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Books Read
Dec. 14th, 2019 07:43 am193. One Man, Harry Connolly
By halfway through this book, the reader can immediately tell the national origin of a character by their naming pattern, and can figure out their rough social status by honorific-surnames. That's helpful, since the government of this city-state built in the gigantic skeleton of a dead god has an astounding number of factions. There's magic, but you can't be sure that it isn't mythical until a quarter of the way in. The monetary system is thoroughly opaque. The city's metaphors are about sails and stitches. In short, Connolly has mastered the art of immersing the reader in a strange place.
On top of that is a strong story about political turmoil, featuring several noble houses, several organized gangs, the constabulary force, the bureaucratic hospital system, foreign invaders, and a man who is justly scared of himself.
Recommended.
By halfway through this book, the reader can immediately tell the national origin of a character by their naming pattern, and can figure out their rough social status by honorific-surnames. That's helpful, since the government of this city-state built in the gigantic skeleton of a dead god has an astounding number of factions. There's magic, but you can't be sure that it isn't mythical until a quarter of the way in. The monetary system is thoroughly opaque. The city's metaphors are about sails and stitches. In short, Connolly has mastered the art of immersing the reader in a strange place.
On top of that is a strong story about political turmoil, featuring several noble houses, several organized gangs, the constabulary force, the bureaucratic hospital system, foreign invaders, and a man who is justly scared of himself.
Recommended.
