House of Reeds

House of Reeds is an excellent addition to the world of the Mexica and a wonderful diverse cast of characters. This is my second time through this series and it's as good as the first.

A long time Science Fiction fan I was really thrilled with this book. The characters were interesting and complex. The mystery compelling. Lots of surprises in the plot. The preceding book, "World of Flint", was an equally great story.

This book is a great ride--all the way to the wreck at the end. In the first book (Wasteland of Flint), we met Green Hummingbird--Aztec judge/mystic, and for most of the book I was was not sure whether he was a subtle master of the ineffable, or an old crackpot with some nice toys. (I eventually came down on the wise old master side.) In House of Reeds, we meet someone whom Green Humminbird refers to briefly in the first book--Itzpalicue ("Skirt-of-Knives"). There is a hint of a past relationship--perhaps one that ended very badly--between the two. In House of Reeds, Green Hummingbird is off-stage, and Itzpalicue is very much at the center of events. She is in many ways the opposite of Green Hummingbird--where he relies on subtlety and is cautious to a fault, she operates with meat cleaver and sledgehammer. Instead of sniffing some er...sacramental powder, Izpalicue jabs herself with thorns to maintain a high state of mental alertness. Her machinations are spectacularly clever (the time-shifted conference call alone was worth the price of admission), but in the end she is either too clever or not clever enough--all her plotting comes to naught, and she may have unwittingly played a role in setting up a far greater disaster. I look forward to seeing Green Hummingbird again in the next book. Perhaps he will give Izpalicue a talking-to. Ah yes, and what will Gretchen do with her re-awakening talent? How will Heideshi take the humiliation of defeat? How quickly will the next super-powerful incredibly malignant ancient alien artifact be swept under the rug? Soon...soon...I hope. 27 Aug 07: Where the blazes is the next book, Mr. Harlan?

What if Earth was united by a Japanese-influenced Aztec empire, which ventures forth into the Milky Way Galaxy? This intriguing premise, a unique blend of alternate history and space opera, forms the core of Thomas Harlan's ongoing saga, of which "House of Reeds" is the second in the series. Harland does a very impressive job in world-building, describing the "native" inhabitants and the Imperial Mexica offworlders of the planet Jagan, which lies near the rim of the human empire. He focuses attention on the three main protagonists, xenoarchaeologist Gretchen Andressen, Imperial Mexica Navy Chu-sa (Commander) Matsuharu Hadeishi, skipper of the light cruiser Henry R. Cornuelle, and Tezozomac, a minor Mexica prince of the Imperial household, whose fortunes and fates become merged in an unexpected struggle for power between the natives and the Empire's Flower Priesthood. The priests, masquerading themselves as Nordic terrorists opposed to the Mexica Empire, unwittingly fuel the flames of armed opposition by the dominant race of natives, the reptilian Jehanan, by instigating a conflict which ultimately ruins the careers of several Imperial Navy officers and leaves countless Jehanan and humans dead. This is among the most enjoyable space operas I have come across lately and look forward to reading its predecessor, the "Wasteland of Flint".

`House of Reeds' is the second book of the `Sixth Sun', and stands as both a self-contained novel and a continuation from `Wasteland of Flint'. The first was set out on the periphery of the empire of the Imperial Méxica, and `House of Reeds' focuses on the planet Jagan where the military power and diplomatic and commercial influence of Tenochtitlán is being steadily asserted. It begins with the receipt of a disturbing message for Chu-sa Hadeishi of the light cruiser IMN Cornuelle, and light years away an unexpected reassignment for the Swedish-Russian xenoarchaeologist Gretchen Anderssen. On Old Earth, Anáhuac, a minor Méxica prince, Tezozómoc is about to become the pawn of political machinations. All will arrive on Jagan to be confronted by intrigue, mystery and danger. Rumour of a First Sun artefact will send Gretchen and her little band of troublemakers into the hinterland where the native lords are chafing under the increasing Méxica dominance. Chu-sa Hadeishi and his crew will find themselves playing an unexpected and deadly role in Imperial policies. The wastrel Prince Tezozómoc will discover the true price of his royal birthright. `House of Reeds' is a cinematic and fast-paced story with weaving plot threads amidst the dramatic background of the alternate future history of the Méxica and the alien planet Jagan. In `Wasteland of Flint' the hostile environment of Ephesus III provided an evocative backdrop; Jagan in contrast is an old, long-inhabited world, its sentient species weary and all too aware of their fall, living amidst the ruins and secrets of their ancient greatness. Whilst much of the action takes place in the Five Rivers region of Jagan or high above in orbit, Harlan effectively brings the world to life. Throughout the 414 pages the weaving plot threads heighten the tension and danger. There is vivid characterisation, dialogue, combat, occasional humor and glimpses of the history of Anáhuac, and a shadowy threat to all humanity. The characters of Chu-sa Hadeishi and Gretchen Anderssen are deftly developed, with more insight into the tension between the cultures of the Méxica, their Nisei and Scottish allies and the lesser peoples of Anáhuac. A cast of other characters ably support the main players: Magdalena, the competent Hesht comm-tech (the cover portrait does not really do her justice), Parker the English pilot and his quest for a smoke, the crew of the Cornuelle, and the agents of the Mirror -- the secret police of the Empire. The most compelling figure is Malakar, an elderly reptilian native of Jagan, a believable alien and a tragic figure, a counterpoint to the ambitious lords, for she remembers the lost heritage of her species. Evoking vague memories of Jack Vance and Talbot Mundy, `House of Reeds' proves Harlan a master storyteller. **************** The first eleven chapters of the sequel 'Land of the Dead' are available here: http://www.throneworld.com/wiki/index.php?title=SS:LOD