Alternative Worlds
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Brokedown Palace
Steven Brust
Orb, Sep 2006, $14.95
ISBN: 0765315041
In the Kingdom of Fenario on the bank of the Faerie River, four brothers rule but compete for ultimate control. King Laszlo is considered a just and kind person, but most of his subjects especially his siblings think he is not all there mentally, which has led to his brothers usurping some of his power. Devious Prince Andor seems to care about only others who can further his ambitions; anyone else is meaningless and those who he allies with are disposable. Physically and emotionally Prince Vilmos is a strong person, but lacks intelligence and common sense. Finally the youngest obstinate Prince Miklos thinks his older brothers are too moronic to rule over the kingdom symbolized by the collapsed unusable West Wing.
Miklos has been gone for quite awhile and assumed dead, as the remaining trio squabble while others stalk the royals with plans to displace them. Threats come for all walks of life as a wizard, a dragon and a horde of jhereg prepare to dispose of the siblings with some seeing them as royal dessert. Victory seems assured to the adversaries because the three remaining brothers are Mad, Shallow, and Stupid, as they still fight one another instead of uniting against a common cause.
This is a delightful reprint of a mid 1980s fantasy that seems very apropos today due to the use of ironic symbolism like the crumbled West Wing and the personalities of the four brothers to lampoon know it all leadership. Readers will appreciate how the brothers have common enemies, but still cannot put aside their desires to be in charge, leaving them vulnerable to their adversaries. Steven Brust takes his audience to a broken down magical land set far to the east of his Taltos thrillers.
Steven Brust
Orb, Sep 2006, $14.95
ISBN: 0765315041
In the Kingdom of Fenario on the bank of the Faerie River, four brothers rule but compete for ultimate control. King Laszlo is considered a just and kind person, but most of his subjects especially his siblings think he is not all there mentally, which has led to his brothers usurping some of his power. Devious Prince Andor seems to care about only others who can further his ambitions; anyone else is meaningless and those who he allies with are disposable. Physically and emotionally Prince Vilmos is a strong person, but lacks intelligence and common sense. Finally the youngest obstinate Prince Miklos thinks his older brothers are too moronic to rule over the kingdom symbolized by the collapsed unusable West Wing.
Miklos has been gone for quite awhile and assumed dead, as the remaining trio squabble while others stalk the royals with plans to displace them. Threats come for all walks of life as a wizard, a dragon and a horde of jhereg prepare to dispose of the siblings with some seeing them as royal dessert. Victory seems assured to the adversaries because the three remaining brothers are Mad, Shallow, and Stupid, as they still fight one another instead of uniting against a common cause.
This is a delightful reprint of a mid 1980s fantasy that seems very apropos today due to the use of ironic symbolism like the crumbled West Wing and the personalities of the four brothers to lampoon know it all leadership. Readers will appreciate how the brothers have common enemies, but still cannot put aside their desires to be in charge, leaving them vulnerable to their adversaries. Steven Brust takes his audience to a broken down magical land set far to the east of his Taltos thrillers.
