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The Bastard King: Book One Scepter of Mercy
by Dan Chernenko, Harry Turtledove
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Roc (2004-03)
ISBN: 0451459679
EAN: 9780451459671
Dewy Decimal #: 813.6
Paperback: 512 pages
Edition: Reprint
SKU: B451-1215
Condition: New
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Customer Reviews
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Kicks off a spectacularly good trilogy
Rating  (4)
Date: 2006-09-27
This is the first of the three "Scepter of Mercy" books, which are
1) The Bastard King
2) The Chernagor Pirates
3) The Scepter's Return
Although he used the pen-name Dan Chernenko, these books were actually written by Harry Turtledove. Apparently he felt the books were different from his usual subject matter and wanted to see the reaction they would get without his name. The most recent printings actually do have his name on the cover, followed by "writing as Dan Chernenko".
The prologue which begins the book reads as follows:
"Once apon a time, a long time ago, the Kingdom of Avotnis had two kings at the same time. King Lanius was the son of a king, the grandson of a king, the great-grandson of a king, and so on for a dozen generations. King Grus was the son of Crex the Unbearable. Between them, they brought the Scepter of Mercy back to the city of Avornis in truimph, and did many other deeds of which the bards will sing for ages yet to come. One of them, pretty plainly, was a great king. The other, just as plainly, was not. The only trouble is, it's not always obvious which was which ... "
Lanius is born at the beginning of the book as the only son of King Mergus of Avornis, a country beset by enemies on all sides, particularly by barbarians to the south, in territory ruled by the immortal "Banished one" who used to be a God before the other Gods expelled him from heaven. Even before he is born, it is obvous that the Banished one has some reason to hate and fear the young prince - and that this evil former God has a similar obsessive hatred for Captain Grus, the able but low-born commander of a river galley in the navy of Avornis.
Under the local religion, in which Olar, the current principal god, has six wives, nobody is allowed to marry more than six times. King Mergus has already got through his alloted six wives, but in his desperation to leave an heir for the kingdom, gets a dubious dispensation to marry Lanius's mother.
As the son of the King's seventh wife, Lanius is perceived by many as a bastard. However, the realm still needs a King - at least one King ...
Strongly recommended. This series does have both the strengths and weaknesses of many of Harry Turtledove's books. For example, there is a strong storyline, well crafted and believable characters - but he does tend to repeat things an awful lot. If you can put up with that minor flaw you will greatly enjoy this trilogy.
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A sage with punch
Rating (4)
Date: 2003-09-19
7 out of 7 customers found this reveiw helpful
It is a rousing saga that holds much promise, enough so I am looking forward to book two in the series, Dan Chernenko launches the Scepter of Mercy series of fantasy books with The Bastard King. In a simple, straightforward narrative style, Chernenko sets his tale in the kingdom of Avornis and chronicle the rise of two extraordinary men - Lanius, the bastard son of King Mergus, and Grus, a royal navy captain of born of humble origin.Lanius was the son of Certhia, King Mergus’ concubine. A beautiful woman, she held the heart of the King. In Avornis commoners were allowed three wives, nobles four and kings six. Since Mergus already has his six wives, Certhia must remain his leman. However, with the news she is to bear his child, Mergus grows determined to make her his seventh wife so his son will follow him onto the thrown. Mergus knows his younger brother Prince Scolopax is hungry to take over the throne, and will not welcome the news Mergus is to have a son. Since Lanius is the illegitimate son of a seventh wife, in the eyes of the people and church he cannot inherit rules. But a council of regents rally behind the child as a figurehead, while they control the real power. The child Lanius finds his life ruled by a series of regents so has little control over the fates. At one point, his mother, Certhia holds the power, and later Grus - a more powerful influence, who serves as jointly as king with Lanius. Grus has rising far from a humble naval captain to a great general and intends to make the most of his position. Grus, who is constantly tormented by dreams of things to come, must continually must battle the Thervings and the Menteshe, warlike tribes under the control of a banished Auld God, now called the Evil Banished Ones. A very strong entry into the fantasy realm.
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