Leyton
Veteran Swordsperson
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The Privilege of the Sword- Ellen Kushner
Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner
The description ‘a swashbuckler for women’ followed by an excellent picture of a swordswoman on the front cover drew my attention to this story. The book tells the tale of Katherine’s adventures from daughter about to be married off through to swordswomen with victories in duels under her belt.
It is set in a city state recognisable as the seventeenth/eighteenth century Europe but without any kings. It is a city state grown rich with now set traditions including the major families using hired swordsmen to settle disputes whereas the family’s men would have done this in the past. It a way of life that is starting to need to be modernised and Katherine’s uncle Alec is at the forefront of this as the eccentric Duke Tremontain one the more enjoyable characters in the book.
The story is well written and fast moving with a complex plot to enjoy. There are also characters from Ellen Kushner’s earlier novel Swordspoint who are now 20-30 years older.
Whilst I found the story easy and pleasant to read, I was disappointed with amount of the swordplay involving Katherine. The story goes through her transition from local girl in a once rich family to swordswoman awaiting her first duel in plenty of detail but the action after that is disappointing. The focus is on her preparation rather than on her duelling. She only fights two duels in the book and I was hoping for more.
This is a book for an adult audience; from a slow start the book has gay, lesbian and heterosexual scenes as well as a rape. I though the writer covered this well as the sexual actions grew out of the plot as opposed to writing to divert attention from the story.
I had not come across this writer but she appears well respected in North America and I was able to find her earlier novel Swordspoint in the Science Fiction sections of large bookshops in the UK. This novel had to be ordered through Amazon in the UK.
Leyton
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5/18/2008, 4:58 am
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drace68
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Re: The Privilege of the Sword- Ellen Kushner
Thanks for posting your review. Our city library has a copy, and I've made the request.
drace68
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5/18/2008, 3:16 pm
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Atalanta63
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Re: The Privilege of the Sword- Ellen Kushner
Excellent Review, Leyton,
I read it a few months ago and enjoyed it. I will track down Swordspoint.
Atalanta63/Kim
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10/18/2008, 10:51 am
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