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Waters of Versailles
Finalist for the World Fantasy Award and Nebula Award, and winner of the Aurora AwardWaters of Versailles is a historical fantasy about sex, magic, and plumbing. In 1738 France, soldier and courtier Sylvain de Guilherand enlists magical help to bring modern conveniences to the court of Louis XV. The innovation sparks a cold war in the hothouse palace environment as the nobles compete to outdo each other. Everyone wants what Sylvain has, but can he control the magical creature who makes it all possible?At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
69 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2015
20 people are currently reading
570 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Robson
71 books285 followersLike you, I'm a passionate reader. I spent most of my teenage years either hanging out at the drugstore waiting for new issues of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine, or when I was in the city, lurking in the SF and Fantasy section of the bookstore. This was pre-Internet and since there were no bookstores in my town and the library was pretty bare, good books -- the kind that made my heart sing -- were precious treasures.
To this day, nothing is more important to me than reading, nothing is more delicious than a great novel, and few people are as important as my favorite writers.
My writing life has been pretty diverse. I've edited science books, and from 2008 to 2012 I had the great good luck to write a monthly wine column for Chatelaine, the largest women's magazine in Canada.
I've published short fiction at Tor.com, Asimov's Science Fiction, Clarkesworld, and a number of anthologies. Several of my stories have been chosen for "year's best" anthologies, and in the past two years I've been a finalist for several high-profile awards.
To this day, nothing is more important to me than reading, nothing is more delicious than a great novel, and few people are as important as my favorite writers.
My writing life has been pretty diverse. I've edited science books, and from 2008 to 2012 I had the great good luck to write a monthly wine column for Chatelaine, the largest women's magazine in Canada.
I've published short fiction at Tor.com, Asimov's Science Fiction, Clarkesworld, and a number of anthologies. Several of my stories have been chosen for "year's best" anthologies, and in the past two years I've been a finalist for several high-profile awards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
September 20, 2017
“Honesty is not a vice much indulged at Versailles.”
Sweet, imaginative fantasy novella with a unique premise. Sylvain, an ex-soldier, is introducing the ladies of Versailles to the joys and comforts of having toilets and running water, and they love it. He has some supernatural help...
I thought the story suffered a bit from a lack of conflict. Until the very last pages, Sylvain didn't have any problems to overcome or any clear goals he was fighting to achieve (though there were some hints about his longing for a certain lost lifestyle.) It was a bit difficult to care what happens, when you have no idea what the character himself wants to happen, and what he's doing to get there. Anyway, the story was beautifully written and Sylvain's character development was excellent.
April 6, 2022
Este librito me encantó, breve pero maravillosamente bien escrito. Sencillo pero original y con un encanto único.
Necesito más Kelly Robson en mi vida.
***Me encantó la edición con esas ilustraciones en azul cyan
Necesito más Kelly Robson en mi vida.
***Me encantó la edición con esas ilustraciones en azul cyan
April 29, 2021
WELCOME TO DECEMBER PROJECT!
last year, amy(other amy) tipped me off to this cool thing she was doing: the short story advent calendar, where you sign up to this thingie here and you get a free story each day.
i dropped the ball and by the time i came to my senses, it had already sold out, so for december project, i'm going rogue and just reading a free online story a day of my choosing. this foolhardy endeavor is going to screw up my already-deep-in-the-weeds review backlog, so i don't think i will be reviewing each individual story "properly." i might just do a picture review or - if i am feeling wicked motivated, i will draw something, but i can't be treating each short story like a real book and spending half my day examining and dissecting it, so we'll just see what shape this project takes as we go.
and if you know of any particularly good short stories available free online, let me know! i'm no good at finding them myself unless they're on the tor.com site, and i only have enough at this stage of the game to fill half my calendar. <--- that part is no longer true, but i am still interested in getting suggestions!
DECEMBER 22
this is another one that is on the long side, so plan accordingly! it's also another one that is completely worth reading, so carve out some time for yourself to dive into it. it opens with a bit of sexxytime, but it becomes a really lovely story of courtly manners, licentious liberties, ambition aided by supernatural means, and a slow-dawning understanding that changes a character's desires from the selfish to the paternal, in an almost scrooge-like transformation. definitely one that you'll want to reread, so get started now!
read it for yourself here:
http://www.tor.com/2015/06/10/waters-...
DECEMBER 1: FABLE - CHARLES YU
DECEMBER 2: THE REAL DEAL - ANDY WEIR
DECEMBER 3: THE WAYS OF WALLS AND WORDS - SABRINA VOURVOULIAS
DECEMBER 4: GHOSTS AND EMPTIES - LAUREN GROFF
DECEMBER 5: THE RETURN OF THE THIN WHITE DUKE - NEIL GAIMAN
DECEMBER 6: WHEN THE YOGURT TOOK OVER - JOHN SCALZI
DECEMBER 7: A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT - DONNA TARTT
DECEMBER 8: DEEP - PHILIP PLAIT
DECEMBER 9: COOKIE JAR - STEPHEN KING
DECEMBER 10: THE STORY OF KAO YU - PETER S. BEAGLE
DECEMBER 11: THE HEEBIE-JEEBIES - ALAN BEARD
DECEMBER 12: THE TOMATO THIEF - URSULA VERNON
DECEMBER 13: THE JAWS THAT BITE, THE CLAWS THAT CATCH - SEANAN MCGUIRE
DECEMBER 14: ROLLING IN THE DEEP - JULIO ALEXI GENAO
DECEMBER 15: ANTIHYPOXIANT - ANDY WEIR
DECEMBER 16: THE AMBUSH - DONNA TARTT
DECEMBER 17: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A TRAITOR AND A HALF-SAVAGE - ALIX HARROW
DECEMBER 18: THE CHRISTMAS SHOW - PAT CADIGAN
DECEMBER 19: THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS - PAUL CORNELL
DECEMBER 20: THE TRAINS THAT CLIMB THE WINTER TREE - MICHAEL SWANWICK
DECEMBER 21: BLUE IS A DARKNESS WEAKENED BY LIGHT - SARAH MCCARRY
DECEMBER 23: RAZORBACK - URSULA VERNON
DECEMBER 24: DIARY OF AN ASSCAN - ANDY WEIR
DECEMBER 25: CHANGING MEANINGS - SEANAN MCGUIRE
DECEMBER 26: SHOGGOTHS IN BLOOM - ELIZABETH BEAR
DECEMBER 27: THE CARTOGRAPHY OF SUDDEN DEATH - CHARLIE JANE ANDERS
DECEMBER 28: FRIEDRICH THE SNOW MAN - LEWIS SHINER
DECEMBER 29: DRESS YOUR MARINES IN WHITE - EMMY LAYBOURNE
DECEMBER 30: AM I FREE TO GO? - KATHRYN CRAMER
DECEMBER 31: OLD DEAD FUTURES - TINA CONNOLLY
come to my blog!
last year, amy(other amy) tipped me off to this cool thing she was doing: the short story advent calendar, where you sign up to this thingie here and you get a free story each day.
i dropped the ball and by the time i came to my senses, it had already sold out, so for december project, i'm going rogue and just reading a free online story a day of my choosing. this foolhardy endeavor is going to screw up my already-deep-in-the-weeds review backlog, so i don't think i will be reviewing each individual story "properly." i might just do a picture review or - if i am feeling wicked motivated, i will draw something, but i can't be treating each short story like a real book and spending half my day examining and dissecting it, so we'll just see what shape this project takes as we go.
and if you know of any particularly good short stories available free online, let me know! i'm no good at finding them myself unless they're on the tor.com site, and i only have enough at this stage of the game to fill half my calendar. <--- that part is no longer true, but i am still interested in getting suggestions!
DECEMBER 22
Sylvain sang the song now to the little fish, gently at first, just breathing the tune, and then stronger, letting the sound swell between them. He sang of care, and comfort, and loss, and a longing to make everything better. And if tears seemed to rain down his cheeks as he sang, it was nothing but an illusion—just water dribbling from his hair.
this is another one that is on the long side, so plan accordingly! it's also another one that is completely worth reading, so carve out some time for yourself to dive into it. it opens with a bit of sexxytime, but it becomes a really lovely story of courtly manners, licentious liberties, ambition aided by supernatural means, and a slow-dawning understanding that changes a character's desires from the selfish to the paternal, in an almost scrooge-like transformation. definitely one that you'll want to reread, so get started now!
read it for yourself here:
http://www.tor.com/2015/06/10/waters-...
DECEMBER 1: FABLE - CHARLES YU
DECEMBER 2: THE REAL DEAL - ANDY WEIR
DECEMBER 3: THE WAYS OF WALLS AND WORDS - SABRINA VOURVOULIAS
DECEMBER 4: GHOSTS AND EMPTIES - LAUREN GROFF
DECEMBER 5: THE RETURN OF THE THIN WHITE DUKE - NEIL GAIMAN
DECEMBER 6: WHEN THE YOGURT TOOK OVER - JOHN SCALZI
DECEMBER 7: A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT - DONNA TARTT
DECEMBER 8: DEEP - PHILIP PLAIT
DECEMBER 9: COOKIE JAR - STEPHEN KING
DECEMBER 10: THE STORY OF KAO YU - PETER S. BEAGLE
DECEMBER 11: THE HEEBIE-JEEBIES - ALAN BEARD
DECEMBER 12: THE TOMATO THIEF - URSULA VERNON
DECEMBER 13: THE JAWS THAT BITE, THE CLAWS THAT CATCH - SEANAN MCGUIRE
DECEMBER 14: ROLLING IN THE DEEP - JULIO ALEXI GENAO
DECEMBER 15: ANTIHYPOXIANT - ANDY WEIR
DECEMBER 16: THE AMBUSH - DONNA TARTT
DECEMBER 17: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A TRAITOR AND A HALF-SAVAGE - ALIX HARROW
DECEMBER 18: THE CHRISTMAS SHOW - PAT CADIGAN
DECEMBER 19: THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS - PAUL CORNELL
DECEMBER 20: THE TRAINS THAT CLIMB THE WINTER TREE - MICHAEL SWANWICK
DECEMBER 21: BLUE IS A DARKNESS WEAKENED BY LIGHT - SARAH MCCARRY
DECEMBER 23: RAZORBACK - URSULA VERNON
DECEMBER 24: DIARY OF AN ASSCAN - ANDY WEIR
DECEMBER 25: CHANGING MEANINGS - SEANAN MCGUIRE
DECEMBER 26: SHOGGOTHS IN BLOOM - ELIZABETH BEAR
DECEMBER 27: THE CARTOGRAPHY OF SUDDEN DEATH - CHARLIE JANE ANDERS
DECEMBER 28: FRIEDRICH THE SNOW MAN - LEWIS SHINER
DECEMBER 29: DRESS YOUR MARINES IN WHITE - EMMY LAYBOURNE
DECEMBER 30: AM I FREE TO GO? - KATHRYN CRAMER
DECEMBER 31: OLD DEAD FUTURES - TINA CONNOLLY
come to my blog!
April 26, 2017
It's really amazing how many chicks you can pick up if you invent a magical toilet system in the 1740's. I mean, they fall ALL OVER YOU if you happen to be smart, Striving, and industrious about manipulating and enslaving poor water creatures. :)
I think this is a perfectly delightful French escapade full of wit, liaisons, and fresh toiletries. (Champagne showers not included.)
Honestly, though, I wanted to be more in the mood for this kind of tale.
I had to want to like highly coiffed and highly sexed misters and matrons, in other words.
Of course, if you ARE in the mood for it, however, then bon appetite! The rest of the story is rather good, too. :)
I think this is a perfectly delightful French escapade full of wit, liaisons, and fresh toiletries. (Champagne showers not included.)
Honestly, though, I wanted to be more in the mood for this kind of tale.
I had to want to like highly coiffed and highly sexed misters and matrons, in other words.
Of course, if you ARE in the mood for it, however, then bon appetite! The rest of the story is rather good, too. :)
April 21, 2021
this is pure charm, a tale of water and ice and champagne, rutting in the boudoir and intrigue among the courtiers and sweet songs sung in the palace cellars. the time: the 18th century. the place: Versailles, in the court of the King. the story: an ambitious soldier turned architect, of sorts, finds the human peacocks insufferable but the inhuman nixie he has captured and employed to be increasingly sympathetic. Kelly Robson writes with warmth and wit; her elegant novella is all of a piece, its own imperfect little world, a flawed jewel that dazzles the eye and warmed this heart. I could have lived in this world much longer, it was such a pleasure to read.
and you can read it here for free:
https://www.tor.com/2015/06/10/waters...
and you can read it here for free:
https://www.tor.com/2015/06/10/waters...
April 24, 2021
Whenever humans encounter the uncanny, the unexplainable, the magical, their first thought is "how can I use this?" The best among us finish that thought with "to make things better"; the worst, "for my own benefit"; and most of us, "to make a buck."
Author Robson's 2015 novella isn't her first publication (her books are listed here); it's a very assured work, told well, thought through thoroughly, and of a length sufficient to set her scene, convey her tale, then leave us wishing for a bit more to enjoy. It feels *right* that Sylvain, her PoV character here, should be an arriviste at the Court. He, like Author Robson with her reader, has left even his own social cronies without the miracle of his plumbing and flush toilets! Saying "no" is dangerous, and denying someone who has your secrets what they ask for is even more foolish.
But logic dictates that even a magical creature have limits, and the nixie Sylvain has forced into his service isn't able to do everything. The more pressing question for him now is why does the nixie appear to be doing the *opposite* of what needs doing?
Never, in the history of human endeavor, has a system based on scarcity and uniqueness failed to fail. And here is Sylvain re-learning that lesson for the many-bazillionth time albeit his first. And, in the end, the world's delights are as ephemeral as we should all have learned that they are never not by now. What begins badly ends sadly. Again and again and again and again and again.
Author Robson's 2015 novella isn't her first publication (her books are listed here); it's a very assured work, told well, thought through thoroughly, and of a length sufficient to set her scene, convey her tale, then leave us wishing for a bit more to enjoy. It feels *right* that Sylvain, her PoV character here, should be an arriviste at the Court. He, like Author Robson with her reader, has left even his own social cronies without the miracle of his plumbing and flush toilets! Saying "no" is dangerous, and denying someone who has your secrets what they ask for is even more foolish.
But logic dictates that even a magical creature have limits, and the nixie Sylvain has forced into his service isn't able to do everything. The more pressing question for him now is why does the nixie appear to be doing the *opposite* of what needs doing?
Never, in the history of human endeavor, has a system based on scarcity and uniqueness failed to fail. And here is Sylvain re-learning that lesson for the many-bazillionth time albeit his first. And, in the end, the world's delights are as ephemeral as we should all have learned that they are never not by now. What begins badly ends sadly. Again and again and again and again and again.
May 28, 2017
3.5
Entertaining fantasy novella set in the famous chateau de Versailles, jewel of King Louis XV's court.
I was surprised by the humour, which somehow permeates the story, but then again, we are dealing with thrones...
Entertaining fantasy novella set in the famous chateau de Versailles, jewel of King Louis XV's court.
I was surprised by the humour, which somehow permeates the story, but then again, we are dealing with thrones...
February 15, 2016
New author Kelly Robson has been getting quite a bit of buzz for this novella, as well as the short stories which she recently had published, and I think it's very well deserved. This is going to be an author to watch - she's got a way with words!
Sylvain is an ingenious man with an eye for the main chance. He's willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead - whether that's a carefully planned seduction or sucking up to a well-placed aristocrat. In this alternate-18th century Versailles, his efforts have so far had good results. Sylvain has introduced the flush toilet - and the associated plumbing - to the court, and his facilities have become the hottest new thing.
However, his water lines have a disturbing tendency to spring leaks, and his efforts to keep everything running become more and more frantic. It turns out that Sylvain isn't an engineer or plumber at all. Rather, his entrepreneurial vision depends on magic - and a captive.
Sylvain is an ingenious man with an eye for the main chance. He's willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead - whether that's a carefully planned seduction or sucking up to a well-placed aristocrat. In this alternate-18th century Versailles, his efforts have so far had good results. Sylvain has introduced the flush toilet - and the associated plumbing - to the court, and his facilities have become the hottest new thing.
However, his water lines have a disturbing tendency to spring leaks, and his efforts to keep everything running become more and more frantic. It turns out that Sylvain isn't an engineer or plumber at all. Rather, his entrepreneurial vision depends on magic - and a captive.
June 27, 2017
A magical toilet system, who would have thought that could be the basis for a light and fun historical? The protagonist Sylvain, who's enslaved a water-based nixie, has developed a plumbing system that everyone in the palace loves. The being isn't particularly happy, but she's keeping the water moving, for the time being, while Sylvain is struggling to keep way too many balls up in the air, while affecting the typical attitude of a courtier.
May 6, 2017
“Waters of Versailles” by Kelly Robson is a charming novella of court intrigue in 1738 Versailles as a clever former soldier makes his fortune by introducing a modern water system (and toilets) to the ladies of the palace. He does this with magical help that he may not be able to control.
Starts off as a fairly raunchy, historical novelette, then morphs into something more mystical and supernatural. Well, as mystical as a story about toilets can get...
Sylvain's behavioural changes towards his 'magical help' were a little abrupt, but I guess for a story of this length they had to be. Nicely done. Wouldn't mind to read more about their adventures.
Available from Tor.com for free at this link:
http://www.tor.com/2015/06/10/waters-...
Starts off as a fairly raunchy, historical novelette, then morphs into something more mystical and supernatural. Well, as mystical as a story about toilets can get...
Sylvain's behavioural changes towards his 'magical help' were a little abrupt, but I guess for a story of this length they had to be. Nicely done. Wouldn't mind to read more about their adventures.
Available from Tor.com for free at this link:
http://www.tor.com/2015/06/10/waters-...
December 6, 2016
OMG A FANTASY STORY ABOUT TOILETS. Really, this story gets a high rating for addressing something that drives me batty in a lot of pre-industrial fantasy. If you have fancy magic, why wouldn't you have some sort of indoor plumbing? Society, other than the military, needs to be affected by the presence of magic. So... MAGICAL TOILETS. YES.
Robson weaves a clever historical tale about a man desperate to make a name for himself at court, but who slowly realises that perhaps there are better things in life... like the poor little Nixie he once saw as a tool, but now sees as his child.
Robson weaves a clever historical tale about a man desperate to make a name for himself at court, but who slowly realises that perhaps there are better things in life... like the poor little Nixie he once saw as a tool, but now sees as his child.
January 13, 2021
Nebula Award winning Waters of Versailles by Kelly Robson is a charming novella of court intrigue in 1738 Versailles as a clever former soldier makes his fortune by introducing a modern water system (and toilets) to the ladies of the palace. He does this with magical help that he may not be able to control.
Ha ha! A bored nixie is not to be trifled with, or.. how to keep the jaded nobles entertained. It’s a well crafted piece, describing all the opulence and wonders that is Louis XV's court at Versailles. I highly recommend.
Themes: Versailles France, magical toilet system, court life, velvet pipes for the North wing, a little monkey, ice-cold champagne from a fountain, ‘sing a song?’, it’s never enough.
4 Stars
Ha ha! A bored nixie is not to be trifled with, or.. how to keep the jaded nobles entertained. It’s a well crafted piece, describing all the opulence and wonders that is Louis XV's court at Versailles. I highly recommend.
Themes: Versailles France, magical toilet system, court life, velvet pipes for the North wing, a little monkey, ice-cold champagne from a fountain, ‘sing a song?’, it’s never enough.
4 Stars
September 23, 2023
Interessant novel·la, m'atreviria a dir relat per la quantitat de pàgines i mida del llibre. Una mica de fantasia barrejada amb molta segona lectura. A estones em feia perdre però al final ho he entès tot.
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Interesante novela, me atrevo a decir relato por el número de páginas y tamaño del libro. Un poco de fantasía mezclada con muchas segundas lecturas. A ratos me perdía pero al final lo he entendido todo.
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Interesante novela, me atrevo a decir relato por el número de páginas y tamaño del libro. Un poco de fantasía mezclada con muchas segundas lecturas. A ratos me perdía pero al final lo he entendido todo.
March 13, 2016
Featured in our Short Fiction column: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
May 19, 2018
A former soldier introduces toilets to Versailles through a magical creature/child, but this power might not be completely in his control, and will the court ever truly accept him anyway?
I liked the premise and it was a very easy read, but I found this story mostly forgettable and I've nothing to say about it. I read it five days ago and I've already forgotten most of it - it's the kind of story that is entertaining even if nothing about it stands out but the premise, the kind of story that is entertaining even if you'll never think about it again.
I liked the premise and it was a very easy read, but I found this story mostly forgettable and I've nothing to say about it. I read it five days ago and I've already forgotten most of it - it's the kind of story that is entertaining even if nothing about it stands out but the premise, the kind of story that is entertaining even if you'll never think about it again.
October 16, 2023
3'5*
Una novela cortita que nos habla de lo que aparentamos ser para encajar en la sociedad y lo que realmente somos, y que además te deja con ganas de más, con ganas de descubrir que nuevas aventuras les esperan a Sylvain y la ondina.
Una novela cortita que nos habla de lo que aparentamos ser para encajar en la sociedad y lo que realmente somos, y que además te deja con ganas de más, con ganas de descubrir que nuevas aventuras les esperan a Sylvain y la ondina.
May 26, 2016
Sylvane es un soldado a quien se le ocurre una idea brillante para hacer fortuna: colocar agua corriente en Versalles. Pero sus juegos cortesanos ocultan un pequeño secreto, una criatura acuática que esta detrás de los 'tronos' que se disputan las damas como símbolo de estatus.
Intrigada por este hecho una rapida excursion en la red señala que existian en realidad bastantes pocos inodoros en el afamado palacio (y la anécdota del gato existe) ;)
Me costó algo meterme en la historia, además que Sylvane no es en sí un personaje muy agradable la mayor parte, y de ahi el puntaje, pero sí el final.
La pueden encontrar por aqui
Intrigada por este hecho una rapida excursion en la red señala que existian en realidad bastantes pocos inodoros en el afamado palacio (y la anécdota del gato existe) ;)
Me costó algo meterme en la historia, además que Sylvane no es en sí un personaje muy agradable la mayor parte, y de ahi el puntaje, pero sí el final.
La pueden encontrar por aqui
November 25, 2021
⭐2,5⭐
Me llamó la atención la sinopsis del libro y, el echo de escuchar a la autora en el Festival 42, me animó a comprarlo.
Pese a ser una novela corta, la trama se me ha hecho algo pesada, no he tenido muy claro hacia dónde iba la historia. Los personajes me han parecido algo insulsos y me he quedado con ganas de saber más sobre la extraña criatura que domina las aguas.
Destaco especialmente la ambientación, realmente te transporta a la corte francesa del s.XVIII.
Me llamó la atención la sinopsis del libro y, el echo de escuchar a la autora en el Festival 42, me animó a comprarlo.
Pese a ser una novela corta, la trama se me ha hecho algo pesada, no he tenido muy claro hacia dónde iba la historia. Los personajes me han parecido algo insulsos y me he quedado con ganas de saber más sobre la extraña criatura que domina las aguas.
Destaco especialmente la ambientación, realmente te transporta a la corte francesa del s.XVIII.
July 29, 2022
3.5/5
Bastante chulo! No es de mis relatos favoritos de Robson pero es muy original y tiene más capas de las que parece. Recomendado.
Bastante chulo! No es de mis relatos favoritos de Robson pero es muy original y tiene más capas de las que parece. Recomendado.
August 2, 2025
Al empezarlo pensaba que me iba a parecer sin más, pero ha acabado por enternecerme un montón. Tiene una idea de ser fiel a uno mismo y la belleza de la vida sencilla que me ha parecido muy tolkieniana y la atmósfera cortesana está capturada de un modo genial.
December 22, 2021
La reseña completa en http://inthenevernever.blogspot.com/2...
«Sylvain estaba convencido de que podía devolver al palacio su antiguo esplendor y, a cambio, enriquecerse. Las fuentes solo eran el principio».
¿Qué estarías dispuesto a hacer para ganarte el favor del rey? ¿Qué puedes lograr si solo eres un joven oficial que pretende devolver el antiguo esplendor de Versalles? Conseguir poner en funcionamiento todas las fuentes del palacio es un buen primer paso, pero la ambición de nuestro protagonista va aún más allá. Y para lograr su cometido primero debe dominar a una ondina rebelde. Hoy quiero hablarles de Las aguas de Versalles, de Kelly Robson. La novela corta ganadora del premio Aurora del 2016, que acaba de ser publicada por Ediciones Gigamesh con la traducción de Laura Martín de Dios en una preciosa edición en tapa dura con ilustraciones de Corominas.
«Sylvain estaba convencido de que podía devolver al palacio su antiguo esplendor y, a cambio, enriquecerse. Las fuentes solo eran el principio».
¿Qué estarías dispuesto a hacer para ganarte el favor del rey? ¿Qué puedes lograr si solo eres un joven oficial que pretende devolver el antiguo esplendor de Versalles? Conseguir poner en funcionamiento todas las fuentes del palacio es un buen primer paso, pero la ambición de nuestro protagonista va aún más allá. Y para lograr su cometido primero debe dominar a una ondina rebelde. Hoy quiero hablarles de Las aguas de Versalles, de Kelly Robson. La novela corta ganadora del premio Aurora del 2016, que acaba de ser publicada por Ediciones Gigamesh con la traducción de Laura Martín de Dios en una preciosa edición en tapa dura con ilustraciones de Corominas.
November 4, 2015
I cannot believe I am giving 4 stars to a story about toilets!
Waters of Versailles by Kelly Robson is a great novella of court intrigue in 1738 Versailles. It is the story of a clever former soldier that makes his fortune by introducing a modern water system (and toilets) to the ladies of the palace. He does this with magical help that he may not be able to control.
Whats sets the story apart (well, beside toilets), is the main character, that left his home in the Alps behind to move up in the social ladder working hard in Versailles. Interestingly enough, it is a spirit he brought from his homeland, a magical nixie, that helps him ascend. It is a story of an emigrant finding success and wealth abroad, to then realize how much he has left behind.
Waters of Versailles by Kelly Robson is a great novella of court intrigue in 1738 Versailles. It is the story of a clever former soldier that makes his fortune by introducing a modern water system (and toilets) to the ladies of the palace. He does this with magical help that he may not be able to control.
Whats sets the story apart (well, beside toilets), is the main character, that left his home in the Alps behind to move up in the social ladder working hard in Versailles. Interestingly enough, it is a spirit he brought from his homeland, a magical nixie, that helps him ascend. It is a story of an emigrant finding success and wealth abroad, to then realize how much he has left behind.
March 28, 2016
3.5 stars rounded up. This was a fun little story.
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January 15, 2023Es cierto que el panorama editorial español cada vez trae las traducciones de más autoras extranjeras (aunque sigamos pidiendo todavía más). Una de esas autoras es Kelly Robson, que ha ganado numerosos premios a lo largo de su carrera y está siendo traducida durante los últimos años en nuestro país.
Kelly Robson, natural de Canadá (Edmonton, 1967), empezó dedicándose a escribir columnas sobre vinos y otras bebidas espirituosas para una revista para mujeres. Cuenta también con diversos artículos de no ficción, aunque sin duda destaca en la parte de ficción y ha sido galardonada en varias ocasiones.
Las aguas de Versalles ganó el Premio Aurora, que se otorga a la mejor ciencia ficción y fantasía canadiense, además de quedar finalista en los premios Nébula y World Fantasy Award. Esta novela corta ha sido publicada por Ediciones Gigamesh en el 2021 con la traducción de Laura Martín de Dios. La historia sigue en el año 1738 a Sylvain de Guilherand, un joven que pasa los inviernos en Versalles y que quiere mejorar su posición social a costa de un nuevo elemento para las habitaciones de los cortesanos, siempre a la última moda: retretes.
Con esta premisa, Robson se acerca al bullicio de la corte francesa, donde ganarse el favor de los cortesanos o impresionar al rey es de suma importancia para ascender en el escalafón socia. Hay todo aquello que hace a las cortes de la época: amoríos, intrigas, favores, cenas y galas. Pero Sylvain es un protagonista ambicioso, divertido de seguir en sus andanzas, y que tiene un truco bajo la manga para instalar el agua corriente en el palacio. Aquí es donde entra el elemento fantástico de una historia que, de por sí, ya habría sido suficiente para enganchar: Sylvain cuenta con una ondina a la que le encomienda esta tarea con el agua. Y esto termina de romper la lanza a favor de la novela corta, que se vuelve todavía más divertida.
Continúa en... https://lanaveinvisible.com/2022/10/2...
Kelly Robson, natural de Canadá (Edmonton, 1967), empezó dedicándose a escribir columnas sobre vinos y otras bebidas espirituosas para una revista para mujeres. Cuenta también con diversos artículos de no ficción, aunque sin duda destaca en la parte de ficción y ha sido galardonada en varias ocasiones.
Las aguas de Versalles ganó el Premio Aurora, que se otorga a la mejor ciencia ficción y fantasía canadiense, además de quedar finalista en los premios Nébula y World Fantasy Award. Esta novela corta ha sido publicada por Ediciones Gigamesh en el 2021 con la traducción de Laura Martín de Dios. La historia sigue en el año 1738 a Sylvain de Guilherand, un joven que pasa los inviernos en Versalles y que quiere mejorar su posición social a costa de un nuevo elemento para las habitaciones de los cortesanos, siempre a la última moda: retretes.
Con esta premisa, Robson se acerca al bullicio de la corte francesa, donde ganarse el favor de los cortesanos o impresionar al rey es de suma importancia para ascender en el escalafón socia. Hay todo aquello que hace a las cortes de la época: amoríos, intrigas, favores, cenas y galas. Pero Sylvain es un protagonista ambicioso, divertido de seguir en sus andanzas, y que tiene un truco bajo la manga para instalar el agua corriente en el palacio. Aquí es donde entra el elemento fantástico de una historia que, de por sí, ya habría sido suficiente para enganchar: Sylvain cuenta con una ondina a la que le encomienda esta tarea con el agua. Y esto termina de romper la lanza a favor de la novela corta, que se vuelve todavía más divertida.
Continúa en... https://lanaveinvisible.com/2022/10/2...
March 14, 2019
Delightful and very inventive. The hero is an ex soldier who has an entrepreneurial spirit and tries to carry favor with the court of Versailles buy installing plumbing. Only things don't go so smoothly and we soon realize why.
July 4, 2017
Kind of odd. This was the best of the three of her stories I've read for the Campbell nominees.
October 4, 2025
3,5⭐️
Tan corto y tan bonito ❤️
Al principio no sabía muy bien qué esperar, y es que este libro empieza con una escena de spice y una gotera, que desemboca en que hay problemas en las cañerías de Versalles.
Nuestro protagonista es el "mago" que se encarga de que estas cañerías funcionen (todos creen que por cosa de magia) y de que se instalen retretes en las habitaciones, pero lo que la mayoría no sabe es que lo que realmente mueve el agua por esas cañería es una ondina.
El desarrollo que hay en la relación entre el protagonista y la ondina en tan pocas páginas me ha parecido una maravilla y me ha sacado alguna que otra lágrima de cara al final; si bien me esperaba algún otro tipo de desarrollo con otro de los personajes, me ha gustado que la trama se centre más en la ondina y en las intrigas políticas y de poder en el palacio.
Es un libro suuuuper corto, que se lee en un suspiro, pero que te deja el corazón calentito (cualquiera lo diría teniendo en cuenta que se pasa gran parte del libro hablando de retretes 🤣).
¿Qué esperar?
✨️ Intrigas palaciegas
✨️ Criatura acuática
✨️ Romance secreto
✨️ Retretes y tuberías
✨️ Emotivo
Tan corto y tan bonito ❤️
Al principio no sabía muy bien qué esperar, y es que este libro empieza con una escena de spice y una gotera, que desemboca en que hay problemas en las cañerías de Versalles.
Nuestro protagonista es el "mago" que se encarga de que estas cañerías funcionen (todos creen que por cosa de magia) y de que se instalen retretes en las habitaciones, pero lo que la mayoría no sabe es que lo que realmente mueve el agua por esas cañería es una ondina.
El desarrollo que hay en la relación entre el protagonista y la ondina en tan pocas páginas me ha parecido una maravilla y me ha sacado alguna que otra lágrima de cara al final; si bien me esperaba algún otro tipo de desarrollo con otro de los personajes, me ha gustado que la trama se centre más en la ondina y en las intrigas políticas y de poder en el palacio.
Es un libro suuuuper corto, que se lee en un suspiro, pero que te deja el corazón calentito (cualquiera lo diría teniendo en cuenta que se pasa gran parte del libro hablando de retretes 🤣).
¿Qué esperar?
✨️ Intrigas palaciegas
✨️ Criatura acuática
✨️ Romance secreto
✨️ Retretes y tuberías
✨️ Emotivo
March 22, 2016
I thought the novella was imaginative, well-written and cute. A comparison could be made with Vonda McIntyre's The Moon and the Sun, likewise a story about a water-based creature in Versailles, but at about 50 pages of length, WoV has less complexity, obviously.
The poignancy and the worldbuilding were very convincing. The humour not so much--I was under the impression that I was supposed to find the water dripping at the beginning of the story funny, and it just wasn't, not much. That said, the teenaged part of me did find it funny that a story about plumbing begins with, well, to put it less than elegantly, "plumbing".
I would have liked for the character's realisation to be arrived at differently (and generally I thought the ending was slightly rushed) but I can live with what it was.
The poignancy and the worldbuilding were very convincing. The humour not so much--I was under the impression that I was supposed to find the water dripping at the beginning of the story funny, and it just wasn't, not much. That said, the teenaged part of me did find it funny that a story about plumbing begins with, well, to put it less than elegantly, "plumbing".
I would have liked for the character's realisation to be arrived at differently (and generally I thought the ending was slightly rushed) but I can live with what it was.
October 14, 2015
In a historical novella, a soldier plunges into court politics and tries to gain acceptance by bringing water into Versailles.
The main character, Sylvain, builds running water and indoor toilets into Louis XV era Versailles. He does this with help from a captive water spirit. Even though most of the story happens in palace halls, the real essence of it is the interplay between Sylvain and the spirit, the way their relationship develops.
The story is well written and captivating. The palace politics are deftly described, and the internal conflicts of Sylvain are nicely built. The story really revolves around him - the other characters are described just enough to fit their role. No more is needed, though - I enjoyed the story just the way it is.
The main character, Sylvain, builds running water and indoor toilets into Louis XV era Versailles. He does this with help from a captive water spirit. Even though most of the story happens in palace halls, the real essence of it is the interplay between Sylvain and the spirit, the way their relationship develops.
The story is well written and captivating. The palace politics are deftly described, and the internal conflicts of Sylvain are nicely built. The story really revolves around him - the other characters are described just enough to fit their role. No more is needed, though - I enjoyed the story just the way it is.
March 22, 2016
"Waters of Versailles" is about eighteenth-century French plumbing! Well, magical plumbing. Sylvain becomes very popular for his toilets, and this...this is actually far more charming than it sounds. Because toilets!! And magic! And romantic dalliances! While I didn't find a strong narrative to hold on to, I was carried by the historical fantasy setting and Sylvain's magical doings. I found the climax/resolution a bit odd, but the final image is lovely.
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