Good sci-fi
Sequel to D'Shai, this story doesn't rely too heavily on what's gone before and can be read alone. Kami Dan'Shir, a social climber in a rigidly stratified society, has creatively promoted himself from Acrobat to Discoverer-of-Truths, from peasant to bourgeois. Alas, the privileges of class bring with them duties, and Kami must demonstrate both his social skills and his ability to solve puzzles when he travels to a wedding and a murder interrupts.
From Booklist:
In the sequel to the excellent D'Shai (1991), former acrobat Kami Khuzud is now a bourgeois and founder of the profession of Dan'Shir--i.e., a detective. His skills must be turned to the complicated task of unraveling plots and eventually murders intended to prevent a marital alliance valuable to his employer's house. He succeeds in maneuvering his way through noblemen's intrigues, consuming quite a number of vividly described meals, being seduced by the intended bride, and finally being somewhat reluctantly elevated to the nobility for coming up with a believable (if not completely true) solution. There is a flavor to D'Shai as a world and to Kami and his associates as characters that sets both books apart from, indeed above, much other fantasy. Like its predecessor, this yarn is highly recommended and an enhancement to Rosenberg's reputation.
From Booklist:
In the sequel to the excellent D'Shai (1991), former acrobat Kami Khuzud is now a bourgeois and founder of the profession of Dan'Shir--i.e., a detective. His skills must be turned to the complicated task of unraveling plots and eventually murders intended to prevent a marital alliance valuable to his employer's house. He succeeds in maneuvering his way through noblemen's intrigues, consuming quite a number of vividly described meals, being seduced by the intended bride, and finally being somewhat reluctantly elevated to the nobility for coming up with a believable (if not completely true) solution. There is a flavor to D'Shai as a world and to Kami and his associates as characters that sets both books apart from, indeed above, much other fantasy. Like its predecessor, this yarn is highly recommended and an enhancement to Rosenberg's reputation.
I found this slightly more amusing than Rosenberg's first book in this series, D'Shai. The plot was worth the pages, the main characters were worth knowing although the minor characters are still very underdeveloped. If there are more in this series, I'd read them, although I'm not sure I'd pay full price for the privilege.
