Rock of Ages

Maijstral #3

by Walter Jon Williams

He's the Human Constellation's number-one-rated Allowed Burglar, one of a very select few permitted to rob the public and keep his plunder - provided he performs with style and avoids getting caught before the caper is broadcast galaxy-wide to his enormous audience.
Drake is so famous as an Allowed Burglar that he has been invited to join the Diadem, the group of celebrities who are well-known enough to need only one name, and whose every movement is recorded and broadcast, and sighed over by billions of humans and aliens in both the Empire and the Human Constellation. Maijstral has made himself a legend by declining to join.
But being Number One has its drawbacks. Suddenly you become the target of every other Allowed Burglar in the system. You can't go anywhere without being suspected of every theft that occurs, and your friends suddenly become all too cautious about their valuables.
And then there are the Duels. Drake Maijstral can tolerate the constant suspicion and the suddenly canceled invitations. But the challenges to fight to the death over imagined breaches of hospitality are too much for him.
The last straw comes when Drake himself is the victim of a burglary that is clearly a challenge to his status. Someone has stolen Drake's father's coffin, the hibernation module that maintains the old Duke in his status as Legally Dead. Clearly, something must be done.

Genres: Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fantasy, Humor

287 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1995

About the author

Walter Jon Williams has published twenty novels and short fiction collections. Most are science fiction or fantasy -Hardwired, Voice of the Whirlwind, Aristoi, Metropolitan, City on Fire to name just a few - a few are historical adventures, and the most recent, The Rift, is a disaster novel in which "I just basically pound a part of the planet down to bedrock." And that's just the opening chapters. Walter holds a fourth-degree black belt in Kenpo Karate, and also enjoys sailing and scuba diving. He lives in New Mexico with his wife, Kathy Hedges.

Reviews

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun caper, but this time instead of Maijstral doing a heist, he's been framed and must find out by whom. The first half had a lot of Maijstral reacting to things, but the second half was much better as he turned the tables. I loved the scenes with his departed father and the return of Ronnie Romper--especially the epiphany at the end.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book of a series; I haven't read the previous volumes yet but don't feel that impeded my understanding of this book, and I did enjoy it so I do plan to read the others. It's something of what we used to call a caper story, following as it does the exploits of Drake Maijstral, the top-ranked burglar in the galaxy. He is involved with a cast of unlikely characters (including his dead father), and has to prove his innocence in crimes for which he's been framed, fight some duels, keep one step ahead of the trio of beautiful young women with whom he's dallying, and in general just beat the odds and emerge triumphant in the best James-Bond-in-the-1970's tradition. It reminded me quite a bit of some of the best silly Ron Goulart novels. The cover isn't very good but does project one of the more interesting themes, which was best summed up by psychobilly artist Mojo Nixon with his song "Elvis is Everywhere."

[Jay S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the future, Maijstral has the profession of "Allowed Burglar". He is a celebrity (of sorts) and is from a noble line. He has titles, and not much else. No lands, not even a house; all his "wealth" is from his "trade".

Now he is being framed; when he is visiting, valuable items are found missing and discovered close to Maijstral's quarters. (He did not do it - stealing from your host is bad manners).

He has been challenged to a duel. Before that can be done, he gets challenged twice more. Someone wants him dead.

This is the third of a series. I liked this enough I will seek out the first two in the series.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably more like 3.5 stars. Quite a change from the LONG and HEAVY books by authors I arguably like better that I have been slogging through lately that just don't live up to their promise.

This was a bit light, but a pleasure to read as it skips from event to event, things keep happening...

3rd book in a series but stands on it's own.

[Peter Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humorous fantasy, that I'm pretty sure I wrote something about. Maybe one of the earlier ones?
Nope. GR must have lost it, the rats! I'll look in my files (and at Amazon) in due time. If I find something, I'll repost. Whether the 5 stars will survive -- who knows?

[Paul Close · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, although somewhat unfocused. Very funny in spots. Good "Elvis" theme.