I can't completely justify why I enjoy this series as much as I do. The prose style is better than one has a right to expect, and Saberhagen has a good eye for the telling detail, and for making a scene a touch more vivid than it needs to be -- the old one's defiance of Ekuman, Chup's thrill at challenging a sword with a club, and some others. And he's very good on the sheer magnitude of conniving one can expect form evil organizations. A kind of sub-theme throughout is the way in which real evil doesn't function like a command economy directed by Sauron. Everyone has their angle. And indeed, that can be a greater problem for the wicked than for the just. Also, I enjoy "sorcery amidst the wreckage of technology" settings generally.

But probably fun compelling epics you read when you are 13 you just always have affection for and will make excuses for. That's certainly true for me. ( )

This was a great, classic Saberhagen Fantasy book. I've read the Swords books (several times), but never the Empire of the East series, which predates the Swords books in the same "universe". This book was short, but surprisingly held my interest more than most books do. There's something about the mix of magic and technology that makes it a fun read. Definitely a good read, my biggest problem is now that I'm reading the second book, I don't have a copy of the third to go to when I'm done!

Since this review, I have acquired all the books in this series, and will never, ever part with them. I loved this entire series! ( )