Swordspoint the world of riverside book 1

Even the nobles on the hill turn to duels to settle their disputes. Swordspoint, by ellen kushner, is a witty and unabashedly queer caper of a book. This study guide consists of approximately 35 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of swordspoint. The cult classic fantasy of manners, now with three bonus stories swordspoint has an unforgettable opening and just get. Ellen kushner born october 6, 1955 is an american writer of fantasy novels. Swordspoint riverside by ellen kushner reading guidebook.

Swordplay, scandal, and sexwelcome to the world of tremontaine, a glittering new chapter in ellen kushners classic riverside series. From the world fantasy awardwinning author of thomas the rhymer comes a. I am proud to have been one of the original writers on terri windlings shared world bordertown series, so i convinced holly black recently to coedit welcome to. Sep 30, 2003 the fall of the kings the world of riverside book 3 and over one million other books are available for amazon kindle. In a city that never was, sex, scandal, and swordplay combine in a melodrama of manners that returns readers to the beloved world of ellen kushners swordspoint. Its a small and contained fantasy of manners, a heavily characterdriven story of political intrigue and romance. The beyond binaries book club reads swordspoint the. The cult classic fantasy of manners, now with three bonus stories swordspoint. Vier, the most soughtafter among the mercenary swordsmen enlisted by the nobles to. Ellen kushners riverside series begins with the cult classic swordspoint, followed by the locus award winner and nebula award nominee the privilege of the sword. Nov 10, 2008 it goes on with rapier wits and rapiers, from a duel in lord horns formal wintergarden to the swordsmans home above a laundress in the citys dangerous riverside slum. Its tone, however, is memorably at an angle to how that story is normally written.

The swordsman whose name was not death by ellen kushner. Welcome to riverside, where the aristocratic and the ambitious battle for power and prestige in the citys labyrinth of streets. Its in order, not of publication, but of events as they befall chronologically in that world, with swordspoint as the year 0. From the world fantasy awardwinning author of thomas the rhymer comes a witty and swashbuckling tale of swords and high society. Jul 25, 2006 this is book 2 of the riverside trilogy. In a bustling, fairytale city, the aristocrats live on the hill, while the poorest, and the criminal element, live. Swordspoint tells the story of richard, the best damn swordsman in riverside, and alec, a university student possibly from the hill who lives with him. The world is a renaissance one of swordsmen and challenges. Awardwinning author ellen kushner has created a world of unforgettable characters whose political ambitions, passionate love affairs, and ageold rivalries collide with deadly results.

It goes on with rapier wits and rapiers, from a duel in lord horns formal wintergarden to the swordsmans home above a laundress in the citys dangerous riverside slum. Speculative fiction lends itself to experimenting with worldbuildingwhat if everyone were ambigender or bisexual, what if nonbinary gender identities were considered normal, etc. When richard kills two men in a duel in an aristocrats garden, he finds himself embroiled in a rather unpleasant business. Later editions of the novel were also bundled with three short stories set in the same universe. Swordspoint swords of riverside, book 1 by ellen kushner. Her mythic fantasy novel thomas the rhymer won the world fantasy award and the mythopoeic award. A melodrama of manners is a 1987 lgbt fantasy novel by ellen kushner. The beyond binaries book club reads swordspoint the lobster. Swordspoint swords of riverside, book 1 by ellen kushner book cover. I really enjoyed the book, more so than swordspoint, probably because of the younger, female protagonist. My first novel, swordspoint, was set in a city that remains nameless to this day. It is a quirky, quick thing full of precise violence and political intrigue written in a silvery voice.

I really like the unique way this audiobook was presented part narration, part dramatised, part sound effects. The privilege of the sword by ellen kushner books on. All three books are considered mannerpunk novels, and take place in a. If youve visited the world of swordspoint before, youll be delighted to return. This stunning followup to ellen kushners cultclassic novel, swordspoint, is set in the same world of labyrinthine intrigue, where sharp swords and even sharper. The real strengths of the book are the excellent characterisations and the beautiful prose. Swordspoint the world of riverside book 1 from amazon. It is, in a sense, a romantic adventure of love, intrigue, and daring swordplay, and it delivers the excitement and deviousness of a good example of that story. Here is a list of all the works set in or around the riverside district of a city so wellknown that, like manhattan, nobody ever bothers to call it anything but the city. The book is low fantasyset in a world that has never quite existed, but one which is thoroughly mundane and historically rooted. Delia was curious about aspects of the city and the world that swordspoint had only touched on. Ive always thought of the defining characteristic of fantasy being magicsome sort of supernatural power. It was the genesis of our novel the fall of the kings, which takes place about 60 years after swordspoint see chronology.

Into this alluring and alarming world walks a bright young woman ready to take it on and make her fortune. The privilege of the sword takes place in an imaginary world, but there is no magic involved. Swordspoint swords of riverside, book 1 by ellen kushner book cover, description, publication history. I quit to write my first novel, swordspoint, which took longer than i thought it would. You dont have to start with swordspoint privilege of the sword is a stand alone novel.

Ellen kushners swordspoint is a very light and easy to read fantasy novel. Despite that, i have never found it difficult to find my way there, and now have three novels and a growing collection of short stories set in that place. You dont have to start with swordspoint privilege of the sword is a stand alone novel, but id recommend doing so, in order to understand the characters and world better. The book is set in an unnamed city, in a world rather different to ours. Ellen kushner leads a team of awardwinning writers, including alaya dawn johnson, malinda lo and joel derfner in a sexy, subversive prequel to her classic book swordspoint. Although im a relative newcomer to swordspoint, i love the world of riverside and its characters. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. 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 societys smug view of itself. There is also a new book that is out, with multiple authors contributing to the world of riverside.

A tale of romance and adventure in a renaissance fairy land features richard st. See the complete the world of riverside series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. The classic forerunner to the fall of the kings now with three bonus s. From the awardwinning author of swordspoint comes a witty, wicked comingofage story that is both edgy and timeless. Theres no middle class in evidence, no merchants or skilled tradesmen, but i dont see that as a deficiency in the books worldbuilding. The world of riverside book series 3 books all formats kindle edition from book 1. Welcome to riverside, where the aristocratic and the ambitious battle for power and prestige in the citys labyrinth of streets and ballrooms, theatres and brothels. The main character, richard, is a swordsman, who earns his living by killing nobles by contract. I borrowed this to read the short stories but reread swordspoint for the umpteenth time and the privilege of the sword while i had it. Buy a cheap copy of swordspoint book by ellen kushner.

Swordspoint riverside by ellen kushner reading guide. 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. When new books are released, well charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the preorder period. Also, one of the pov characters never found a real place in the story, and had drifted away. It is best to start with book 1, which is swordspoint. Swordspoint riverside mass market paperback february 4, 2003. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read swordspoint. A melodrama of manners riverside reprint by ellen kushner isbn. Read swordspoint by ellen kushner available from rakuten kobo. Swordspoint by ellen kushner overdrive rakuten overdrive. Vier is the undisputed master, as skilled as he is ruthlessuntil a death by the sword is met with outrage instead of awe, and the city discovers that the line between hero and villain can be altered in the blink of an eye. Dec 18, 2007 swordspoint ebook written by ellen kushner. It is kushners debut novel and is one of several books and short stories in the riverside series. Welcome to riverside, where the aristocratic and the ambitious battle for power and prestige in the citys labyrinth of streets and ballrooms, theatres and brothels, boudoirs and salons.

This stunning followup to ellen kushners cultclassic novel, swordspoint, is set in the same world of labyrinthine intrigue, where sharp swords and even sharper wits rule. Ellen kushner builds fantasy out of history and romance out of medieval detail, creating an unforgettable tale of adventure, romance, and danger. Ellen kushner audio books, best sellers, author bio. Swordspoints main contribution is the social normalization of bisexuality, particularly with men in this bookeach book seems to have more. Swordspoint ebook by ellen kushner 9780307418357 rakuten kobo. Arrivals tremontaine season 1 episode 1 on apple books. This is basically done as a way to get around blood being on a nobles hands. This stunning followup to ellen kushners cultclassic novel swordspoint is set in the same world of labyrinthine intrigue, where sharp swords and even sharper wits rule. Having pondered it for a few days after finishing it, im putting it in the liked it but didnt quite love it category. In the city, the business of politics is carried out over chocolate, under fireworks, at dinner parties but underneath the civilised banter lies a cutthroat reality. Into this alluring and alarming world walks a bright young woman ready to take it. The collaborative serial tremontaine, season 1, now in book form from saga press. Short story the swordsman whose name was not death, 1. The world of riverside book 2 and over one million other books are available for amazon.