorgas manage to meet up in a large city that is overrun by invaders with fighting, death, carnage, burning houses everywhere? It’s The Principle, stupid! Very convenient but nevertheless..
Somehow, Perimadeia, the city where Bardas resides, reminds me of Rome: the capital of an ancient reich gone decadent. The days of warriors are over. Instead of an army posh kids parade in shiny armour. Politicians run the place for their own benefit. There are barbarians at the gate, but if they are polite, they can come in and live in the city. It goes without saying that decline will end in fall.
Parker goes beyond the classic good versus evil plot. (S)he manages to portray both sides as OK. On the one hand you want the city to survive, but on the other hand you want Temrai , the leader of the tribal clan get revenge for the injustice/ slaughter he had to go through as a kid. This way, Parker shows us the ambiguity of war and the relativity of good (or evil). The cruelty of war is well pictured too. Children are being killed, men are sacrificed. War ain’t fun, let alone glorious. The moral (d)evolution of Temrai shows how people in power look different at war than the guys who have to fight frontline: acceptable loss and collateral damage versus personal human tragedy.
It’s true that neither Bardas nor Loredan are likeable chaps. They’re not totally disgusting either so I don’t see why some people complain. In real life people suck too, so what’s the problem? I could use a bit more romance or a fair bit of shagging in the storyline. That’s my only beef.
There’s bit of Pratchett in this book. Especially the part where the people in the city use the first moments of panic to loot, plunder and pillage. It made me laugh out loud. The magicians who can’t do magic because they can’t turn people into frogs is another Pratchettian joke.
I found this book entertaining and easy to read. It’s true that Parker spends a lot if not too much time on the crafting of swords and siege weapons but it sure beats endless descriptions of the landscape if you ask me. It’s not high literature, a common thing for fantasy/sci fi, and it won’t change your life but it’s a good read. Add some titties and it would even get 5 stars.
October 20, 2023
I do like Parkers writing a lot and especially for a debut, this is great! The only problem is that I have already read a few of Parkers books and Perimadeia could easily be interchanged with the city in the Siege trilogy... Actually, a lot of details between these books are the same or at least similar, and therefore it didn't really surprise me much. I liked following three different groups through the story but I am not sure whether I'll continue this series.
August 13, 2013
I can see why some people marked this down for its engineering descriptions, and the author has apologised for them later in interview, but I love them. I love to know how things work and Mr(s?) Parker allows me to really understand medieval siege warfare - both the Physics and the nitty gritty limb-tearing realism.
First off, like all of Parker's books to date, this is not your normal magic and dragon-packed dark lord plot, in Parker's words his (or her) books are history as it should have been.
The characters are superbly complex and realistic, as is the plot of the trilogy. It is written with a wonderful sardonic tone that is very addictive to read.
The novel has two main point of view characters - Fencer and ex-military man Bardas Loredan (who should really be called Bad-Ass, because he is!) who is quite lazy and sometimes uncaring; and Temrai - young and determined son and chief-to-be of the Plains People (a sort of Attila the hun x Genghis Khan type figure).
Bardas (much to his annoyance) is placed in charge of a rich and wonderful city. Temrai, whose people suffered at the hands of the city, sets out to destroy it.
The lives of the characters are revealed through the narrative, with plenty of twists and turns. The whole trilogy is wonderful, with a darkness and sinister realism that at times can leave you with your jaw open. These books really don't go where you expect them to go, and they'll keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. This trilogy remains my favourite of anything I have ever read. I can not sing the author's praise any louder.
First off, like all of Parker's books to date, this is not your normal magic and dragon-packed dark lord plot, in Parker's words his (or her) books are history as it should have been.
The characters are superbly complex and realistic, as is the plot of the trilogy. It is written with a wonderful sardonic tone that is very addictive to read.
The novel has two main point of view characters - Fencer and ex-military man Bardas Loredan (who should really be called Bad-Ass, because he is!) who is quite lazy and sometimes uncaring; and Temrai - young and determined son and chief-to-be of the Plains People (a sort of Attila the hun x Genghis Khan type figure).
Bardas (much to his annoyance) is placed in charge of a rich and wonderful city. Temrai, whose people suffered at the hands of the city, sets out to destroy it.
The lives of the characters are revealed through the narrative, with plenty of twists and turns. The whole trilogy is wonderful, with a darkness and sinister realism that at times can leave you with your jaw open. These books really don't go where you expect them to go, and they'll keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. This trilogy remains my favourite of anything I have ever read. I can not sing the author's praise any louder.
July 23, 2011
""If a man wants to get thoroughly drunk in the lower city of Perimadeia, there are a number of places he can go, between them covering all the nuances of the mood, from boisterous jollity to utter self-loathing and all the fine gradations in between. From the fashionable inns where respectable people talked business over good wine to the unlicenced drinking-clubs behind a curtain in the back room of someone's house, there was an abundance of choice that was sometimes offputting. There were taverns that advertised their presence with enormous mosaic signs, and others which did their best to be invisible. There were taverns that were government offices, taverns that were theatres, taverns that were academies of music or pure mathematics; there were temples to forbidden gods, corn exchanges and future markets, dancing floors and mechanics' institutes, places that allowed women and places that provided them, places to go if you wanted to watch a fight, places to go if you wanted to start one. There were even taverns where you went to argue over which tavern you were going to go to. And there were places you could go and sit on your own until you were too drunk to move. In fact, there were a lot of those.
January 28, 2012
This was originally very difficult to get through. The author's life has been steeped in law, fencing, woodwork, and metalwork, so every proceeding page has the minute details of the components, process, and reasoning behind every war item, from trebuchet to sword, and every nuance of the fencing styles. I did not understand this for a grand majority of the book, until I got the last hundred pages. Every fencing maneuver, though often hard to understand given the jargon, was perfectly detailed to mark fantastically visualized battle scenes.
The characters, for another, are described to the detail of his crafts. They are true throughout the book with every personality trait, laid out as if psychology were another one of Parker's fortes. In all their flaws and perfections, they were above all, realistic. This was a very detailed and reasonable war novel that does not scavenge for taste, no matter how dry it gets.
The characters, for another, are described to the detail of his crafts. They are true throughout the book with every personality trait, laid out as if psychology were another one of Parker's fortes. In all their flaws and perfections, they were above all, realistic. This was a very detailed and reasonable war novel that does not scavenge for taste, no matter how dry it gets.
April 16, 2015
I'm a pretty big fan of K.J. Parker, but had never gotten around to reading the author's debut novel, Colours in the Steel. It's a pretty decent fantasy, though it does have some of the weaknesses of other debut novels. The plot is a little light, like the story doesn't quite know where it's going. Parker also hasn't quite fleshed out their style yet either. On the other hand, the author's wry sense of humor is definitely present, as is the various commentary on human nature. It's quite a decent debut novel and I will be reading the rest of the books in the trilogy soon.
Rating: 7.5/10.
Rating: 7.5/10.
June 3, 2015
I really like Parker's style - very different to most of what I read. it seems like it should be almost boring, slightly dry, little magic and that is always nebulous and not set in stone, but the writing is so good that I end up loving all of that.the premise of this book was intersting - law disputes settled by combat, but the story moves away from that fairly quickly and becomes about an attempted seige of a giant city, and shows both sides of the war in very realistic and sympathetic views. i bought the sequel before I'd even finished this one
November 24, 2016
Tutti i colori dell'acciaio è un bel fantasy: scorrevole, divertente, con un'ambientazione classica ma fornita comunque di spunti interessanti. Per di più i personaggi principali, oltre a essere ben caratterizzati, hanno il grandissimo pregio di essere irresistibilmente realistici; dal capo nomade invasore al vecchio saggio sacerdote tutti cercano di fare del proprio meglio per uscire da situazioni sgradite ma inevitabili. Niente grandi eroi o cattivi dalla risata malvagia, solo un ritratto meravigliosamente umano.
May 1, 2012
Long and boring for the most part. I liked the fencing bits, the fencing philosophy bits, and the interplay between some of the characters. Other characters I just wanted to kill off as soon as possible. I did like the ending, how the story unfolded to explain who the mysterious girl was and why she wanted to kill the person who'd killed her uncle.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews