Lamentation

Scholes, Ken ~ Lamentation ~ TOR, 2009 ~ 362 pages ~ adults, teens.

"Windwir is a city of paper and robes and stone. It crouches near a wide and slow-moving river at the edge of the Named Lands."

Lamentation is the first volume in an unnamed series. The second is Canticle. Scholes has earned quite a reputation for his shorter fiction. This is his first novel.

On this world, human kind has gone through at least three times where a relatively high level of technology caused destruction, humans barely survived, some knowledge/technology was preserved and humans again began the climb upward. While there is magic, it seems restricted to potions that allow humans to appear to be invisible and such. So far, there are no magicians. Technology is medieval although the Androfrancine Order has discovered and operates a few programable steam powered robots. At least one primitive pistol appears. The setting focuses on the Named Lands although we hear just a bit about the Churning Wastes and nothing about other lands.

Although in the past there have been disastrous wars between those who believe in science and those who believe in religion, here the Androfrancine Order, with its archeologists and great Library, discovers and maintains knowledge and rations technology. A few brothers have discovered a great weapon, perhaps magical or perhaps technological, that could destroy a city and all in it. Sethbert, the Overseer of the Entrolusian City states, discovers the secret and is able to use this weapon to destroy Windwir and nearly all of the order. He hopes to dominate the named lands and beyond.

Rudolfo, Lord of the Ninefold Forest Houses, will do whatever he may to defeat Sethbert and punish him for Windwir's destruction. Lady Jin Li Tam, Sethbert's Consort, is much, much more than she seems and will soon join Rudolfo. Vlad Li Tam, head of the Li Tam house is much older than he seems and has played a difficult and usually invisible game of politics and power for many years. Petronus, formerly Pope of the Order, faked his own death and disappeared. He will be challenged to identify himself and play an important role in defeating Sethbert's plans. Neb, is the sixteen year old son of a Brother of the Order. He is the only one in the city who survived the destruction of Windwir. While he has an important role here, more will be demanded in the future. Needless to say, with a complex plot, there are many characters, including the Marsh King who will likely have a much larger role in the future.

The focus in this first volume is to set the stage and describe what happens in the war between the Named Lands and the Ninefold Forest House who are unexpectedly supported by the troops of the Marsh King. Substantial, well-developed characters appear,  a reasonable setting is established, and there is considerable action as well with strategy and tactics always in the background. More about the history before this age would strengthen since what happened long before clearly impacts the story but is not always clear. Scholes writes very well. Descriptions are clear and helpful and dialog is nicely done. The volume ends satisfactorily while clearly indicating that the major story line has just begun.

The book is easily read with dark print, and reasonable white space. The appealing cover image by Gregory Manchess shows Rudolfo and his Gypsy Scouts riding from the ruins of Windwir. The excellent endpaper map of the Named Lands by David Cain is clear and attractive.

Recommendation:
Scholes' new series is likely to be a major contribution to the genre. It is complex, well-written, and should be most popular. For all but the very smallest fantasy collection.