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25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Superb Dragaeran Tale, June 26, 2001
Every time I give up hope and decide that Stephen Brust has decided to stick to making music and drop out of the writing business he produces another delightful tale. "Issola," next in the Vlad Taltos series, is classic Brust, funny, imaginative and captivating. It is easy to run out of superlatives with this series, which is consistently good fantasy. This latest effort is certainly one of his finest. After a very bad run in with House Jhereg (his adopted clan) Vlad Taltos decides his best policy is to stay out of Adrilankha, maybe forever. While camping out in the woods with Loiosh his wisecracking familiar he receives a visit from Lady Teldra, one of Lord Morrolan's attendants. Vlad is more than a bit surprised since no one knows where he is, and he is supposed to be invisible. Teldra reassures him, and tells him that he is needed to help find Lord Morrolan and Aliera, close friends of Vlad. Off they go to Sethra Lavode's home (she's the world's oldest vampire) on Dzur Mountain. Vlad and Teldra manage to track down Morrolan and Aliera, only to be captured themselves. The villains of the piece are the Jenoine, an ancient race who have no love for anyone else, god or mortal. Vlad and Teldra discover that the Jenoine plan to tap a huge source of Amorphia to get rid of the more irritating parts of the scenery, like Vlad, Loiosh, Teldra, and, possible, even a good chunk of the universe. A complicated chess game starts with Vlad feeling very much like a pawn as gods, demons, Dragaerans, the Jenoine, and a few more impossibilities wrestle for the fate of his world. Vlad's frustration mounts as he deals with folk and superfolk who are legendary and who have little interest in having to explain everything to a mere Easterner. Vlad's continuous patter of sharp comments and sarcastic remarks, provide much entertainment to the reader (and to Loiosh), but they hide a deep anxiety about the outcome. He finds himself with a vital role in a struggle but one that is not clearly defined. The drama plays out with surprises for all involved, especially Vlad, who finds that he has a new role in the workings of the Dragaerans. Brust, who always creates intriguing characters, outdoes himself in "Issola." He provides the reader with additional insights into Morrolan, Aliera, Sethra Lavode, the Necromancer, and Verra the Demon Goddess. Teldra, previously just a bit player, is a work of art. Nor can one fault the narrative, which has Brust's usual clarity and flow. Needless to say the new reader might be better off with an earlier volume in the series, but Brust spends just enough time on history to provide the reader with enough to go on. Naturally, the faithful will be delighted. As will anyone else who is looking for what will probably be considered one of the year's best fantasies.
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The series is starting to pick up again..., July 6, 2001
I thought that the first few books of this series were truly excellent, must read types of books. The series then sort of tapered off a bit, and I think Athyra, although a still a good book, was a bit of a low point. This book is a triumph, and show that Brust has not lost his feel for this setting. Fans of Brust should buy this book without hesitation. However, I've never really found rave reviews to be that helpful, so here's what I thought was wrong with the book. 1) It was a bit too much of Vlad standing around while his super-powerful friends did things. I found myself wishing that he was a bit more involved. 2) This is of course just a personal preference, but I'm starting to think that it's time for Vlad to resolve his conflict with the Jhereg and move on. He's clearly in transition from assassin to something else, but several books have come and gone without his coming any closer to a resolution. But these are relatively minor things. It was really a great book, and I look forward to more like it in the future.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Issola rocks, July 31, 2001
After eagerly anticipating Issola since I first heard it mentioned in the trades, I think I can now confidently state that Brust has firmly taken his place beside Zelazny in terms of scope and depth -- perhaps surpassed him;in terms of pure characterization, Issola takes Vlad Taltos places where Corwin of Amber never trod. We have seen Vlad develop an adult moral conscience throughout the series, exploring the psychological nuances of such a punishing profession. In this snippet of the greater Dragearan Cycle, Vlad comes face to face with his faith in Verra, his loyalty to his friends, and the idea that the Dragearans he despises are genetic kin to Easterners. The development of the character of Teldra (a torchbearer from his earlier books) into three or more dimensions brings additional complexity to Issola. Her ultimate disposition and her influence on Vlad help answer questions of both plot and character. While the sarcastic wordplay with his faithful lizard companion come a lyron hair to over the top, Brust never allows a cheap gag to interfere with the basic humanity of the Vlad/Loish relationship. Kudos for the continuing attention to detail -- the klava discussions were priceless. Kudos also for the possibility of Sethra resurrecting the Lavodes (Vlad Lavode?). The scenes with Verra were excellently done and the metaphysical rammifications of a goddess who is also a person were exceptional. And an especial thanks that Brust did not jump into the Vlad-hunting Jhereg assasins, the Cawti relationship, or a premature cross-over with the Phoenix Guards series. This book left me with a good, just-Brusted feeling without worrying about where Vlad will go next. There is still plenty of story out there.
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