ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.Majestrum is a relatively short (232 page trade paperback) science fantasy set in our own far-future universe which has been colonized far and wide by humans from "Old Earth." The protagonist, Henghis Hapthorn, is a "discriminator" ("he unravels conundrums, picks apart puzzles, uncovers enigmas") who uses his keen logical skills to solve mysteries.But some strange stuff is going on: Mr Hapthorn's integrator (a sentient computer which assists him in his work) has recently donned flesh and blood and become more like a familiar than a computer. Also, the small intuitive part of Henghis's psyche has suddenly asserted itself as a separate personality which shares Henghis's brain and body. These occurrences seem to indicate that sympathetic association (magic), which waxes and wanes across the eons, is now rising again. And soon Henghis Hapthorn's double personality and his familiar find themselves hunting an ancient evil force which is trying to resurface.Majestrum is a fast-paced novel which reads much like a crime thriller (Matthew Hughes writes those under the name Matt Hughes) with a heavy dose of sarcasm, irony, and dry humor. The few characters are well-drawn and I am interested enough in one of them -- the archon Filidor -- that I may read the previous Archonate novels in which he was the main character.Mr Hughes confesses to being a Jack Vance fan, and this influence is definitely noticeable. I thought I also detected some echoes of Ursula Le Guin -- especially in the spare style and the importance of names in the magic system.Matthew Hughes' droll writing style is amusing, and there are many laugh-out-loud moments such as when Henghis has to put on upper-class ornamentation so that the nobles can perceive him, when his integrator/familiar falls asleep at crucial moments, and when hardened criminals are given to the Corps of Buffoons, fitted with coercion suits, and compelled to publicly act in bawdy plays. Even the character names are funny: Glam Botch, Bristal Baxandall, Vhobald Hammis.This was an inventive and entertaining novel but (as usual) I've got a few minor complaints to mention. The writing style, which seemed clever at first, was overdone to the point where I really wanted to take my blue pencil to it. There were too many ten-dollar words (e.g., peregrinations, transmogrification, pansophical, ratiocination) and the characters "ascend" rather than go up, "peruse" instead of read, and "ascertain" instead of figure out. And I started to tire of these sorts of constructions (all of the characters speak this way):* "The ensuing conversation was one of those colloquies that occur when no one wishes to mention the particularly salient fact that is nonetheless in the front of each participant's mind."* "She made no answer but the set of her mouth told me that she had sustained worse injury than being made ridiculous before all whose opinions she valued, bad as that hurt must have been to one of her milieu."* "She turned her head away and I could see her undertaking the uncharacteristic effort of thinking."* "I then executed the precise formal motions that would register in the hyperesthetic circuits of his aristocratic neural net."* "But my fear is swept away by a presentiment that I am about to experience astonishments."The ending of Majestrum was so far-fetched that I suspect that Mr Hughes was actually going for camp. (If I had read any of his other novels, I'd have a better feel for this.) Henghis Hapthorn who, according to his alter-ego is "trapped in linear rationalism," dismisses key facts and comes to a ridiculously and obviously wrong conclusion about the strange case they're working on, and ends up putting themselves in danger. But the climax unravels itself so quickly and painlessly that there's not much feeling evoked from the reader. This seemed inconsistent with the way that the evil enemy had been portrayed up to this point, and I was a bit let down.But, overall Majestrum is an entertaining and quick read. If you're already a Matthew Hughes fan, if you enjoy Jack Vance style science fantasy, or if you're looking for something a bit quirky and light, then I recommend Majestrum. If you're only into traditional epic fantasy or sword & sorcery, or if you have no patience for a magniloquent writing style, look elsewhere. Read this review in context at Fantasy literature.
Majestrum is a book that's stuck with me for a while now. It's been a year since I read the damned thing. But I saw it sitting in my bookshelf just now and I felt the impulse to write a review. So here we are.Majestrum probably stuck with me for one particular reason: it's style parodies- lovingly, heroically, always dryly- the antiquarian, Enlish English I associate with Victorian and post-Victorian writers. I love that stuffy style (depending on the writer) because I find it delightful when authors successfully string together as many obscure Latin- or Greek-rooted words as they can. I know that's not a delight I'm likely to have in common with most folks (yes, the use of 'folks' is intentionally ironic), but I know there have got to be a few kindred spirits out there who also know a dead language or two and share my love of intricately ponderous diction. You guys ought to read Majestrum.Further, Majestrum is a fantastical (perhaps steampunk) adaptation of Sherlock Holmes. Who doesn't love Sherlock Holmes? Communists, that's who. And you're not a Communist, are you reader?Anyhow, I particularly like the concept of Hughes' stand-in for Sherlock. Like the original, he's a brilliant and eccentric private detective. But Sherlock was a detective ahead of his time impatiently waiting for modernity to catch up. Hapthorn is a detective comfortably ensconced in modernity, living in a world which is becoming fantastic (and decidedly non-modern). And Hapthorn knows that he will not survive his world's inevitable transition. Hapthorn can spot his Reichenbach Falls from a great distance, and the tragedy of this lends extra complexity and depth to an already venerable character.So yeah. If you like big words for the sake of big words, or if you like Sherlock Holmes a lot, read this book.
What do You think about Majestrum (2007)?
This novel was a very different read, i knew the droll prose, tone of Hughes in Template that was my first novel of his. This first Henghis Hapthorn story was very entertaining,fun read. Strong character, mystery wise. I found Henghis Haptorn himself very interesting, the only minus was there was not enough world building detail in the novel. I would like to have known more about Old Earth that is aeons in the future, The Ten Thousand human worlds, different human cultures. When he did write about alien human culture in other planets or in Old Earth he did it very well.
—Mohammed
A quick fun read that suffers from the common flaws of books set within massively intricate created universes: it doesn't wait for the reader to come to it rather it aggressively 'brings the reader up to steam.' All too often the narrative voice provides information which is necessary only to let the reader follow what is going on instead of simply demonstrating how the protagonist arrived at his conclusions. And at the very moment the tension and momentum rose to its greatest height there is a infodump of massive proportions.
—Mmyoung
This appears to be the first book in the series about Henghis Hapthorn, but there's nonetheless plenty of backstory that you need to be prepared to go with. Hughes does a good job of filling in the world and Hapthorn's history, doling it out in bits and pieces. Those who enjoy being led through complex, intriguing alternate worlds will find a lot to like here. The setting of a, yes, somewhat steampunkish future which is nearing the end of its "rational" cycle and returning to a universe ruled by sympathetic magical energies is fascinating and well-drawn.Hughes has a poetic way with words, and the writing is very impressive. However, the book does stutter at times -- the story hits occasional snags that interrupt the smooth flow of events. Early on I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to keep reading, but my curiosity got the better of me and I'm glad it did. By the halfway point, I was fully engaged and eager to continue and see where things were going, and I felt duly rewarded by the end. I'll be moving on to the next book shortly.
—Mason Jones
