Swordspoint (Magill’s Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature)
At a glance:
- Author: Ellen Kushner
- First Published: 1987
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Fantasy—high fantasy
- Time of Work: An alternate eighteenth century
- Setting: The Hill, Riverside, and Chartil
- Genres: Long fiction, Fantasy
- Subjects: Mistaken or secret identity, Other worlds, Eighteenth century, Aristocracy or aristocrats, Duels or dueling, Fairy tales, Swords
- Locales: Mythical lands
The Plot
This fairy tale begins in a time where men wear swords and women carry scented pomanders. Up on the Hill, where the aristocrats live, Richard St. Vier kills two men during a party in Lord Horn’s garden. Richard returns to Riverside (the less reputable part of town), where he lives with his lover, the aristocratic former student Alec.
Because of the duel’s outcome, Lord Karleigh, one of Lord Halliday’s political rivals, goes into hiding at his country estate. While discussing the duel over cups of chocolate, the Duchess Tremontaine flirts with Michael...
[The entire page is 1023 words long]
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