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Vlad Taltos #1-3
The Book of Jhereg
A welcome addition to any fantasy fan's library, The Book of Jhereg follows the antics of the wise-cracking assassin Vlad Taltos and his dragon-like companion through their first three adventures: Jhereg, Yendi, and Teckla. From his rookie assassin days to his selfless feats of heroism, the dauntless Vlad will hold readers spellbound and The Book of Jhereg will take its place among the classic compilations in fantasy.
471 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1983
About the author
Steven Brust
94 books2,241 followersSteven Karl Zoltán Brust (born November 23, 1955) is an American fantasy and science fiction author of Hungarian descent. He was a member of the writers' group The Scribblies, which included Emma Bull, Pamela Dean, Will Shetterly, Nate Bucklin, Kara Dalkey, and Patricia Wrede, and also belongs to the Pre-Joycean Fellowship.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/steven...
(Photo by David Dyer-Bennet)
http://us.macmillan.com/author/steven...
(Photo by David Dyer-Bennet)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews
January 23, 2019
Jhereg: 4 stars
Yendi: 4 stars
Teckla: 3.5 stars
Amazing books. Amazing journey. Very memorable characters. Love Vlad and this world of dragons and dragon people and their layered politics. I can't wait to get started on the second omnibus.
I have a thing about reading series in order, and it was with a lot of reluctance and much hand-wringing that I read this series out of chronological order. I had gotten almost the whole series in these omnibus editions that "organized" the books in publication order (i.e. definitely not chronological order), and figuring out where to start or jump in took up too much time. So I just started with the first book of the first omnibus (Jhereg) and soon found that the order is not that big a deal for this series, as many people have told me before.
The order in which you read doesn't affect your enjoyment that much because each book could be read as a standalone--sort of, "technically." I could explain further now that I've read the first three books, set in three different points of Vlad Taltos' life and career, but that's... gonna get complicated, more complicated.
Suffice it to say I really enjoyed all three books, maybe the third one a little less than the previous two, but that's only because it contained too many real life implications that mirrored some of my own and reading about those things are never fun.
The writing is great, and I never felt it faltering once. This doesn't mean much unless or until you take in the whole series' timeline and see where each book falls (how years apart they are) and then realize the complexity of writing a series out of order all the while maintaining continuity and coherence AND not letting the overarching story line falter.
It's amazing and I'm nothing short of impressed.
Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
Yendi: 4 stars
Teckla: 3.5 stars
Amazing books. Amazing journey. Very memorable characters. Love Vlad and this world of dragons and dragon people and their layered politics. I can't wait to get started on the second omnibus.
I have a thing about reading series in order, and it was with a lot of reluctance and much hand-wringing that I read this series out of chronological order. I had gotten almost the whole series in these omnibus editions that "organized" the books in publication order (i.e. definitely not chronological order), and figuring out where to start or jump in took up too much time. So I just started with the first book of the first omnibus (Jhereg) and soon found that the order is not that big a deal for this series, as many people have told me before.
The order in which you read doesn't affect your enjoyment that much because each book could be read as a standalone--sort of, "technically." I could explain further now that I've read the first three books, set in three different points of Vlad Taltos' life and career, but that's... gonna get complicated, more complicated.
Suffice it to say I really enjoyed all three books, maybe the third one a little less than the previous two, but that's only because it contained too many real life implications that mirrored some of my own and reading about those things are never fun.
The writing is great, and I never felt it faltering once. This doesn't mean much unless or until you take in the whole series' timeline and see where each book falls (how years apart they are) and then realize the complexity of writing a series out of order all the while maintaining continuity and coherence AND not letting the overarching story line falter.
It's amazing and I'm nothing short of impressed.
Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
July 25, 2011
Oh, authors, why can you not just write the stories in the order they occur?
Chronological order (according to the author): Taltos, Yendi, Jhereg, Teckla, Phoenix, Athyra, Orca.
BUT
"Many people whose opinions I respect believe publication order is best": Jhereg, Yendi, Teckla...
I've read all the books in this series at least once and never got the order of events straight. I'm starting to suspect that the internal chronology doesn't make sense and Brust is trying to disguise the fact.
And the fact that the books all have similar made-up-animal titles does not help me keep them straight.
***
Having finished my reread on Jhereg, I want to reiterate that the question of order is a fairly important one with this series. Reading in roughly chronological order, as I did the first time through, one encounters the protagonist Vlad as a young man embarking on a criminal career, in part because he is a member of a disadvantaged minority and it is one of the few paths of advancement open to him. He seems likable enough and the readers' sympathies remain largely with him as he becomes as assassin, gains skills and authority, makes powerful friends.
Reading in publication order -- not so much with the sympathy. Vlad is basically a crime lord, running a territory for House Jhereg, which is similar to the mafia. He is a jolly enough fellow and has his own code of honor, but he also has no compunction about having a random woman murdered because her boyfriend was overheard gossiping. Pretty much innocent gossip, too, notmafia Jhereg secrets that he should have known were dangerous. His friends also have virtues -- usually loyalty or commitment to keeping their oaths, very medieval -- but they are certainly not the "good guys". Vlad mentions in passing of Morrolan that "he has been known to sacrifice entire villages to her [the Demon Goddess]."
Maybe we're not supposed to care. Those faceless little villagers, so what if they die? This is a light read for entertainment, they aren't real people. Maybe our morals and affections are supposed to mimic those of the characters, where only the people they care about matter and other people's lives (or rather, deaths) are inconsequential. On the other hand, maybe we are supposed to be struck by the rupture of rooting for "heroes" who really aren't. But having recently reread Brust's standalone Agyar I know that he can portray this sort of moral ambiguity far better if that is what he wanted to do.
On a less abstruse level, reading in publication order seems like it will make a lot of the "later" books which deal with earlier events rather anticlimactic. For instance, when I originally read Yendi without having read Jhereg, I did not know that Vlad was going to end up marrying Cawti, who is introduced in Yendi. But if you read in publication order they are married when it starts, rendering that subplot completely anticlimactic. There is no tension when someone tries to murder Vlad in Yendi because we already know he will be fine.
Or maybe this is just not as fun because I'm a grown-up and read more critically.
Chronological order (according to the author): Taltos, Yendi, Jhereg, Teckla, Phoenix, Athyra, Orca.
BUT
"Many people whose opinions I respect believe publication order is best": Jhereg, Yendi, Teckla...
I've read all the books in this series at least once and never got the order of events straight. I'm starting to suspect that the internal chronology doesn't make sense and Brust is trying to disguise the fact.
And the fact that the books all have similar made-up-animal titles does not help me keep them straight.
***
Having finished my reread on Jhereg, I want to reiterate that the question of order is a fairly important one with this series. Reading in roughly chronological order, as I did the first time through, one encounters the protagonist Vlad as a young man embarking on a criminal career, in part because he is a member of a disadvantaged minority and it is one of the few paths of advancement open to him. He seems likable enough and the readers' sympathies remain largely with him as he becomes as assassin, gains skills and authority, makes powerful friends.
Reading in publication order -- not so much with the sympathy. Vlad is basically a crime lord, running a territory for House Jhereg, which is similar to the mafia. He is a jolly enough fellow and has his own code of honor, but he also has no compunction about having a random woman murdered because her boyfriend was overheard gossiping. Pretty much innocent gossip, too, not
Maybe we're not supposed to care. Those faceless little villagers, so what if they die? This is a light read for entertainment, they aren't real people. Maybe our morals and affections are supposed to mimic those of the characters, where only the people they care about matter and other people's lives (or rather, deaths) are inconsequential. On the other hand, maybe we are supposed to be struck by the rupture of rooting for "heroes" who really aren't. But having recently reread Brust's standalone Agyar I know that he can portray this sort of moral ambiguity far better if that is what he wanted to do.
On a less abstruse level, reading in publication order seems like it will make a lot of the "later" books which deal with earlier events rather anticlimactic. For instance, when I originally read Yendi without having read Jhereg, I did not know that Vlad was going to end up marrying Cawti, who is introduced in Yendi. But if you read in publication order they are married when it starts, rendering that subplot completely anticlimactic. There is no tension when someone tries to murder Vlad in Yendi because we already know he will be fine.
Or maybe this is just not as fun because I'm a grown-up and read more critically.
May 17, 2007
When the friend who recommended this to me explained that it was based on an extended tabletop roleplaying campaign the author participated in, suddenly everything that pissed me off about this book made perfect sense.
April 25, 2016
An anthology containing the first three novels of the Vlad Taltos series. A very enjoyable introduction to his world and life. It did its job—I was sandwiched in a middle seat on an airplane, badly needing distraction from the two men I was shoe-horned between for the flight from Houston to Calgary (4 hours, if you’re interested). Dude on my left seemed to resent my very existence, so it was with great pleasure that I imagined my personal assassin, Vlad, doing his thing.
The first book (Jhereg) was spent getting to know the wise-cracking, paranoid assassin and learning the lay of the land, so to speak, on the world he inhabits. Brust includes a lot of detail—a multi-layered, complex social structure, a couple of systems of magic/sorcery, a fairly large cast of characters, plus a few new biological creatures to assimilate (specifically Vlad’s jhereg familiar, a flying lizard). Brust leaves you to glean facts along the way as he flings Vlad into a rather Rococo plot which twists and turns as more facts are uncovered. Brust owes a debt to series like Harry Harrison’s Stainless Steel Rat, whose main character is Slippery Jim DiGriz, another charming conman.
Book two (Yendi) told the backstory of Vlad’s marriage. I appreciated his wife Cawti, as she had her own kick-butt history and a female business partner with whom she obviously had a real friendship. However, the two women never really get to take centre stage for a scene—their conversations are assumed off the page, which disappointed me somewhat. I had hoped that Yendi would pass the Bechdel test, but no dice.
Teckla (Book three) changed the tone of the series entirely. Suddenly, it becomes necessary for Vlad to question the morality of his crime & assassination business and to decide if he is satisfied in a society where he is constantly discriminated against because of his race. These are serious questions which Vlad struggles with, being in a rather privileged position for an Easterner. He could lose it all, but what is it actually worth? Plus he is soon at odds with Cawti—which causes believable distress for our assassin friend. I appreciated the depiction of continued stress and misunderstandings in the relationship, as both parties sort out what they can and cannot live with.
With as many complexities as Brust introduced in these two volumes, there are bound to be details that don’t get as much attention as they deserve. For me, I wished that Vlad’s relationship with his familiar, Loiosh, was better developed. The flying lizard-like jhereg had great potential that never really got explored—he was more like a living, smart-cracking weapon than like a true partner to Vlad.
I will happily read more books in this series in months to come.
The first book (Jhereg) was spent getting to know the wise-cracking, paranoid assassin and learning the lay of the land, so to speak, on the world he inhabits. Brust includes a lot of detail—a multi-layered, complex social structure, a couple of systems of magic/sorcery, a fairly large cast of characters, plus a few new biological creatures to assimilate (specifically Vlad’s jhereg familiar, a flying lizard). Brust leaves you to glean facts along the way as he flings Vlad into a rather Rococo plot which twists and turns as more facts are uncovered. Brust owes a debt to series like Harry Harrison’s Stainless Steel Rat, whose main character is Slippery Jim DiGriz, another charming conman.
Book two (Yendi) told the backstory of Vlad’s marriage. I appreciated his wife Cawti, as she had her own kick-butt history and a female business partner with whom she obviously had a real friendship. However, the two women never really get to take centre stage for a scene—their conversations are assumed off the page, which disappointed me somewhat. I had hoped that Yendi would pass the Bechdel test, but no dice.
Teckla (Book three) changed the tone of the series entirely. Suddenly, it becomes necessary for Vlad to question the morality of his crime & assassination business and to decide if he is satisfied in a society where he is constantly discriminated against because of his race. These are serious questions which Vlad struggles with, being in a rather privileged position for an Easterner. He could lose it all, but what is it actually worth? Plus he is soon at odds with Cawti—which causes believable distress for our assassin friend. I appreciated the depiction of continued stress and misunderstandings in the relationship, as both parties sort out what they can and cannot live with.
With as many complexities as Brust introduced in these two volumes, there are bound to be details that don’t get as much attention as they deserve. For me, I wished that Vlad’s relationship with his familiar, Loiosh, was better developed. The flying lizard-like jhereg had great potential that never really got explored—he was more like a living, smart-cracking weapon than like a true partner to Vlad.
I will happily read more books in this series in months to come.
October 19, 2016
I don't really understand all the positive reviews about this book. The premise of this book is entertaining sure, but it has been done before. And better. Just read the Gentleman Bastards (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...) or Prince of Thorns (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9...) instead.
Same principle, better stories, fleshed out characters.
The writing is a very juvenile and tries too hard to sound "cool". When I was reading this book I constantly heard the following in my head "I'm a cool murderer, with cool weapons, in a cool organization and cool allies. I always know something cool and witty to say. Look how cool I am when I kill this guy in a cool fashion. Yeah, I'm always cool.” Yawn.
Only finished this book because I bought it.
One last thing. The main character has a cool (of course) familiar called Loiosh, a little dragonlike creature that can talk through thoughts. Everytime this creature says something. The reaction of the main character is almost always the same. He simply responds with "shut up, Loiosh".
What a dick.
Same principle, better stories, fleshed out characters.
The writing is a very juvenile and tries too hard to sound "cool". When I was reading this book I constantly heard the following in my head "I'm a cool murderer, with cool weapons, in a cool organization and cool allies. I always know something cool and witty to say. Look how cool I am when I kill this guy in a cool fashion. Yeah, I'm always cool.” Yawn.
Only finished this book because I bought it.
One last thing. The main character has a cool (of course) familiar called Loiosh, a little dragonlike creature that can talk through thoughts. Everytime this creature says something. The reaction of the main character is almost always the same. He simply responds with "shut up, Loiosh".
What a dick.
July 20, 2018
¿Quiere saber más de estos tres libros, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
February 20, 2011
Finally, finished Jhereg! Yay. Running alongside Vlad on life-threatening missions was fun, and I'm certain it's going to continue to be fun through the next two in this volume....
UPDATE: Okay, here are my thoughts on the first book I've read in the Vlad Taltos series. First things I'll get over with are what didn't necessarily impress me. This book contains, for lack of a better term, a lot of 'tell-don't-show' style information: "Wow, Vlad/Boss, how did you figure THAT out?" "Genius explanation by Vlad." "Shit, Boss. That's bad, but you're brilliant." I'm not saying Vlad is too perfect as a character, far from it - it's just that his revelations somehow got a tad dry by the end. Don't know exactly how it could have been done differently, and maybe I'm just not used to it because I just haven't read enough crime novels lately.
The other thing which I was more disappointed with was the very ending itself, with the return to Vlad's contemplation of whether his past life as a Dragaeran greatly affects who he is now. It's presented (apparently) for the sake of a moralizing conclusion, which was totally misplaced in my eyes:
" ' You know, Aliera,' I said, 'I'm still not really sure about this genetic inheritance through the soul. I mean, sure, I felt something for it, but I also lived through what I lived through, and I guess that shaped me more than you'd think. I am what I am, in addition to what I was. Do you understand what I mean?'
Aliera didn't answer; she just looked at me, her face unreadable. An uncomfortable silence settled over the room, as we all sat there with our thoughts. Kragar studied the floor, Cawti [who provided her husband with his current 'revelation' about ten chapters ago] caressed my forehead...."
Enough about the downsides. I greatly enjoyed the depiction of this universe, which I can't help linking intrinsically with the Star Wars galaxy. (Vlad should build himself a podracer so he can stop teleporting.) The addition of sorcery and witchcraft, however – with a neat distinction between the two – makes it unique, less hokey than 'the force.' The detailed weaponry is also, I must admit, rather intriguing. So is the link that Aliera, Morrolan and Vlad have with their particular weapons, which have really cool names. I mean, I seriously want to carry on a kick-ass fight with a two-foot length of gold chain called Spellbreaker. I'm not kidding.
I will wrap this up with my hypothesis that Brust has strictly personal reasons for giving Vlad Taltos a moustache. Namely, Vlad is a bit of a Mary Sue. Just look at some concept art for Vlad:
And look at Stephen Brust:
Poor Stevie. All he's got is a parakeet.
I can't help being amused, but I honestly feel empathy for the guy. Who wouldn't want to be Vlad Taltos? And who has more right to be than the person who created him in the first place?
On to Yendi. Stay tuned.
UPDATE: After having read Yendi:
One thing I have to admire, I can not predict the twists that these books' plots take. I'm not much good at predicting plot twists anyway, but in the case of the Vlad Taltos books I doubt it's just me. I think it proves how well-versed Brust is in the science of intrigue, and how artfully crafted this entire world is.
So, Vlad and Cawti met up in this one. That was fun and frisky. Cawti's an excellent character, not least because she is equal or possibly superior to Vlad in every conceivable way. I'm glad that Vlad doesn't fall in love with some wimpy female and awaken his 'soft side' to protect her. That would have weakened the action.
In the sidelines, Vlad and Loiosh's bickering continues to be amusing, and after the hundredth "Shut up, Loiosh" it doesn't really even get stale. Not much. It just makes one feel how well they know each other. I still hope we'll hear them having a real psionic heart-to-heart one day, not just their banter between Vlad's other conversations.
I will maintain that Sticks is the best character in Yendi. "There's no future in it, Boss."
UPDATE: Okay, here are my thoughts on the first book I've read in the Vlad Taltos series. First things I'll get over with are what didn't necessarily impress me. This book contains, for lack of a better term, a lot of 'tell-don't-show' style information: "Wow, Vlad/Boss, how did you figure THAT out?" "Genius explanation by Vlad." "Shit, Boss. That's bad, but you're brilliant." I'm not saying Vlad is too perfect as a character, far from it - it's just that his revelations somehow got a tad dry by the end. Don't know exactly how it could have been done differently, and maybe I'm just not used to it because I just haven't read enough crime novels lately.
The other thing which I was more disappointed with was the very ending itself, with the return to Vlad's contemplation of whether his past life as a Dragaeran greatly affects who he is now. It's presented (apparently) for the sake of a moralizing conclusion, which was totally misplaced in my eyes:
" ' You know, Aliera,' I said, 'I'm still not really sure about this genetic inheritance through the soul. I mean, sure, I felt something for it, but I also lived through what I lived through, and I guess that shaped me more than you'd think. I am what I am, in addition to what I was. Do you understand what I mean?'
Aliera didn't answer; she just looked at me, her face unreadable. An uncomfortable silence settled over the room, as we all sat there with our thoughts. Kragar studied the floor, Cawti [who provided her husband with his current 'revelation' about ten chapters ago] caressed my forehead...."
Enough about the downsides. I greatly enjoyed the depiction of this universe, which I can't help linking intrinsically with the Star Wars galaxy. (Vlad should build himself a podracer so he can stop teleporting.) The addition of sorcery and witchcraft, however – with a neat distinction between the two – makes it unique, less hokey than 'the force.' The detailed weaponry is also, I must admit, rather intriguing. So is the link that Aliera, Morrolan and Vlad have with their particular weapons, which have really cool names. I mean, I seriously want to carry on a kick-ass fight with a two-foot length of gold chain called Spellbreaker. I'm not kidding.
I will wrap this up with my hypothesis that Brust has strictly personal reasons for giving Vlad Taltos a moustache. Namely, Vlad is a bit of a Mary Sue. Just look at some concept art for Vlad:
And look at Stephen Brust:
Poor Stevie. All he's got is a parakeet.
I can't help being amused, but I honestly feel empathy for the guy. Who wouldn't want to be Vlad Taltos? And who has more right to be than the person who created him in the first place?
On to Yendi. Stay tuned.
UPDATE: After having read Yendi:
One thing I have to admire, I can not predict the twists that these books' plots take. I'm not much good at predicting plot twists anyway, but in the case of the Vlad Taltos books I doubt it's just me. I think it proves how well-versed Brust is in the science of intrigue, and how artfully crafted this entire world is.
So, Vlad and Cawti met up in this one. That was fun and frisky. Cawti's an excellent character, not least because she is equal or possibly superior to Vlad in every conceivable way. I'm glad that Vlad doesn't fall in love with some wimpy female and awaken his 'soft side' to protect her. That would have weakened the action.
In the sidelines, Vlad and Loiosh's bickering continues to be amusing, and after the hundredth "Shut up, Loiosh" it doesn't really even get stale. Not much. It just makes one feel how well they know each other. I still hope we'll hear them having a real psionic heart-to-heart one day, not just their banter between Vlad's other conversations.
I will maintain that Sticks is the best character in Yendi. "There's no future in it, Boss."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2009
This contains the first three books in the Vlad Taltos series which chronicles the adventures of a young assassin for hire in one of the most original fantasy worlds I've ever encountered. This is definitely not based on medieval England, or anything I've read about. I used to read them when I was a kid and then spend the afternoon pretending to be an assassin with my own flourishing assassinary business. Now I read them and wish I was a kid so I could play it some more.
"'He wants to meet with you. [...:] He set it up for two hours past noon, tomorrow.'
'After noon?'
Kragar looked puzzled. 'That's right. After noon. That means when most people have eaten lunch, but haven't eaten supper yet. You must have come across the concept before.'
I ignored his sarcasm. 'You're missing the point,' I said, flipping a shuriken into the wall next to his ear.
'Funny, Vlad -- '
'Quiet. Now, how do you go about killing an assassin? Especially someone who's careful not to let his movements fall into any pattern?'
'Eh? You set up a meeting with him, just like the Demon is doing.'
'Right. And, of course, you do everything you can to make him suspicious, don't you?'
'Uh, maybe you do. I don't.'
'Damn right you don't!'"
"'He wants to meet with you. [...:] He set it up for two hours past noon, tomorrow.'
'After noon?'
Kragar looked puzzled. 'That's right. After noon. That means when most people have eaten lunch, but haven't eaten supper yet. You must have come across the concept before.'
I ignored his sarcasm. 'You're missing the point,' I said, flipping a shuriken into the wall next to his ear.
'Funny, Vlad -- '
'Quiet. Now, how do you go about killing an assassin? Especially someone who's careful not to let his movements fall into any pattern?'
'Eh? You set up a meeting with him, just like the Demon is doing.'
'Right. And, of course, you do everything you can to make him suspicious, don't you?'
'Uh, maybe you do. I don't.'
'Damn right you don't!'"
October 30, 2010
Vladimir Taltos is a bit warped, but you might be too, if you grew up as the son of a self-hating human in Dragaera. It is an empire of sorcery and intrigue... for Dragaerans. For humans, it is mostly a world of drudgery and second or maybe even third-class citizenship. (The members of the House of Teckla, the serf-caste among the Dragaerans, might edge out most humans for second-class citizenship status.) Vlad has managed to come up in the world, though. And he's done it the only way a human can: through the purchase of a baronetcy in the House of Jhereg.
He's also become an assassin. And a witch. And a bit of a sorcerer (completely different, of course). And a problem for some very powerful people...
The Book of Jhereg is 471 pages of lightning fast, engaging reading that takes on far more than it seems on the surface. Better still, Brust has already written enough books set in this world to populate a small bookshelf, so this might really be the start of a beautiful relationship.
For my full review, visit my blog: http://worldsbetweenpages.blogspot.co...
He's also become an assassin. And a witch. And a bit of a sorcerer (completely different, of course). And a problem for some very powerful people...
The Book of Jhereg is 471 pages of lightning fast, engaging reading that takes on far more than it seems on the surface. Better still, Brust has already written enough books set in this world to populate a small bookshelf, so this might really be the start of a beautiful relationship.
For my full review, visit my blog: http://worldsbetweenpages.blogspot.co...
July 1, 2015
Препоръчван от ��амия Роджър Зелазни, Стивън Бруст ми е един от предпчитаните(и препрочитани) автори.
Джерег - Запознайте се с баронет Влад Талтош. Източняк(демек човек) успял да се издигне в империята на хората(демек дракари) до средно ниво в дома Джерег. Убиец по професия, той е нает да свърши невъзможна, но чудесно заплатена "работа". Целта е обрала хазната на домът Джерег и нагло се е скътала при един господар на дракони, който е и приятел на В��ад. Докато се опитва да го докопа без да си развалят приятелството и без да предизвикат нова война Дракон - Джерег, Влад и неговите хора разкриват план за отмъщение, внимателно изграждан 600 години(което не е чак толкова много за един дракар).
Йенди - Някога да сте се запитвали, какво щеше да излезе, ако Марио Пузо пишеше фентъзи? Е това е отговора на въпроса ви. Историята за издигането на Талтош в дома Джерег. Кланета, палене на бардаци и игрални зали, поръчкови магически убийства, катили, биячи, абе улична война в най-добрите традиции в един свят на магии и вещерство. Просто чудесно.
Текла - Какво става, когато в драгарската империя се вдигне революция? Малкото анархистче в мен подскачаше, с байряк в едната ръка и тапешник в другата, през цялото време, докато четях романа. Долу империята, да живеят свободата и равенството и братството за хора и драгари. Заповядайте на барикадите, митингите, школите по четене и пропаганда. Долу поттисника джерег, долу империята, РЕВОЛЮЦИЯ.
Пет звезди и продължавам броенето. Стивън Бруст е задължителен.
Джерег - Запознайте се с баронет Влад Талтош. Източняк(демек човек) успял да се издигне в империята на хората(демек дракари) до средно ниво в дома Джерег. Убиец по професия, той е нает да свърши невъзможна, но чудесно заплатена "работа". Целта е обрала хазната на домът Джерег и нагло се е скътала при един господар на дракони, който е и приятел на В��ад. Докато се опитва да го докопа без да си развалят приятелството и без да предизвикат нова война Дракон - Джерег, Влад и неговите хора разкриват план за отмъщение, внимателно изграждан 600 години(което не е чак толкова много за един дракар).
Йенди - Някога да сте се запитвали, какво щеше да излезе, ако Марио Пузо пишеше фентъзи? Е това е отговора на въпроса ви. Историята за издигането на Талтош в дома Джерег. Кланета, палене на бардаци и игрални зали, поръчкови магически убийства, катили, биячи, абе улична война в най-добрите традиции в един свят на магии и вещерство. Просто чудесно.
Текла - Какво става, когато в драгарската империя се вдигне революция? Малкото анархистче в мен подскачаше, с байряк в едната ръка и тапешник в другата, през цялото време, докато четях романа. Долу империята, да живеят свободата и равенството и братството за хора и драгари. Заповядайте на барикадите, митингите, школите по четене и пропаганда. Долу поттисника джерег, долу империята, РЕВОЛЮЦИЯ.
Пет звезди и продължавам броенето. Стивън Бруст е задължителен.
December 13, 2012
A friend of mine handed me this as something to let my mind wander in between scholastic readings of the semester. I was ready to write it off as pulp fantasy, an easy read that meant nothing--and, on a certain level, I was right. But the really plain and somewhat silly quote on the front from Roger Zelazny is also right: "Watch Steven Brust. He surprises you."
Since this is a collection of three books, I will review them as such.
Jhereg
One of the things that drove me nuts about this book is Brust's love affair with operating in medias res. I never really had a clear idea of who was who or what I was supposed to be rooting for or what this world was, anyway, even though the first-person narration of Vlad Taltos is constantly breaking the fourth wall to offer commentary. I was intrigued by the ways Brust got around some of the problems of working in a world without technology but with magic--the psionic communication that replaces phones, for example, was interesting. I like the recurring detail of how much teleporting sucks, too. And the characters were fun. It was a good read, and I was curious to see where the world went.
Yendi
Even though I'd read the foreward to this edition that informed me these were in publication rather than chronological order, I was still way caught off guard when I finished one book and hopped into a prequel. Which, again in keeping with in medias res, I didn't really realize was a prequel until the characters starting referring to each other in ways that made me quite sure they didn't know each other all that well yet.
So this one was much cooler, for me anyway, in terms of really bringing out the different levels of society within Brust's world. Taltos (pronounced Taltosh, I belatedly learned) is an assassin moving into running a ring of illegal businesses, and he happens to get on the wrong side of another boss. This sparks a war, and watching the incredibly intricate plotting and movements of that war and the effects it has on all of the characters involved really drew me into the story. I liked also that the introduction of a romance element didn't overwhelm the main plot and never really became anything other than an element. The action was first, second, and third, and the romance was just a neat addition. Well done there.
Teckla
I, like Taltos, am still not quite sure what to do with this one. The overtones of revolution and fighting against oppression are very interesting, seeing that Les Miserables is set to come out later this month, but there are also some really well-written manifestos and opinions hidden among the sometimes belabored relationship element and the general workings of Taltos trying to maneuver around the mess of his wife being involved with fools. I really appreciated some of the ways that Brust comments on the ideas of value for others and the power plays of society, but I wasn't so much a fan of how drawn out he made the fighting between Taltos and Cawti. I guess I just never believed it, I don't know why. I am curious to see where the series goes, and will have to ask my friend for the next collection.
Since this is a collection of three books, I will review them as such.
Jhereg
One of the things that drove me nuts about this book is Brust's love affair with operating in medias res. I never really had a clear idea of who was who or what I was supposed to be rooting for or what this world was, anyway, even though the first-person narration of Vlad Taltos is constantly breaking the fourth wall to offer commentary. I was intrigued by the ways Brust got around some of the problems of working in a world without technology but with magic--the psionic communication that replaces phones, for example, was interesting. I like the recurring detail of how much teleporting sucks, too. And the characters were fun. It was a good read, and I was curious to see where the world went.
Yendi
Even though I'd read the foreward to this edition that informed me these were in publication rather than chronological order, I was still way caught off guard when I finished one book and hopped into a prequel. Which, again in keeping with in medias res, I didn't really realize was a prequel until the characters starting referring to each other in ways that made me quite sure they didn't know each other all that well yet.
So this one was much cooler, for me anyway, in terms of really bringing out the different levels of society within Brust's world. Taltos (pronounced Taltosh, I belatedly learned) is an assassin moving into running a ring of illegal businesses, and he happens to get on the wrong side of another boss. This sparks a war, and watching the incredibly intricate plotting and movements of that war and the effects it has on all of the characters involved really drew me into the story. I liked also that the introduction of a romance element didn't overwhelm the main plot and never really became anything other than an element. The action was first, second, and third, and the romance was just a neat addition. Well done there.
Teckla
I, like Taltos, am still not quite sure what to do with this one. The overtones of revolution and fighting against oppression are very interesting, seeing that Les Miserables is set to come out later this month, but there are also some really well-written manifestos and opinions hidden among the sometimes belabored relationship element and the general workings of Taltos trying to maneuver around the mess of his wife being involved with fools. I really appreciated some of the ways that Brust comments on the ideas of value for others and the power plays of society, but I wasn't so much a fan of how drawn out he made the fighting between Taltos and Cawti. I guess I just never believed it, I don't know why. I am curious to see where the series goes, and will have to ask my friend for the next collection.
January 14, 2018
I've finished Jhereg and don't really feel any inclination to continue with the other 2 books. Vlad Taltos, as far as I can determine, is an assassin working for a mafia-like organization. He has a familiar Loiosh, a jhereg, which could have been really interesting but Loiosh speaks and behaves like a human mafia side-kick. They don't have a meaningful relationship. The initial jhereg summoning and cracking of the egg scenes really ratcheted up expectations though.
All the problems and mysteries are solved by Vlad thinking about it and explaining the answer to everybody after saving the world. It reminded me bizarrely of Hercule Poirot. The dragons (and phoenixes) with their reincarnation and insistence on their word/honour seem to be an amateur parody of eastern ideas.
This came recommended by fellow fantasy lovers and I came away disappointed both by the writing and the world-building.
All the problems and mysteries are solved by Vlad thinking about it and explaining the answer to everybody after saving the world. It reminded me bizarrely of Hercule Poirot. The dragons (and phoenixes) with their reincarnation and insistence on their word/honour seem to be an amateur parody of eastern ideas.
This came recommended by fellow fantasy lovers and I came away disappointed both by the writing and the world-building.
September 19, 2015
The first two novellas were ok. Fantasy assassin with intrigue story line. Not really fleshed out, leaving some strangely large gaps in the story telling, but amusing.
The last novella, Teckla, destroyed the entire book. It was some bizarre political commentary. Not a problem in of itself, but I couldn't figure out what he was commenting on. Is it about communism? He is for it or against it? For a book about an assassin, it was strangely devoid of anything remotely interesting. After realizing I was dreading reading it, I gave up in the last 20 pages. There has to be a special kind of awful to give up when the end's in sight.
The last novella, Teckla, destroyed the entire book. It was some bizarre political commentary. Not a problem in of itself, but I couldn't figure out what he was commenting on. Is it about communism? He is for it or against it? For a book about an assassin, it was strangely devoid of anything remotely interesting. After realizing I was dreading reading it, I gave up in the last 20 pages. There has to be a special kind of awful to give up when the end's in sight.
October 29, 2019
This is a collection of three books.
The first book was really good. There was some annoyance that so many things were unexplained, but overall it was a great read.
The second book jumps backwards chronologically to try to explain a bunch of stuff in the first book and it works ok. It wasn't as interesting (prequels never are since you already know the outcome).
The third had a weird sociopolitical plot that I guess made me think or something, but wasn't that interesting. The fight scenes were better than the other books though.
What makes it all work is the first person narrator. He reminds me of Harry Dresden from the Dresden Files (and in fact, I read this book based on a Reddit thread recommendation about "if you like Jim Butcher, then you will probably enjoy..."
I'm still peeved that all the major "houses" in the book (and from which each book is titled) are named after animals that are never described. What is a jhereg, or a dzur, or yenka? Why is one house named Dragon and all the rest are made up?? (Now that I think about it, one is a Hawk also, so 2 out of 9 are real?) It's really annoying.
The first book was really good. There was some annoyance that so many things were unexplained, but overall it was a great read.
The second book jumps backwards chronologically to try to explain a bunch of stuff in the first book and it works ok. It wasn't as interesting (prequels never are since you already know the outcome).
The third had a weird sociopolitical plot that I guess made me think or something, but wasn't that interesting. The fight scenes were better than the other books though.
What makes it all work is the first person narrator. He reminds me of Harry Dresden from the Dresden Files (and in fact, I read this book based on a Reddit thread recommendation about "if you like Jim Butcher, then you will probably enjoy..."
I'm still peeved that all the major "houses" in the book (and from which each book is titled) are named after animals that are never described. What is a jhereg, or a dzur, or yenka? Why is one house named Dragon and all the rest are made up?? (Now that I think about it, one is a Hawk also, so 2 out of 9 are real?) It's really annoying.
August 30, 2009
Although I am not sure I think reading the books in published order is necessarily the best way (losing track of who knows whom is a little frustrating), it isn't too bad here, and Jhereg starts off the series quite nicely. I enjoyed the intrigue and the different characterizations quite a bit. The second book already gave me warnings of "problem of the week" syndrome, where Vlad has to tackle some new and difficult challenge and do it before 400 pages is up, but I did like the fleshing out of his back story. I also found that I enjoyed some of the more minor characters, particularly the enforcers such as Sticks, more than most of the main characters. Loiosh is an interesting companion, but sometimes I am unsure what he actually brings to the table.
The third book in this collection is where the series lost me. I honestly was hoping to finish the book quickly, not because I was so into it, but because the plot line here annoyed me to no end, and I did not like the (as I saw it) overly one-dimensional black/white dualism philosophy that seemed to invade the characters. Clearly there was more to it, but the attempt to explain it was poor, and the ending seemed too simple to really resolve anything. Nonetheless, it has not deterred me from picking up the next book.
I stopped reading Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden novels because the protagonist took on such an air of "why me" that I couldn't take it anymore. He also lives in the "new big threat of the moment" world, which I've seen enough on TV in such shows as Smallville and Buffy. Here's hoping I don't come to the same conclusion with this series.
The third book in this collection is where the series lost me. I honestly was hoping to finish the book quickly, not because I was so into it, but because the plot line here annoyed me to no end, and I did not like the (as I saw it) overly one-dimensional black/white dualism philosophy that seemed to invade the characters. Clearly there was more to it, but the attempt to explain it was poor, and the ending seemed too simple to really resolve anything. Nonetheless, it has not deterred me from picking up the next book.
I stopped reading Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden novels because the protagonist took on such an air of "why me" that I couldn't take it anymore. He also lives in the "new big threat of the moment" world, which I've seen enough on TV in such shows as Smallville and Buffy. Here's hoping I don't come to the same conclusion with this series.
September 11, 2013
I very much enjoyed this omnibus.
You can find my review on just the Jhereg portion here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
The reason that I dropped a star on the overall review of this series is because I got pretty darned irritated with Vlad's wifey. I went from liking and respecting her as a strong, almost frightening character in her own right to being very irritated with the sudden and abrupt change in her personality.
Overall, however, the stories contained herein stay true to the anti-hero mindset and give us a glimpse in the life of your average assassin who is just trying to make a place for himself and stay alive long enough to enjoy it.
There have been some reader comments (complaints) about how the story jumps about. How a book later on in the series might take place well before the book that preceded it. This did not bother me at all.
As I read this omnibus, the conversational tonality in the writer's words made me feel as though I was listening to a friend describe their antics over dinner. With any good story things hardly ever get divulged in order. Part way through someone is apt to say, "Well don't you remember that time when...? Wasn't that before?"
The logistics of how the story is told matters little when compared to the quality of the characters and the skill of the storytelling.
These three books in the Vlad Taltos series spin a wonderful story about characters that keep you interested. This is what's important to me as a reader. The rest can be worked around.
You can find my review on just the Jhereg portion here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
The reason that I dropped a star on the overall review of this series is because I got pretty darned irritated with Vlad's wifey. I went from liking and respecting her as a strong, almost frightening character in her own right to being very irritated with the sudden and abrupt change in her personality.
Overall, however, the stories contained herein stay true to the anti-hero mindset and give us a glimpse in the life of your average assassin who is just trying to make a place for himself and stay alive long enough to enjoy it.
There have been some reader comments (complaints) about how the story jumps about. How a book later on in the series might take place well before the book that preceded it. This did not bother me at all.
As I read this omnibus, the conversational tonality in the writer's words made me feel as though I was listening to a friend describe their antics over dinner. With any good story things hardly ever get divulged in order. Part way through someone is apt to say, "Well don't you remember that time when...? Wasn't that before?"
The logistics of how the story is told matters little when compared to the quality of the characters and the skill of the storytelling.
These three books in the Vlad Taltos series spin a wonderful story about characters that keep you interested. This is what's important to me as a reader. The rest can be worked around.
March 8, 2016
This book is a compilation of the first 3 books of the Vlad Taltos saga: Jhereg, Yendi and Teckla.
I...was let down, and not by the plot, but the storytelling. Vlad is an enjoyable character, for the most part, and pretty clever, but a lot of the scenes feel kind of forced and the comedy kinda slapstick. Characters and events are cool and exciting because "just trust me and keep reading," but that only works so well after 600 pages. There's no substance or background given a lot of the time, which gets pretty annoying.
Also, timeline seems to be an issue for this series, as each of these books (but especially Teckla) points to the prequels, but only in passing reference. If you choose to read the books in order, you have to come at the story with the understanding that you've missed some fundamental character-building somewhere along the way, because Brust is not going to spoon-feed you or rehash his other work.
Sorry, but if it takes you 800 pages to explain to me why your characters should be considered cool and interesting and worth investing time into, I think I'll just quit and move on.
I...was let down, and not by the plot, but the storytelling. Vlad is an enjoyable character, for the most part, and pretty clever, but a lot of the scenes feel kind of forced and the comedy kinda slapstick. Characters and events are cool and exciting because "just trust me and keep reading," but that only works so well after 600 pages. There's no substance or background given a lot of the time, which gets pretty annoying.
Also, timeline seems to be an issue for this series, as each of these books (but especially Teckla) points to the prequels, but only in passing reference. If you choose to read the books in order, you have to come at the story with the understanding that you've missed some fundamental character-building somewhere along the way, because Brust is not going to spoon-feed you or rehash his other work.
Sorry, but if it takes you 800 pages to explain to me why your characters should be considered cool and interesting and worth investing time into, I think I'll just quit and move on.
August 9, 2012
Jhereg done.
Lots of fun - even though the hero is the local sub-Boss of what passes for the Mob (and an assassin!) I really wanted him to win. Great stuff
Yendi done.
Surprisingly, Yendi happens before Jhereg, but they still stand alone so it makes no matter. Here, I got a bit lost about how the Houses differ to each other: both in physical appearance and "style" (Dzur - warriors, Yendi - plotters, Dragon - army commanders? Jherg - Mafia!). But still, a good light hearted romp which I enjoyed.
Teckla done.
The latest setting of the three books, it's also the one I liked the least. The other two are really rip-a-long fast past fun rides. This one has a much different tone - considering the theme, it's understandable.
Overall: I enjoyed it. Jhereg was by far my fave and I really like Vlad as a protagonist (he's so full of contridictions and sarcasm, he rocks!). A good easy and quick read.
Lots of fun - even though the hero is the local sub-Boss of what passes for the Mob (and an assassin!) I really wanted him to win. Great stuff
Yendi done.
Surprisingly, Yendi happens before Jhereg, but they still stand alone so it makes no matter. Here, I got a bit lost about how the Houses differ to each other: both in physical appearance and "style" (Dzur - warriors, Yendi - plotters, Dragon - army commanders? Jherg - Mafia!). But still, a good light hearted romp which I enjoyed.
Teckla done.
The latest setting of the three books, it's also the one I liked the least. The other two are really rip-a-long fast past fun rides. This one has a much different tone - considering the theme, it's understandable.
Overall: I enjoyed it. Jhereg was by far my fave and I really like Vlad as a protagonist (he's so full of contridictions and sarcasm, he rocks!). A good easy and quick read.
April 8, 2011
I was a little disappointed by this omnibus, which was my introduction the Taltos books. I'm not sure why Jhereg was printed first since it presumes prior knowledge of things that don't get elaborated on. Plus, I was a little annoyed that such a powerful, immortal race needed a lowly human to figure stuff out for them. Yendi was better and was a decent story. Teckla was stupid. Lame. Not to mention, lazy writing.
July 7, 2011
Maybe this one caught me at the wrong time but I quit after 100 pages which is surprising since a lot of reviewers I like seem to love this series. I feel like I'm missing the boat a bit. I'll probably come back to it but it was just okay in my opinion. I love the idea of the story but the lead character didn't really engage me. I don't mind that he's basically a successful thug but I prefer Joe Abercrombie's & Scott Lynch's characters & storytelling styles. I think I'll go finish Heroes Die which I'm currently reading & enjoying instead.
February 25, 2012
9/10
These 3 novels (Jhereg, Yendi, and Teckla), repackaged as one book, are in the order the author wrote them, but not in the order than Vlad lived them. For a linear thinker like me, that's a challenge. And I can feel the weight of all there is yet to learn about Dragaera.
Vlad is a wonderful storyteller and I enjoy his sardonic tone. There is more complexity to these stories than one may think.
Jhereg and Teckla were both excellent, Yendi less so but still wonderful because of how Vlad and Cawti met and their "courtship".
These 3 novels (Jhereg, Yendi, and Teckla), repackaged as one book, are in the order the author wrote them, but not in the order than Vlad lived them. For a linear thinker like me, that's a challenge. And I can feel the weight of all there is yet to learn about Dragaera.
Vlad is a wonderful storyteller and I enjoy his sardonic tone. There is more complexity to these stories than one may think.
Jhereg and Teckla were both excellent, Yendi less so but still wonderful because of how Vlad and Cawti met and their "courtship".
October 25, 2023
Yawn. This reads like some moderately competent writer in the eighties novelized his D&D campaign in the style of like a hokey spy or mystery or old adventure tale. It wasn't quite juvenile but it bordered on the sophomoric. Though I think I may have enjoyed this in the eighties, now it feels dated and annoying.
May 17, 2019
Imagine a movie taking place in a fantasy setting where everyone is kewl, there are YuGiOh level rule sets that get explained in excruciating detail, and the main character frequently makes asides directly to the reader as though this is a diary or something. That's this book.
August 15, 2024
Book 1: Jhereg
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars
NOTE: I'll update this if I read more books contained in this volume
I originally read most, if not all, of this series many years ago when I was in highschool - the paperbacks had been out for a couple of years and my friends and I found the whole series cheap at used book stores. I loved the series back then; I devoured them as fast as I could get my hands on them. I stumbled across this anthology of the first three books for what amounts to pocket change, so I picked it up for nostalgia's sake.
Jhereg was a very quick read, and to be completely honest I'm not sure it holds up very well for me. It still had it's funny moments, but the whole thing felt a bit Monty Haul. Maybe if I read them in the order the main character Valtos developed, rather than publication order (we pick him up in this book as an accomplished assassin with too many high level friends and resources). The whole thing felt repetitive - minor crisis, talk to someone connected, learn some stuff, minor crisis... The pacing overall was like being on a treadmill.
I haven't read any fantasy in quite a while, but I liked dipping my toes back into the oldschool fantasy. Again, because we're reading about a character who's established and heroic, the magic felt like it teetered on the edge of being a Mary Sue more often than not. I would have liked it to be more organic and unpredictable and less mechanical.
Overall, the lighthearted banter and dark humor are what kept me going. I had the thought at one point "Is this a cozy fantasy mystery, or I'm I just too deep into this nostalgia kick?". And it does feel cozy. The mystery isn't especially mysterious, the resolution requires a bit of bending the immutable rules of engagement driving the conflict, and none of the major characters are especially Pained or Tormented. Everything works out in the end.
This series feels like a good read for when I don't want to read anything particularly engaging or consequential. As far as the storyline goes, it's on par with a mediocre made-for-streaming miniseries. Still orders of magnitude better than any comicbook movies though. I'll give it three stars, but most of that last star is for old time's sake.
Reading Level: easy adult
Romance: no
Smut: no
Violence: cartoony, no real gore
TW: implied torture, unaliving, realiving, racism, classism
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars
NOTE: I'll update this if I read more books contained in this volume
I originally read most, if not all, of this series many years ago when I was in highschool - the paperbacks had been out for a couple of years and my friends and I found the whole series cheap at used book stores. I loved the series back then; I devoured them as fast as I could get my hands on them. I stumbled across this anthology of the first three books for what amounts to pocket change, so I picked it up for nostalgia's sake.
Jhereg was a very quick read, and to be completely honest I'm not sure it holds up very well for me. It still had it's funny moments, but the whole thing felt a bit Monty Haul. Maybe if I read them in the order the main character Valtos developed, rather than publication order (we pick him up in this book as an accomplished assassin with too many high level friends and resources). The whole thing felt repetitive - minor crisis, talk to someone connected, learn some stuff, minor crisis... The pacing overall was like being on a treadmill.
I haven't read any fantasy in quite a while, but I liked dipping my toes back into the oldschool fantasy. Again, because we're reading about a character who's established and heroic, the magic felt like it teetered on the edge of being a Mary Sue more often than not. I would have liked it to be more organic and unpredictable and less mechanical.
Overall, the lighthearted banter and dark humor are what kept me going. I had the thought at one point "Is this a cozy fantasy mystery, or I'm I just too deep into this nostalgia kick?". And it does feel cozy. The mystery isn't especially mysterious, the resolution requires a bit of bending the immutable rules of engagement driving the conflict, and none of the major characters are especially Pained or Tormented. Everything works out in the end.
This series feels like a good read for when I don't want to read anything particularly engaging or consequential. As far as the storyline goes, it's on par with a mediocre made-for-streaming miniseries. Still orders of magnitude better than any comicbook movies though. I'll give it three stars, but most of that last star is for old time's sake.
Reading Level: easy adult
Romance: no
Smut: no
Violence: cartoony, no real gore
TW: implied torture, unaliving, realiving, racism, classism
October 12, 2023
Jhereg follows the life of Vlad Taltos, a human assassin that has worked his way up in a mafia type organization in a fantasy setting. The book starts out exciting as Vlad acquires his dragon familiar. Even though this dragon sounds like it is going to an exciting addition he ends up just a wisecracking sidekick. Although the banter can be entertaining, I was slightly disappointed.
The version I read consists of the first three books, Jhereg, Yendi, and Teckla. As many others have complained, this book order is confusing as the 2nd book is a prequel. Why this isn't ideal is that there are no stakes in Yendi at all. We already know what will happen to all the characters so nothing is really on the line.
In general this series has been a bit of a let down. For some reason, it took me a really long time to even get into the story. I don't feel particularly invested in any of the characters. Also, anytime someone is killed they can and are almost always revivified again making the stakes non-existent. I know there are a lot of fans of this book, but I just wasn't very into it.
The version I read consists of the first three books, Jhereg, Yendi, and Teckla. As many others have complained, this book order is confusing as the 2nd book is a prequel. Why this isn't ideal is that there are no stakes in Yendi at all. We already know what will happen to all the characters so nothing is really on the line.
In general this series has been a bit of a let down. For some reason, it took me a really long time to even get into the story. I don't feel particularly invested in any of the characters. Also, anytime someone is killed they can and are almost always revivified again making the stakes non-existent. I know there are a lot of fans of this book, but I just wasn't very into it.
February 11, 2019
I don't know why it took me so long to discover these books. This compilation consists of the first three Vlad Taltos novels - Jhereg, Yendi and Teckla. Chronologically, Yendi comes first, followed by Jhereg and then Teckla . I read them in published order, as I had them all in one volume, but I think if I was reading them one at a time with other books in between it might have been better to read them chronologically. Vlad is an assassin who is a witch and has a dragon as a familiar. Yep, a dragon. Not a huge dragon though, this one likes to perch on Vlad's shoulders. The prologue in Jhereg tells us how Vlad got his dragon and I was hooked from there. The stories are full of intrigue and danger and there is plenty of action, often orchestrated by Vlad. These are great fantasy adventure books, and I am looking forward to reading more of them.
October 2, 2018
The first three adventures—Jhereg, Yendi, and Teckla fit in this Kindle edition. The three novels vary a bit in style which enhances the enjoyment, though the tone of the third book Teckla squirted sideways and almost ruined the trilogy. Books 1 and 2 breezed through cheeky plots narrated by the protagonist, if an assassin reaches the level of working class hero.
The author realized the colorful characters and world needed a long term story arc. Taking the world more seriously meant using book three as a foundation plot with multiple characters fleshed out for further development.
I look forward to the fourth book building on the third with tone and cheekiness of first and second.
The author realized the colorful characters and world needed a long term story arc. Taking the world more seriously meant using book three as a foundation plot with multiple characters fleshed out for further development.
I look forward to the fourth book building on the third with tone and cheekiness of first and second.
November 30, 2012
The first of the Vlad Taltos novels, Jhereg, by Steven Brust has been on my “to-read” list for the better part of a decade and a half. Back in August, Audible.com released Jhereg (and just about all the other Vlad Taltos novels, via their increasingly impressive Audible Frontiers label. Jhereg introduces the readers to the assassin Vlad Taltos. Living in amongst a race of tall long-lived sorcerers called Dragaerans, Vlad has risen to a station of respect and power (if of a limited variety) despite his human heritage. Aiding Vlad in his endeavors is his Jhereg familiar Loiosh, earned after Vlad embraced the witchcraft of his human ancestors. The novel sees Vlad hired by a legendary figure called The Demon to track down a kill a thief (Mellar) who robbed the Jhereg Council (the clan that Vlad himself belongs to) of a great sum of money; so great a sum that if Mellar gets away the council will essentially be crippled.
It should be noted for prospective readers that Jhereg, while the first novel to feature Vlad, is not the first within the series’ own internal chronology. Published in 1983 Jhereg was followed in 1984 by a prequel (Yendi, which itself received a sequel in 1998) and didn’t get a sequel until 1987 (Teckla). Jhereg, Yendi, and Teckla are all available in print as The Book of Jhereg or individually in audio from Audible.com. I’m the type of idiot reader that always wants to know what will happen next so discovering this after having listened to Jhereg is kind of annoying since I’m also a bit of a completionist. There are further chronological oddities in the series’ publication and I’m not sure there is any right way to read the series. Brust himself tossed a monkey wrench in such discussions when he released both Dragon and Tiassa both of which have sections taking place in different times. My gut says go with publishing order.
Jhereg stems from the sword and sorcery tradition particularly in its approach to character. This isn’t a novel about epic quests but about the struggle of an individual character to achieve a specific goal with the primary narrative driving the how of those actions. Brust shows an adept hand at world building without ever becoming too distracted by the particulars of the setting. Most of the historical and cultural details gleaned about the world have direct implications to the current plot with only minor deviations with the seeming intent to set up further plot points in later novels. When it comes to world building Brust’s attention is focused in a subtle examination of the society of the Dragaerans, the inter-relationships between the various clans (aided by the chapter headings), and the place of humans in the struggles of those clans. While this definitely gives readers a good handle on the history of Jhereg’s world it also plays an essential role in how the plot unfolds and marks a rather clever means to get readers interested in the history of the Dragaeran Empire.
Vlad’s role as both an assassin and crime boss (he is in charge of a section of the city) gives Jhereg a subtle noir bent that adds a nice twist on the proceedings. When I was younger I doubt I would have been so quick to point out the delicate and subtle elements of other genres that seem to make it into fantasy and science fiction. As I’ve grown older I’ve realized the some of the most glorious and entertaining novels I’ve read are the result of author who decided to combine seemingly contrary elements from multiple genres. While there will always be a soft spot in my heart for “traditional fantasy” there is an indefinable special something about a fantasy of science fiction novel that doesn’t adhere to the strict and limited tropes of a single genre. Brust ably proves in Jhereg that one can combine a crime thriller and fantasy novel (with a touch of politics) into an engaging and entertaining read.
Brust’s willingness to play with chronology is apparent in the series’ publication history and you get a touch of that same willingness right at the start of Jhereg. While the novel does give a bit of a backstory to Vlad it only focuses on the those elements that are most integral to the plot of novel (this only becomes obvious towards Jhereg’s conclusion). It is a clever means to introduce us to Vlad’s past while at the same time not encumbering us with too much unnecessary information. While I ended up with a basic understanding of the society in which Vlad lives and works within I ended up with an excellent understanding of Vlad’s character; as the primary lens through which the reader views the world (the novel is primarily in first person) have a crystal clear understanding of who Vlad is leads to a greater connection to his surroundings as well.
Jhereg is a fantastic fantasy novel and a classic of the genre. While it doesn’t operate on the same grand scale of the doorstopper fantasies we all know and love it Jhereg provides an introduction to multifaceted character living, and having adventures in, a world that feels complete and whole. Where Jhereg tells a satisfying and complete story the details of Vlad’s life and the greater mysteries of his and the world’s past definitely left me clamoring for more. I definitely returning for more of Vlad Taltos in the future. If you’re a fantasy fan and haven’t given these novels a shot there isn’t a better time than now.
It should be noted for prospective readers that Jhereg, while the first novel to feature Vlad, is not the first within the series’ own internal chronology. Published in 1983 Jhereg was followed in 1984 by a prequel (Yendi, which itself received a sequel in 1998) and didn’t get a sequel until 1987 (Teckla). Jhereg, Yendi, and Teckla are all available in print as The Book of Jhereg or individually in audio from Audible.com. I’m the type of idiot reader that always wants to know what will happen next so discovering this after having listened to Jhereg is kind of annoying since I’m also a bit of a completionist. There are further chronological oddities in the series’ publication and I’m not sure there is any right way to read the series. Brust himself tossed a monkey wrench in such discussions when he released both Dragon and Tiassa both of which have sections taking place in different times. My gut says go with publishing order.
Jhereg stems from the sword and sorcery tradition particularly in its approach to character. This isn’t a novel about epic quests but about the struggle of an individual character to achieve a specific goal with the primary narrative driving the how of those actions. Brust shows an adept hand at world building without ever becoming too distracted by the particulars of the setting. Most of the historical and cultural details gleaned about the world have direct implications to the current plot with only minor deviations with the seeming intent to set up further plot points in later novels. When it comes to world building Brust’s attention is focused in a subtle examination of the society of the Dragaerans, the inter-relationships between the various clans (aided by the chapter headings), and the place of humans in the struggles of those clans. While this definitely gives readers a good handle on the history of Jhereg’s world it also plays an essential role in how the plot unfolds and marks a rather clever means to get readers interested in the history of the Dragaeran Empire.
Vlad’s role as both an assassin and crime boss (he is in charge of a section of the city) gives Jhereg a subtle noir bent that adds a nice twist on the proceedings. When I was younger I doubt I would have been so quick to point out the delicate and subtle elements of other genres that seem to make it into fantasy and science fiction. As I’ve grown older I’ve realized the some of the most glorious and entertaining novels I’ve read are the result of author who decided to combine seemingly contrary elements from multiple genres. While there will always be a soft spot in my heart for “traditional fantasy” there is an indefinable special something about a fantasy of science fiction novel that doesn’t adhere to the strict and limited tropes of a single genre. Brust ably proves in Jhereg that one can combine a crime thriller and fantasy novel (with a touch of politics) into an engaging and entertaining read.
Brust’s willingness to play with chronology is apparent in the series’ publication history and you get a touch of that same willingness right at the start of Jhereg. While the novel does give a bit of a backstory to Vlad it only focuses on the those elements that are most integral to the plot of novel (this only becomes obvious towards Jhereg’s conclusion). It is a clever means to introduce us to Vlad’s past while at the same time not encumbering us with too much unnecessary information. While I ended up with a basic understanding of the society in which Vlad lives and works within I ended up with an excellent understanding of Vlad’s character; as the primary lens through which the reader views the world (the novel is primarily in first person) have a crystal clear understanding of who Vlad is leads to a greater connection to his surroundings as well.
Jhereg is a fantastic fantasy novel and a classic of the genre. While it doesn’t operate on the same grand scale of the doorstopper fantasies we all know and love it Jhereg provides an introduction to multifaceted character living, and having adventures in, a world that feels complete and whole. Where Jhereg tells a satisfying and complete story the details of Vlad’s life and the greater mysteries of his and the world’s past definitely left me clamoring for more. I definitely returning for more of Vlad Taltos in the future. If you’re a fantasy fan and haven’t given these novels a shot there isn’t a better time than now.
March 17, 2023
THIEVES WORLD meets GARRET P. I. meets D&D, and more fun than most of those most of the time. Occasionally you can hear the dice rolling and there are moments where things are "cool" just for the sake of it without any explanation. There's also entirely too much knife throwing.
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