The Clocks of Iraz

This second novel in de Camp's The Reluctant King trilogy pales in comparison to its predecessor but does continue the exciting, highly enjoyable story of Jorian and the wizard Karadur. After narrowly escaping Xylar with his head, Jorian wandered far from the Twelve Cities, finding himself in one deadly situation after another all throughout the land. All he really wants is a normal, quiet life with the chosen wife he had to leave behind in Xylar. At the beginning of this novel, he has secured a surveying job not far from Xylar, finally achieving some level of anonymity. As soon as he receives a message from Karadur, who has found his way to Iraz, asking his help and promising assistance in rescuing his wife from Xylar, imminent danger immediately appears in the form of Xylarian guards who recognize their unbeheaded king. Managing a wild, very narrow escape, Jorian makes his way to Iraz, where Karadur asks him to repair the gigantic water clock that his father originally built for the king years ago. Of course, things are never quite so simple for Jorian. This time, instead of meeting danger at every turn, danger comes to him in the form of a coordinated siege of Iraz. Can this Barbarian Savior save the kingdom, not to mention his own hide--again? This novel is somewhat shorter than The Goblin Tower, but it seems to be much shorter. Compared to Jorian's earlier adventures, not a whole lot seems to happen in The Clocks of Iraz. There is a lot of buildup in the middle of this novel, and the only really exciting actions takes place at the beginning and end. On its own merits, it is still a great read, and Jorian's talent for telling fascinating stories to aid his cause makes him one of fantasy's more interesting characters (as does his habit of admitting how much everything bad that happens to him scares him). The conclusion is a little unsatisfying, but that is primarily because it sets the stage for the final novel of the trilogy. Be sure to read The Goblin Tower before reading this novel, especially since there are numerous references to past events included in the text. de Camp is one of fantasy's most gifted writers, and The Clocks of Iraz offers ample proof of his genius.