THE HONORABLE BARBARIAN

by L. Sprague de Camp ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 1989

Lightweight comic sword and sorcery: long-range sequel to de Camp's rather lustier Reluctant King trilogy (wrapped up in 1983 with The Unbeheaded King). Kerian, caught in compromising circumstances with the amorous Adeliza, is hurriedly dispatched to the Far East by his elder brother, Jorian (the Unbeheaded), to find the secret of the Kuromonian clock escapement. He enjoys a long and eventful sea-voyage: Belinka, a pint-sized, naked guardian spirit conjured up by Adeliza's mother to keep Kerian pure and safe, shows up to plague him; he resists the advances of the ship's captain's mistress (she thinks he knows a valuable secret), and soon is obliged to depart in the ship's boat; then he's washed up on a desert island inhabited by a wizardly hermit, is captured by pirates, defeats them, and later rescues the beguiling princess Nogiri. At last, arriving in Kuromon (medieval China, not even thinly disguised), Kerian learns that he's the unwitting bearer of a magical formula that the Emperor has expended considerable effort to obtain. Vaguely amusing, sometimes, more often tentative and feeble.

Pub Date: July 1, 1989

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Ballantine

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1989

Categories: FICTION