courts of the crimson kings

S. M. Stirling's latest in the LoC series. Set in the same universe as The Sky People.

Jeremy Wainman is an archaeologist on an alternate Mars where the planet while slowly dying isn't dead quite yet. Like Venus it was terraformed by unknown powers about 250 million years ago. Unlike Venus Mars is drying out. Like the Mars of pulp fiction it is a place of mystery where warriors called "Professional Coercives" can ride giant birds and airships. One such Coercive is Teyud za Zhalt who has her own secrets. Their quest for lost biotech from the Imperial Era when the Crimson Kings ruled all of Mars and not just the area around Mons Olympicus becomes entangled with the fate of Mars its self as Teyud's heritage reconnects with her and Jeremy.

This is both "space opera" and Science fiction which pays tribute to the great pulp fiction writers like C.L. Moore and Leigh Brackett and many others with more than a dash of post modern irony yet a good solid action plot that keeps moving!

Highly recommended and worth the long long long wait between books!

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Posted By: Julie Vaux - Category: No Category

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4 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Damo

May 3rd 2008 09:35

For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics

Forget the book just listen to the album by King Crimson.

Comment by Julie Vaux

May 4th 2008 00:10

Books Well Read
Strange Situations
The Purple Challenge

I have no idea what you are talking about?

Are you saying some one wrote an album of songs inspired by this novel?

Never heard of King Crimson.

Have you actually read this SF novel or not?

Comment by Damo

May 4th 2008 00:19

For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics

1972 or there about, there is an album call The Court of the Crimson King by King Crimson.
Classic progressive rock album, I am wondering if the book was inspired by the album.

The Album from the early 70's

Comment by Julie Vaux

May 4th 2008 05:34

Books Well Read
Strange Situations
The Purple Challenge

S.M.'s on holidays ... in Nantucket of all places ...(ironic gasp by people who have read his books) I will have to try to rembmer to ask him if he ever listened to this album but the Crimson Kings of the book title refers to the Tollamune Emperors wearing red and of course Mars itself !

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