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The Fall of the Kings (Paperback)

by Ellen Kushner (Author), Delia Sherman (Author)

3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Product details

Paperback: 496 pages
Publisher: Bantam Books (Oct 2002)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0553381849
ISBN-13: 978-0553381849
Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 13.2 x 2.6 cm

Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,043,685 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in this category:
#8 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > K > Kushner, Ellen

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	45% buy the item featured on this page: The Fall of the Kings 3.3 out of 5 stars (3)
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	8% buy The Privilege of the Sword 4.3 out of 5 stars (3) �4.38
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Customer Reviews

3 Reviews

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

3.3 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Such a shame, 4 Aug 2003

By A Customer

I've been waiting for this book for what seems like years. Time and again the author promised a sequel to the wonderful Swordspoint and then didn't deliver. But now Kushner has bowed to the pleadings of her fans and published The Fall of the Kings.

And what a disappointment. For starters the book is far too long. Length would be fine if it was used to either advance the plot or build dramatic tension. In this case Kushner does neither. We are treated to agonisingly long descriptive scenes which lead us nowhere. Yes, the language is pretty enough but thats no substitute for plot or character development.

Since the character development is so flimsy we are left with a host of similar characters whose only distinguishing features are their names. Unlike Swordspoint we don't really get to undersatnd their lives, motives and thoughts in a cohesive way.

In terms of plot the big final 'action' scene of the novel is flat and dull. Focusing too much on the language to the detriment of the action Kushner fails to make these important scenes exciting or thought provoking.

Although I've given the novel a 3 star rating I think that's more due to nostalgia over her previous novels than praise for thisone.

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13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars uncanny and exquisite, 19 Mar 2003

By	Ventura Angelo (Brescia, Lombardia Italy) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Set in the same alternate reality of Swordspoint,this book delves deeply in the history of the town who has seen the adventures of Richard StVier and Alec. The action is centered at the University,where Doctor Basil StCloud, insists investigating history and ancient documents at the cost of subverting established facts and dogmas. He clashes whit a Dr.Crabbe, a crabby indeed antirevisionist who states that all is already known and no further research is necessary. Historical research on the early monarchs will lead to the discovery of the archaic and mystic roots of their civilization, but the revival of ancient customs and myths through learning and the love for the young,undisciplined aristocrat Theron will lead to unforeseen consequences. The novel is magnificently written, the charachters of Basil St Cloud, Lord Theron his lover,and of the colleagues and students , aristocrats, dames and children, young nobles, politics and plotters, are wonderfully portrayed. This strange society is so poignantly depicted that we could swear to be there, amid quarrelling students,in crowded classrooms, at familiar gatherings. This book blends the humanity of Dickens and the witty dialogue of Oscar Wilde...and the dark fascination for ancient myths of Algernon Blacwood. You'll love this book. It's all books like "A secret History" by Donna Tartt wanted to be.In " The fall of the Kings" the reader,like Basil St Cloud, shall be intrigued by the ghosts of past archaic rites, and shall wonder on the eredity the past leaves to the present, even when the present wants to reject it.
This is indeed a great book.

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8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I want my time back!, 23 Jan 2005

By A Customer

Well that was 7 hours of my life COMPLETELY wasted. Most of the book was fine, if a bit long-winded sometimes. But the ending sucked. I didn't feel like the author resolved the story in a satisfactory manner. After reading the last page, I thought, "That's it?" It left me feeling like the whole story was pointless.

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