The Proof House: 3 (The Fencer Trilogy vol 3) and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more

Buy New

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
Buy Used
Used - Very Good See details
Price: £2.13
Fulfilled by Amazon

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Colour:
Image not available

 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.
Start reading The Proof House: 3 (The Fencer Trilogy vol 3) on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

The Proof House: The Fencer Trilogy vol 3 [Paperback]

K. J. Parker (Author)
3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
RRP: £12.99
Price: £10.83 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £2.16 (17%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Only 2 left in stock (more on the way).
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon. Gift-wrap available.
Want delivery by Saturday, 25 May? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details

Formats

 Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition £8.49   -- --
Paperback £10.83   -- --
Books Trade-In
Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more.

Book Description

Publication Date: 5 Oct 2000 | Series: Fencer Trilogy (Book 3)

COLOURS IN THE STEEL and THE BELLY OF THE BOW, the first two volumes of the Fencer Trilogy, introduced a remarkable new voice in fantasy fiction. THE PROOF HOUSE is the final volume in K.J. Parker's brilliant Fencer Trilogy.

After years spent in the saps under the defences of the apparently impregnable city of Ap' Iscatoy, Bardas Loredan, sometime fencer-at-law and the betrayed defender of the famed Triple City, is suddenly a hero of the Empire. His reward is a boring administrative job in a backwater, watching armour tested to destruction in the Proof House. But the fall of Ap' Iscatoy has opened up unexpected possibilities for the expansion of the Empire into the land of the Plains people, and Bardas Loredan is the one man Temrai the Great, King of the Plains tribes, fears the most...

Look out for more information on this book and others on the Orbit website at www.orbitbooks.co.uk

Frequently Bought Together

The Proof House: The Fencer Trilogy vol 3 + The Belly of the Bow: 2 (Fencer Trilogy) + Colours in the Steel (Fencer Trilogy)
Price For All Three: £26.02

Buy the selected items together

Product details

  • Paperback: 608 pages
  • Publisher: Orbit; New Ed edition (5 Oct 2000)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1841490180
  • ISBN-13: 978-1841490182
  • Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 3.8 x 17.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 427,421 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's K. J. Parker Page
K. J. Parker
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.

Product Description

Amazon Review

Bardas has come a long way from the young soldier who wrought havoc in the wars with the barbarians of the plains, the swordsman who fought successful trials by combat and the commander whose attempts to save his city were dashed by last-moment treachery. He has taken several steps into madness and depravity; in The Proof House, the impressive conclusion of The Fencer Trilogy, his sanity is entirely up for grabs as an imperial posting sends him to where armour is made and souls are tested, not least by the endless din of breastplates and helmets subjected to breaking strain. It is the end-game for his friends as well--for his former secretary and the ambitious merchants she has formed a partnership with, and the half-smart magicians whose attempts to change history have consistently made things radically and disastrously worse. His family--the brothers who betrayed him and the niece whose attempts to kill him have cost her most of her hand--are out there somewhere too...Parker's is a bleak and sardonic fantasy world, where it can never be assumed that things will turn out for the best; this is a startlingly original book with a tone entirely of its own. --Roz Kaveney --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Bardas has come a long way from the young soldier who wrought havoc in the wars with the barbarians of the plains, the swordsman who fought successful trials by combat and the commander whose attempts to save his city were dashed by last-moment treachery. He has taken several steps into madness and depravity; in The Proof House, the impressive conclusion of The Fencer Trilogy, his sanity is entirely up for grabs as an imperial posting sends him to where armour is made and souls are tested, not least by the endless din of breastplates and helmets subjected to breaking strain. It is the end-game for his friends as well--for his former secretary and the ambitious merchants she has formed a partnership with, and the half-smart magicians whose attempts to change history have consistently made things radically and disastrously worse. His family--the brothers who betrayed him and the niece whose attempts to kill him have cost her most of her hand--are out there somewhere too...Parker's is a bleak and sardonic fantasy world, where it can never be assumed that things will turn out for the best; this is a startlingly original book with a tone entirely of its own. (Roz Kaveney, AMAZON.CO.UK REVIEW )

From the first page, it has style, humour and pace all its own, and develops rapidly into one of the most entertaining fantasy debuts in recent years...Refreshing, fun, thoughtful, different, absorbing (SFX )

Action-packed adventure ... An intriguing tale of magic, manipulation and revenge (STARBURST )

A massively enjoyable adventure (BLACK TEARS on THE BELLY OF THE BOW )
See all Product Description

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?

› Explore similar items

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant end to a fascinating series 10 Aug 2001
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
K J Parker is a genius. An erratic, possibly crazy genius, but a genius nonetheless. In 'Colours in the steel' we were introduced to the unique Loredan family, each with their own set of problems and distintive talents. In the second book 'The belly of the bow' we learn more about the Loredans, and more about the motivations for their actions, shocking as they may seem. In this final book, the story ends in a way guaranteed to seem unexpected. The technical information in these books is presented in an interesting fashion, and the fluidity of the writing makes the books very easy to read. However, it is the characters in these books that make them so worthwhile. It is rare for something so completely different to come along and I was pleased by the refreshingly unusual approach to the fantasy genre. No one character could be seen as 'good', although I found myself liking them anyway, and the story itself was disturbing. I had to keep reading to find out how it all ended. I would recommend this book, and the others in the series, to anyone who would like a break from the usual run-of-the-mill, sword-and-sorcery type books. For sheer innovativeness, this trilogy cannot be beaten.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A well-written but depressing book 5 Sep 2000
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
As before, Parker has drawn on the engineering of arms and armour to provide an underlying theme: in this case, testing-to-destruction. The Proof House is excellently executed, but keeps hammering home the point that militarily-flawed societies and people will be smashed by someone bigger and better-organised. It's interesting, well-thought-out, and a worthwhile read - but don't expect to be light-hearted after you've finished it.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Grim, but so beautifully written 10 April 2000
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
As Amazon's reviewer states, the main character is several steps into both madness and depravity, but the series is indeed startlingly original. Read it for the author's wonderful dry wit and humour amidst the grisly details, and for the great command of prose, if not completely of plot. There is artistry at work here.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?   Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

There's a problem loading this menu at the moment.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.

    Your Shopping Basket is empty.

    Give it purpose -- fill it with books, DVDs, clothes, electronics and more.

    If you already have an account, sign in.

    There's a problem previewing your shopping basket at the moment.

    Check your Internet connection and go to your cart, or try again.

    View Shopping Basket (0 items)

      Customer Discussions

      This product's forum
      Discussion Replies Latest Post
      No discussions yet

      Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
      Start a new discussion
      Topic:
      First post:
      Prompts for sign-in
       


      Active discussions in related forums
      Search Customer Discussions
      Search all Amazon discussions
         
      Related forums

      Listmania!

      Create a Listmania! list

      Look for similar items by category

      Feedback


      Amazon.co.uk Privacy Statement Amazon.co.uk Delivery Information Amazon.co.uk Returns & Exchanges