Swashbuckling adventure! Sinister plots against the Empire! Will good friends, honor and friendliness prevail?In all reviewer honesty, I've had this book for a number of years now (fine; since I bought the paperback release in 1992. Yes, Grasshopper, I'm that old) and have re-read it more than a few times since. I'm re-reading it now with Fantasy Aficionados, so it's time to trumpet its virtues.Apparently in the style of The Three Musketeers (which I have not read), Brust goes one better by setting it in an interesting fantasy world and giving us a female fighter in the foursome. Like Dumas, Brust uses the background premise of a manuscript by another author, only in this case, the book is a "notebook" created by a historian surrounding events that preceded the fall of the Empire. It is part of a stand-alone duo set in the same world as the Vlad Taltos series, centering on events that contributed to the Interregnum, a significant world-event that continues to have consequences in Vlad's time. The plot centers around four young adults heading to the capital city to join the Dragon guard, seeking fame, adventure or a trade (alas, no fire-breathing dragons here). The narrative chiefly focuses on Khaavren, an impoverished country noble seeking a trade. Lacking the sorcerery skills of Tazendra, the deviousness of Pell, or the quiet thoughtfulness of Aerich, he relies on his interest and open demeanor as he finds his way in the city. Together the four are formidable. Though not blood-thirsty, preserving honor is important and they are involved in more than their share of duels defending themselves or each other. Although they don't realize it, they are about to play a role in the politics of the nation as one of them seeks to win a lady's affection. There are swords, and sorcery; plots to overthrow the throne, and plots to support it. Hands will be kissed, brigands defeated, friends made, and rescues attempted.Dialogue is formal and ornate, with much verbal fencing:"'It is not a word,' said Pel, tossing his cloak over his shoulder so that the elegant hilt of his blade was visible, 'that pleases my ears.''Well,' said the lady who had spoken first, 'I confess that your ears are of only a little concern to me.''But,' said Pel, bowing politely, 'your tongue is of great concern to me.''For my part,' said Khaavren, 'I am concerned with her feet.''How,' said Aerich, who stood between Pel and Khaavren. 'Her feet?''Indeed. For if she will use them to move from these cramped quarters, well, I will do her the honor of showing her what my arm can do.'"With a fair amount of sly asides and subtle banter, this isn't really a laugh-out-loud book; rather it acknowledges the occasional humorous note in clever word-play. For instance: "'It's amazing!' he [Khaavren] cried to his companions.Pel smiled complacently, but Tazendra touched his arm and said in a low voice, "Come! Not so loud. Everyone will think that you come from the duchies.'A puzzled look crossed Khaavren's countenance. 'But I do come from the duchies.'This time, the look of puzzlement crossed Tazendra's features, while Aerich smiled."I remember on first read, the initial sections with Paarfi, the self-absorbed and pompous 'chronicler,' as being confusing and distracting. I found them more amusing on the second and third reads. Brust uses a potentially risky technique here of referencing popular works/events within the world of the book, so although the reader remains clueless as to the actual reference, the meaning usually comes clear. "The creation for the first time of forts and fortresses (the distinction, certain comments by the Lord of Snails notwithstanding, having nothing whatsoever to do with the presence of breastworks, nor the size of buttresses)." Also, if this is your first entry into Brust's Dragaeran Empire, the social structure takes awhile to piece together. While basically a feudal society, people are members of one of seventeen Houses, or genetic lineages that tend to specific characteristics and traits. Part of the challenge the first time through is piecing the social structure together.The plotting is complex, and sheer perfection when it comes together at the end. This is a well-crafted book that should appeal to those who love a complex epic fantasy (Malazan, anyone?). It only improves with re-reading, as the extent to which the characters are subject to behind-the-scenes forces becomes clear. When coupled with the Vlad series, it provides a fascinating historical insight into a complex world.Four and a half comradely stars.Ps. I'm fairly certain there is a sneaky little homage to The Princess Bride tucked away in chapter twenty-six."'You use that word again, Garland.''Well, and is it not a perfectly good word, your ladyship?''Oh, I have no quarrel with the word.''And then?''But its application in this case.''I must hold to it, your ladyship.''And yet I declare that the thing is impossible.'"Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2013/0...
Before I get started on my review, allow me to make one thing clear—do not read this book simply based on my liking it. You could very well hate it. It is one of the few books I've read which has such a polarizing effect on those who pick it up. It is written in a specific style no longer utilized by modern writers and as such turns a lot of folks off. Read an excerpt if you can. You'll quickly discover if you find the writing entertaining or annoying."The Phoenix Guards" is not a new book, but it's been on my "to read" list for ages, and lurking on my Kindle almost as long, so I thought it high time to consume it. Anyone who is a fan of Alexander Dumas will recognize the writing style immediately. Mr. Brust emulated Dumas' style beautifully. This is a good thing for folks like me who enjoy long exchanges of inane banter between characters, often without accompanying tags to help you keep track of who said what. Dumas also used his books to transport his readers to exotic lands. Nowadays we can travel from L.A. to Tokyo in about thirteen hours. In Dumas'time, people just didn't get around as much, or have access to the internet or coffee table books with large photos. As such, Dumas' books were part adventure, part travelogue. Mr. Brust takes this route for his story too (though not to quite the extremes as Dumas). You'll finish the story knowing all sorts of things about a typical roadside inn, you'll learn about the different architectural styles of each emperor, you'll be able to label horses based on color, build and strengths/weaknesses, etc. Yes, lots of detail.It's not unusual for the story to come to a screeching halt while the narrator describes in exquisite detail what a new character is wearing, how they carry themselves, what about their bone structure, skin color and hair color distinguishes them as a Dragonlord or a Yenti, and even what weapon style they favor. In between are dozens of fights, many of them duels based on honor, and the body count is high. Apparently, it's exhausting to be a gentleman in Mr. Brust's world. One never knows when he might have to defend himself against a verbal slight. I'm fairly certain none of us have run into an artist so hot-headed she lopped someone's head off because he insulted her painting. That's passion!In the end, the story threads get pulled together neatly, and in a very "Three Musketeers" sort of way, our group of friends go their own way, but leaving us with the hope they might find the time to get together again for more adventures down the road. It's all in good fun and I loved it.
What do You think about The Phoenix Guards (1992)?
While I am a fan of Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos series, I wasn't as happy with this book. "Why is that?"I will tell you."I hope you do."I certainly will."Then please continue."Thank you, I will."You are welcome."So it is this, then... Steven Brust wrote this in hopes of creating something of his own in a style similar to that of Alexandre Dumas ("The Three Musketeers", "Count of Monte Cristo"). And he did a good job at that. But the book comes off as unnecessarily wordy, with lots of annoying interchanges like the one above. Dumas wrote like that in his books as well, but he didn't do it for reasons of style or because the people of the time spoke that way. He wrote that way because he was paid by the word (which I certainly hope Brust is not).When writing "The Phoenix Guards", Brust created a good story that could have been told in two-thirds of the time. While not a bad read over all, it would be much better in an abridged version.
—Mornblade Keltoislave
Join the Guard! Make new friends! Stumble on to Political Schemes! Have your life threatened! Find love! Experience Betrayal! All while experiencing the roundabout, verbose, inventive prose!This book is a treat to anyone with a language fetish. Brust was bemoaning the fact that there were no authors in modern times who wrote as Dumas did. And so, he decided to write a version of the Three Musketeers in the style of Dumas, but in his own world of Dragera. This is a fun adventure involving swords, battles, magic, and friendship. If you know the story of the Three Musketeers the tricks and turns of the plot will be easier to foretell, but there are enough differences that the story is still most enjoyable. The style is very different from most modern authors, and yet it is pleasant to read. Like reading Austen, the differences are there and make it somewhat hard to access at first, but once you settle in the pace & rhythm seems so natural that when you encounter modern fiction writing again you will be surprised at the brevity.Khaavern is the D'artanin mirror. Like his inspiration, he's young in the world, comes from a well bred family that has lost their lands, and is making his way to the Palace to join the elite fighting force, The Phoenix Guards, such to be able to win fame & fortune. Along the way he meets two friends, Tazenda & Aerich, who decide to join him in his pursuit. After arriving in the city, the 3 companions meet up with Pel, who is a newly recruited Guard himself, and they all start off together. There are several duels fought, with and without the legal observations that prevent it from being murder. And, along the way, the four companions are caught up in a plot of treason due to their natural curiosity as well as at the insistence of a lovely lady. And I find I am falling into the style of the author to an extent, for which I refuse to apologize.I have read Brust's other books (namely Jhereg & company) which follow the assassin Vlad Taltos. This book takes place 1000 years before those books, and the landscape of the world is very different. It is fun to meet some of the historical figures referenced in the Vlad books, as well as read hints of plotlines that surface 1000 years later (Dragerans, it should be understood, live for 400-700 years; or, in the case of Sethra Lavode, have achieved apparent immortality via undeath). While you can certainly start at the Khaavern Romances (which is what this series is called), I had a lot more fun than I would have otherwise having read the Vlad books. If I must condescend to give this worthy history a rating, I would have to give it 5 out of 5 noble Tiassas.
—Dawn
This swashbuckling fantasy is a delightful pastiche of The Three Musketeers, a loving tribute to Dumas' era of romance. Brust succeeds, amazingly, in capturing the atmosphere, the Dumas style, and the four characters in thinly disguised form (Porthos is a female!); but far more admirable, he manages to contrive a convoluted, original plot that reveals itself in tantalizing fits and starts which would make the master proud. At the same time, his detailed world and the mannerisms of the characters remain his own. A minor flaw is that the tongue-in-cheek dialogue, with all its repetitions and exclamatives, starts to lose its edge and resemble Woosterian farce. I would have enjoyed this book more, I'm sure, were I not a stranger to its fantasy world. Brust has written a whole other, earlier series set there which I haven't read. Even so this was one of the most enjoyable fantasies I've read in a while.
—Ensiform
