Ten Points for Reviews

Hi,

Zipped through Ten Points for Style by Walter Jon Williams (on loan from the always above reproach woodwardiocom). It's a collection of three stories by Mr. Williams describing the adventures of Drake Maijstral, Gentleman Burglar. In the far future, humanity is conquered by the Khosali, tall rat-like creatures with an over-developed sense of propriety and decorum. Humanity is allowed to mainstream into Khostali society if they follow the complex protocols of high society. Protocols complex enough to allow for Gentleman Burglars. Steal someone's property with style and flair, hold onto it for 24 hours and it's legally yours (often to be ransomed back to the original holder for a significant fee).

Drake is one of the top Allowed Burglars in the Empire and the books follow his various adventures in stealing and social hobnobbing. The stories zip along nicely and there's plenty of fun satirical pokes at modern-life in the various sidebars on life in the Empire.

I will say that unlike the Stainless Steel Rat series, the books don't spend a whole bunch of time on how Maijstral cleverly employs his mind to steal things. He's a good sleight-of-hand magician, but mostly he relies on high-tech gadgets that are literal "black boxes" to defeat security. How he manages to hide his ill-gotten gains for the regulation 24 hours is where most of the cleverness comes into play. It's too bad there isn't more attention to the thefts proper, but the books largely deal with Maijstral negotiating tricky social currents as he plys his trade.

It's a fun read if you're looking for something light and breezy.

later
Tom

Ten Points for Reviews

Hi,

Zipped through Ten Points for Style by Walter Jon Williams (on loan from the always above reproach woodwardiocom). It's a collection of three stories by Mr. Williams describing the adventures of Drake Maijstral, Gentleman Burglar. In the far future, humanity is conquered by the Khosali, tall rat-like creatures with an over-developed sense of propriety and decorum. Humanity is allowed to mainstream into Khostali society if they follow the complex protocols of high society. Protocols complex enough to allow for Gentleman Burglars. Steal someone's property with style and flair, hold onto it for 24 hours and it's legally yours (often to be ransomed back to the original holder for a significant fee).

Drake is one of the top Allowed Burglars in the Empire and the books follow his various adventures in stealing and social hobnobbing. The stories zip along nicely and there's plenty of fun satirical pokes at modern-life in the various sidebars on life in the Empire.

I will say that unlike the Stainless Steel Rat series, the books don't spend a whole bunch of time on how Maijstral cleverly employs his mind to steal things. He's a good sleight-of-hand magician, but mostly he relies on high-tech gadgets that are literal "black boxes" to defeat security. How he manages to hide his ill-gotten gains for the regulation 24 hours is where most of the cleverness comes into play. It's too bad there isn't more attention to the thefts proper, but the books largely deal with Maijstral negotiating tricky social currents as he plys his trade.

It's a fun read if you're looking for something light and breezy.

later
Tom