Some readers call the city riverside, but thats just the name of the little island in the river in the middle of the city where swordspoint s protagonists live. Against a rich tapestry of artists and aristocrats, students, strumpets, and spies, a gentleman and a scholar will find themselves playing out an ancient drama destined to explode their societys smug view of itself. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Its inspired by all the cities i have read about, studied, and walked in, and loved the best. Ellen kushners riverside series begins with the cult classic swordspoint, followed by the locus award winner and nebula. The book is low fantasyset in a world that has never quite existed, but one which is thoroughly mundane and historically rooted. She tells the story from many perspectives to give the myth weight, a sense of time and place, and most of all, an understanding of why the story has endured. Published february 2003 by spectra first published. Addictive, wellproduced scifi and fantasy that you can listen to or read. In the city, the business of politics is carried out over chocolate, under fireworks, at dinner parties but underneath the civilised banter lies a cutthroat reality. It is a quirky, quick thing full of precise violence and political intrigue written in a silvery voice. This isnt quite the darkly bitter and romantic fairy tale that the first book was, with its tales of deadly duels fought by professionals hired by the aristocracy amidst the dark intrigue of the wealthy hill and the crimeridden warrens of riverside, but it. Although i didnt love swordspoint, i liked it enough to want to read more, and ive finally gotten around to it.
Martin hailed by critics as a bravura performance locus and witty, sharpeyed, and full of interesting people newsday, this acclaimed novel, filled with remarkable plot twists and unexpected humor, takes fantasy to an. Her mythic fantasy novel thomas the rhymer won the world fantasy award and the mythopoeic award. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Ellen kushner unites her talents and insights as a writer, performer, and cultural maven in one sleek package. In this novel ellen kushner and a team of writers return readers to the world of scandal and swordplay introduced in her cultclassic novel swordspoint. The cult classic fantasy of manners, now with three bonus stories swordspoint has an unforgettable opening and just gets better from there.
Ellen kushner 1955 ellen kushner is the author of thomas the rhymer world fantasy and mythopoeic awards, the interconnected novels swordspoint, the privilege of the sword locus award, nebula nominee, and the fall of the kings written with delia sherman. I can certainly understand the manners bit, but im not quite sure that its a fantasy. She narrated these as audiobooks for neil gaiman presents audie award. Written by diverse, bestselling, and respected author teams. Martin hailed by critics as a bravura performance locus and witty, sharpeyed, and full of interesting people newsday, this acclaimed novel, filled with remarkable plot twists and unexpected humor. Ellen kushner the classic forerunner to the fall of the kings now with three bonus stories. Ellen kushners riverside series begins with the cult classic swordspoint, followed by the locus award winner and nebula award nominee the privilege of the sword. Elizabethan london, 18th century paris, 1980s new york, and many others both. Borrow sample click here to view ebook details for swordspoint by ellen kushner. When i ran across this all those years ago, the fashion was for feudal fantasies. Kushner takes one of the most basic celtic myths the human taken into the land of faerie and fashions it around the life of an historical figure, thomas the rhymer.
It was originally published by temporary culture as a limited edition chapbook. Swordspoint, by ellen kushner, is a witty and unabashedly queer caper of a book. The fall of the kings the world of riverside book 3. Ellen kushner is currently considered a single author. The fall of the kings king county library system overdrive. An interview with holly black, ellen kushner, and terri windling 2011 by karen meisner cointerviewed with holly black and terri windling author spotlight.
Welcome to tremontaine, where ambition, love affairs, and rivalries dance with deadly results. Ellen kushners swordspoint is a very light and easy to read fantasy novel. Ive always thought of the defining characteristic of fantasy. Ellen kushner has 124 books on goodreads with 6638 ratings. Hailed by critics as a bravura performance locus and witty, sharpeyed, and full of interesting people newsday. Ellen kushner is the author of world fantasy awardwinner thomas the rhymer, and swords of riverside comprising the interconnected novels swordspoint, the privilege of the sword, and the fall of the kings with delia sherman.
Swordspoint by ellen kushner, 1989, tom doherty associates edition, in english 1st tor ed. The fall of the kings by ellen kushner, delia sherman. Some readers call the city riverside, but thats just the name of the little island in the river in the middle of the city where swordspoints protagonists live. This reprint of a story by ellen kushner is set in the world of her classic swordspoint. Prince of the blood is a work that explores strength and weakness, hope and fear, and what it means to be a manin a kingdom where peace is the most precious commodity of all. Kushner 3 april 1935 rabbi harold samuel kushner is a prominent american rabbi aligned with the progressive wing of conservative judaism, and a popular author. Cybils awards readdown tbr starting line alibrarymama. In a city that never was, sex, scandal, and swordplay combine. Enjoy this book on your ereader and in the format you prefer.
Vier, the most soughtafter among the mercenary swordsmen enlisted by the nobles to. Ellen kushner s swordspoint is a very light and easy to read fantasy novel. Ellen kushner s riverside series begins with the cult classic swordspoint, followed by the locus award winner and nebula award nominee the privilege of the sword. Ellen kushner fantasy magazine, november 2011 2011 by. Against a rich tapestry of artists and aristocrats, students, strumpets, and spies, a gentleman and a scholar will find themselves playing out an ancient drama destined to. From the world fantasy awardwinning author of thomas the rhymer comes a witty and swashbuckling tale of swords and high society. This stunning followup to ellen kushners cultclassic novel, swordspoint, is set in the same world of labyrinthine intrigue, where sharp swords and even sharper wits rule. A tale of romance and adventure in a renaissance fairy land features richard st. Share swordspoint click here to view ebook details for swordspoint by. Vier, the greatest swordsman alive, who is paid to fight duels to the death on behalf of his aristocratic employers, but he and his lover alec cannot help getting tangled up in the cutthroat politics of court this book is interesting, though i found long stretches of it dull.
Martin hailed by critics as a bravura performance locus and witty, sharpeyed, and full of interesting people newsday, this a. The main character, richard, is a swordsman, who earns his living by killing nobles by contract. Upon further research, i discovered that it was a sequel to swordspoint, which i decided to read first earlier this year. Fantasy fiction, fiction, riverside imaginary place, short stories, dueling. The privilege of the sword, and other ellen kushner books have been described as a fantasy of manners. Ellen kushners first novel sets the standard for what a polite fantasy of. The fall of the kings ebook calgary public library. Ellen kushner born october 6, 1955 is an american writer of fantasy novels. The book is set in an unnamed city, in a world rather different to ours.
Swordspoint by ellen kushner the mabinogion series four books by evangeline walton this reminds me how very fortunate i am to keep a good stock of books on hand at all times it took me at least three weeks to finish the library books i had on hand, not even know my last day at the library would be my last for a while. Ellen kushner builds fantasy out of history and romance out of medieval detail, creating an unforgettable tale of adventure, romance, and danger. Against a rich tapestry of artists and aristocrats, students, strumpets, and spies, a gentleman and a scholar will find themselves playing out an ancient drama destined to explode their societys smug view of itselfand. Editions of swordspoint by ellen kushner goodreads. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Email a friend about the white road available formatskindle book overdrive read epub ebook subjectsfantasy.
Buy a cheap copy of swordspoint book by ellen kushner. Swordspoint by ellen kushner is a fantasy of manners novel about richard st. This is basically done as a way to get around blood being on a nobles hands. Selection, 2012 rainbow list, american library association. It has been many long years between the publication of kushners brilliant first novel, swordspoint 1987. She narrated these as audiobooks for neil gaiman presents, winning an audie award for swordspoint.