The Anvil of the World

The Anvil of the World (2003) is a standalone fantasy novel. The Children of the Sun are a very prolific people, spreading throughout the world. The Smiths are the most widespread people among the Children of the Sun. Their god -- the Smith himself -- expects them to be ingenious, coming up with solutions to all problems. In this novel, Smith -- not his real name -- is fleeing a blood feud. He is living incognito with his cousin in Troon. When the cousin loses a man to a vendetta, Smith is asked to become the master of his cousin's caravan. How can he refuse? Lady Seven Butterflies of Seven Butterflies Studio is shipping a gross of glass butterflies encased in a specially developed packing material. Lord Ermenwyr of House Kingfisher is taking passage with his nurse to Salesh-by-the-Sea; of course, he fully expects to die enroute. The rest of the passengers are listed on the manifest as Lyran and Demara Smith and family, jewelry designers; Paradan Smith, courier; and Ronrishim Flowering Reed, herbalist. All are Children of the Sun, except Ronrishim, who is probably Yendri. Nothing can possibly go wrong on the way. The caravan crew includes Keymen Crucible, Smith, Bellows, Pinion, and Smith. The runner is young Burnbright and the culinary artist is Mrs. Smith. After these introductions, the keymen crank the gears and springs, the passengers take their seats, Burnbright blows her trumpet, and they start the journey. In this story, they travel across the yellow land to the first way station, where they set up camp. Caravanmaster Smith meets Lord Ermenwyr's nurse and is quite impressed. Runner Burnbright informs him that Paradan Smith is a gangster; she has seen his tattoos, including Bloodfires' insignia. The next day, the caravan is attacked by gliders. The first shot hits Smith in the thigh. He and the keymen fire back with their pistol bows, Paradan Smith sends bolt after bolt from an apparently inexhaustible magazine, and Balnshik -- the nurse -- shoots with an immense old hunting weapon. The gliders veer off and fly away, dropping a firebomb behind them. One of their number, however, has been shot down. He looks like a pin-cushion, struck by a dozen bolts or more. Most of the bolts were shot by Paradan Smith, with three from Nursie and two from the Caravanmaster. Two others, however, are poisoned and unclaimed. This story includes more assassination attempts, road hogs, and other perils. They finally get to their destination with only minor damage. Even Lord Ermenwyr survives the journey. But Caravanmaster Smith's troubles are not yet over. Highly recommended for Baker fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of exotic cultures, exciting journeys, and interesting personalities. -Arthur W. Jordin

While it isn't the greatest book in the history of books, I really enjoyed journeying through it with Smith and the characters... especially Lord Ermenwyr (perverted, drugged, nasty but hopelessly good-hearted hypochondriac that he is). It's definitely got action and some interesting race relations within the world, and certain politics paralleling some of our own environmental concerns. The first section of this book actually was published as a short story called "The Caravan from Troon". The second two "stories" were written later when the novel was requested. In this light I find the book even more appealing, on a personal quirk that tells me I have three highly interconnected stories instead of one. I personally found the second two parts the most interesting and could not stop reading! I would recommend this book as a fun read (not for little kids!), riddled with hilarious situations (Such as the duel of "Fatally Verbal Abuse") as well as "swash-buckling" action and an engaging storyline and cast of characters. Try it!

"We were just like any other family, except for a few things like Daddy's collection of heads and the fact that half the world wants us all dead." Lord ErmenwyrKage Baker is one of my favourite authors. Her books about the Company are not to be missed. How successful would she be at fantasy? If The Anvil of the World is anything to go by, she has nothing to worry about. With her trademark wit and punchy style fully in evidence, The Anvil of the World contains enough juicy goodness for even the most cynical palate.The book is actually a collection of three linked novellas starring Smith (an alias), a man of many mysteries and an unknown past. A blood feud (the Children of the Sun are notorious for them) has forced him to become the caravan master in his cousin's business, and he's selected to lead one to the pleasure city of Salesh with some valuable cargo. Things don't quite go as planned. In the second story, Smith has started a hotel in Salesh with the staff from his caravan, and business is booming, especially during festival time when freedom is loose and the participants are looser. Unfortunately, a death in the hotel could cost him everything as the constable gives him just four days to present a murderer or the constable will shut down the hotel. The third story involves an expedition to rescue Lord Ermenwyr's sister. This becomes a mission of destiny for Smith, as it turns out he holds the fate of the entire world in his hands. One wrong decision will result in the death of everything.Baker has a wonderful way with words, and The Anvil of the World is a breezy read. She is a master character-builder, knowing just how much detail to add to make you care about (or at least be entertained by) each person in the story. The two biggest characters are Smith and Lord Ermenwyr. Smith is a former assassin who's given it up because he was getting tired of killing. Now he just wants to be left alone to run his business. Ermenwyr is a decadent demonic half-breed who whines a lot and thinks he's going to die all the time. He's also immature and stubborn, causing Smith no end of grief. It's even worse when his family gets involved.The world Baker has created is alive. While there are many races around, there are mainly two: The Children of the Sun (humans, basically) and the Yendri, a deeply spiritual people who abhor violence (though they're not above having others do it for them). The Children of the Sun have all the foibles that our own human race has, especially where ecology is concerned. In fact, that's one of the minor problems I have with the book, that the ecological message is heavy-handed at times, especially in the last story. One pitfall she avoids, however, is making the Yendri pure of heart. Many of them think they are, but Baker does a good job showing both the good and the bad side of them. The best thing I can say about this book is that it's fun. While Ermenwyr is the source for most of the humour, everybod

I've read all of Baker's Sci-Fi novels and enjoyed them, but her foray into Fantasy is like nothing that has come before. This book had me laughing out loud. Her characters, setting, and situations are completely orginial and fun. I agree with another reviewer in that she does a wonderful job of limiting her fight scenes, but I want to point out that they are not lacking. Baker is concise, but vivid. Besides, the semi-demons and their worldly knowledge crack me up.

I loved this book, have read it twice already, and recommend it to anyone and everyone. Read it!Kage Baker is well-known for her science fiction "Company" series, about the immortal, time-striding cyborg agents of Dr. Zeus, Inc. Now she has tried her hand at fantasy, and the results are every bit as good as the SF.Anvil chronicles the adventures of an Average Joe, down on his luck, unhappy in his career and looking for a patron to make a new start. Of course, his career was as a very successful assassin, his new start involves murder, revenge, and a racial vendetta against both a Saint and her Lord of Evil husband, and the patron is a spoiled, adolescent, half-demon mage of very questionable morals and appetites - but still, Smith is just a good man in a hard world. That's one of the many, many things that makes this fantasy so unusual and enjoyable.Other delectable details include a rich and fully realized world that owes absolutely nothing to any previous fantasy conventions; swift action, haunting prose, and her trademark wry humor; and the ability to gently puncture all manner of sword and sorcery pretensions and tropes. Baker's world evokes Zelazny for his power and lyricism, and Lieber for his humor and cinema noir naturalism, but is refreshingly unique. What can I say? This book gave me goosebumps for its beauty, tears for its heroism, and made me laugh out loud: often within paragraphs of one another. It's good fun, and a lot more - the very real moral creeps up on you gradually throughout the story; until, at the end, you are left amazed, gratified and completely satisfied. A grand read.