Thieves World, Book 11: Uneasy Alliances

Thieves’ World, Book 11: Uneasy Alliances (1988) edited by Robert Asprin and Lynn Abbey

One more book and things are starting to wind up.

Dramatis Personae by Lynn Abbey
Introduction by Lynn Abbey
Slave Trade by Robert Lynn Asprin
The Best of Friends by C.J. Cherryh
The Power of Kings by Jon DeCles
Red Light, Love Light by Chris Morris
A Sticky Business by C.S. Williams
The Promise of Heaven by Robin Wayne Bailey
The Vision of Lalo by Diana L. Paxson

As usual, we open with the Introduction but this time written by Lynn Abbey. This was is slightly more substantial than many others, being a tale as much as an introduction to the series. We see the interaction between Hakiem and Shupansea, but it also has some sharp commentary on Sanctuary.

The Vulgar Unicorn and the Palace were both places where style was generally more important than substance. They were both places where you belonged, or you didn’t belong–and where you had to always prove that you still belonged. Both had reputations which exceeded reality, and–might as well admit it–were parasites in the city’s lifeblood.

I also love this insight, and should try harder to remember it:

A successful drunk learns that death is not a likely consequence of embarrassment.

The embarrassment part; I don’t feel the need to become a successful drunk at this point in my life.

The first story, Slave Trade by Robert Lynn Asprin, is little more than getting Shadowspawn out of the hands of the slavers who had grabbed him at the end of the last book. We also see Jubal still trying to hold power in Sanctuary.

The Best of Friends by C.J. Cherryh shows us what it takes to get Crit and Strat back together (mayhem and near death, of course) and what it took to put Stilcho back in Ischade’s service (love of Moria).

The sergeant came up with the tablet and a stylus. Straton took it and wrote: Walegrin–and a long scratch that stood for all the damned protocols. Send the woman Moria to the palace guardstation with this messenger and your order to hold her there until I sign the release. Straton, for Critas– Another long line, for all Crit’s authorizations.

Never really thought before about having to hand-write things like authorizations. Of course soldiers and other busy functionaries would take shortcuts.

I also liked the tale that wove everything together–the Ilsigi father who wanted revenge upon Crit and Strat.

The Power of Kings by Jon DeCles brings an acting troupe to Sanctuary–the sign that things truly are upon the upturn for the city.

For an author late to the series, he does a good job with all the various characters he weaves in, and it’s a fun story–especially the idea of an actor being obsessed with the Unicorn, because of all the personalities that inhabit it.

Red Light, Love Light by Chris Morris is… well, mostly it’s just taking up space until the next story.

A Sticky Business by C.S. Williams brings us another new character who integrates well into the town: Chollandar the Gluemaker. With all the bodies that appear daily in Sanctuary, it’s little wonder the town has a thriving gluemaker.

And I love how he makes house calls, but only for bodies.

“I was told you will pick up… uh-uh-uh …”

“Raw materials, Ma’am. Raw materials. For a fee we will pick up that which you no longer desire, and turn it into a variety of useful products. We do stipulate, however, that the goods must be ready to use without further treatment. Do you understand?”

That whole thing is horrifying and terribly pragmatic and amusing, all in one.

The Promise of Heaven by Robin Wayne Bailey is another difficult story. I can’t stand Chenaya, but she isn’t in this story. I also can’t stand Daphne, and she IS in this story, but I feel bad despising her.

However, I unreservedly like Dayrne. Unlike Chenaya and Daphne, he had no choice to become what he was, and, like Jubal, worked to succeed and escape, and used the skills he developed to succeed further after he won his freedom.

And we close with The Vision of Lalo by Diana L. Paxson. Lalo is still discovering and developing his talents, and trying to survive in Sanctuary. It’s good to see him settling into a comfortable and satisfying future–even if that future does seem to be lost to him.

And that leaves me just one book remaining.
Rating: 7/10

Published by Ace Books

 
 

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