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Binding: Mass Market PaperbackDewey Decimal Number: 813 EAN: 9780553585940 Edition: Reprint ISBN: 0553585940 Label: Bantam Manufacturer: Bantam Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 528 Publication Date: September 30, 2003 Publisher: Bantam Release Date: September 30, 2003 Studio: Bantam Related Items:
Browse for similar items by category: Click to Display Editorial Review: Product Description: This stunning follow-up to Ellen Kushner’s cult-classic novel, Swordspoint, is set in the same world of labyrinthine intrigue, where sharp swords and even sharper wits rule. Against a rich tapestry of artists and aristocrats, students, strumpets, and spies, a gentleman and a scholar will find themselves playing out an ancient drama destined to explode their society’s smug view of itself–and reveal that sometimes the best price of uncovering history is being forced to repeat it…. The Fall of the Kings Generations ago the last king fell, taking with him the final truths about a race of wizards who ruled at his side. But the blood of the kings runs deep in the land and its people, waiting for the coming together of two unusual men, Theron Campion, a young nobleman of royal lineage, is heir to an ancient house and a modern scandal. Tormented by his twin duties to his family and his own bright spirit, he seeks solace in the University. There he meets Basil St. Cloud, a brilliant and charismatic teacher ruled by a passion for knowledge–and a passion for the ancient kings. Of course, everyone now knows that the wizards were charlatans and the kings their dupes and puppets. Only Basil ins not convinced–nor is he convinced that the city has seen its last king… From the Trade Paperback edition. Average Rating:
 Rating:  - Worth it, if ultimately disappointingFirst off, I loved this book...right up until the end. It has possibly THE most disappointing conclusion I have ever read. Not, as one might suspect, because of the actual climatic events, but because of how it was handled by the writers. The entire emotional thrust of the book comes from either Basil or Theron and yet, when the most emotional aspect of the book happens, the writers deprive the reader of any response, narrative or reaction from the emotional characters. I needed that closure, ... Read More Rating: - CatchingThis book was lent to me by a friend after she had read it, and I heard bits and pieces of it, nothing bad at all. I have to agree. This book really captured and held me from start to finish. While I have the attention span of a goldfish, some parts I wanted to, and did skim, I'll admit. It was very detailed, and my attention span couldn't handle it all the time. However, if you enjoy descriptions and books being greatly indepth, here you are. The characters were VERY well developed, ... Read More Rating:  - I've read betterTrue, the concept of this book was slightly brilliant. The connection to an ancient history was delightful, although that aspect of the main characters' relationship flirted with prophecy. The characters Kushner created were fantastic, albeit debatably one-sided, and the relationships between characters could sometimes before dragged-out melodramas (i.e. "Basil, I can't make it tonight, I must attend a frilly noble party." "Theron, why were you late coming to make love to me tonight?" "Frilly noble ... Read More Rating: - I give it points for the gay sex...This book was...interesting... Certainly it kept me reasonably entertained, if only because there was so much in the 500+ pages of history and characterization to choke down and digest. While the characters were likeable and kept me reading, the plot was often obscure (at times overly so), and at times dragged along the borderline of tediousness. It was Theron & Basil that intrigued me, and pulled me through the seemingly hundreds of pages of rather bland history lessons - the ancient world ... Read More Rating:  - Uneven but Worthy of AttentionComplicated. Thats how I would describe the book, The Fall of Kings. Most times I really go in for a complicated, rich tapestry of a fantasy world, and gladly dove into this one based on the many glowing recommendations around Amazon for it. However, half way through the book, I realized also why some had described it as overly complicated and pathless. There is a definite path through this book. One can almost immediately see where it is headed, and if you're like me, you can become disappointed on the ... Read More 
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