The Poison Master

ISBN: 0-553-58498-7 Order from: Amazon.com

A very enjoyable novel, full of unusual words and old-fashioned concepts, featuring strange but thinly-sketched worlds, and appealing main characters.

Reviewed by David on June 23, 2003

Genre: Science Fiction (Weird Science, Romance)

Synopsis: The planet Latent Emanation contains a stratified society. On the top are the unpredictable aliens, Lords of Night. Ruling by cruel, scarred Unpriests, the elusive Lords of Night hold both the powerful aristocrats and tha various guilds away from advanced technology or real power.

Alivet, a young journeyman Apothecary, scrapes the pennies in the hope of redeeming her sister, who was taken to be a bonded servant of the Lords. Alivet's precarious existance is shattered when a client of hers dies, and she becomes a fugitive. Alivet has always hated and feared the Lords of Night, but does she have any way to strike back at them?

Full Review: Right from the start, the novel shows its unusual quality. The very name of the planet—Latent Emanations—suggests an inventiveness using old terms rather than inventing new ones. Full of old-fashioned Alchemical concepts and exotic yet familiar concepts, the author paints a strange society populated by familiar characters. The emotions are human, and the reactions are natural; though using many standards elements, including romantic developments, the characters are three-dimensional and lively.

The worlds and the science are sketched but lightly, however, clearly, intentionally so. Sometimes the action becomes dreamlike and surreal, but that works well in a universe where psychotropic drugs truly do bring extraordinary perceptions and abilities.

The dual plot line showing the origins of Latent Emanations is a bit distracting, although it gives a nice, Elizabethan foundation for the culture.

In all, this is more a fanciful tale than a solid speculation based on science, but its characters are attractive, and it follows a long tradition of books, not the least Scott's Five-Twelfths of Heaven and its sequels.

Overall: 6; Plot: 5.5; Characters: 6; Style: 6.5; World-building: 6; Originality: 8;

ISBN: 0-553-58498-7 Order from: Amazon.com