mihnea_cateanu's review
4.0
Everything you`d expect from KJ Parker: outstanding characterisation, a great flow to the prose, hard to put down once started, brilliant dialogue, cynical and dry humour.
Plotwise a bit of a mess actually, a lot of events to cover in only 400 pages so it seems unfocused at times...it`s ironic to say this, because each of his three trilogies would have needed a little trimming, but this story would have worked better as a duology (or a bigger page count at least).
But still, even a somewhat weaker KJP novel is a treat, hilarious at times and a fast, fun read that really makes you think about morality, evil, religion, the price of civilisation and all that.
I enjoyed it a bit more than the other recent novels (Sharps, The Company, The Hammer) so was inclined to give this a 5-star rating, but KJP can do better (as evidenced by the Engineer trilogy, The Folding Knife or my favourite one, Memory) so this has to get only 4-stars. It certainly has a more wide canvas and feels more epic than his other stand-alones while still being first and foremost about the people, it`s closer in scope to the Engineer Trilogy so if you like that kind of thing definitely check it out.
Highly recommended for fans of his work, probably not the best choice if you`ve never read him before.
Plotwise a bit of a mess actually, a lot of events to cover in only 400 pages so it seems unfocused at times...it`s ironic to say this, because each of his three trilogies would have needed a little trimming, but this story would have worked better as a duology (or a bigger page count at least).
But still, even a somewhat weaker KJP novel is a treat, hilarious at times and a fast, fun read that really makes you think about morality, evil, religion, the price of civilisation and all that.
I enjoyed it a bit more than the other recent novels (Sharps, The Company, The Hammer) so was inclined to give this a 5-star rating, but KJP can do better (as evidenced by the Engineer trilogy, The Folding Knife or my favourite one, Memory) so this has to get only 4-stars. It certainly has a more wide canvas and feels more epic than his other stand-alones while still being first and foremost about the people, it`s closer in scope to the Engineer Trilogy so if you like that kind of thing definitely check it out.
Highly recommended for fans of his work, probably not the best choice if you`ve never read him before.
joaoeira's review
4.0
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AT FANTASY LITERATURE
A pacifist who inherits his father’s failing arms business, a general who wins all of his battles and sets in motion the fate of empires because of decisions he makes in the last second before a battle commences, a tribesman who loses his family and survives an attempt at his life to become, well, every single thing he chooses to be. Those and many other memorable characters populate K.J. Parker‘s newest standalone novel, Savages, a solid offering that is sure to please readers of the author’s previous works.
There’s a war between two nations, as there usually is, and the losing nation has managed to get a hold of a brilliant strategist by the name of Calojan, whose name means little dog in his home nation and whose father was a famous artist of pornographic paintings featuring his wife. Calojan employs the Aram Cosseilhatz, one of five nomadic tribes residing in the Eastern empire whose horse archers prove to be adept at their job, and so begins this interesting tale of war, treachery, intrigue. And because this is a K.J. Parker novel, who is in turn the comedy novel writer Tom Holt, there are funny, if somewhat dry, witticisms.
As I sit here thinking about what to write about this novel I am finding hard not to just describe it as a quintessential K.J. Parker novel and call it a day. It would make writing this review easier and be the best description of this novel I could offer. Those who have read his other works, particularly his shorter fiction, already have an idea of what to expect from Savages.
Those who have yet to read a Parker story, and I would recommend that you do so because you’re missing out, would be hard pressed to understand just how singular his stories are by just reading a short description of them.
Savages reads more like a long novella than the usual novel by not having a well-established goal which drives the story and the characters forward. Of course, all the characters are driven by a sense of self preservation and ambition, but there’s not an event which, were it to happen, would cause the reader to say, “Ok, yeah, this right here is a satisfying conclusion of the novel’s primary conflict.” Since Savages grew out from Parker’s current serial project, THE TWO OF SWORDS, one can understand how this predicament came about.
Comparing this novel with Parker’s other works, Savages reads more like The Folding Knife than, for example, Sharps. The focus is more on what you could call economical and strategic action than physical action with rapiers and messers, as it was in Sharps (there’s also what I am pretty sure is a reference to Basso, the protagonist from The Folding Knife, as the crazy old man that says he was once the king of Vesani, even if Vesani is actually a republic and not a monarchy). Savages also features the best quantitative easing joke I’ve ever read, which is a very K.J. Parker thing to say.
Savages is most likely not the best place to start with Parker’s longer works, though it can’t hurt, but it still is a solid, entertaining, entry in what is one of the most imaginative and singular (and if you take into account what’s been written under Tom Holt’s name, prolific) authors in the fantasy genre, and it has by all means my utmost recommendation.
A pacifist who inherits his father’s failing arms business, a general who wins all of his battles and sets in motion the fate of empires because of decisions he makes in the last second before a battle commences, a tribesman who loses his family and survives an attempt at his life to become, well, every single thing he chooses to be. Those and many other memorable characters populate K.J. Parker‘s newest standalone novel, Savages, a solid offering that is sure to please readers of the author’s previous works.
There’s a war between two nations, as there usually is, and the losing nation has managed to get a hold of a brilliant strategist by the name of Calojan, whose name means little dog in his home nation and whose father was a famous artist of pornographic paintings featuring his wife. Calojan employs the Aram Cosseilhatz, one of five nomadic tribes residing in the Eastern empire whose horse archers prove to be adept at their job, and so begins this interesting tale of war, treachery, intrigue. And because this is a K.J. Parker novel, who is in turn the comedy novel writer Tom Holt, there are funny, if somewhat dry, witticisms.
As I sit here thinking about what to write about this novel I am finding hard not to just describe it as a quintessential K.J. Parker novel and call it a day. It would make writing this review easier and be the best description of this novel I could offer. Those who have read his other works, particularly his shorter fiction, already have an idea of what to expect from Savages.
Those who have yet to read a Parker story, and I would recommend that you do so because you’re missing out, would be hard pressed to understand just how singular his stories are by just reading a short description of them.
Savages reads more like a long novella than the usual novel by not having a well-established goal which drives the story and the characters forward. Of course, all the characters are driven by a sense of self preservation and ambition, but there’s not an event which, were it to happen, would cause the reader to say, “Ok, yeah, this right here is a satisfying conclusion of the novel’s primary conflict.” Since Savages grew out from Parker’s current serial project, THE TWO OF SWORDS, one can understand how this predicament came about.
Comparing this novel with Parker’s other works, Savages reads more like The Folding Knife than, for example, Sharps. The focus is more on what you could call economical and strategic action than physical action with rapiers and messers, as it was in Sharps (there’s also what I am pretty sure is a reference to Basso, the protagonist from The Folding Knife, as the crazy old man that says he was once the king of Vesani, even if Vesani is actually a republic and not a monarchy). Savages also features the best quantitative easing joke I’ve ever read, which is a very K.J. Parker thing to say.
Savages is most likely not the best place to start with Parker’s longer works, though it can’t hurt, but it still is a solid, entertaining, entry in what is one of the most imaginative and singular (and if you take into account what’s been written under Tom Holt’s name, prolific) authors in the fantasy genre, and it has by all means my utmost recommendation.
wspence's review
4.0
This was the first KJ Parker book I had read (around 4 years ago) and since have gone through Folding Knife, some of the Engineer books and his standalones. Reading it a second time, there were points that I loved but others that feel rushed on a second read.
Calojan is awesome, he is a much more memorable character the second time around and he is wholly unique in that he isn't the strong and dashing leader, instead weedy, but brilliant.
What I didn't like the second time round was the ending. It felt rushed, ultimately I loved the climax, a much more organized fall of the Roman empire, but there could have been more lead in for it.
Calojan is awesome, he is a much more memorable character the second time around and he is wholly unique in that he isn't the strong and dashing leader, instead weedy, but brilliant.
What I didn't like the second time round was the ending. It felt rushed, ultimately I loved the climax, a much more organized fall of the Roman empire, but there could have been more lead in for it.
barb4ry1's review
4.0
Parker is a master of political and social intrigue. In Savages he shows how war affects people on all sides of the conflict. It’s hilarious, dark, cynical, and brilliant.
wmhenrymorris's review
A darkly amusing almost flirting with commercial fantasy entry in the Parker oeuvre albeit one that will not satisfy those who want heroic endings.
msjenne's review
4.0
More of the usual Parker cleverness and dastardly machinations, this time in a sort of Ancient Rome-ish setting. V. enjoyable!
I get the sense that he is afraid to actually write female characters--there were a few included this time but we never get inside their heads, they are only seen through the eyes of the male characters, who seem to find them terrifying and inhuman. So I have a suggestion. Maybe try switching the gender on one of the characters next time, and just SEE how it is. Don't change anything else. I bet you'll be surprised how you've magically written an interesting, relatable woman character! Don't be scared!
I get the sense that he is afraid to actually write female characters--there were a few included this time but we never get inside their heads, they are only seen through the eyes of the male characters, who seem to find them terrifying and inhuman. So I have a suggestion. Maybe try switching the gender on one of the characters next time, and just SEE how it is. Don't change anything else. I bet you'll be surprised how you've magically written an interesting, relatable woman character! Don't be scared!
chrudos's review
3.0
not bad, but what the hell was the book about? do not think I got much insight into anything in the end...
daneekasghost's review
4.0
Very good fantasy. Lots of viewpoints, plenty of cultures. My one quibble would be that the characters never really broke the role established for them early on, and so it was a little hard to see growth or change for them.
jenne's review
4.0
More of the usual Parker cleverness and dastardly machinations, this time in a sort of Ancient Rome-ish setting. V. enjoyable!
I get the sense that he is afraid to actually write female characters--there were a few included this time but we never get inside their heads, they are only seen through the eyes of the male characters, who seem to find them terrifying and inhuman. So I have a suggestion. Maybe try switching the gender on one of the characters next time, and just SEE how it is. Don't change anything else. I bet you'll be surprised how you've magically written an interesting, relatable woman character! Don't be scared!
I get the sense that he is afraid to actually write female characters--there were a few included this time but we never get inside their heads, they are only seen through the eyes of the male characters, who seem to find them terrifying and inhuman. So I have a suggestion. Maybe try switching the gender on one of the characters next time, and just SEE how it is. Don't change anything else. I bet you'll be surprised how you've magically written an interesting, relatable woman character! Don't be scared!
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