The Pixilated Peeress

Incorporated Knight #2

by L. Sprague de Camp, Catherine Crook de Camp

Discovering the countess Yvette hiding behind a bush without any clothes on, Sergeant Thorolf is soon enlisted to take her to Rhaetia, a wizard, in order that he might change her form and help her elude her pursuers. Reprint.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Humor

208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 23, 1991

About the author

Lyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction literature. In a career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, both novels and works of non-fiction, including biographies of other fantasy authors. He was a major figure in science fiction in the 1930s and 1940s.

Reviews

[Cori Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know what I was getting into with this book. It was hilarious to me. Yeah there were some things I rolled my eyes at but for the most part I found it quite enjoyable. And it definitely expanded my vocabulary (not that you'd notice from my review). It did make some divots and twists that I didn't expect, fyi it is not a romantacy. If you want a book that you don't have to take seriously and has a surprising ending and makes fun of the heroes of romance then this could be the book for you.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Other than an ending that just sort of trickled out, the book was a page-turner of the kind of humorous adventure-fantasy that L. Sprague de Camp and later his wife Catherine turned out for decades.
The book was filled with satirical commentaries on everything from politics to a thinly-veiled version of Scientology. There were discussions of "justice" as seen from the viewpoint of different societies, and a lot of other social comments, all in a mock-serious style. There was nothing ground-breaking about the book, but it was still very enjoyable.

[Linda C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sergeant Thorolf comes across Countess Yvette of Grintz naked and fleeing Duke Gondomar who wants to force her into marriage to get her kingdom. He takes her to a wizard to temporarily change her appearance so she she can hide while trying to raise a defensive force. The spell works but when the Countess gets drunk the spell changes her into an octopus instead of a different woman. Thus begins a tale of spell reversals, mind enslavement, dragon and troll fighting, numerous battles, and attempted wizard deaths. The style is similar to that of the Princess Bride, a little over the top.