★★★☆☆ Average
(Alternate-History Fantasy; The Mongolian Wizard) In an alternate, 19th-century Europe, aide de camp Ritter investigates a magical murder. This is #5 in the Mongolian Wizard Stories. (5,287 words; Time: 17m)
"The Night of the Salamander," by Michael Swanwick [bio] (edited by Patrick Nielsen Hayden), published on August 5, 2015 by Tor.com.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Review: 2015.532 (A Word for Authors)
Pro: Narration and dialogue are spot-on. Even though this is #5 in a series of stories, you would never know it; it stands alone quite well. Nice touch that the murderer is a young girl, so they find a spy to accuse and kill--and even take the opportunity to redeem the Marshall's aide.
Con: It's a bad mystery story because there was no way for the reader to anticipate anything. The mademoiselle solves the murder for us, off stage. Then Ritter reveals that he's figured out the valet was a spy. The final line by Mademoiselle is the one false note of dialogue in the whole piece.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 08/05/15)
Michael Swanwick Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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Pro: Narration and dialogue are spot-on. Even though this is #5 in a series of stories, you would never know it; it stands alone quite well. Nice touch that the murderer is a young girl, so they find a spy to accuse and kill--and even take the opportunity to redeem the Marshall's aide.
Con: It's a bad mystery story because there was no way for the reader to anticipate anything. The mademoiselle solves the murder for us, off stage. Then Ritter reveals that he's figured out the valet was a spy. The final line by Mademoiselle is the one false note of dialogue in the whole piece.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 08/05/15)
Michael Swanwick Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
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