The Trouble With Peace

Review

This is the 8th novel written by the author, all loosely connected. You don’t need to read the previous ones, but it helps a lot in understanding the fictional world. If you’re not a fan, start with #1. If you are a fan, then I’m pleased to say that it’s more of the same, but he gets slightly better each time.

I’m looking forward to reading #9 (and the end of this trilogy) next year!

Highlights

Page 2

‘In times of peace, the warlike man attacks himself.’ Friedrich Nietzsche

Page 10

‘But … surely at this level, at the highest level, is where justice must be at its most firm. There must be a moral bedrock! It cannot all be … expediency?’ Exasperated, Hoff looked towards the foot of the table. ‘Lord Bayaz, perhaps you might …’ The First of the Magi gave a weary sigh as he sat forward, hands clasped, regarding Orso from beneath heavy lids. The sigh of a veteran schoolmaster, called on once again to explain the basics to this year’s harvest of dunces. ‘Your Majesty, we are not here to set right all the world’s wrongs.’ Orso stared back at him. ‘What are we here for, then?’ Bayaz neither smiled nor frowned. ‘To ensure that we benefit from them.’

Page 30

‘So persuasive. So compelling. So very … what’s that word … charismatic. Loved as only politicians free from power – and therefore from disappointment – ever can be. He’s brought a lot of people around to his way of seeing things. The Union side have no one in his class. All rather stodgy. But then it’s difficult, isn’t it, to make a passionate argument for what you already have? So boring. Whereas the delightful alternative? A bouquet of promises! A sackful of dreams! A glorious ship of fantasies, undamaged by collision with actually getting anything done.’

Page 45

That’s the trouble with songs. They tend to stop before it all turns to shit.

Page 48

‘Aye, well.’ Clover took a long breath through his nose. ‘You’ve got to blow with the wind. Let go of the past. Dwelling on your mistakes does no one any good.’ ‘You really think that?’ Clover opened his mouth to speak, then shrugged. ‘It’s the sort of shit I always say. Keep talking and I’ll more than likely crack out the one about choosing your moment.’ ‘Habit, eh?’ ‘I’m like a wife who’s served the same stew every night for years, and hates it more each time, but can’t cook aught else.’ Downside looked up from checking his axe to grunt, ‘Who wants to marry that bitch?’ Clover puffed out his cheeks again. ‘Who indeed?’

Page 60

‘This way.’ Vick swung towards it, making sure not to run. Between the high buildings it was suddenly dark, slogans daubed on walls topped with rusted spikes. Eyes gleamed in doorways, watching them hurry past. A sunburned Northman slumped in a heap of rubbish shouted something, waving a bottle after them.

Note: Logen

Page 72

Truly, as he loved to say, life is the misery we endure between disappointments.

Page 141

It’s easy to scream about the fence when you’re on the wrong side of it. Some mad twist of fortune lands you on the right side, though, the fence starts to look like it might not be such a bad idea. Might even be worth all the sacrifices. Other people’s sacrifices aren’t that hard to make.

Page 178

‘I’ve heard it said you can tell how great a man was by how quick folk start to argue once he’s dead.’ Isern thoughtfully narrowed her eyes. ‘Seems your father was an even greater man than I supposed.’

Page 178

Old men, I swear. They get weak and stubborn both at once, so they make no good ideas but won’t be shifted from the bad ones.’

Page 244

They say belief is righteous, but to Muslan only doubt was divine. From doubt flows curiosity, and knowledge, and progress. From belief flows only ignorance and decay.

Page 305

Jappo plucked his mask off and dropped it beside Orso’s. His face was not at all what Orso had imagined. Handsome, but in a strong-boned, broad-jawed sort of way. Surprisingly pale, too, in spite of his dark curls. He looked more like a Northman than a Styrian.

Note: Ha

Page 322

‘A bank with a reputation for mercy is like a whore with a reputation for chastity – one fears they won’t get the job done.

Page 354

‘No plan survives contact with the enemy.’ Helmuth von Moltke

Note: More than any other author, I’m convinced that Abercrombie is a student of war.

Page 362

From as early as she could remember, little Victarine dan Teufel, doted-upon youngest daughter of the Master of the Mints, had known she didn’t feel things quite the way other people did. Or at least that her feelings never made it to her face. What a solemn little child. How cold you are! Say something, Victarine, I have no notion what you are thinking. So she had taught herself to fake it. Sat cross-legged in front of her mother’s little mirror, rehearsing shy smiles and hurt frowns, squeezing out the tears, practising until she could blush on demand. Such an expressive daughter. How animated she is! Her feelings are written on her face, poor thing.

Note: Sociopath? No, Alexithymia

Page 423

He wished Jurand and Glaward were there. He’d always known what they were. Nothing to be proud of but they were good men still. Leo could be so bloody stubborn. Once he had an idea in his head, there was no shaking it free.

Note: Author takes the easy way out by moving competent people away. He’s done that twice with Gorst. Once with Zuri. Generally when the competent people take a holiday, things will go bad.

Page 433

Years back, when they first made him a sergeant, he’d imagined the officers must have all the answers. When he was given his commission, he’d imagined the generals must have all the answers. When King Orso made him a general, he’d imagined the Closed Council must have all the answers. Now, as a lord marshal, he finally knew it for an absolute fact. No one had the answers. Worse. There weren’t any. The best you could do was play a long con and act as if you had them.

---