Customer Reviews

Face Of Chaos (Thieves World)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This fifth volume in the Thieves' World series contains stories by Janet Morris, C.J. Cherryh, Asprin, Lynn Abbey, David Drake, and Diana Paxson - with Andrew Offut noticeably and thankfully absent. The stories range from the grotesquely gripping to the merely entertaining, and overall are more enjoyable than most of the previous Thieves' World books. The highlight is Paxson's "Mirror Image," which features the two only endearing characters in all of Thieves' World, the painter Lalo and his wife, Gilla. Lalo, you see, had been cursed/blessed. His portraits revealed the inner soul of the subject, not the exterior facade (thus his large, domineering wife appears as a goddess). In "Mirror Image," Lalo paints a self-portrait and the result is a very moving tale. Despite the false packaging (the "invasion" referenced in the title is hardly that, just an omnipresence of mysterious, powerful foreigners), The Face of Chaos is, perhaps, the first Thieves' World book I'd recommend without reservations.

The Thieve's World idea is a great one - get a collection of top story tellers to tell tales about a common location. Therefore there are rules to be followed and even common characters - but you get to see how each writer deals with the same ideas in their own, unique, and creative ways.

Unfortunately, this book is the weakest so far. In previous volumes, there was always a central focus or idea that made the collection a collection. Whether it was Vashanka the storm god, or curses and their effects, each of the stories hewed to that focus. In this volume that focus is lost.

At the end of the last book, a mysterious fleet appeared off the shore of Sanctuary. So, one would suppose that this volume would be all about the newcomers. How disappointing then to read all the stories and see those newcomers be very much in the background to almost not being mentioned in any story at all! Oh, we learn that they are called the Beysib ... and they are featured in a couple of entries ... but there is no mention of how they came to rule Sanctuary; why Kadakithis lets them do what they want (can you believe that they routinely conduct executions on city streets without the local government interfering in any way?); and what the rest of the empire may be doing about this invasion.

Instead we read about Tempus leaving; About Ischade and her moment of pity for a human being; etc. Now, don't get me wrong; some of the stories are very entertaining and enjoyable to read. But that's why I gave this book three stars rather than some lower rating!

Many of the characters from previous books return - although not all. In addition to the two I named above, your read a fun story about Lola the painter and his wife; Samlor the trade is back; Mradhon Vis makes an inexplicable return; Enos Yarl is more fully examined; and, of course, Hakiem appears in the Prologue to set the tone for the book. So, there are good stories here. The unfortunate part is that the book as a whole seems out of focus. Too bad.

A collection of top fantasy writers have contributed to this unique experience of tales.