Mightier than the Sword

by K.J. Parker

also appears in the collection Under My Skin

World Fantasy Award winner K.J. Parker's novella Mightier than the Sword presents itself as a translated oddity of a document called "Concerning the Monasteries". But in true Parker style, this novella is instead a sprightly, riveting tale that reveals secret upon secret, building to an ending at once perfect and perfectly unpredictable.

An Imperial legate is called into see his aunt, who just happens to be the empress running the civilized world while her husband's in his sick bed. After some chastisement, she dispatches her nephew to take care of the dreaded Land and Sea Raiders, pirates who've been attacking the realm's monasteries.

So begins a possibly doomed tour of banished relatives and uppity royals put in charge of monasteries like Cort Doce and Cort Maleston, to name a few. While attempting to discover the truth of what the pirates might be after, the legate visits great libraries and halls in each varied locale and conducts a romance of which he knows - but doesn't care - his aunt will not approve.

With enough wit and derring-do (and luck), the narrator might just make it through his mission alive... or will he?

Cover illustration by Vincent Chong

Genres: Fantasy, Novella, Fiction, Short Stories, Science Fiction Fantasy

134 pages, Hardcover

First published May 30, 2017

About the author

K.J. Parker is a pseudonym for Tom Holt.

According to the biographical notes in some of Parker's books, Parker has previously worked in law, journalism, and numismatics, and now writes and makes things out of wood and metal. It is also claimed that Parker is married to a solicitor and now lives in southern England. According to an autobiographical note, Parker was raised in rural Vermont, a lifestyle which influenced Parker's work.

Reviews

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a first time reader of K.J. Parker, I was kind of impressed with the book “Mightier than the Sword” published by Subterranean Press. However, having said that, I need to ask – Is it worth the price point? - One defiantly gets a nice well-made book with a nice Vincent Chong cover, however, is it worth forty bucks for one hundred and thirty pages? “Mightier than the Sword” is ten bucks less than the last Subterranean book I read “The Weight of Words“ which was a work of art, was twice the length page wise, and three or four times the size physically.

“Mightier than the Sword” is a fantasy that mixes perhaps the “Flashman” books with “The Art Of War” with a quest tale. The book is well written and caries you along at a bit of a frenzied pace. Our nameless hero is sent on a mission to find out whom, and then stop, sea raiders from attacking various monasteries along the kingdom’s coast line, killing all the residents then burning everything down.

Parker injects the correct amount of self-depreciating humor into the main characters and places them all in creative situations. Plus the story concerns books, and their importance. The monasteries engage the priests to copy books so libraries have abundant stock. The theme is carried throughout the narrative.

“Mightier than the Sword” is worth reading for some escapist entertainment and Parker is an engaging author.


This hardcover copy is numbered 510 of 1000 produced and is signed by K. J. Parker. K. J. Parker is the pseudonym under which the British author Tom Holt writes.

[Allen Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great novella from Parker, definitely my second favorite after Purple and Black. The title is apropos in so many ways past what we usually think that phrase means. Watching the (again) nameless narrator investigate these piratical monastery raids and slowly unravel the truth behind them is Parker at his best. Hard-hitting and bittersweet.

[Algernon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"And now I've got another job for you, and let's hope you don't make a complete mess of it."

Being a scion of the Imperial family is a tough job, especially if your aunt, the dowager empress and current tyrant, has a low opinion of your military skills. Yet she keeps sending you to the most remote, savage corners of her domain on impossible assignments.

You could resent a remark like that. Let the record show that over the previous six months I'd negotiated a two-year truce with the Sashan, disposed of the crown prince of Ersevan and hammered a horrendously fraught alliance with the Blemyans against the threat of southern nomads. I don't expect any of that to be remembered, because it's all wars that never happened, mighty battles that never got fought, darkest hours of the empire that never had to be faced. But what the hell.

—«»—«»—«»—

Coming back to the alternative universe created by K J Parker, even in the shorter form of a novella, is an exhilarating reminder of what fantasy can become under the pen of a master trickster. Intellectually challenging puzzles, hilariously deadpan delivery of scandalous moral concepts, surprising solutions to same moral quandaries. The title is an apt reminder that the pen is indeed mightier than the sword, that violence is the ultimate resort of the intellectually challenged.

But how can our freshly assigned Imperial Legate manage to survive in a far away land where barbarians are inexplicably burning and looting ancient monasteries, killing everybody and leaving only ashes behind. What drives these illiterate savages to destroy precious rare manuscripts from past empires and who is an ally or an enemy among political exiles and venal governors?

I was issued with a commission and letters patent, eight hundred Cassite archers, one million hyperpyra (in cash, bless her). a pair of fur-lined boots and a letter of introduction to her Serenity the abbess of Corte Doce, who happened to be my aunt's oldest and dearest friend. Thus furnished, I set out to save civilisation as we know it.

I could go on quoting the legate's account of the journey into the north in the company of totally incompetent soldiers, there to discover that indeed more that the fate of a few old moldy manuscripts hang in the balance, but I don't want to spoil the funniest reveals to potential readers.
Just trust me and give it a try.

In the end, you see, books are all that matter. How did Saloninus put it, the past speaking to the future? It's what survives, you see.

also,
But I can read, and anyone who reads the right book has an ally, an advisor who's far more clever than he is and can tell him what to do. I have a box of books that goes with me everywhere; my cabinet, terrible pun intended: various 'Arts of War' and practical guides to geology, meteorology, agriculture, economics, sensible stuff; if in doubt, look it up – it's a good solid box so I can sit on it as well, or stand on it to make speeches, and it stopped a dozen arrows when our camp when our camp was attacked at Trigentum. I take the utilitarian view, in other words, probably because I've always been acutely conscious of needing all the help I can get.

So, in the eternal conflict between civilization and barbarism(a constant theme in all of Parker's stories), books are worthy of being saved...
I plan to read the recently published omnibus edition of Parker's "Two of Swords" serial novel next, time permitting.

[Dannii Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, K. J. Parker, and the publisher, Subterranean Press, for this opportunity.

I won't provide a brief synopsis or overview of the plot here and I would advice it not be read before opening this book, as that is where my discontent with this tale lay.

Despite the short length, this provided a full and complex plot, a variety of characters with distinct traits and personalities, a well-structured fantasy world, and all was delivered in a compelling and intriguing voice. In short, this was a stellar fantasy read.

What ruined the clear brilliance of this was that much of the plot was already uncovered in the synopsis. I already knew much of what I was to read and, whilst not bored, this depleted the fun of the narrative. If this had been a full length novel, then the few short paragrpahs, designed to sell a book, would have perhaps only sufficiently covered a small portion of the plot. As this was only of novella length I found that too much was already divulged and less was left for the reader to discover, on their own.

[Liviu · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best short novel from KJ Parker since Purple and Black to which it has some resemblance though it is now a first person narration set in the author generic Empire/Invincible Sun setting (the one without magic from books like Two of Swords, Sharps, Savages etc - with usual naming conventions, set-up, people, countries, provinces like the Sashan, Aram Vei, Scheria, permia) and has a present day annotation that explains the short novel (titled there Concerning the Monasteries) is the only extant first person narration document from the long ago Robur empire/civilization, so make of that whatever you want

the narrator is a 33 year old Imperial legate, nephew of the reigning empress, a former prostitute from a far away rural area of the empire who is caretaking the empire due to the illness of her husband, former general Ultor (that's when he married her, while retiring her best friend as an abbess of a far monastery and her regular clients to high window jumping or monastic orders), before taking the throne by arms;

it's the 5th year of the Emperor's incapacity and his end is assumed to be near, so the narrator is summoned to the palace and dispatched to the far North to take care of a pirate/raiders problem (the usual mysterious ones from other books) who plunder the rich monasteries that essentially own the impoverished North; the usual ironic, wry, likable, not the brightest flame but very well read and amenable to advice as well as liked by troops, officers and women (his aunt saved him a few times there from the wrath of the emperor when he was caught in fairly embarrassing situations with highly born noblewomen and princesses), the narrator sets up for the North, though not before taking care of a problem - in love with a high class prostitute himself, who doesn't quite care about him, he has to save her when she is knifed in the belly, so he buys a 6 Million house in the middle of the night as being mostly away on the front-lines, he doesn't have a City house to take her and bring doctors to tend to her... Not something to endear him to his aunt perhaps, but another escapade adding to his "popular" legend...

and so it goes with the usual happenings (double dealings, mysteries, battles, former friends and newer enemies) for some 130-40 pages of pure KJ Parker delight

and while the pirates/raiders are seemingly the immediate enemy, our hero doesn't really know who is ready to stab him in the back or poison him or for that matter using more ingenious killing devices as in:

"It’s amazing the number of people who’ve asphyxiated in their sleep since **** took office.”

while of course the City and the succession loom in the background - including relatives like the Empress even more favorite nephew Scaurus, some 10 power hungry generals and the aristocracy who would want nothing better that to depose the empire and return the power to the people - where of course:

"Get rid of the emperors, give power back to the people—quite; except the people never had any power at any stage in our history, which was probably just as well. In this context, the people means the two dozen ancient aristocratic families who own half the land in the empire, the six dozen rich men who hold the mortgages on that land, the priesthood and, of course, the army."

full of ironic and wry observations on the nature of power, the scope of empire, the endurance of culture and books, Mightier than the Sword is KJ Parker at his best and also it represents an excellent introduction to his work that can get one hooked on the author's style which is quite distinctive in today's fantasy

One more quote that gives a great flavor of the tone:

"Now, then. Concerning the Land and Sea Raiders. I guess we were so very scared of them because we had no idea who they were, where they came from, how many of them there were, what (beyond anything not nailed to the floor) they wanted. They showed up about a hundred and thirty years ago, during the reign of that old fire-eater Vindex II. Our first experience of them was seventy long, high-castled warships suddenly appearing off Vica Bay. The governor, a civilized man with several well-received volumes of theological essays to his name, sent a message to their leader inviting him to lunch. He came, and brought some friends; it was sixty years before Vica was rebuilt, by which time the harbour had silted up and all the channels had to be dredged out.
Next they manifested themselves as a long column of ox-carts trundling over the Horns. They
looked like refugees; skeletal cows and horses, sad women and threadbare children plodding along
behind the wagons. The prefect of Garania went out to meet them with relief supplies, food, tents,
blankets. They cut his head off and stuck it on their standard, before marching on Beal Epoir and burning it to the ground. That, of course, was about the time when General Maxen was at the height of his incredible career. He caught up with them a week later and hit them so hard that we were sure we’d never hear about them again. Maxen lasted rather longer than most of our
great generals; about six years, and then his head got nailed to the lintel of Traitors’ Gate, along with all the others, so that when the Raiders came back there was nobody to deal with them."

The best of the year for me so far...

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Do you have to make a lot of decisions like that? I suppose you must do."
"All the time," I said. "And each one is truly bad. All that can be said for them is that the alternatives are even worse."

K.J. Parker is at his best in the novella, and, as always, I was captivated by the sharp wit and darkly ironic humor as well as the satirical worldbuilding and characters and finished the novella in a single reading session. Parker reminds me a bit of Wodehouse in the way he builds sympathy with the narrator through a chattering first-person narration. In this case, our narrator is an officer in a Rome-like empire whose ruling faction is beset by murderous intrigue-- think the Julio-Claudian era -- while also squabbling with and/or conquering its neighbors. In recent years, the empire has fallen prey to attacks by a mysterious unknown enemy with unknown goals and desires, and this enemy's ships have been seen again.
Capitulating to the orders of the emperor's wife--who also happens to be his aunt--our narrator sets off to help the various abbeys and monasteries to help shore up their defenses against the mysterious invaders.

While I think Parker is very gifted in characterization, he's not big on character development, which is one reason I so prefer his short fiction. In this case, we get plenty of time to get to know the narrator and his compatriots, including his romantic interest, without feeling stifled by the characers' staticness. The most rounded character, partially because the story is told in his voice, is the narrator himself. I found him highly sympathetic, a realist yet an optimist who is fond of books and sees himself as a coward despite his insistence on leading from the front. The only thing that really bothered me about him was how he seems to hold his wife's inability to have children against her, as if she should have provided a disclaimer before accepting his desperate proposal.

As always, the story is a satire, and chock-full of quotable quotes. For example:

"Does it say something about the nature of the beast called Empire? The idea is that Empire protects the towns and villages and little farms from the enemy, and in order to do so recruits soldiers, so that the towns and villages and little farms won’t be laid waste, and grass won’t grow in abandoned streets and good productive land won’t be smothered in weeds and briars. But if the act of protection brings about the destruction it was designed to prevent— well. I’m not a trained philosopher, so I’m not qualified to comment."

If you're looking for a short, enjoyable novella with more than a tang of satire, then Mightier than the Sword is well worth a look.

~~I received this ebook through Netgalley from the publisher, Subterranean Press, in exchange for my honest review. Quotes were taken from an advanced reader copy and while they may not reflect the final phrasing, I believe they speak to the spirit of the novella as a whole.~~

Cross-posted on BookLikes

[Andreas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pirates have been attacking the Empire's monasteries for a while. The Emperor's nephew is sent out as imperial legate to assess the monasteries' defenses, learn about the pirates, and get the problem solved. In the monasteries, he finds banished family members and friends installed as abbesses and abbots, lots of monks extending their wonderful libraries, thick walls, but zero defending fighters.

Full review at my blog.

[Atlas · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Will you shut the fuck up about politics," I said.

* * * *
4 / 5

It is so very rare that I find a good novella that I actually enjoy; Mightier Than The Sword was one of these. I picked it up almost solely because of the cover, not realising that it was a novella and not really knowing what it was about. This tale with an unnamed narrator, an empress of an aunt, monks, and political skulduggery was an excellent quick read.

"It's those wretched pirates." She made the dreaded Land and Sea Raider sound like a butcher who persisted in overcharging for sausages

Our nameless narrator is called before his aunt, the empress, to be scolded like a naughty little boy before sent off to deal with some devilishly annoying pirates that keep raiding monasteries. It's a simple enough foundation for a story and it works impressively well.

The problems I normally have with novellas include:

Undeveloped main character
Underdeveloped world
Lack of emotional connection
Really weird ending

To name but a few. Parker managed to make me feel really attached to our narrator, and he doesn't even have a name! That's some good writing. The writing style is probably behind this; Mightier Than The Sword is written in first person and it manages to be descriptive, informative, witty, and genuinely amusing. All the characters, even the ones that only get a few pages worth of appearance, seem like genuine people.

"What in God's name possessed you to spend six million on a house for a prostitute who refuses to marry you?" I grinned feebly. "It was the middle of the night"

The plot was simple: our narrator obeys his aunt and takes a handful of soldiers to go root out the problem destabilising the empire. Unfortunately, nobody knows who the pirates actually are and none of the nobility or monks he meets are particularly helpful. There's a fairly even mix between political goings on and action packed, bloody scenes. The ending was also very natural and quite amusing, but the world building probably could have done with a touch more explanation. Unfortunately, my eBook copy didn't have a map, which would have been nice.

Overall, I recommend this novella is a great short fantasy. The main highlight is the author's lovely writing style and the great narrator.

My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this book

Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...

[Zara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never gets boring to say Parker has done it again. On par with Purple and Black: the witty, cutting and depressing writing gives me life.

We salute you, Parker.

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received to review via Netgalley; publication date 30th June 2017

I’ve enjoyed a couple of Parker’s novellas, even though I still haven’t got round to the novels I’ve been sitting on for, uh, a while. So I was pleased to be approved for the ARC of this from Subterranean Press. The ebook is a little bit of a mess — or mine was, anyway — but that’s presumably only going to be a problem for the Netgalley version, and it didn’t get in the way of the reading experience.

I’m also a big fan of books which play with manuscripts, and though that’s a minor part of this story, it was still pretty cool. The main character is fun, and the whole tone works really well to make it sound like a romp, even when there’s a certain amount of pillaging and violence going on. I called the twists, but getting there was still a fun ride. I think The Last Witness is still my favourite for sheer smarts, but this was definitely very enjoyable.

Originally reviewed for The Bibliophibian.

[Steve Kimmins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I look forward to a KJ Parker book more than almost any other author. I only discovered him a year ago but I’m doing my best to make up for lost time. This 130 page novella didn’t disappoint.

It’s a story told in the first person, by a soldier, or legate, related to the Empress, of a search and discover mission she sends him on. To find out why towns and monasteries are being subjected to pirate raids along one of the Empire’s coastlines. The storyline itself holds a mystery which he does his best to uncover but in a novella length plot you can guess it’s not too involved. But the reason for reading a KJ Parker story is often about the journey you’re taken on and the language he uses to describe it. It’s full of witty, wry, gentle humour, marvellous observations about the people our protagonist is involved with, and the lives they lead. The first person narrator is actually quite likeable and competent in his own modest way, which is not often the case with lead characters in Parker stories. He also falls in love, another Parker rarity in my experience!

It’s set in a Byzantium-style, early Middle Ages type of world, without any magic, a typical backdrop for many Parker tales. One of the themes in the story is the importance and power of books, and specifically their desirability in this period before any printing press, something every reader will accept. And that links in with the book’s title.

It’s not an especially complex story, it doesn’t try to address grand themes, nor is it as multilayered as his trilogies, so I debated 4 or 5*. In the end, top marks from me because the writing on almost every page was an easy and pleasurable read. There are a lot of books I read which, even if grander in scope, don’t hit that sweet spot for me.

I was lucky to find this Subterranean Press limited edition online at below list price. That’s one of my disappointments in discovering this author’s back catalogue that some books, if a limited edition, are rarely available in the UK - even when also issued in ebook format. But I’m getting there...

[Anton · Rating 5 out of 5]

My copy just arrived!! I am so thrilled. Nothing compares to a witty novella from KJ Parker. Pure delight

[Tanabrus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Questo breve libro è il mio primo contatto con K. J. Parker.

Il suo stile è ironico e pungente, e tramite la voce del protagonista ci riporta commenti esilaranti e arguti sulla vita nell'Impero e sul passato.
Il protagonista è un nobile, nipote dell'Imperatore. Non pensa troppo alla politica, non vuole diventare il futuro Imperatore - ci sono altre persone più vicine a quel titolo- ed è un lavoratore serio: porta a termine i compiti militari affidatigli, si fa benvolere dai suoi uomini, è abbastanza intelligente e dotato come comandante delle forze armate.

La storia, che viene presentata come un importante testimonianza di un antico impero ormai scomparso, unico testo narrato in prima persona sopravvissuto al tempo e quindi di grande valore, comincia quando il ragazzo viene convocato dalla zia, l'Imperatrice, e spedito al nord a occuparsi di misteriosi attacchi di pirati che prendono di mira villaggi e monasteri mettendoli a ferro e a fuoco.
Il viaggio verso i vari monasteri lo porterà a contatto con luoghi parecchio differenti l'uno dall'altro, con i loro abati e abatesse di diverse provenienze e motivazioni, e con il tesoro che rappresentano le loro biblioteche.
Già, perché in queste poche pagine oltre a costruire un Impero interessante e alcuni personaggi degni di nota, Parker riesce anche a buttarci la tematica dell'importanza dei libri e delle biblioteche.

Una storia veloce e piacevole, un buon primo incontro per quanto mi riguarda con la penna di Parker.

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Note: I received a copy curtesy of Netgalley and Subterranean Press in exchange for an honest review.

The novel is set in the same world as some others of Parker’s work (even Saloninus gets mentioned) and, despite the short length, the plot is complex and interesting. The story is told in 1st PoV by an Imperial legate in his thirties, nephew of the empress who practically rules in her ill husbands’ place. He is summoned at court and sent to investigate and solve a recurrent problem of raiding pirates, which plunder the monasteries in the far North. From here on, there’s lots of mystery and political scheming. The hero is the usual smart and witty guy, well versed in politics. There’s not much action in the classical meaning of the word, but the story is compelling and holds your attention right to the very end.

Something else I’d never realised before, in a desperate emergency, just how useful money can be. I see now why people prize it so highly.

As usual, Parker’s writing is spectacular and the result was simply delightful!

[Candace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 3.5

Review to follow.

[Saphana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Signed edition. No. 189.

[Scott Firestone · Rating 4 out of 5]

The realm's monasteries are under constant attack from pirates, so the emperor's nephew (and our narrator) is sent out to take care of this problem. As he visits the numerous monasteries that have yet to be attacked, he meets old friends and relatives who have been sent here for various reasons--often political.

The narrator is charming, insightful, and prone to rash decisions--I'd definitely love to see him show up in other books. Over the course of his travels, this world is slowly revealed to us, and it seems like the sort of place you can hang an entire book on, but instead it's fleshing out a short novella. With a mix of Sherlock Holmes and General Patton, our narrator tackles these pirates, and the mystery behind them, but won't come out unchanged.

I've been aware of K.J. Parker for a number of years, but I'd never read any of his books until this excellent novella. You can be sure this won't be the last.

[Marcheto Marcheto · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
After reading his last novellas, for me, “Mightier that the sword” is just another prove that K. J. Parker is the best novella writer currently publishing in the genre. Although this story is set in the same fantasy world as most of the rest of his short fiction, it can be enjoyed without having read any of his previous stories. In fact, it can be a perfect introduction to Parker’s work.
The Emperor’s nephew, the extremely likable protagonist and narrator, is sent out to find more about some mysterious pirates who appear out of nowhere and attack the Empire’s monasteries. We follow him from one monastery to the next, where he meets monks and abbesses while trying to solve what’s behind those attacks.
Witty, intelligent, funny, full of ironic remarks sometimes far deeper than what they may seem, this novella is a pleasure to read. Highly recommended.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, I find Parker witty, sarcastic, wry, and bitingly funny in the bureaucracy of the political realm. I enjoyed this novella.

[FK_THIS_SITE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Очаквах фентъзи, а то се оказа псевдоисторическа новела - т.е. историческа новела, разположена във въображаем свят. Нещо като книгите на Гай Гавриел Кай, само дето тук ги няма дори минималните мистични елементи, вмъквани от Кай.
Доста приятно четиво, майсторски написано и увлекателно, с правдиви описания на средновековната обстановка - личи си, че авторът е добре запознат с темата. Сюжетът: Императрицата праща своя племенник да разследва пиратски нападения над манастири. Нападнатите манастири са опожарени и всички в тях - избити. Племенникът обикаля насам-натам и събира улики, навлиза в света на манастирските библиотеки и се среща с множество интересни личности. За някои неща е лесно да се досетиш, други си остават загадка до самия край.
Все пак има някои дреболии, които ме дразнеха, изглеждаха ми малко изкуствено вкарани, освен това по някое време взе да ми дотяга да чета за обикаляне из манастири. Добре, че книжката е само малко над 100 страници, и точно тогава обикалянето свърши. Голямата развръзка накрая също ми се стори малко насила скалъпена.
С две думи, четох го с удоволствие, но не съм достатъчно впечатлен за максимална оценка. Не достига нивото на Г. Г. Кай, някак си му липсва магията (в преносен смисъл, а може би малко и в пряк).

[Zedsdead · Rating 4 out of 5]

A peripheral imperial nephew is given a few troops and tasked with ending the Sea Peoples problem in the northern reaches of the empire.

Sort of a K.J. Parker take on an Agatha Christie murder mystery. Who do the Sea Peoples work for, and why are they razing all of these monasteries? (Why it's the old abbess who wanted to protect the books! Who would ever have suspected??)

Yet another dry Parker examination of the absurd bureaucracy underpinning government and military; yet another tale of an unlikely emperor, yet another casual reference to the great philosopher Saloninus. These novellas are getting repetitive so it's a good thing Parker is so damned insightful and entertaining to read.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars and change. The description is pretty much exactly what this book is, so I won't bother with any of that. Our Imperial legate is self-deprecating and oh so likable, with the classic K.J. Parker wit. So all good there, but the plot is a bit too linear and left me asking, is that it?

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was vintage Parker, and one of the finest works he has produced EVER. It's witty, charming, violent, poignant, intelligent. Above all, it's full of action and love of various kinds— especially those which can have one killed.
Highly recommended.

[Antonio Diaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesante novela corta de Parker, muy en su línea y con mucho humor, pero con un desenlace un tanto más flojo que lo que nos tiene acostumbrados.

[Niels · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like K. J. Parker (aka Tom Holt) doesn't have the rep he deserves. It's been a while since I read his trilogies, but I remember them as some of the best fantasy out there. Not flashy and severely lacking in the magic department, but let's face it, sorcery is just a cop out for people who suck at swords. Anyway, these recent stand-alones? Not quite the same ooomph, but decent reads nevertheless. This one, too.

Decorated general arrives at the capital after a campaign to get his next mission: defend the monasteries in the north from raiding savages. He also just so happens to be in line for empirical succession. Off he goes to the far north to visit various monasteries, trying to figure out where these raiders come from and what they are after. Then some succession issues come up.

As usual Parker does a great job of building characters with few words, which comes in especially useful in a novella where there aren't very many words to go around. Case in point: the protagonist leads all his battles from the front, but his fear always gets the better of him, and he needs someone to hold him when the enemy approaches otherwise he'd bolt. Tells you more about the character than other authors manage to get across with a ream of paper.

So what's missing for four stars? Just... something unique. More love for the worldbuilding to make the reader care about what happens to it or more punch to the plot. It's all good, but it doesn't have much of an edge.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Emperor's nephew, under the edict of his aunt, who is running the empire while her husband is gravely ill, is sent to investigate pirate attacks along the coastal cities. From city to city he travels, looking for clues and encountering all sorts of friends and relatives along the way. It seems that just about everyone he knows is in a position of some power in these cities, so his investigation is also a reunion. That they're all there for different political reasons just might be a clue.

Parker is in his usual form here, with a disarmingly charming narrator whose naivete is in stark contrast against the cynicism of the story. This novella ties in with his previous ones (including The Two of Swords, if I'm not mistaken) in small ways. Books are a central theme of the story, so of course Saloninus is mentioned. I like how these stories all take place in a shared world; it gives the story a larger scope, since the small connections serve as more than just fan service.

Parker's other stand-alone novellas are clever, setting up a complex series of seemingly innocuous events that play a large role in the conclusion. Mightier than the Sword isn't as clever of a story as the others, but it does have a good payoff for its setup. It's still a K.J. Parker story, and it doesn't disappoint.

[Ananda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful novella from Parker. I got just what I paid for - an intelligent, layered story of manageable length, with a classic Parker-type protagonist (self-aware, savvy, pragmatic) and set in the Empire. Recommended for Parker fans and for fans of elegantly written medieval fantasy blah blah blah.

That said, this novella does something 100% unprecedented that I hope other Parker fans may shed some light on. It has a "translator's note" at the beginning, written in a modern voice, that places the work to come in a historical and linguistic context. Except - the author of the translator's note is a professor at the University of Wisconsin at Madison! Is this an indication that the world of the Empire, the Perpetual Republic, Vesani, the Sashan, the Aram Chantat etc etc, converges with our own?! What does that mean for the geography? Are we going to see stories or even just further asides like this with elements of our own modern world layered onto the geography and history established in Parker's fantasy novels? I am not sure what to make of this!

[Ralph Blackburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mightier Than The Sword by K.J. Parker-Novella- Once again we have a dubious but likeable narrator, set to a task, filled with strange customs and hidden danger, across a medieval landscape, on a familiar but distinctly different world, with some of its pomp and all of its circumstance. The un-named narrator travels from monastery to monastery, seeking information about a band of pirates, who are pillaging the realm. He seeks to learn their home base and their reasons for these recurring attacks. The answer comes as a slight surprise, but you'll have to read it to get the full enjoyment. I love the comedic asides the narrator and others use to give the piece the usual K. J. Parker whimsical feel. Another dashing good story!

[Andreas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pirates, Monks, Libraries and Political Intrigue

It is always a pleasure to read a novella from K. J. Parker.
His narrators always have a special voice, that alone is very entertaining with its ironic tone.
In this story the narrator has to deal with marauding pirates, plundering lonely monasteries. Nothing is known about the enemy, only that he leaves death and destruction on his way.
But this only part of the story. There is also his bride, unacceptable for the court, and the question, who will be the next emperor.
A satisfiable solution to all this is given, but that is only icing on the cake.

5/5 Stars

[Hot Mess Sommelière ~ Caro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but I liked it a lot less than I did other similar novellas by Parker.

Why?

Because I felt the characters had too little room to breathe and develop. They remained sketches. Maybe this was because the main character had more important relationships and associates than the usual KJ Parker 'misanthrope' narrator.

I liked the variety, though. One can get very tired of cynical loners.