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The Folding Knife (2010)

by K.J. Parker(Favorite Author)

3.89 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0316038504 (ISBN13: 9780316038508)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Orbit

review 1: I was half-way through this book before I felt I was understanding the main character, Basso, the First Citizen of and richest man in the Vesani Republic, and the structure of the book. I kept waiting for other characters to be revealed and create interest. At this point, I should mention that, although it seems to be categorized as fantasy, I would call it alternate history. It seems to me to based on an alternate view of the old Venetian Republic, with the Ottoman Empire hovering in the near background. The book follows the long rise and rise of Basso, which, for me was relatively boring. Until near the end, it seemed as if there was no battle he couldn’t win. Then, suddenly, he loses. That’s no spoiler, by the way – we are given to understand that in the pro... morelogue. So the whole book was a one long wait for his fall. It was an easy read, but it didn’t seem that enjoyable for me. Perhaps if the prologue had been omitted, we might have had a surprise at the end? But no. I won’t be going back to revisit KJ Parker.
review 2: A fantastic portrait of a man that Ayn Rand would have idolized—he acts out of pure self-interest, but everyone benefits from his self-centeredness. The only problem is that the one woman he loves despises him, and the young man he cherishes like a son is put in harm's way by his strange notions of right and wrong. When fate finally has its way with Bassianus Severus—the First Citizen of the Vesani Republic—the anagnorisis is of epic proportions. less

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