Thieves World, Book 6: Wings of Omen

Thieves World, Book 6: Wings of Omen (1984) edited by Robert Asprin and Lynn Abbey

Introduction by Robert Lynn Asprin
What Women Do Best by Chris & Janet Morris
Daughter of the Sun by Robin W. Bailey
A Breath of Power by Diana L. Paxson
The Hand That Feeds You by Diane Duane
Witching Hour by C.J. Cherryh
Rebel’s Aren’t Born in Palaces by Andrew J. Offutt
Gyskouras by Lynn Abbey
A Fish without Feathers Is Out of His Depth by Robert Lynn Asprin
A Special Note from the Editors by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey

As usual, the book opens with the Introduction by Robert Lynn Asprin, which sums up the previous books in a brief scenne. But Hakiem’s personality comes through, no matter how brief.

As a street storyteller he had always been polite to those who gave him a few coppers in return for his entertainments. Now, with the hefty stipend he was receiving in gold, he was a paradigm of courtesy.

What Women Do Best by Chris & Janet Morris introduces us to Zip, a denizen of the Maze who wants they Beysib gone, and will kill whomever it takes to remove them. And Kama, Tempus Thales’ daughter. And the Rankan 3rd Commando. So, pretty much no one to like in this story, as is expected. I realized I simply don’t like Janet Morris’ stories. Doesn’t matter whether it’s Tempus or Kama–don’t like any of them.

Daughter of the Sun by Robin W. Bailey introduces a new, unlikable character, Chenaya. She’s been blessed by the Rankan god Savankala, and uses those gifts to–fight in the gladiatorial ring. And generally be a bitch. Chenaya is the poster child for, “just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.”

Luckily, the next story, A Breath of Power by Diana L. Paxson, is a Lalo the Limner story. With the power he was granted by the gods, when he breathes on his paintings, they come to life.

(T)he bright speck quivered, expanded its shimmering wings, and buzzed away to join the jewel-scatter of flies that were already orbiting the garbage-basket by the door.

Unfortunately, he has nothing to do with this skill, and even worse, this is not a talent that combines well with getting angry and then drunk.

The Hand That Feeds You by Diane Duane brings us the goddess Siveni Grey Eyes and her priest Harran, who has been slumming as a barber for the Stepsons. Despite being rather despicable himself, you can’t help but want him to succeed in calling up his goddess.

Witching Hour by C.J. Cherryh, finds Moria and Mor-Am ensconced in Ischade’s fine uptown house, and Moria no happier here than she was living in Downwind–it’s just a different kind of fear, working for Ischade.

Though you can’t help but like seeing Roxane get her comeuppance.

Rebel’s Aren’t Born in Palaces by Andrew J. Offutt takes us into Sly’s place.

Sly’s Place! Name of Father Ills, Sly had taken dropsy and died three years agone, and the dive was still called Sly’s Place because no one wanted to admit to owning it or to take responsibility either.

Amusingly, in later volumes one ends up rather fond of the proprietor of Sly’s place. But this is a Shadowspawn story. Where Shadownspawn is introduced to some characters who are more unpleasant than he his.

“Any friend of Zip’s” he said affably, “is suspect.”

The story Gyskouras by Lynn Abbey, is exceedingly dark for a story about Ilyra the S’danzo. Zip pays her a visit, from which no good comes, and worse, her son Arton has fallen ill to a magical malady.

Even worse, we learn of the (probable) replacement for Vashanka, who was killed (banished) earlier.

A Fish without Feathers Is Out of His Depth by Robert Lynn Asprin closes the story on a much lighter, happier note. We spend a little time with Monkel, head of the Beysib Setmur (fishing) clan. It’s a pleasant end to a rather dark volume.

The thoughts of Monkel himself, with an increasing number of scars and half-healed wounds adorning his features and appendages, are best left unrecorded, save to note that he often found himself wondering if the bird was edible. At this point in their duel, simply killing it would have been an insufficient expression of his frustration.

That whole passage delights me every time I read it.

Again, this is one of the darker volumes (though not the darkest) but so much happens, it’s not like one can completely skip these stories.
Rating: 7/10

Published by Ace Books

 
 

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