Standard KJ Parker fare, very enjoyable if that's what you like. I do so I was very satisfied. ( )

A quintessentially Parker piece of fiction. Twisty, interesting, complex characters, in a magnificent example of "hell is other people" whereby a half-dozen of them are trapped in a confined space (both physically and metaphorically) together. The intricate convolutions of how and why are almost secondary to the equally intricate hows and whys of those people, as they tear at the loose threads of each other. Uncharacteristically, the conclusions are not as boggling and dire as is often the case, which actually makes this feel interestingly "cuddly"... but only for Parker, as this is still a thing of, indeed, sharps and splinters.

Mr Dee and I had an interesting conversation in which we considered whether there was a "fantastical" element to this book at all. If there is, it's pretty subtle, and we think it's probably the swords - you'll know 'em when you see 'em. They don't so much have powers as they have strong influences, and it's quite an interesting element. ( )

Despite the fact that I have been interested in reading KJ Parker’s novels for a while now, I never really got the chance to pick one up. However, now that I have read Sharps, I can safely say that I'm not sure I will be reading more from this author, if this work is anything to go by (I'll give him one more try to convince me...).

I had a few nagging issues. The plot seemed somewhat contrived. The character's behaviour looked to me a bit far-fetched, to say the least. That's enough for me to loose interest in a book...Even a fantasy book must have a certain degree of verisimilitude. Suspension of disbelief only goes so far...I had the same problem with Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind". But in Rothfuss' case it was even worst. That's why I only read the first volume, The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day One, but it was a real chore.


( )

4.5 stars Originally posted at FanLit.

"Sharp swords, dirty books and pickled cabbage. Why has everything on this trip got to be horrible?"

The neighboring kingdoms of Permia and Scheria have always been enemies. Some of their citizens like it this way �?? particularly those of the military aristocracies who are valued (and therefore kept in power) by their countrymen when the two kingdoms are at war. The last war ended, though, when General Carnufex of Scheria managed to divert a few rivers and flood a major Permian city, killing its entire population of thousands of people. Itƒ??s been years since General Carnufex (now known as ƒ??the Irrigatorƒ?) pulled out of Permia and the two countries, separated by a demilitarized zone, have mostly left each other alone.

Many people in each country (especially those of the lower classes) would like to forget the past and try to forge friendship and cooperation with the neighboring country. To this end (ostensibly) the Scherian government, with the help of its church and bank (a major force in Scherian society, since it holds the money) has decided to send a peace delegation consisting of five fencers and a couple of managers across the demilitarized zone and into Permia. The Permians are crazy about fencing and will surely treat the Scherian fencers as adored heroes.

The team is made up of six characters who are not especially eager to go to Permia. Thereƒ??s Iseutz, an aggressive woman who is escaping an arranged marriage; Addo, the Irrigatorƒ??s useless youngest son; Suidas, the alcoholic Scherian fencing champion who canƒ??t afford his girlfriend and turns out to be a berserker; Giraut, who accidentally killed the senator who was about to push through some major reforms; Phrantzes, an accountant and former fencing champion who just married a prostitute; and Tzimisces, an inscrutable man who seems to be in charge.

Each character has his own story and his own reason for reluctantly joining the team. It turns out that they were right to be reluctant because the problems begin even before they get to the border and the entire trip is an exercise in suffering. Nothing goes as itƒ??s supposed to and the team has to deal with equipment failure, travel delays, bandits, bad weather, hunger, fatigue, riots, fire, language barriers, unpredictable mercenaries, an aspiring writer, and lots of pickled cabbage. But worst of all is the discovery that they wonƒ??t be fencing the way theyƒ??re used to because the Permians donƒ??t use fencing foils ƒ?? they use ƒ??sharps.ƒ? Theyƒ??re also expected to fight with a nasty curved blade aptly called a ƒ??messer.ƒ? The Scherian fencers know they may not survive, but refusing to play the Permiansƒ?? way could ignite another war. To make things even worse, the team gradually starts to suspect that they are being used by some agency in their own country to further its political or economic goals...

I havenƒ??t read all of K.J. Parkerƒ??s novels, but Iƒ??ve read enough to know that anything s/he writes goes directly to my TBR list. No need to ask my friends, no need to check Amazon or my favorite review sites, just put it on the list, and somewhere near the top. So, really, I shouldnƒ??t have to say anything about Sharps except that ƒ??itƒ??s written by K.J. Parker.ƒ? But just so you wonƒ??t think I took the easy way out, Iƒ??ll say some more stuff:

Sharps is completely entertaining from page one. The story is compelling, mysterious, often hilarious (though itƒ??s definitely not a comedy), and written in Parkerƒ??s epigrammatic, no-nonsense, perfectly paced style. Parkerƒ??s world is described briefly but comprehensively enough that we understand the relevant political, economic, and social pressures. Parker uses these pressures to consider such topics as tax law, land redistribution, slavery, competition, class warfare, and trade relations.

Each of Parkerƒ??s characters is introduced quickly but thoroughly enough to engage our empathy, each is fun to listen to (and they have a terrific dynamic together), and each develops significantly over the course of the story, though a few of them never completely reveal themselves and I didnƒ??t believe in the romance that developed between two of the characters. (This didnƒ??t detract from the story, but a more believable relationship would have been much more satisfying.) My favorite character was Suidas Deutzel; I would love to see Parker write a prequel to Sharps from his perspective. (Please, K.J. Parker, whoever you are?)

Sharps is a novel that Iƒ??ll read again ƒ?? something I very rarely do. Iƒ??m sure it will be one of my favorite novels of 2012. ( )

Excellent cast of characters in a book packed with intrigue, backstabbing, swords, cabbage, violence and a surprising amount of humanity. ( )