Fantasy Review BarnI believe it was George Carlin that said the key to any joke is wherein lay the Colours in the Steel exaggeration. Most of the set up must ring true or the specific absurdity that makes everything funny won’t have the impact. In many ways I believe fantasy fiction works the same way. It is okay by me if there are a few items that stretch the limits of credibility; it isn’t fantasy without something extraordinary going on. But even with these specific exaggerations I must believe in the rest of the world the author sets in front of me or the entire thing falls flat.K.J. Parker is a master at making me overlook the exaggerations. Of course they are there; the protagonist of this book is afencer for hire in a city that relies on duels to the death in a courtroom setting. The main conflict comes from a nomadic group of people who almost instantaneously change into industry barons, all on the knowledge of one man who went to work in the city. Completely absurd? Sure, looking on it like that. But one hundred percent believable due to the way it is written, full of all the little things that fit together ever so nicely.I recently commented that Parker’s books should be boring; they are full of the little details that should drive me nuts. Do I really need to know the entire process of sword making? Should I know when to use water and when to use oil, which is better for cooling at what stage? Is any of this really necessary? You bet it is. No idea why, but I loved every nitty gritty detail thrown at me.What should a reader expect from The Colours in the Steel? Well, fans of Parker who may have skipped her early stuff shouldn’t be disappointed if they go back, it is a familiar ride. People who may not know her? Seems as good a place to start as any. The book is dark and gritty, just how I like it. Even characters that start off likable work their way into the unlikable stage, but that simplifies Parker’s characters too much. There is no easy way to view any of the characters. Some are not good people but immensely likable, others show nothing too apparently evil but never less are unlikable. But unlikable doesn’t have to be uninteresting; I was interested in every major character arc. (In later Parker books I have seen complete casts that are horrible people; it was actually a bit surprising to see a few nice people in The Colours in the Steel).Dark humor a plenty, again presented in a subtle way. Loredan (have I mentioned the protagonist’s name yet? Well, there it is) finds a particular potent recipe for a weapon hidden in a book that also included necromancy and voodoo; and considered giving them a shot when said weapon worked better than expected. A list of stock letter offerings amused me in ways I can’t even begin to explain.We see a just a hint of magic, though the practitioners of it will balk at calling it magic at all. We enjoy a couple of genius characters; one completely in charge and thus dealing with his own failings, the other answering to a group and getting blamed for everything.This is not my favorite book by the author, but it was still damn good. With plotting so complex I would expect some logical inconsistencies to slip through but I never really understood what one character’s long term plan was; nor how he was so confident it could be pulled off. As the original plan fell apart and other options were explored I the issue took care of itself, but for a while it bugged.Like other books by the author I was entertained throughout. The humor is dark and hits me right and the little details kept me trying to out think everyone in the book. As I received the whole series of course I will continue on, but being that this is Parker that was a foregone conclusion anyway.4 Stars
In 1998, Parker's first novel Colours in the steel was published in Dutsch. 15 years and some 18 novels later, remains the only novel by Parker to be released in the dutschspeaking market. Why? Why the f* publish the first part of a trilogy and not the rest? Is it that exceptionally horrible? I've decided to give this book a second read, just to find out what's so wrong about it. I've checked the negative reviews to see what bugged people and i’m gonna try and pay extra attention to it.Well, let's just say that this is a very good fantasy book by any standard. Ok, call it fantasy light cos no elves and orcs make their appearance and the magicians claim they can't do magic, but nevertheless, Parker uses and alternative world as setting, so fantasy it is. In my opinion, the fact that Parker doesn't bore us with all kinds of made up races, devices, language etc, is one of this book's key strengths. So no Jack Vance style. The storyline itself is pretty cool with no real loose ends. Some might claim that the use of magic (which isn’t magic because no one can change people into toads) is some sort of easy solution but it sure ain’t some deus ex machine thrown in at the end to tie things together. I think it’s actually a pretty clever way to beat the critics a priori. What could easily be dismissed as too accidental, convenient, uncanny is now a major part of the storyline i.e. the Principle. How is it possible that Bardas and Gorgas manage to meet up in a large city that is overrun by invaders with fighting, death, carnage, burning houses everywhere? It’s The Principle, stupid! Very convenient but nevertheless..Somehow, Perimadeia, the city where Bardas resides, reminds me of Rome: the capital of an ancient reich gone decadent. The days of warriors are over. Instead of an army posh kids parade in shiny armour. Politicians run the place for their own benefit. There are barbarians at the gate, but if they are polite, they can come in and live in the city. It goes without saying that decline will end in fall.Parker goes beyond the classic good versus evil plot. (S)he manages to portray both sides as OK. On the one hand you want the city to survive, but on the other hand you want Temrai , the leader of the tribal clan get revenge for the injustice/ slaughter he had to go through as a kid. This way, Parker shows us the ambiguity of war and the relativity of good (or evil). The cruelty of war is well pictured too. Children are being killed, men are sacrificed. War ain’t fun, let alone glorious. The moral (d)evolution of Temrai shows how people in power look different at war than the guys who have to fight frontline: acceptable loss and collateral damage versus personal human tragedy.It’s true that neither Bardas nor Loredan are likeable chaps. They’re not totally disgusting either so I don’t see why some people complain. In real life people suck too, so what’s the problem? I could use a bit more romance or a fair bit of shagging in the storyline. That’s my only beef.There’s bit of Pratchett in this book. Especially the part where the people in the city use the first moments of panic to loot, plunder and pillage. It made me laugh out loud. The magicians who can’t do magic because they can’t turn people into frogs is another Pratchettian joke.I found this book entertaining and easy to read. It’s true that Parker spends a lot if not too much time on the crafting of swords and siege weapons but it sure beats endless descriptions of the landscape if you ask me. It’s not high literature, a common thing for fantasy/sci fi, and it won’t change your life but it’s a good read. Add some titties and it would even get 5 stars.
What do You think about Colours In The Steel (1999)?
Alright, yet again, I find myself wishing that goodreads had half-stars. Since it doesn't, I give Colours in the Steel a 3.49, rounding down to a 3. Colours in the Steel features characters who are not only fun in their narrative voices, but are also empathy inducing. While several elements of the story/world aren't completely fleshed out, it is the first book in a trilogy, so I'm certainly willing to wait for the answers in the future books. I've, in fact, praised other books for not explaining everything in the first book, since it gives you surprises for the future. This is of course assuming that you've clearly left something to be explained (a la Malazan Book of the Fallen) and not that your big reveal is a "Oh, crap. I can't get the outcome I want without this new magical plot point/device that I've never mentioned before now and this totally isn't me Kobayashi Maru-ing my own series..." (I'm looking at you Inheritance Cycle).I was also extremely pleased with the fencing. As someone with years of experience in historical fencing (not Olympic) I know some about what you'd actually do when trying to defend yourself in a real life or death situation. Hint: it looks nothing like most TV/Movie sword combat and is far less restricted than Olympic-style (which was brought about so the nobility would stop killing each other).Really, my main complaint was that books should have, like a sine wave, high points and low points. The amplitude of the emotional sine wave was too small: the highs and lows were pretty close to the baseline feel of the book. Some chuckles, some "aww, that's sad," but really, not much either way for me.After a cursory glance, it appears that this was Parker's first published novel, so it's to be expected that there will be some growing pains. I anticipate these growing pains will lead to good things in the next two books in the series. I look forward to finding out!
—Joel
Such a frustrating story, because you want both sides to win, and you know they can't. And yet so very enjoyable. It's interesting, I've basically read Parker's 3 trilogies in reverse order of when they were published, and there are so many themes in this book that s/he apparently liked so much that she wanted to explore them at much greater length in the others. (the biggest one being, of course, the effects of more sophisticated technology on medieval-ish societies, but also: blacksmithing, swordfighting, military camaraderie, revenge, past misdeeds coming back to haunt you in ironic ways, bossy women, the invention of explosives, calmly competent engineers, mysterious not-really magic, etc.)And bonus: this one actually passes the Bechdel Test!
—Jenne
“It was the least I could do for an enemy,” Temrai said. “Now get out of this camp before I have you crucified.”And that sums up K.J Parker’s Colour in the Steel perfectly.The first in his Fencer Trilogy, the novel follows the story of three or four (and sometimes various others depending on the mood) people trying to make their way in a world that is doing its utmost to fight back. The city of Perimadeia has never fallen or be taken. That’s because it has never been attacked by Temrai, chief of the plainspeople with a vendetta against one man. Learning the trades of the city, nothing but raising it to the ground is good enough for Temrai.Standing in his way is said enemy, Bardas Lorendan, a man making his living by fencing to the death in courts of law and Patriarch Alexius, head of an order studying the “Principle”. No matter what people say, it is not magic. Apparently. Despite its ability to interfere with everything else going on.Various other characters make their mark on the story, all leaving an impressionable trace behind them. Characterisation is just one of the remarkable talents of Parker. His ability to switch seamlessly from one narrator to another and make each character as deep as the next creates a novel full of people the reader cares a great deal for. In fact, he has no “bad” guys, only a different perspective from one character to another. Even the characters that only appear for one section before usually being killed have a way of speaking to the reader.Despite this being a book of war, destruction, fire and death, humour can be found throughout. Parker cleverly inserts lines that break the tension and have the reader laughing out loud before knowing what they are reacting to. It leads back to characterisation: Bardas and Temrai in particular have such a realistic way of looking at the world around them their reactions are precisely what you would expect from someone in their position.Another strong characteristic of Parker’s writing is his attention to detail. At various points during Colours in the Steel, paragraphs if not pages are dedicated to explaining the workings of a trebuchet or how to forge a sword just right. The knowledge behind the words, not to mention the characters talking about it, works to keep it interesting and engaging. That level of detail in the hands of any other author risks being long-winded and patronising. Parker knows what he is talking about and his characters bring that to life.A fantasy novel through and through, Colours in the Steel is engaging and gripping from start to finish. While being lengthy, the constant change in narration keeps it fresh rather than dragging on. All elements of the novel work seamlessly together, but the characters are what truly brings it to life. Even by the end, the reader isn’t sure precisely who they want to win this war because you don’t want to see anyone lose.A brilliant read and eager to start the next in the series.
—Lindsey Roberts
