What do You think about The Burning City (2001)?
Copy of my Launchpad review from 2001:Niven and Pournelle have taken pre-Columbian evidence and legend and woven it into an enthralling fantasy.The plot revolves around Whandall; a member of an ethnic grouping called Lordkin. Three groups live in the city of the title: the Lordkin, who are socially criminal; they exist by stealing what they need, and pass the days in family and gang politics; the kinless, who work hard and build, only to have their possessions 'gathered' by the Lordkin; finally, the Lords, who live in a walled enclave, with riches beyond a Lordkin's dreams.Every several years, the Lordkin are consumed by group madness, and commit mass acts of arson; this is seen as possession by their god.The book is split into several sections detailing Whandall’s childhood in the city, his departure, his life outside the city, and his eventual return.As with Feist’s Magician and others this is a tale of a boy from humble stock being caught up in the last years of a way of life, and being remade as a hero.
—Dave Higgins
Overall I enjoyed this book. It had a really good story line which kept me reading and there were some interesting (in a good way) ideas in the world, in terms of settings and gods in particular. However, I didn't get very attached to any of the characters. The writing style was a bit strange; at times it felt okay as it felt like it could be the way in which the main character thought and spoke but at other times I found myself having to re-read a few sentences to work out what it meant.Definitely worth a read though.
—John
Set in Larry Niven's world of The Magic Goes Away, story follows Whandall Placehold as he grows up in Tep's Town, a city where the fire-god Yangin-Atep rules and alternately protects the city's denizens and allows his followers to go on a massive arson-spree called "the Burning".The characters are well thought out and the plot is very engaging - you really get into the mind of Whandall and feel like you know him. The class structure set up with Lords, Lordkin, and Kinless is interesting and the historical derivation of the structure gets explained as the story progresses. The fantasy plotline is believable, innovative, and keeps you reading. I've read this a couple times and am planning to keep it around for a future read or two.
—Ross
