From Publishers Weekly
Confusion reigns in this often funny, frequently precious fantasy about usurped thrones and lost heirs. After the Gorgorian barbarians conquer the civilized kingdom of Hydrangea, their leader Gudge makes himself king, marries Hydrangean Princess Artemisia and settles down to a highly satisfactory life of drinking and debauchery. Royal triplets, separated at birth because of a Gorgorian superstition that multiple births suggest the mother's infidelity, receive very different upbringings. The only girl, Avena, is brought up in the palace as Prince Arbol, heir to the throne and a fearsome swordsman. One brother, Wulfrith, is raised by a shepherd; although a young ewe is his favorite companion, his size makes him a fearsome battler. The other brother, Dunwin, reared by the outlawed wizard Clootie, develops into a talented magician. To this basic brew Watt-Evans (the Ethshar series) and Freisner ( Gnome Man's Land ) have added a couple of dragons, some attempted seductions, mistaken identities and misguided spells to produce a lighthearted fantasy. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"If Robert Bechley and Dorothy Parker had teamed up to write epic fantasy, something like Split Heirs might have resulted."--John deChancie
"An excruciatingly funny book."--Susan Shwartz
"Watt-Evans and Friesner, two of the leading lights of humorous fantasy..send up nearly every common gimmick of every kind of fantasy ever classified--and a few kinds that haven't been...Readers hot for well-handled humorous fantasy will like it immensely."--Booklist
Review
"If Robert Bechley and Dorothy Parker had teamed up to write epic fantasy, something like Split Heirs might have resulted."--John deChancie
"An excruciatingly funny book."--Susan Shwartz
"Watt-Evans and Friesner, two of the leading lights of humorous fantasy..send up nearly every common gimmick of every kind of fantasy ever classified--and a few kinds that haven't been...Readers hot for well-handled humorous fantasy will like it immensely."--Booklist
Book Description
To Gudge's bride, Queen Artmeisia of Hydrangea, are born a set of royal triplets. But traditional Gorgorian belief holds that triplets are a sure sign of the mother's adultery--for which the tradition Gorgorian punishment is death. And Gudge is nothing is not a traditionalist.
So in secret the Queen sends her faithful servant Ludmilla on a desperate mission, to bear the girl and the younger boy to the secret forest redoubt of the last Hydrangean resistance. The oldest boy will remain, to be raised as the heir.
Unfortunately, Ludmilla takes both boys instead...
About the Author
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Lawrence Watt-Evans has been a full-time writer and editor for more than twenty years. The author of more than thirty novels, over one hundred short stories, and more than one hundred and fifty published articles, Watt-Evans writes primarily in the fields of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and comic books. His short fiction has won the Hugo Award as well as twice winning the Asimov's Readers Award. His fiction has been published in England, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Poland, France, Hungary, and Russia
He served as president of the Horror Writers Association from 1994 to 1996 and after leaving that office was the recipient of HWA's first service award ever. He is also a member of Novelists Inc., and the Science Fiction Writers of America. Married with two children, he and his wife Julie live in Maryland.
Split Heirs ANNOTATION
War and wizardry, dark deeds and derring-do, matters of state and matters of the heart, and a dragon who thinks she's a sheep named Ber-nice . . . Split Heirs is nonstop action and nonstop laughs, the funniest high fantasy epic since Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
War and wizardry, dark deeds and derring-do, matters of state and matters of the heart, and a dragon who thinks she's a sheep named Ber-nice . . . Split Heirs is nonstop action and nonstop laughs, the funniest high fantasy epic since Monty Python and the Holy Grail. HC: Tor.
FROM THE CRITICS
BookList - Roland Green
The ancient and effete Kingdom of Hydrangea has been overrun by the barbarian warrior Gudge. To add to its troubles, the long-awaited heir to the Hydrangean throne proves to be triplets, who must be physically isolated from each other lest the queen be executed for adultery, for according to Hydrangean mores, three babies implies three fathers. These premises lead Watt-Evans and Friesner, two of the leading lights of humorous fantasy, to send up nearly every common gimmick of every kind of fantasy ever classified--and a few kinds that haven't been. They skate along the edges of silliness and triviality without ever quite falling over them, and while their book will seem overlong to some, plenty of other readers, hot for well-handled humorous fantasy, will like it immensely.
Art & Photography
Book Info
