Castle Murders

Castle Perilous #5

by John DeChancie

Partying to death ? A parlous party at the Castle Perilous comes to a dead halt when the body of viscount Oren is discovered and foul play is suspected. But who is the killer? And where is the murder weapon? The rambunctious revelers at Castle P. join in a treacherous treasure hunt for party favors of a decidedly deadly nature.the murder weapon must be hidden behind one of the 144,000 doors, or will it be buried in the back of the next victim?

Genres: Fantasy, Humor, Fiction, Science Fiction, Mystery, High Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy

232 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

From his website:
John DeChancie is the author of over two dozen books, fiction and nonfiction, and has written for periodicals as widely varied as Penthouse and Cult Movies. His novels in the science fiction and fantasy genres have been attracting a wide readership for more than fifteen years, and over a million copies of his books have seen print, many in foreign languages.

John's first work was Starrigger (Berkley/Ace ,1984), followed by Red Limit Freeway (1985) and Paradox Alley (1987), completing the Skyway Trilogy, one of the most imaginative, mind-expanding series in science fiction. Beloved of SF readers around the world, the trilogy has become a cult classic. It is no exaggeration to say that the trilogy has found a place in the hearts of readers along with the works of Heinlein, Asimov, and Clarke. Jerry Pournelle, co-author with Larry Niven of the classics The Mote in God's Eye and Lucifer's Hammer, has compared the series to the best of A. E. van Vogt, and better written. The convoluted plot takes the reader on a mind-bending journey to the end of the universe and back.

His humorous fantasy series, beginning with Castle Perilous, became a best seller for Berkley/Ace. William Morrow published MagicNet, which Booklist said was "a welcome sigh of comic relief ... shamelessly droll, literate, and thoroughly entertaining. Magicnet is the fantasy genre's whimsical answer to Neuromancer." He has also written in the horror genre. His short fiction has appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and in numerous original anthologies, the latest of which is Spell Fantastic. His story collection, Other States of Being, was recently published by Pulpless.com, Inc., an online and print-on-demand publisher.

He currently lives in Los Angeles and is at work writing novels, articles, short stories, and screenplays. His latest book was the short story collection THE LITTLE GRAY BOOK OF ALIEN STORIES published by Borderlands Press. John's most recent short story publication was in the original anthology SPACE CADETS, edited by Mike Resnick and published by LAcon IV, the 64th World Science Fiction Convention. The book was published in both limited and trade hardback editions. The book is available here . He has just completed a mystery novel and information on this new book (something different from anything he has ever written) is forthcoming. He will also have two new film articles in the second big issue of the new cult film magazine MONDO CULT, also forthcoming.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in a fantasy series that was remarkably popular in the late '80s - early '90s. This one is another good continuation of the series, which features the trope of a castle with 144,000 doors that open into different worlds and situations. I liked this one a bit better than the previous one as I recall, as it's nothing so much as the novelization of an unlikely fantasy version of a game of Clue... with 144,000 possible locations. It's a fun series, but not an altogether humorous one despite the somewhat silly covers on the original Ace editions (this one's by Robert Grace); there are serious events that play against the humorous ones in good contrast that highlight one another. There are also some pop-culture references and '80s (and earlier) attitudes that have, of course, gone a little stale. The forces are split into three storylines this time, but the murders are the main point. (The suspects all seem related to Lord Incaradine.) As always, Castle Perilous books are a good early example of cozy-fantasy, for fans of Asprin's Myth, Anthony's Xanth, or perhaps Terry Pratchett.

[Paulette Illmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a little bit different from the previous four, in that it split up the group into several different adventures, happening simultaneously, with no overlap. Also, one of the main characters did not interact at all with the rest of the cast, even at the end when everything was wrapping up, and while a new character was added, they weren't really given a clear role in the group dynamic, as was usually done in the past. Still, in all, it was full of adventure, intrigue, and craziness.

[Scott Fogel · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great series. Totally underrated.

This is the fifth book and it started well, got slow in the middle, and then ended well.

There are 3 separate story lines going on, but really the main one about the murder mystery was the best one.

The one with Incarnadine had promise, but got a little weird and I think feel a little flat. Although, he's always a great character.

The one with Linda and Gene really wasn't that great and seems like it was added as an afterthought.

[Ward G · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one a bit better than the last.

A play with a murder mystery. With magic part of the crime.
Decent outing, that seems to work.

At the same time, again.
Some of the relationships just do not work well or seem true to life.

[William Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I really liked this one too. Hopefully he keeps writing books for this series. Its just a lot of fun!

[osoi · Rating 4 out of 5]

— Ты что читаешь?
— Замок.
— Опять?! Да сколько их там??

Восемь их всего, восемь =) Если уж я котовоенов вознамерилась за годик доконать, то что уж говорить о восьми книгах Замка xD

А Замок по-прежнему стоит на своем месте; Такстон и Далтон расследуют убийство; Джин, Линда и Снеголап совершают аварийную посадку в умирающем мире полукиборгов; неосвоившаяся Мелани попадает в мир средневековья с рыцарями хорошими и плохими; Кармин — как обычно упорхал по своим делам, предоставив Гостям решать проблемы самостоятельно.

Я влилась в этот мир колоссально. Но не могу не отметить момент, вызывающий раздражение — это неприличная краткость. В описании персонажей (я до сих пор только в общих чертах могу обозначить их характеры), в постановке ситуаций (дочитываешь пассаж, и думаешь: «аэ, с чего вообще это все началось?», или просто «чо?..»), в объяснении фактов (да, мы, читатели, нуждаемся в пояснениях, потому что залезать в голову автора пока не научились). Вкупе это дает непрописанных героев и непонятки, а большую часть ресурсов кушает бойкий сюжетец и множество параллельных линий.
Одной идеи становится мало. Если мое воображение пустится вскачь, то мне никакие книжки не нужны, я сама себе придумаю продолжение, соберу по кусочкам из снов. Люблю Замок нежно, но хочу большего!

P.S. Терпеть не могу адаптации имен, еще со времени Поттера (для кого-то есть только Снегг и Долгопупс, но для меня это святотатство). Так вот Кармин наш в оригинале — Incarnadine. Что означает «алый». Приятно ж)

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 5 of the Castle Perilous series morph into a whodunit. And a cheese detective story. And just a bit of other worldly adventure to keep it all honest to form.
Thaxton and Dalton, the resident universal golfers, stumble upon a fresh corpse in the castle. The suspects are all relatives of the Lord of the Castle, Incarnadine who as always is away on business. The two golfers who took on the golf course from hell in the last book now find themselves playing Sherlock Homes and Dr. Watson.
Interloped within the main plot is a cheesey detective style sub-plot complete with a dame and a wise cracking Italian driver. To round it all out Gene, Snowclaw and Linda find themself criscrossing the universe in search of a missing guest.
This installment is true to the series. It is not better or worse then any of the other offerings. It is on par, which would please Thaxton and Dalton quite nicely.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorites in this series, as two minor characters, the golf obsessed duo, get a turn in the spotlight, as their game is interrupted by a murder and they end up playing detective.

There are a couple of secondary story arcs going on, as well, but the mystery is the best part.

The Castle is a great setting and I like how various members of the cast would get their own story and get fleshed out from a type into a character.
Fun read.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the series out of order, but it didn't really matter. This is more goofy fun and an easy read which makes it a really nice book to read in-between my more "challenging" books.
You can follow the story fine without reading the previous novels. Sure you're not going to know the history behind all the characters, but as you're meeting new characters as well as becoming more aquainted with the old ones, it's ok.

[M.A. Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Continuing Series Syndrome. This should have been longer; it didn't accomplish everything I think he was trying to do.

[Matt Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, lightweight humorous fantasy series that I read back in the 90s. Amusing, but not as good as the Discworld series in the same genre.

[Dantegideon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty sure the whole thing was a set-up for the gag at the end.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read all the Castle Books as they came out. I seem to remember loving them...