Whether you like this book or not is very dependent on how much you can deal with a rather overwhelming parody joke. The following is an example of a typical piece of dialogue:"I have an idea!""An idea?""Yes, an idea.""And is it a good idea?""I believe it is in fact a very splendid idea.""I would be ever so honored if you would share this idea with me.""Than I shall do so.""I cannot but wait.""I shall begin ahence.""As soon as you are ready.""Here then, is the idea..."This book was written in the "don't say anything in one sentence which you could say in fifteen" style. This is not to criticize, the author, however, since this was a very deliberate effort to parody the writing and style of Alexandre Dumas (I personally don't recall Dumas being so tedious, but it has been many years since I've read something of his). The title of the book, in fact, is a reference to the second of the Three Musketeer's novels ("20 Years After"), although the plot is not particularly related. It is in fact the written view of Adron's Disaster (for those familiar with the Taltos universe), told from the point of view (more of less) of the four characters first introduced in the The Phoenix Guards. If you can get past the...er...fullness of the dialogue, then you might enjoy this story, although I don't think it really holds up to the better Taltos novels. If the little sample I invented is already driving you nuts, than this is one series to definitely skip.
Brust returns to the players in the Phoenix Guards who have been apart for 500 years. Fate throws our four heroes together as they set out again to save the empire. This book follows them over the course of two weeks in which the events from 500 years earlier catch up to them and forces are in play that threaten to rip the empire apart and have dire personal consequences.As with the Phoenix Guard. Brust provides a unique way of speaking that at times can interfere with the storytelling but is mostly just annoying. A little less character development than in the first book, Brust allows the events themselves to overshadow the people as they move through the plots and treacheries that arise. This book could have benefited from an extra 75 to 100 pages to flesh out the court intrigues, the motivations, and the internal conflicts of the characters - you've got to wonder at times why we (or the main characters) should really care what happens to the empire/
The sequel to The Phoenix Guards. More of the same --- very funny, overly elaborate dialogue, intentionally portentous narration that works well to comedic effect, same great characterization and if anything an even more elaborate original plot. The apocalyptic ending was a true page-turner. I'm glad that Brust is choosing to keep the ex-Guardsmen more friendly (although they do all have different goals) than Dumas did his Musketeers in his first sequel. The romance adds a happy ending to an otherwise altogether shocking and terrible end.
—Ensiform
"I have read Five Hundred Years After by Steven Brust. I understand you wish to hear of it.""I would like nothing more. Please tell me of it.""Yes. I shall give you my review now.""I am listening, Reviewer."I've been reading about the exploits of Vlad Taltos since I was in high school back in the late 80's. If anything, each book is more subtle and nuanced than one before it. Five Hundred Years After was written almost a decade ago but works well as a sequel to Phonenix Guards. While Vlad doesn't make an appearance in this work, the look/feel/world-building elements are present and accounted for.Brust has an amazing talent for dialogue, misdirection and layering complex plot circles on top of themselves. The patterns of speech, tone and other factors make it worth studying just to see how he pulls off some of his tricks.If you have not yet read his work, you'd be doing yourself a favor by checking out any of his titles.
—Chris Bauer
Steven Brust writes old-fashioned fantasies that are set in a world that is, well, fun. “Five Hundred Years After” (Orb, $15.99, 444 pages) further chronicles the past of the world in which the Vlad Taltos books are set, and is a follow-up to “The Phoenix Guard.” The style is purposefully ornate, and, as Alexander Dumas is one of Brust’s favorite authors, there’s more than a hint of “The Three Musketeers” – with of course the addition of magic and “humans” who live for a thousand years or more.Generally, I avoid reviewing reprints (this first came out in 1994), but Brust is a pleasure to read and his work is a pleasant counterpoint to the dystopias that rule the day in 21st century fantasy.
—Clay Kallam
