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Original Essays | February 8, 2012

Kent Hartman: IMG A Raider by Any Other Name

1 comment By Kent Hartman

Perhaps you are aware of the fact that there is an oddly popular trivia game floating around that a group of clever (and likely bored) college... Continue »
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    The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret

    Kent Hartman 9780312619749
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Other titles in the Engineer Trilogy series:

Engineer Trilogy #1: Devices and Desires

by K J Parker

Engineer Trilogy #1: Devices and Desires Cover

ISBN13: 9780316003384
ISBN10: 0316003387
Condition: Standard
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

A remarkable new voice in fantasy fiction pens an exquisitely crafted tale of revenge in "The Engineer Trilogy," which follows an embittered hero who takes up arms against his enemies using the only weapons he has left to him: his ingenuity and his passion.

Review:

"Parker (the Scavenger trilogy) raises the bar for realistic fantasy war craft with this series opener. When the engineering guild sentences Ziani Vaatzes to death for improving on its supposedly perfect specifications for mechanical toys, he manages to escape Mezentia and throws in his lot with its recently defeated enemy, city-state Eremia. In exile, Vaatzes sets up shop making weapons, but his real goal is to create a new kind of engine — one made of human components, designed to reunite him with his family. He painstakingly executes a slow-moving master plan involving love, betrayal and secrets among the two countries' leaders. The tragic aftermath of the climactic battle forces a rereading of all that went before. It takes some hard slogging to get through assiduously researched technical descriptions of everything from dressing a duke to hunting a boar, and a few too many coincidences and expository speeches mar Parker's otherwise exquisite feat of literary engineering." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Synopsis:

When an engineer is sentenced to death for a petty transgression of guild law, he flees the city, leaving behind his wife and daughter. Forced into exile, he seeks a terrible vengeance — one that will leave a trail of death and destruction in its wake. But he will not be able to achieve this by himself. He must draw up his plans using the blood of others...In a compelling tale of intrigue and injustice, K. J. Parker's embittered hero takes up arms against his enemies, using the only weapons he has left to him: his ingenuity and his passion — his devices and desires.A richly textured and emotionally complex fantasy...Highly recommended. --- Library Journal (Starred Review) When so many fantasy sagas are tired, warmed-over affairs, a writer like K.J. Parker is more of a hurricane than a breath of fresh air. --- Dreamwatch
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
mhav, March 17, 2008 (view all comments by mhav)
Full of humor, rich characters, emotional insights, wonderful observations on the nature of design; even the hunting scenes are completely absorbing. This book was everything I was hoping for from Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell but didn't quite get (swapping engineers for gentleman wizards of course). As an added bonus, throughout the building excitement of the various forces preparing to collide, the letters between Valens and Veatriz evoked (for me) the best of Jane Austen. Having two small boys in need of care and affection, I wasn't able to inhale the book in a few long sittings as I would have liked. But rationing it was better: letting the characters, the observations linger, getting that skip-of-the-heart anticipation for the next stolen fifteen minutes of reading. The fact that there are two more books in the series makes me want to stand up and cheer.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780316003384
Author:
Parker, K J
Publisher:
Orbit
Author:
Parker, K. J.
Subject:
Fantasy - Epic
Subject:
Fantasy fiction
Subject:
Science Fiction and Fantasy-Fantasy-Epic
Copyright:
2007
Series:
Engineer Trilogy
Series Volume:
1
Publication Date:
20071031
Binding:
TRADE PAPER
Language:
English
Pages:
635
Dimensions:
8.24x5.56x1.78 in. 1.28 lbs.
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Related Aisles

Engineer Trilogy #1: Devices and Desires Used Trade Paper
0 stars - 0 reviews
$2.50 In Stock
Product details 635 pages Orbit - English 9780316003384 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "Parker (the Scavenger trilogy) raises the bar for realistic fantasy war craft with this series opener. When the engineering guild sentences Ziani Vaatzes to death for improving on its supposedly perfect specifications for mechanical toys, he manages to escape Mezentia and throws in his lot with its recently defeated enemy, city-state Eremia. In exile, Vaatzes sets up shop making weapons, but his real goal is to create a new kind of engine — one made of human components, designed to reunite him with his family. He painstakingly executes a slow-moving master plan involving love, betrayal and secrets among the two countries' leaders. The tragic aftermath of the climactic battle forces a rereading of all that went before. It takes some hard slogging to get through assiduously researched technical descriptions of everything from dressing a duke to hunting a boar, and a few too many coincidences and expository speeches mar Parker's otherwise exquisite feat of literary engineering." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
"Synopsis" by , When an engineer is sentenced to death for a petty transgression of guild law, he flees the city, leaving behind his wife and daughter. Forced into exile, he seeks a terrible vengeance — one that will leave a trail of death and destruction in its wake. But he will not be able to achieve this by himself. He must draw up his plans using the blood of others...In a compelling tale of intrigue and injustice, K. J. Parker's embittered hero takes up arms against his enemies, using the only weapons he has left to him: his ingenuity and his passion — his devices and desires.A richly textured and emotionally complex fantasy...Highly recommended. --- Library Journal (Starred Review) When so many fantasy sagas are tired, warmed-over affairs, a writer like K.J. Parker is more of a hurricane than a breath of fresh air. --- Dreamwatch
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