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Book Review - Blue Adept by Piers Anthony

I’m sure everyone has their favourite tropes that will almost guarantee them enjoying a book. One of mine is musician main characters, or magic systems that are based in music. I’m also pretty fond of tournaments and competitions like the Proton Game. That means this novel would have had to go very wrong for me not to like it.

And I do like it. There are problems – most notably the moments of random sexism (particularly the way our male POV character, Stile, objectifies the many women whose lives seem to revolve around him) – but these moments never became too egregious for me. Sheen, the female robot designed specifically to be Stile’s ideal women (it was creepy when Warren and Spike did it on Buffy, it’s creepy here), has a plot that could have been horrendous, but is redeemed somewhat by how it is resolved not by Stile, but by Lady Blue.

Lady Blue was probably my favourite character. Recently widowed and forced to accept Stile in her husband’s place (if you’re a Farscape fan, think Aeryn having to deal with two Crichton’s), she continues to protect her home with immense cunning and awareness. The novel always respects her feelings and never forces her development. Her relationship with Stile is allowed a natural growth.

Stile himself is an intriguing hero. He’s more thoughtful and warm-hearted than a lot of modern protagonists and whilst he does have an overabundance of skills in all areas – physical, mental and creative – at least he has a good excuse for this. He has spent his entire life in a world where training for the Game is essential. The format of this tournament, which is a major part of the science fiction parts of the books, allows a huge range of contests in every imaginable field (including some you wouldn’t think of). I have a very special place in my heart for Stile’s harmonica duel with Clef. At the same time, Stile is also new to the fantasy world of Phaze and that means the reader can learn a new world along with him as he makes basic mistakes. His physical ability is also restricted (though never dominated) by his physical disabilities: damaged knees and dwarfism. Both of these hinder him, but he learns to deal with (and sometimes take advantage) of both.

The contrast between Proton and Phaze is another important part of the novel. In one world, Stile is a serf aided by a robot, in the other, he is a great magician aided by a unicorn. Proton is a dystopian future, Phaze feels deep in the past, with its mythical creatures and lack of technology. It raises some interesting questions about the divide between science fiction and fantasy, if there is one.

I can’t speak to the first or last novels in this trilogy, as I haven’t read them (I really should read the third – despite what I found an overlong final confrontation, the actual ending of this one was a little abrupt for me), but I definitely enjoyed “Blue Adept” and would happily read it again.

#Blue Adept #Piers Anthony #Split Infinity #Bardic Readings #Bardic Musings