"The King's Justice" by Stephen R. Donaldson. A Review

The King's Justice: Two NovellasThe King's Justice: Two Novellas by Stephen R. Donaldson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stephen Donaldson bundles together two unrelated, but artistic tales that go different directions in the 307 page paperback, “The King’s Justice.” Both novelettes are easy to read, engrossing, and propel the reader’s imagination toward the climactic finale. These short stories can be enjoyed by both younger and older adults.

The title tale, from which the book gains its label, swirls around Black, Settle’s Crossways and the gruesome, heartbreaking murder of a young lad. As things unfold, Black, a veteran of the Balance Wars, takes on the role of detective in a township that doesn’t want to disclose the murder to this stranger. Yet it becomes rapidly clear that there are sinister forces at work and lurking in the woods, and circumstances are showing that Black needs to act quickly. As a major structure in the storyline, the author does delve into a deity-less perspective that seems to echo the Buddhist four Great Elements or energies (catudhātu) that must be kept in balance. This may be problematic for certain readers, yet it could also make a great discussion-starter between parent and child, teacher and student.

The subsequent story, “The Augur’s Gambit,” develops more slowly, yet still maintains a fresh pace. In the reign of Queen Inimica Phlegathon DeVry, court and country intrigues are emerging that threaten her crown and the wellbeing of the island state, Indemnie. The Queen’s hieronomer, one who reads the future from the offal, blood and organs of slaughtered animals, has foreseen treachery that will be the end of Indemnie and the Queen’s royal line. To his dismay, he finds out that the Queen herself is hastening the moment and exacerbating the situation! But his loyalty to his Queen and his country will only draw him to make sacrifices unlooked for, and come to perceive things unforeseen.

“The King’s Justice” is a fun volume to slide down into. The story line is unobstructed by profanity or erotic scenes, and moves along nicely. The endings are pleasantly crafted and satisfying. In the end, the book would make a great gift for young adults, and can be a friendly diversion for grown-ups. I gladly recommend the book.


View all my reviews

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?" (Rev. Ed.) by John Fea. A Review

Image
  John Fea is a professor of history at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, PA. A university founded in 1909 by the Brethren in Christ Church. He originally published "Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? A Historical Introduction" in 2011, and it was revised in 2016. This 328-page paperback is packed full with Colonial and American history, drawing from original sources to answer that question. It is a book written "for the historically minded and thoughtful reader who is looking for help in sorting" out this question, avoiding polemics (xix). Since we live in a sound-bite culture, Fea recognizes that it is difficult to have a sustained dialogue on this topic, but he makes a valiant effort toward having that sustained dialogue. The book reads fairly straightforward, and doesn't seem to get bogged down in the contentious mudpuddles or bogs. In the end, Fea seems to get his point across. To answer the reigning question if America was founded as a Christian...
Read more

Union with Christ - An Application

Image
  (This was my weekly letter to my congregation on Wednesday, 21 February 2024) This morning in my devotional reading, I was working through 1 Corinthians 8. Though I’ve read these words a huge number of times over the years, today one verse caused me to stop and take stock.  Paul wrote, “ Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ ” (1 Corinthians 8:12). What struck me is a couple of things. First, in God’s saving work, we are – by grace alone – united (hitched, bonded, ingrafted) to Christ so much so, that what happens to us happens to him, and what is his becomes ours (think of Galatians 2:20, for example). As Sinclair Ferguson put it, “through union with Christ all that is his by incarnation becomes ours through faith” (“The Christian Life,” 110). Let that percolate in your heart for a while. Your fear, anxiety, tears, and so forth, he feels. And his “ Peace, be still ” is yours. Second, the way we treat one an...
Read more

"Ah, Lord! We are Animated by Anger and Anxiety, Fear and Fury..."

Image
I hesitate to put this out there because of the combative environment we are in at present. But I think some souls will take courage from this, and some will also join with me as we get to the end of this little composition. I am struck by the words of God in Zechariah 8. As he rehearses the waywardness and faithlessness of his people in the past, he clearly declares that he " set every man against his neighbor " (8:10). That got me thinking long ago. I started putting the pieces together and realized that one of God's acts of judgment is division, setting a man against his neighbor. That's what happened when he divided his people into the northern tribes and southern tribes (see 1 Kings 11:26-40). Because of Solomon's turning aside, allowing his wives to turn his heart away from the God of his father, David, the Lord brings about a rift in God's people. And this pattern of divisive judgment runs throughout Scripture. On the other hand, truthful unity is the g...
Read more