When Demons Walk (Sianim series)

Combat SF (1975) is an anthology of twelve SF stories about armed combat. These stories were first published from 1951 to 1975. Their protagonists are human, alien, synthetic and machine. The Last Command (1967) by Keith Laumer is a Bolo tale describing the disposition of unit LNE. Men of Good Will (1964) by Ben Bova & Myron R. Lewis reminds one of unforeseen consequences. The Pair (1958) by Joe Hensley conveys the reason for the ending of an intergalactic war that had lasted for a hundred years. The Butcher's Bill (1974) by David Drake is a Hammer's Slammers tale about the costs of war. Single Combat (1964) by Joe Green tells of a formal challenge for the throne of the Saa'Hualla. The Man Who Came Early (1956) by Poul Anderson is a story of time travel and a clash of cultures. Patron of the Arts (1965) by Fred Saberhagen is a Berserker tale about a meeting between machine and artist. Time Piece (1970) by Joe W. Haldeman is a Forever War tale about the recon of a planet in the Antares system. Ricochet on Miza (1951) by Gordon R. Dickson recounts a hunt of an intelligent animal for its fur. No War, or Battle's Sound (1968) by Harry Harrison tells a story of a literate combatman. His Truth Goes On (1975) by Jerry Pournelle is a CoDominium story about Humanity League volunteers sent to fight for liberty on Santiago. The Horars of War (1970) by Gene Wolfe is a story about the nature of combatants. This volume is probably the first anthology of combat SF stories. Many of the authors were former fighting men themselves and knew firsthand what war is like. Several have continued to write combat SF stories among their other works. These tales range from individual hunts to combat assaults on enemy vessels. They all raise issues about the cause and effects of war in the individual and society. Enjoy! Highly recommended for combat SF fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of armed combat, military mindsets, and esprit de corps. -Arthur W. Jordin

I love Patricia Briggs. She writes short -but vastly entertaining - reads...It is a refreshing change to see strong female leads in fantasy novels. Briggs also has a natural gift for adding just the right amounts of humor and suspense to her tales. The plot here is simple, yet engrossing. A demon has infiltrated the royal residence, and the Reeve hires a young female thief, Sham, to pose as his mistress, in order for her to investigate the strange happenings. There are plenty of twists and turns, and it culminates in a terrific book. I am so glad that publishers have woken-up and decided to re-print her earlier works like Masques, and Steal the Dragon, as they, like When Demons Walk, are both masterpieces. Thank you Mrs. Briggs Relic113

This is a fantastic book! I read it in less than twelve hours, and that's with working and eating in the middle of that!Where to begin? The characters are wonderful. Sham is a complex character, with a painful past but the strong will to survive it and move on. She is wily enough to survive life in Purgatory, the Southwoods slum, yet tender-hearted enough to learn to care for people she was used to hating. Kerim is humorous, regal, dangerous, and intelligent--all the things we want from a hero! The supporting characters are wonderful; Dickon, Elris, Talbot, Lady Sky all make the story better with their special personalities.The writing is great. The dialogue is excellent, with witty repartee between the characters that is absolutely believable and absolutely hysterical. The description of surroundings and clothes are wonderfully detailed. I could see the action in my mind as I read. My one complaint about the writing would be the infrequent shifts in the third-person point-of-view; usually the POV character was Sham, but very occasionally is changed to Kerim, the demon, and a couple others.The plot is intriguing...a demon stalking the halls of the Castle, with a thief/magician hired to pose as the Reeve's Mistress in order to solve the mystery. And though you may have suspicions about the demon's identity, your first two guesses will be wrong!I highly recommend this book, and I am actively seeking out others by this author!

When Demons Walk is one of the most creatively narrated and written fantasy book I've ever read. The characters were well rounded and sounded realistic, plus the combination of magic and mundane were cleverly balanced (do I sound like a review?? well, it is!). Mystery and romance heightened the climax of the book, which unlike others, does not give away the identity of the demon summoner (or whatever) until the last minute. Also, the heroine and hero, though typical, were captivating in the least. If you have never read fantasy, try this book AT ONCE!

I've read this book several times, and am entralled. The characters are extremely well-rounded, and their ability to infuse a nearly hopeless situation with both comedic reparte and a budding romance is delightful. The plot is basically a light-weight mystery, but is carried off with panache. The resoltion is spectacular and logically devolved. The writing is fluid without being flowery, and the world is richly woven. Unlike many fantasy novels, magic and mundane forces are well balanced, and the magic is constrained to follow some (fairly simplistic) rules. The culture and events are believable, detailed and provide an excellent and engrossing backdrop. In summary, this is a great tale wonderfully told. Kudos to the author.