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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Spellbinding Installment in Michael Flynn's Medieval European Age-Inspired Space Opera
17 May 2012
By John Kwok
Format:Hardcover
"In the Lion's Mouth" is a riveting, compelling addition to the space opera series Michael Flynn started with "January Dancer", demonstrating that he is among the more imaginative prose stylists in contemporary science fiction. He's breathed new life into the old genre itself, giving readers a series that has more in common with traditional Medieval European tales such as the Norse sagas than with anything from the likes of John Scalzi or David Weber; a compelling writer whose literary muse may very well be Iain M. Banks, rather than Poul Anderson or Gordon Dickson. Though Flynn may not be as graceful and as imaginative a writer as Banks, he does share with him a keen ear for language and for creating realistic settings in a far-flung future so remote that readers could mistakenly believe that they're reading a uniquely original blend of fantasy and space opera science fiction. He definitely delivers the goods in offering readers vividly realized characters and settings replete with fast-paced action. "In the Lion's Mouth" recounts a deadly power struggle within the Confederacy of Central World's Lion's Mouth, the agency which oversees the Shadows, elite spies and assassins; an internal civil war occurring as the Confederacy remains engaged in a "Great Game" between itself and the other major human interstellar empire, the United League of the Periphery. Caught in this internal power struggle within the Lion's Mouth is onetime Confederacy Donovan buigh, whose disappearance sets the stage for the epic struggle between opposing Shadow factions. Readers should be impressed with Flynn's use of language and sense of realism, drawn convincingly from Medieval European history. "In the Lion's Mouth" will be viewed by many as among the most fascinating science fiction novels published this year, worthy of recognition as a potential nominee of the Hugo and Nebula awards and other literary prizes in science fiction.
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book continues Michael Flynn's unique Celtic-flavoured SF saga. It's an immediate sequel to Up Jim River, the previous book in the series, and continues with much the same feel.
Just as the Harper Mearana recovered her mother, Bridget Ban, in the last novel, her father Donovan has gone missing. The novel is a retelling of what happened to him, and how his story ties in with the larger scheme of things. A clandestine civil war is brewing in the Confederacy of Core Worlds (the "bad guys"), as their elite intelligence service consider whether or not to go up against Those of Name, the CCW's ruling caste.
Donovan, the protagonist, is an amazingly well-crafted character, as are most of the other key players in this story. There is also a gripping plot in which we get to see some of the CCW, which we haven't seen in any of the previous novels. It all builds up to a thoroughly satisfying conclusion, while still setting the stage for the next novel, the final installment of the series. I can hardly wait.
Just as the Harper Mearana recovered her mother, Bridget Ban, in the last novel, her father Donovan has gone missing. The novel is a retelling of what happened to him, and how his story ties in with the larger scheme of things. A clandestine civil war is brewing in the Confederacy of Core Worlds (the "bad guys"), as their elite intelligence service consider whether or not to go up against Those of Name, the CCW's ruling caste.
Donovan, the protagonist, is an amazingly well-crafted character, as are most of the other key players in this story. There is also a gripping plot in which we get to see some of the CCW, which we haven't seen in any of the previous novels. It all builds up to a thoroughly satisfying conclusion, while still setting the stage for the next novel, the final installment of the series. I can hardly wait.
By John M. Ford
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Audio Download
Ravn Olafsdottr creeps into Clanthompson Hall to tell her story of the disappearance of Donavan buigh. It is a disappearance she may be responsible for, that Donavan may have cooperated with, and that may be permanent. In the familiar story-within-a-conversation style found in The January Dancer and Up Jim River, Ravn unfolds her tale. Her listeners include the Mistress of the Hall Bridget ban, the harper Mearana, and Graceful Bintsaif, a junior Hound. They must decide how much to trust Ravn and how much of her story to believe.
The story begins with Donovan on board a small spacecraft returning him to his planet of origin. He meets people who fought both with and against him and who remember parts of his life that he does not. Donovan must understand the struggle between factions in an underground army and decide who to help and who to trust.
This book carries forward the story of the previous two volumes in the Tales of the Spiral Arm series. It makes plain that there will be at least a fourth book. It is rewarding to learn more of Donovan's past and more about the Confederation of Central Worlds than has previously been revealed. On the other hand, the story-within-a-story technique is not the fresh surprise it was in The January Dancer. And the scope of the action seems much smaller than in the past. It no longer feels as if the fate of worlds and peoples hangs in the balance.
It is a good story but nowhere near becoming a great one. I will read the next book in the series out of loyalty and hope for a return to the sparkle and novelty of the first book. My appreciation of the author, Michael Flynn, is undiminished, however. My next read will be In the Country of the Blind. I've heard good things...
The story begins with Donovan on board a small spacecraft returning him to his planet of origin. He meets people who fought both with and against him and who remember parts of his life that he does not. Donovan must understand the struggle between factions in an underground army and decide who to help and who to trust.
This book carries forward the story of the previous two volumes in the Tales of the Spiral Arm series. It makes plain that there will be at least a fourth book. It is rewarding to learn more of Donovan's past and more about the Confederation of Central Worlds than has previously been revealed. On the other hand, the story-within-a-story technique is not the fresh surprise it was in The January Dancer. And the scope of the action seems much smaller than in the past. It no longer feels as if the fate of worlds and peoples hangs in the balance.
It is a good story but nowhere near becoming a great one. I will read the next book in the series out of loyalty and hope for a return to the sparkle and novelty of the first book. My appreciation of the author, Michael Flynn, is undiminished, however. My next read will be In the Country of the Blind. I've heard good things...
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