Every Inch a King

Alternative Worlds

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Every Inch a King
Harry Turtledove
Del Rey, March 2007, $14.95, 304 pp.
ISBN 0345487362

One night after a stellar performance given by Dooger and Clark’s Traveling Emporium, circus performance Otto of Schlepsig reads in the paper that the temporary ruler of Shqiperi wants the Hassockian Empire to send Prince Hallim Eddin to be their new king. Accompanying the article is a picture of the prince who could be Otto’s identical twin. Not one to miss such an oppurtunity, Otto and his friend Jim the sword swallower head for Shqiperi.

On the trek they have to first fight off a sea serpent and a vampire which they ultimately do. When they arrive, Otto, masquerading as the prince, orders Essad Pasha to introduce him to the army. He also wants the treasury and his harem moved to his palace after he is crowned king. He shows Essad Pasha in various ways that he will not be a puppet ruler and earns respect for that. Otto shares everything with Jim but his friend worries that they will be found out and if they don’t come up with a plan of escape if circumstances warrant, they will be killed.

EVERY INCH A KING is a delightful, straight forward fairy tale that will definitely enchant the audience. The main character is an anti-hero scammer and con artist, who doesn’t have a mean bone in his body and would be a good ruler given the chance. Readers will adore him and hope he doesn’t get himself killed. Fans of Harry Turtledove’s epic alternate histories should know he is a great fantasist of smaller scale alleged events as well.
 

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