Should you read a 1800 page book that Nobel Prize Economist Paul Krugman recommends? TOR published six books called The Merchant Princes series and during this Pandemic I had both the books and time to read what is in essence one really long novel.
Miriam Beckstein, a journalist who specializes in bio-tech stories, finds herself fired by her editor after she hands in an explosive story about activities that might involve the owner of the publication Miriam works for. When she visits her adoptive mother for sympathy, her mother gives Miriam a box of heirlooms/trinkets, one of which is a locket with an intricate design on it. Examining it more closely, Miriam suddenly ends up on another world, with a splitting headache. When she recovers, Miriam discovers she has the ability to “walk between worlds.”
The world connected to our world is more primitive and backward than ours. Based on a hierarchical structure of kings and queens, there is also a group of “world-walkers” who call themselves The Clan (an unfortunate term for U.S. readers) who have been smuggling American technology back to their medieval word. Stross introduces dozens of characters and court intrigue. Miriam tries to accelerate capitalism, but finds women are not regarded highly except for their ability to give birth to new “world-walkers.”
Civil wars, secret police, dark U.S. agencies, and conspiracies swirl around in these books. Hostile factions cross dimensions to battle each other. There’s a high body count. Sometimes Miriam is a pawn…and sometimes a queen. Reading six books (1800+ pages) is a demanding task. I’m glad I did it, but it was a struggle. GRADE: B+ (for all six books)
THE MERCHANT PRINCES SERIES:
- The Family Trade (2004, ISBN 0-7653-0929-7)
- The Hidden Family (2005, ISBN 0-7653-1347-2)
- The Clan Corporate (2006, ISBN 0-7653-0930-0)
- The Merchants’ War (2007, ISBN 0-7653-1671-4)
- The Revolution Business (2009, ISBN 0-7653-1672-2)
- The Trade of Queens (2010, ISBN 0-7653-1673-0)
Six volumes?
When I read a book, I want to read a book — not make a down payment on a mortgage.
Dan, I feel the same way. I usually wait until all the books in a trilogy have been published before I read it.
Sometimes FFBs are forgotten for a reason.
Michael, well said! I much prefer Stross’s THE LAUNDRY series.
I got the first one but just could not get into it. Maybe some other time.
Jeff, this series has a slow start…and some slow patches. I’m not eager to read 1800 books anymore. Without the Pandemic, these books would still be gathering dust on my shelves.
I tried the first one but couldn’t get into it either. I’ve had a that problem with other Stross books.
Steve, same here. Somehow, THE LAUNDRY series get off to faster starts. And they have some elements of humor, too.
It seems like too much of a challenge rather than a pleasure to do it. I am looking for the shortest books right now.
Patti, I’m alternating between short books and really long books that have waited patiently for years for me to read them.
Dipping cookies in tea is always a tipoff.
Todd, you’re right about the tea.
I did the first three (that is how many were out at the time) and then did an interview with Mr. Stross at armadilloCobwhich included a discussion of capitalism. I enjoyed what I read but have not gone back yet to finish it out.
Scott, I’ve read over 20 of Charles Stross’s novels. He’s a gifted writer, but sometimes his story-telling drags a little. I have three or four of his newer novels waiting to be read. I don’t know when this guy sleeps!