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The Merchant Princes #4
The Merchants' War
Miriam Beckstein is a young, hip, business journalist in Boston. She discovered in The Family Trade and The Hidden Family that her family came from an alternate reality, that she was very well-connected, and that her family was too much like the mafia for comfort. She found herself caught in a family trap in The Clan Corporate and betrothed to a brain-damaged prince, and then all hell broke loose. Now, in The Merchants' War , Miriam has escaped to yet another world and remains in hiding from both the Clan and their opponents. There is a nasty shooting war going on in the Gruinmarkt world of the Clan, and we know something that Miriam does not; something that she's really going to hate--if she lives long enough to find out.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
43 people are currently reading
777 people want to read
About the author
Charles Stross
158 books5,824 followersCharles David George "Charlie" Stross is a writer based in Edinburgh, Scotland. His works range from science fiction and Lovecraftian horror to fantasy.
Stross is sometimes regarded as being part of a new generation of British science fiction writers who specialise in hard science fiction and space opera. His contemporaries include Alastair Reynolds, Ken MacLeod, Liz Williams and Richard Morgan.
SF Encyclopedia: http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/...
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_...
Tor: http://us.macmillan.com/author/charle...
Stross is sometimes regarded as being part of a new generation of British science fiction writers who specialise in hard science fiction and space opera. His contemporaries include Alastair Reynolds, Ken MacLeod, Liz Williams and Richard Morgan.
SF Encyclopedia: http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/...
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_...
Tor: http://us.macmillan.com/author/charle...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
October 5, 2017
Rating: 4* of five
Not slowing down, eh what Author Stross?
Not slowing down, eh what Author Stross?
January 19, 2012
This series frustrates me to no end. I really enjoy each book in the series (so far anyway), yet it has taken me the better part of each novel before it fully grabs my attention. And by better part, I mean that it's only in the last 20% that I find I can't put it down. Up until that point, each of the novels has had to contend with every other distraction in my not inconsiderable arsenal.
All of which is to say that, yeah, I liked it and will be buying the fifth book sooner or later. When I do start reading it, I hope that it will break the cycle and hook my attention right from the get go as book 4 (this one) ends on more than a few cliff hangers.
One of my few issues with the book and something that, somewhat ironically, slowed it down for me was that there were too many pieces of dialogue between two or more characters that flew by before I had even fully grokked into who was speaking, much less what they were speaking about. And yet the pace of the story was such that I did not want to spend time going back and re-reading from previous books, or searching back through pages to verify what exactly was happening in the scene. Personally, I would have preferred longer scenes with a bit more characterization rather than the glimpses at conversations as we hurtle by.
Aside from that, it's a solid read, but not my favorite Stross work.
All of which is to say that, yeah, I liked it and will be buying the fifth book sooner or later. When I do start reading it, I hope that it will break the cycle and hook my attention right from the get go as book 4 (this one) ends on more than a few cliff hangers.
One of my few issues with the book and something that, somewhat ironically, slowed it down for me was that there were too many pieces of dialogue between two or more characters that flew by before I had even fully grokked into who was speaking, much less what they were speaking about. And yet the pace of the story was such that I did not want to spend time going back and re-reading from previous books, or searching back through pages to verify what exactly was happening in the scene. Personally, I would have preferred longer scenes with a bit more characterization rather than the glimpses at conversations as we hurtle by.
Aside from that, it's a solid read, but not my favorite Stross work.
August 23, 2008
This book lost a star for ending mid-action. A series with an indefinite number of books is fine, but it's courteous to wrap up the immediate plot arc and give the reader a chance to "get off the bus" at the end of every book (or at least every book after the second).
July 10, 2025
Genre blend of scifi-fantasy-althistory and high-tech thriller, with a spy narrative. The clash between medieval counterpart and Earth showcases the danger of introducing advanced knowledge into stagnant cultures: the Clan begins weaponizing Earth technology—leading to a literal merchants’ war with machine guns and telecoms.
The Clan begins weaponizing Earth technology—leading to a literal merchants’ war with machine guns and telecoms.
3/5 Plotline means things this book shouldn't be put down for prolonged periods of time. Things never get any less complicated in this fourth volume… There are a lot of dueling plot‑lines by this point in the series.
February 2, 2021
The "Clan Corporate" ends an episode that strongly resembles the wedding of Beatrix Kiddo in the movie of the times and peoples "Kill Bill". Adjusted for the wind: the celebration is not in the modest church somewhere in Texas, but in the capital-city. With all the pomp, possible the circumstances of the time and place: fortunes in clothing and jewelry present, but a noticeable smell shit by the open drains. You understand - the trap of the social structure.
The groom and the Queen-mother are among the dead. The brides body has not been found. Of course, because the bride know how to escape from situations, that become too stressful. Where to? The New Britain, where she will have to live as an illegal immigrant. The Clan and those who oppose it here, the Lee family - has a long arms. And that`s when the Miriam`s ability win the friends of people, who might be useful, come in handy.
В ловушке
Они невероятно богаты, они Князья торговли. Но они в западне социального устройства, в котором живут. They're immensely rich merchant princes. But they're trapped by the society they live in.
Всему хорошему когда-то приходит конец, вот и моя влюбленность в "Принцев торговли" пошла на убыль. Не потому, что четвертая книга нехороша. Даже и напротив: действие, которое в "The Clan Corporate" ругали за стагнацию, сдвинулось и понеслось степной кобылицей вскачь, вбирая не только линию героини, но и обещанную названием войну, которую Семье навязывают во всех мирах и приходится бежать вдвое быстрее, чтобы только остаться на месте.
Беда, (моя персональная беда) в том, что это все больше становится хронооперой, а сериалов воспринимать не умею ни в каком формате. Но другим читателям, когда и если переведут или может быть вы из числа тех, кто неровно дышит к хорошему фэнтези с яркими идеями - другим от души рекомендую. Это круто, Чарльз Стросс - всегда высочайший класс.
Итак, "The Clan Corporate" завершается эпизодом, сильно напоминающим свадьбу Беатрикс Киддо в фильме времен и народов "Убить Билла". С поправкой на ветер - торжество не в скромной церквушке где-то в Техасе, а в самом, что ни есть, стольном граде, со всей возможной в обстоятельствах времени-места пышностью: целые состояния в одежде и ювелирных украшениях присутствующих, но ощутимо тянет дерьмом по причине открытых стоков. Ну, вы понимаете,ловушка социального устройства.
Жених и королева-мать в числе погибших, тело невесты не найдено. Разумеется, ведь невеста умеет ускользать из ситуаций, которые становятся слишком напряженными. Куда? Правильно, в Новую Британию, где ей придется существовать на положении нелегалки, потому что у Клана и тех кто ему здесь противостоит - семьи Ли - длинные руки. И вот тут оказывается весьма кстати умение Мириам завоевывать дружбу людей, которые могут оказаться полезными.
Дело в том, что в один из прошлых визитов, когда она еще играла в этом мире роль золотой вдовушки-изобретательницы и налаживала свои мастерские, Мириам спасла умиравшего от туберкулеза здешнего своего торгового партнера, Эразмуса Биргесона, попросту дав ему антибиотики. Еврей-ростовщик, сотрудничающий с полицией, он же вольнодумец революционер конспиратор. Не того свойства фигура, какой был в русской истории Гапон, напротив, прикрытием здесь служат меркантилизм и стукачество.
Довольно ненадежным, Эразмус осознает, что в любой момент может отправится в лагерь, однако люди, ставящие служение прогрессу человечества выше собственных интересов всегда появляются - удивительно, но факт. И, разумеется, он действует не в одиночку. Пламенная революционерка леди Маргарет Бишоп - одно из звеньев в цепи Сопротивления, к ней Мириам обратится за поддержкой, у нее (после всесторонней проверки в соответствии с правилами конспирации) найдет поддержку.
А после отправится в обществе Эразмуса в Петроград... на поезде. Ах, на самом деле, странствие через Американский континент в декорациях и антураже стимпанка замечательно интересная штука. Но The Merchant`s War, в полном соответствии с названием, этим не ограничатся, одарив читателя войной по всей программе: новый король Грюнмаркта задался целью уничтожить Клан, как угрожающий стабильности государственного устройства (да и деньги торгашей во все времена были привлекательны для королей, желающих пополнить государственную казну, вспомните Филиппа Красивого и орден тамплиеров).
Что до условно нашего мира - условно, потому что у меня сильное подозрение, что описывается все же параллельная, хотя достаточно близкая нам реальность - здесь активируется Управление по борьбе с наркотиками, квалифицирующее действия представителей Клана как подрывные и террористические. Все непросто, ё-моё.
Много стрельбы одиночными и очередями во всех мирах; явившаяся на сцену боеголовка, предположительно урановая, хотя не исключено.что плутониевая; быстрые непростые для восприятия диалоги между представителями спецслужб, одним из которых, по совпадению - на ключевой роли, явится бывший муж Мириам. Это круто, история набирает обороты и все, кто есть кто-то изъявляют желание продолжить пятой книгой. Кроме меня. Я почитаю на английском что-нибудь менее динамичное, вроде истории Гамлета от Мэгги о`Фаррелл.
The groom and the Queen-mother are among the dead. The brides body has not been found. Of course, because the bride know how to escape from situations, that become too stressful. Where to? The New Britain, where she will have to live as an illegal immigrant. The Clan and those who oppose it here, the Lee family - has a long arms. And that`s when the Miriam`s ability win the friends of people, who might be useful, come in handy.
В ловушке
Они невероятно богаты, они Князья торговли. Но они в западне социального устройства, в котором живут. They're immensely rich merchant princes. But they're trapped by the society they live in.
Всему хорошему когда-то приходит конец, вот и моя влюбленность в "Принцев торговли" пошла на убыль. Не потому, что четвертая книга нехороша. Даже и напротив: действие, которое в "The Clan Corporate" ругали за стагнацию, сдвинулось и понеслось степной кобылицей вскачь, вбирая не только линию героини, но и обещанную названием войну, которую Семье навязывают во всех мирах и приходится бежать вдвое быстрее, чтобы только остаться на месте.
Беда, (моя персональная беда) в том, что это все больше становится хронооперой, а сериалов воспринимать не умею ни в каком формате. Но другим читателям, когда и если переведут или может быть вы из числа тех, кто неровно дышит к хорошему фэнтези с яркими идеями - другим от души рекомендую. Это круто, Чарльз Стросс - всегда высочайший класс.
Итак, "The Clan Corporate" завершается эпизодом, сильно напоминающим свадьбу Беатрикс Киддо в фильме времен и народов "Убить Билла". С поправкой на ветер - торжество не в скромной церквушке где-то в Техасе, а в самом, что ни есть, стольном граде, со всей возможной в обстоятельствах времени-места пышностью: целые состояния в одежде и ювелирных украшениях присутствующих, но ощутимо тянет дерьмом по причине открытых стоков. Ну, вы понимаете,ловушка социального устройства.
Жених и королева-мать в числе погибших, тело невесты не найдено. Разумеется, ведь невеста умеет ускользать из ситуаций, которые становятся слишком напряженными. Куда? Правильно, в Новую Британию, где ей придется существовать на положении нелегалки, потому что у Клана и тех кто ему здесь противостоит - семьи Ли - длинные руки. И вот тут оказывается весьма кстати умение Мириам завоевывать дружбу людей, которые могут оказаться полезными.
Дело в том, что в один из прошлых визитов, когда она еще играла в этом мире роль золотой вдовушки-изобретательницы и налаживала свои мастерские, Мириам спасла умиравшего от туберкулеза здешнего своего торгового партнера, Эразмуса Биргесона, попросту дав ему антибиотики. Еврей-ростовщик, сотрудничающий с полицией, он же вольнодумец революционер конспиратор. Не того свойства фигура, какой был в русской истории Гапон, напротив, прикрытием здесь служат меркантилизм и стукачество.
Довольно ненадежным, Эразмус осознает, что в любой момент может отправится в лагерь, однако люди, ставящие служение прогрессу человечества выше собственных интересов всегда появляются - удивительно, но факт. И, разумеется, он действует не в одиночку. Пламенная революционерка леди Маргарет Бишоп - одно из звеньев в цепи Сопротивления, к ней Мириам обратится за поддержкой, у нее (после всесторонней проверки в соответствии с правилами конспирации) найдет поддержку.
А после отправится в обществе Эразмуса в Петроград... на поезде. Ах, на самом деле, странствие через Американский континент в декорациях и антураже стимпанка замечательно интересная штука. Но The Merchant`s War, в полном соответствии с названием, этим не ограничатся, одарив читателя войной по всей программе: новый король Грюнмаркта задался целью уничтожить Клан, как угрожающий стабильности государственного устройства (да и деньги торгашей во все времена были привлекательны для королей, желающих пополнить государственную казну, вспомните Филиппа Красивого и орден тамплиеров).
Что до условно нашего мира - условно, потому что у меня сильное подозрение, что описывается все же параллельная, хотя достаточно близкая нам реальность - здесь активируется Управление по борьбе с наркотиками, квалифицирующее действия представителей Клана как подрывные и террористические. Все непросто, ё-моё.
Много стрельбы одиночными и очередями во всех мирах; явившаяся на сцену боеголовка, предположительно урановая, хотя не исключено.что плутониевая; быстрые непростые для восприятия диалоги между представителями спецслужб, одним из которых, по совпадению - на ключевой роли, явится бывший муж Мириам. Это круто, история набирает обороты и все, кто есть кто-то изъявляют желание продолжить пятой книгой. Кроме меня. Я почитаю на английском что-нибудь менее динамичное, вроде истории Гамлета от Мэгги о`Фаррелл.
February 7, 2015
Really about a 2.5 stars, I'm finding this series frustrating. I'm not very engaged with the characters, and it's a bit of grind. Stross did introduce another? parallel world which has some intriguing possibilities, but hasn't really done much with it in this book. Perhaps that is to come. I don't like what he's doing with Miriam. It seems she just keeps having things happen to her, and getting pulled farther and farther out of the center of power. Definitely my least favorite Stross series. Two more books to go, which I'll read cause I already have them on my shelf.
February 1, 2018
3.5 stars. I think I'm going to use my status update from finishing this book as my review: "OMG, another cliffhanger. I have the next two ebooks on hand (bless you, library), but I have to sleep. And these are not short books. But the suspense! At least I know things have to be tied up by the end of the next two books, since that ends the series..."
March 26, 2010
Having two characters, both scientists, one named Hu and one named Huw, was a puzzling decision.
Odd genetic inaccuracies continue from last book. If world-walking is inherited through mitochondrial DNA, it shouldn't be a recessive, it should be maternal descent, no?
Odd genetic inaccuracies continue from last book. If world-walking is inherited through mitochondrial DNA, it shouldn't be a recessive, it should be maternal descent, no?
October 12, 2016
The first difficultly putdownable book of the series.
January 21, 2025
Interesting book, and the influence of the post-9/11 world shows its head (and its ass) repeatedly throughout the decision-making and attitudes of government agents as they get more and more involved in the Family conflicts that Miriam has found herself caught up in.
It's a pretty good advance after the last book's major bombshell (ha) at the conclusion, and it's bringing most of the players out of the shadows and into direct conflict with each other. The Clan itself still has some significant internal conflicts to manage and sort out among itself, which will need to get done sooner rather than later, because while they have significant advantages on their world in terms of communications, transportation, and technology, they don't have numbers. And while they have edges against the US government as well, they have fewer of them and again: not so much with the numbers.
Sorting that out is going to take some time, and all the while Miriam is going to have to play dynastic politics, which she's likely to be very bad at. I like how Stross has kept her consistent in terms of her not being able to see the subtleties or operating on multiple levels simultaneously from a political perspective, but it is frustrating to see her make some of the same mistakes again and again because she's not thinking them through or found a way to build more allies she can trust to help her craft solutions. She's still bull in a china shop too often, and thinks that just because she's right people will listen.
(this sounds familiar...echoes of a lot of modern politics)
Stross also might be juggling too many plots here; it makes sense because the impact of Miriam's return, her proposals for radical changes to Clan operations, and discovery of access to a 3rd world are world-shaking propositions. But at the same time, we've got civil unrest and pending revolution on one world, civil war on another, and a War on Terror concept on the third, all operating simultaneously beyond the Clan politics. It's leaving us little time to develop interpersonal relationships, and that's a shame.
still good, and it's nice to have these running under 400 pages.
It's a pretty good advance after the last book's major bombshell (ha) at the conclusion, and it's bringing most of the players out of the shadows and into direct conflict with each other. The Clan itself still has some significant internal conflicts to manage and sort out among itself, which will need to get done sooner rather than later, because while they have significant advantages on their world in terms of communications, transportation, and technology, they don't have numbers. And while they have edges against the US government as well, they have fewer of them and again: not so much with the numbers.
Sorting that out is going to take some time, and all the while Miriam is going to have to play dynastic politics, which she's likely to be very bad at. I like how Stross has kept her consistent in terms of her not being able to see the subtleties or operating on multiple levels simultaneously from a political perspective, but it is frustrating to see her make some of the same mistakes again and again because she's not thinking them through or found a way to build more allies she can trust to help her craft solutions. She's still bull in a china shop too often, and thinks that just because she's right people will listen.
(this sounds familiar...echoes of a lot of modern politics)
Stross also might be juggling too many plots here; it makes sense because the impact of Miriam's return, her proposals for radical changes to Clan operations, and discovery of access to a 3rd world are world-shaking propositions. But at the same time, we've got civil unrest and pending revolution on one world, civil war on another, and a War on Terror concept on the third, all operating simultaneously beyond the Clan politics. It's leaving us little time to develop interpersonal relationships, and that's a shame.
still good, and it's nice to have these running under 400 pages.
January 18, 2019
It would seem that I have missed volume three, which would seem to be The Clan Corporate. It took a bit before I picked up the threads but once I did everything was fine. The Americans are working on ways to cross the space barrier and naturally are working on scientific analysis to get them there (the Livermore Laboratories in this real world where you have to put in an application 6 months in advance of any proposed visit!) Miriam/Helge is on the run with Burgeson in New Britain and traveling by train. Fans of the CPR will appreciate its new existence as the Northern railway and the concept of going by rail all the way down South America is also appealing.
The War is heating up seriously, there are bombs and bombing threats, the FBI and American national security are determined to treat these people from "fairyland" (their term) as terrorists, and Miriam is really trying to work out some form of calming influence.
The action is becoming quite intense and the crossing influences make references to armaments quite confusing and non-site specific any more.
Great read and moving on to Book Five.
The War is heating up seriously, there are bombs and bombing threats, the FBI and American national security are determined to treat these people from "fairyland" (their term) as terrorists, and Miriam is really trying to work out some form of calming influence.
The action is becoming quite intense and the crossing influences make references to armaments quite confusing and non-site specific any more.
Great read and moving on to Book Five.
April 22, 2022
Üha enam de Sade'i neiu, kõik läheb halvasti ja algne algatusvõime ja entusiasm on täielikult kadunud, järel on ainult virin ja jube kehvad dialoogid, pluss täiesti ilmne täitematerjal. Lugege midagi muud.
March 15, 2022
Sigh. If I didn't like Stross' writing... In this episode of The Mishaps of Miriam, we have one *really* evil faction, two fairly-evil-but-not-quite-so-bad groups, no, make that three, and lots of death and violence. Oh, and a new and different form of what's essentially rape. And the continued lack of something that would make this a book, not some chapters in an interminably long meganovel. I'll give #4 this much: Not only did it have even fewer upbeat moments than the previous ones, I'm no longer sure I care about any of the characters. Two stars is a generous rating. Other reviews summarize the plot, I guess.
November 2, 2009
So far my least favorite in the series, yet still kick ass. I actually think this is more 3.5.
October 9, 2025
When I rate or review a book I try to both consider its value as a book, is it well constructed, does it flow, is there an interesting story or characters or both? I also as I must give my personal reaction. Did it appeal to me on some level. This may vary a lot depending on my mood and I've been know to rate the same book at 3 stars on first read and then five stars on a second read some time later.
I am a fan of Charles Stross' Laundry Files series and I wanted to like The Merchant Princes series too. A friend with similar tastes loves them. I started out wanting to read the whole series but have stopped after book four.
They're well written with strong women characters and interesting takes on some What if alternative history themes. Sadly these What ifs turn dystopian in other worlds with serfdom and abuse and hierarchies common. The books would also be more enjoyable if we weren't seeing that transition to fascism happening in real time in the USA. Even the inherited ability for a few people of one family to jump from one specific America to another doesn't help when wars and potential disasters lurk in each.
CW
If you're OK with Succession mixed with Game of Thrones but with portal stepping and no dragons you may like these books. If America and the rest of the world survive the waves of right wing ideologies I may like these books more in a few years too.
I am a fan of Charles Stross' Laundry Files series and I wanted to like The Merchant Princes series too. A friend with similar tastes loves them. I started out wanting to read the whole series but have stopped after book four.
They're well written with strong women characters and interesting takes on some What if alternative history themes. Sadly these What ifs turn dystopian in other worlds with serfdom and abuse and hierarchies common. The books would also be more enjoyable if we weren't seeing that transition to fascism happening in real time in the USA. Even the inherited ability for a few people of one family to jump from one specific America to another doesn't help when wars and potential disasters lurk in each.
CW
If you're OK with Succession mixed with Game of Thrones but with portal stepping and no dragons you may like these books. If America and the rest of the world survive the waves of right wing ideologies I may like these books more in a few years too.
December 27, 2023
Have read enough of these and other works by Charlie at this point to have formed the opinion that this series is his least accomplished work. It's still bloody entertaining, though there are some long dry spots. (I believe I read somewhere that some of this was caused by the publisher mandating the works being split into six volumes instead of three, causing all kinds of pacing and reminder problems for the novelist.) And for at least the second time in the series the main character Miriam, who is supposed to be pretty sharp, blunders along ignorant of a key fact that seems pretty bloody obvious to even the supporting characters. The start picks up from the red wedding ending of the previous book and then immediately slows down as Miriam has to go into hiding. We get a lot of characters being slowly brought up to speed with the reader, which is very tedious to labor through. The world building remains superb and there is a nice twist with a potential new (fourth?) parallel world available for walkers. The end picks up nicely as a variety of plot strands start to finally come together, but then one wants to toss it against the wall for ending on a cliff hanger. Perhaps the publishers knew what they were about, because I really need to grab the next volume to find out what happens.
March 25, 2017
This was the only book in the series that the library didn't have. So i bought one and am now donating it to the library.
I enjoyed the parallel stories in the book. Not so much the one about the civil war in the world walkers world. But the ones about our world learning about the worldwalkers - both ethically and not (bombs on a world walker to force them to be a mule.) I also enjoyed seeing Miriam "marry" on world 3 and how they get around. The authorities in all three worlds are looking out for them.
Miriam learns she is pregnant at the end after slowly wondering why world walking is getting harder and harder. It was nice seeing Brill and Olga having more important roles. I also liked seeing the three grad students/friends/etc discover world 4 with the vacuum portal. It was also nice seeing the stage set for Miriam finally no longer being a puppet.
The only problem I had was knowing what was going to happen having started with the follow on series with Miriam's daughter. It took some of the mystery out of things. Still enjoyed the journey though.
I enjoyed the parallel stories in the book. Not so much the one about the civil war in the world walkers world. But the ones about our world learning about the worldwalkers - both ethically and not (bombs on a world walker to force them to be a mule.) I also enjoyed seeing Miriam "marry" on world 3 and how they get around. The authorities in all three worlds are looking out for them.
Miriam learns she is pregnant at the end after slowly wondering why world walking is getting harder and harder. It was nice seeing Brill and Olga having more important roles. I also liked seeing the three grad students/friends/etc discover world 4 with the vacuum portal. It was also nice seeing the stage set for Miriam finally no longer being a puppet.
The only problem I had was knowing what was going to happen having started with the follow on series with Miriam's daughter. It took some of the mystery out of things. Still enjoyed the journey though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2017
As soon as I finished this volume, I went to put in a request for the next one. The end is a definite cliffhanger, with numerous plot threads left unsettled, but the preceding action was so strong that I'll give it a pass (especially since the next volume has been released - I can't imagine having to wait for it). This volume picks up immediately after the events of the previous volume, with Miriam on the run, Mike trying to escape the Clan's world, and the Clan's world itself in civil war. Each of those stories (and several other related ones) is continued through, and the stakes only increase throughout. The biggest weakness to this volume is that Miriam is practically sidelined - her story is no longer central to the plot, unfortunately. But the other stories are all interesting, in a variety of different ways (I like Huw's story a lot as it explores the rules of the worlds in intriguing new ways), from criminal procedural to war strategies to recuperation. There are only one or two major moments that stand out as memorable, but a lot of story happens here.
February 20, 2018
Since I started this series with Book #1 of the second arc, I had to backfill with reading the first arc. This is book #4 of the first arc. Imagine medival knights with automatic assault weapons. Miriam is firmly enmeshed in the spider web of the clan, with the clan's intent to to cement their position in Gruinmarkt (Timeline 1) by marrying Miriam off to the the King's son. However, the king's son is mentally deficient and his brother Egon, is not a nice guy. The book begins with the aftermath of the destruction of the summer palace by Egon during a royal dinner to annouce Miriam's betrothal to the King's "idiot son". Egon declares his kingship and launched a pogrom against the clan. Miriam, escapes the destruction and escapes to Timeline 3, which is undergoing a revolution. Oh, and Miriam has been artificially inseminated with the "idiot's son" seed. And, timeline 1 (our universe) has it's eye on the Clan. Intrigue, near future SF, alternate history. What more could you ask for? Stross does it very well. 5 out of 5.
April 5, 2018
This book had a bit more pace and some cool explorations of small group battles if you have the ability to hop between dimensions. Egon is no fool, and manages to pin the clan squad inside the castle. Clever use of the ankle high ropes and just a small clear space. Clan Sec though has really thought out the whole thing and uses their higher technology to their advantage as well. Tough to predict how the other side will react when you really don't know their capabilities.
The renaissance fair as cover for moving heavily armed goons around is a classic. The hard core modern material, old style armor is a cool concept as well. I had to look up just what all the different surveying gear mentioned looks like and what it does. Maps are always powerful.
Another cliffhanger ending, with the black helicopters descending on the renaissance fair, great finish. I liked Otto - the bad guy general - mainly because he was very believable as a ruthless medieval commander.
The renaissance fair as cover for moving heavily armed goons around is a classic. The hard core modern material, old style armor is a cool concept as well. I had to look up just what all the different surveying gear mentioned looks like and what it does. Maps are always powerful.
Another cliffhanger ending, with the black helicopters descending on the renaissance fair, great finish. I liked Otto - the bad guy general - mainly because he was very believable as a ruthless medieval commander.
January 6, 2020
Stross, Charles. The Merchant’s War. Merchant Princes No 4. Tor, 2007.
As I reread this excellent series, I am reminded of a few lines from poet E. E. Cummings: “pity poor flesh and trees, poor stars and stones, but never this/fine specimen of hypermagical/ultraomnipotence. We doctors know/a hopeless case if --- listen: there's a hell/of a good universe next door; let's go.” Our heroine, Miriam Beckstein, should have this poem on her T-shirt. In The Merchant’s War, on the run from violence and slavery in two previous timelines, she settles down to make a go of it in a early industrial-era version of America where the French and American revolutions never happened. It has political conflicts of its own and is not immune from world-walking conflicts, but by this time Miriam has sharpened her tradecraft and can cope if anybody can.
As I reread this excellent series, I am reminded of a few lines from poet E. E. Cummings: “pity poor flesh and trees, poor stars and stones, but never this/fine specimen of hypermagical/ultraomnipotence. We doctors know/a hopeless case if --- listen: there's a hell/of a good universe next door; let's go.” Our heroine, Miriam Beckstein, should have this poem on her T-shirt. In The Merchant’s War, on the run from violence and slavery in two previous timelines, she settles down to make a go of it in a early industrial-era version of America where the French and American revolutions never happened. It has political conflicts of its own and is not immune from world-walking conflicts, but by this time Miriam has sharpened her tradecraft and can cope if anybody can.
October 25, 2022
The story itself is pushing along at a fairly good clip, though each book ends on a rather annoying cliffhanger more suited to the end of a chapter than the end of a book. There are moments, though, that either seem dated (and the book isn't that old) or it's obvious that the book was written by someone at least in their 50s, even though many of the focal characters are in their 30s.
Also, this book has some rather detailed and wearying descriptions of torture which I could do without. If I was reading a hard copy, I'm pretty sure I would have skipped over those pages. Reading them felt like a shock. I'm pretty sure quite a few of the books I've been reading lately just don't visit that sort of thing in any detail.
Also, this book has some rather detailed and wearying descriptions of torture which I could do without. If I was reading a hard copy, I'm pretty sure I would have skipped over those pages. Reading them felt like a shock. I'm pretty sure quite a few of the books I've been reading lately just don't visit that sort of thing in any detail.
May 29, 2017
I really like where this is going, but my main complaint is that it's moving a bit slowly. As with
The Clan Corporate
and the rest of this series, this book sorta ends right in the middle of the action. Based on the first two books and the fact that they apparently sell these in two-book pairs, I thought that he was writing these such that every pair of books was one story arc, but apparently that's not quite the case. I guess the right strategy is to just do the last 4 books all in a row. Definitely 1 star off for that. I can only imagine how infuriating this would be if I were reading them as they came out.
August 13, 2017
I love this series. This story is getting so big while maintaining its complexity, I enjoy reading it but I notice it takes more and more concentration to take it all in and keep everything straight. Charles Stross is an author that writes about logistics and strategy and politics that most authors gloss over and that is one of the major reasons I enjoy his writing so much. He is able to ground such fantastical novels this way that everything is believable. I'm afraid this is turning from a strength to a weakness as the series seems to be losing a bit of focus at this point with new characters and subplots. Everything is written so well though I remained entertained so I can't fault him too much and am looking forward to the next book.
July 21, 2019
It was a real page turner for me. It only loses a star because it doesn't really end, it just kind of _stops_. There's all this build up and then there's no real climax, just all these threads left hanging for the next book to pick up. In this series, I think you should read books 1 & 2 as a single opus, and books 3 through 5 (and probably 6) as a single sequel. I know there are publishing reasons why books end up around 300 pages, and that's usually fine; in this case, it feels like the author hit his page limit, dropped everything, and started on the next volume.
December 3, 2020
Still largely enjoying this book...now that Stross has introduced his worlds and lived in them a little, he spends less time on long descriptions and more on the story itself, with the result that it clips along a little quicker now than earlier in the series. I'm interested to see where the story goes from here. Still waaaaay too many characters floating around without much backstory.
This book is now published combined with book 3 in an omnibus called "The Traders War" in which it's not really clear when one book ends and the other begins, so I am combing reviews.
This book is now published combined with book 3 in an omnibus called "The Traders War" in which it's not really clear when one book ends and the other begins, so I am combing reviews.
July 26, 2023
Wars and rumours of war have broken out across multiple worlds, with internal, international, and interworld tensions ramping up. The threat of intercontinental ballistic magic wands makes the deadly court intrigue that dominated the previous books seem almost petty by comparison.
Miriam is largely sidelined, no longer jailed but on the run from multiple chase forces. Lucky for her (and more importantly for us) the support characters are more than up to the challenge of carrying things forward without her.
Miriam is largely sidelined, no longer jailed but on the run from multiple chase forces. Lucky for her (and more importantly for us) the support characters are more than up to the challenge of carrying things forward without her.
September 11, 2018
Science fiction series - Stross continues his Merchant Princes (AKA Chronicles of Amber with automatic weapons) series. Miriam's business interests are destroyed by the Clan as they marry off to the Idiot. Then all heck breaks loose as several different heavily armed groups get involved. Moves along well. Stross also offers on interesting explanation as to how the genetic component works for the worldwalkers.
No Canadian or pharmacy references.
No Canadian or pharmacy references.
August 20, 2019
Fairly excellent. The idea of the 2 knotwork designs being vectors between coordinates rather than discreet coordinates themselves is bloody fascinating and is the level of sci fi I've come to expect from Charles Stross. Now what I haven't seen yet, and don't expect to see in the remaining book between this and Empire Games, is them mapping out those interspatial relationships between timelines and possibly contact one of the more advanced timelines.
June 17, 2021
Getting back to the way it aught'a be - a protagonist we can relate to, action that moves the story forward, and the author's unique brand of snark that has us laughing at the absurdity as much as enjoying the adrenaline filled action.
The shifting perspective gives an omnipresent view of action from all sides. It's all about the characters and how they think - since the reader knows what obstacles await
The shifting perspective gives an omnipresent view of action from all sides. It's all about the characters and how they think - since the reader knows what obstacles await
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