Swordspoint (Riverside, #1)

Posted on 12 June 2018 by Ellen Kushner

The classic forerunner to The Fall of the Kings now with three bonus stories Hailed by critics as a bravura performance Locus and witty, sharp eyed, and full of interesting people Newsday , this classic melodrama of manners, filled with remarkable plot twists and unexpected humor, takes fantasy to an unprecedented level of elegant writing and scintillating wit Award winning author Ellen Kushner has created a world of unforgettable characters whose political ambitions, passionate love affairs, and age old rivalries collide with deadly results.SwordspointOn the treacherous streets of Riverside, a man lives and dies by the sword Even the nobles on the Hill turn to duels to settle their disputes Within this elite, dangerous world, Richard St Vier is the undisputed master, as skilled as he is ruthless until a death by the sword is met with outrage instead of awe, and the city discovers that the line between hero and villain can be altered in the blink of an eye. Free Read Swordspoint (Riverside, #1) [ Author ] Ellen Kushner [ Kindle ePUB or eBook ] – kino-fada.fr I read very little of this book While it is well written I say this in respect to those who like it greatly it is not a book I care to get involved in The world while well crafted is one that creeps toward debauchery and cynicism on an almost monumental scale There are actually so far as I can see no heroes here, very little that is redeeming It s claim to fame is a drama in a world of those who see themselves as sly sophisticates Please enjoy it if it s to your taste as fiction. It I read very little of this book While it is well written I say this in respect to those who like it greatly it is...First, I should point out that the audiobook of this novel is a fantastic treat, including multiple voices including the author, herself, but also ambient sounds such as background conversations and even a cat Music, too But don t let that dissuade you, either, because it s all low key enough to let us focus mainly on the tale at hand.So what is this Is it really fantasy Honestly, I don t think there s much fantasy at all, but if you like swords and high 18th century culture on a slight stero First, I should point out that the audiobook of this novel is a fantastic treat, including multiple voices including the author, herself, but also ambient sounds such as background conversations and even a cat Music, too But don t let that dissuade you, either, because ...my goodness, but this was fun.by the time I started worrying that the twisty subterfuge would drain the story of momentum I looked up and realized I d practically inhaled this badboy to the 70 percent mark and then some shit went down and my heart was pounding in my throat.meanwhile, this edition has a trio of follow up stories at the end, so 70 percent turned out to be 90 percent bravo a lush, layered, ingeniously taut melange of gripping skullduggery, sword fights, bisexual escapades, and ev my goodness, but this was fun.by the time I started worrying that the twi...I picked this up for a couple of euro in one of my favourite second hand bookshops because I d heard it recommended numerous times on my flist Cheesy fantasy novel cover aside as a side note, exactly why must the covers of 99% of fantasy books be so fantastically appalling , the descriptions I d heard of it made it seem as if the book was tailor made to appeal to me A well written, slashy, historical fantasy of manners what s not to like Well, quite a lot, as it turns out If the blurb by I picked this up for a couple of euro in one of my favourite second hand bookshops because I d heard it recommended numerous times on my flist Cheesy fantasy novel cover aside as a side note, exactly why must the covers of 99% of fantasy books be so fantastically appalling , the descriptions I d heard of it made it seem as if the book was tailor made to appeal to me A well written, slashy, historical fantasy of manners what s not to like Well, quite a lot, as it turns out If the blurb by Neil Gaiman on the back cover is true that this was the best fantasy novel of 1988 then the f...Ellen Kushner s first novel sets the standard for what a polite fantasy of manners and romance should be Like Jane Austen, Ms Kushner s language sparkles with wit and verve She creates a world both familiar and yet not like anyplace we ve ever been and inhabits it with characters who cease to be imaginary Like Rafael Sabatini, the swordfight scenes keep one on the edge of their seat, though are elegantly restrained yet sharply honed Richard St Vier is as dashing and gallant as Basil Rathbo Ellen Kushner s first novel sets the standard for what a polite fantasy of manners and romance should be Like Jane Austen, Ms Kushner s language sparkles with wit and verve She creates a world both familiar and yet...Hahahahaha wow Man I don t even know what to say about this Okay basic run down this book s got two primary narrators Richard St Vier and Michael Godwin Everyone wants a piece of St Vier because he s the most badass swordsman ever to exist and apparently stabbing people is an acceptable way to resolve conflicts in this world so long as you outsource the job Michael Godwin is a doof with a talent for ruining his own life Lucky for him he is rich good looking doof who catches the eye of o Hahahahaha wow Man I don t even know what to say about this Okay basic run down this ...Nunca m s le hago caso a una recomendaci n de George R.R Martin.Esta es la historia de Richard de Vier, una suerte de mercenario que trabaja de batirse a duelo con espadas en nombre de la persona que lo contrata No tiene escr pulos en matar a su contrincante si la situaci n lo amerita, y suele ser contratado por los nobles que viven en la Colina, la parte de la ciudad donde la ley a n existe bastante.El libro ir alternando la historia de Richard con las historias de varios nobles, en una c Nunca m s le hago caso a una recomendaci n de George R.R Martin.Esta es la historia de Richard de Vier, una suerte de mercenario que trabaja de batirse a duelo con espadas en nombre de la persona que lo contrata No tiene escr pulos en matar a su contrincante si la situaci n lo amerita, y suele ser contratado por los nobles que viven en la Colina, la parte de la ciudad donde la ley a n existe bastante.El libro ir alternando la historia de Richard con las historias de vari...Tiresome Tedious Repetitive Populated with interchangeable, unlikable cardboard cut out characters The dialogue is endlessly crammed with discussions of fashion and parties and clothes and status seeking The action sequences either occur off stage or crawl by at a snail s pace, and despite its name there s next to no sword fighting in the actual narrative I have no idea how this became considered a new classic nor even how it managed to become identified as fantasy It slike an a Tiresome Tedious Repetitive Populated with interchangeable, unlikable cardboard cut out characters The dialogue is endlessly crammed with discussions of fashion and parties and clothes and status seeking The action seq...Gorgeous and memorable book There s not a lot that I can add that hasn t been said I read it about the time I was discovering LGBTQ characters in spec fiction, and I remember wishing that everything could be like this.I read this book years ago when I was an impressionable Mormon closet case, and I remember being intrigued and disturbed at the time by Kushner s depiction of lust, bisexuality and homosexual relationships When I reread it today I rediscovered its brilliance, intricacy and poignancy The relationship between the swordsman St Vier and his young gentleman, the University student had a glittering, frenzied, self destructive beauty I associate with Matt Damon s Mr Ripley, while finding an eventu I read this book years ago when I was an impressionable Mormon closet case, and I remember being intrigued and disturbed at the time by Kushner s depi...

English
12 June 2018

Ellen Kushner