The Fall of The Kings (Riverside)

Table of Contents

Praise for
ELLEN KUSHNER
and
DELIA SHERMAN
and

THE FALL OF THE KINGS

“Immensely appealing, intelligent, and great fun.”

—
Kirkus Reviews

“A virtual treat for all the senses . . . for those who like their fantasy soaked in intrigue, history and romance . . .
One of
the bawdiest and most intellectually stimulating novels of
the year!” —BookPage

“Kushner and Sherman return to the sophisticated urban world of Kushner’s
Swordspoint
60 years later, as the city is overset by research into the past that unearths dangerous old magic and political unrest.
A powerful fantasy that rises
above the crowd with a vivid setting, complex characters,
and elegant prose.
” —
Locus,
“New and Notable Books”

“
A high-fantasy novel of rare quality,
in which the richly detailed world building leaps out and seizes the reader . . . Nor are the characterizations of either the two lovers or their supporting cast wanting, and that goes especially for Theron’s remarkable and unorthodox mother.
Literate,
absorbing, and with bite to it,
the book shows that Kushner and Sherman together are quite up to the standards of either on her own.” —
Booklist

“This dynamic tale of the twin powers of love and scholarship offers a glimpse into the connection between learning and politics while portraying the lives of individuals poised on the border of myth and reality. Kushner and coauthor Sherman craft
a sensual and evocative tale
that should appeal to fans of Tanith Lee and Storm Constantine.
Highly
recommended.
” —
Library Journal

“By avoiding clichéd settings and plot so deftly,
the authors
tap into fantasy’s genuine source of drama, its ability to
haunt, appall, transform.
” —
Locus

“Layered and complex . . . mature, adventurous, witty and deep . . . [with]
a strongly plotted story . . . with growing threads
of action and intrigue to keep even the most jaded of readers
interested.
” —
Lambda Book Report

“The complex interplay of the characters is a delight in itself, and the authors have accomplished the most difficult task in fantasy—they have created
a world of magic that
feels authentic. Here’s a fantasy novel that won’t insult your
intelligence,
and which almost demands rereading to catch all the nuances you miss the first time.”

—
Science Fiction Chronicle

“Embraces the age-old struggle between scholars and mystics . . . to bridge the gulf that separates history from mystery. . . . The interactions between the characters echo the works of Dorothy Dunnett. . . . St Cloud, Campion, and the rest of
the cast walk through the pages of this novel
with style and wit, larger than life—and full of life.
”

—Charles DeLint, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

“A collaboration
evocative of Jane Austen or Georgette
Heyer,
Kushner and Sherman deliver their ‘comedy of academic manners’ with panache.” —
Romantic Times

“
The Fall of the Kings
is
a glorious re-envisioning of magic
and academia
—more precisely, of the magic of academia. Ellen Kushner & Delia Sherman succeed in capturing the enchantments of scholarship, those tenuous elements that keep us all, scholars, authors, essayists, and hobbyists, in willing thrall to our subject matter. . . .
The Fall of the Kings
is a rare treasure, a seamless collaboration. The two authors have created a shared fantasy that is enhanced by the styles and ideas of both, without being overwhelmed by either.”

—
The New York Review of Science Fiction

“This book is stunning. It has all of the rich fantastic tapestry of
Swordspoint,
and more depth, more wonder and truth and humanity. . . .
If Oscar Wilde were writing high fantasy,
he’d want to write
The
Fall
of
the
Kings
.
” —Sarah Smith “
Gorgeous prose and a galloping story
, with a wickedly funny appreciation for academic knifefights, and a deep understanding of a true scholar’s passion for his subject.”

—Mary Doria Russell

“
Swordspoint
was the best fantasy novel of 1989.
The Fall
of the Kings
is better—twistier and deeper.” —Neil Gaiman “If one wants to locate the high ground of fantasy fiction, as this new millennium begins, it is a very good idea to see where Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman are. Individually, and writing together, they honor the genre with their work.”

—Guy Gavriel Kay

“
A charmed, witty romp through an alternate history’s history
, full of appealing characters and enough mystery to keep me turning pages . . . A very intelligent novel, skillfully written by two writers from whom I’ve come to expect the best.”

—Patricia McKillip

“
Engaging characters, with their sharp dialogue and complex
relationships, and a wonderfully realized setting combine
here for one of my favourite books this year
.”

—Charles de Lint

“Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman combine their talents to fine effect, pulling off the considerable trick of making elegant prose seem effortless.
The characters are as vivid, complex and varied as the milieu in which they operate
, and the contrast inherent in the reemergence of a deep-rooted, archetypal magic into an elaborately mannered society is piquant and compelling.” —Jacqueline Carey

“What a pleasure to return to the world Ellen created in
Swordspoint
. . . this is how fantasy should be written. Kushner and Sherman write with grace, style, wit, and a delicious attention to detail.
The Fall of the Kings
is that rare thing these days:
a novel that sweeps you in and lets you live the
story with the characters
.” —Lynn Flewelling

“I tore into
The Fall of the Kings
with the enthusiasm of an emigrant allowed to make a sudden, unexpected trip home. . . .
Kushner and Sherman don’t spin fables or knit
fancies: they are world-forgers, working in a language of iron
and air.
” —Gregory Maguire, author of
Wicked
and
Lost

“Deliciously rapturous . . . Sherman and Kushner are painters of great subtlety and sophistication, giving us
a rich fantasy
world where swordsmen and lady pirates seem every bit as
believable as scholars.
Sacred sexuality, drawing room politics, and mystical secrets all walk right into our hearts in the form of unforgettable characters. I enjoyed every page, every line.” —Cecilia Tan

“
The Fall of the Kings
tells a rich, intricate story, in which
politics, passion, scholarship and magic are intriguingly
entwined.
It’s a triumphant return to a captivating country. I hope it receives the attention it merits.”

—Elizabeth A. Lynn

“To be blunt,
I loved this book
. These are my reasons why: First,
The Fall of the Kings
is a major work of Interstitial Fiction—falling into the interstitial realm between fantasy and modernist literature
,
drawing on the very best tropes of both. Second, it’s a novel deeply rooted in myth, reconfiguring the classic motif of king-sacrifice in ways both sensual and startling (Joseph Campbell fans take note). Third, underneath the razzle-dazzle of the plot, there’s a deeper story that has much to say to our modern world about the value of not discarding myth and fantasy from our lives. And finally,
it’s a delicious read, rich in character
and dialogue; dark, sexy, and wickedly funny by turns.
I loved it. You’ll love it too.”

—Terri Windling, editor of
The Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror

“This is a richly imagined tale in which attractive characters, realistically enmeshed in social, political, and personal concerns, must deal with the resurgence of ancient wizardry and royal divine right into a more rationalistic and modern political system. The settings—a university full of rival masters and ambitious students, the drawing rooms and festivals of a privileged aristocratic class, and the secret meeting places in which fanatical barbarians plot the return of ancient blood-rites—are realized with a robust depth and realism rare in fantasy literature; and I am pleased to report that our hero comes equipped not only with friends and lovers of various sexes, but with a full-fledged family including among others an astute and influential mother, some aunts and cousins and nieces, and even a delightfully swashbuckling sister—the sort of female relations usually glossed over, if not completely omitted, in sagas of magic and romance.
A sparkling job!
” —Suzy M. Charnas