Swordspoint: Difference between revisions

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''Swordspoint'' is a cult classic fantasy of manners (with elements of urban fantasy and heroic fantasy) written by Ellen Kushner in 1987. Later on, it saw two sequels: ''The Fall of the Kings'' (which was co-written with Delia Sherman) and ''The Privilege of the Sword''. All three were critically acclaimed and are often held up as examples of a peculiar type of novel, with the basic setting of high fantasy but none of the magic.
''Swordspoint'' is a cult classic fantasy of manners (with elements of urban fantasy and heroic fantasy) written by Ellen Kushner in 1987. Later on, it saw two sequels: ''The Fall of the Kings'' (which was co-written with Delia Sherman) and ''The Privilege of the Sword''. All three were critically acclaimed and are often held up as examples of a peculiar type of novel, with the basic setting of high fantasy but none of the magic.


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''The Privilege of the Sword'' is set a generation after ''Swordspoint'', and ''The Fall of the Kings'' is set a generation (give or take) after that.
''The Privilege of the Sword'' is set a generation after ''Swordspoint'', and ''The Fall of the Kings'' is set a generation (give or take) after that.

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{{tropelist}}
=== This book contains examples of: ===
* [[Action Girl]]: ''The Privilege of the Sword'' is, to some extent, about Katherine learning to become one of these. In ''The Fall of the Kings'' her cousin Jessica turns out to be one as well.
* [[Action Girl]]: ''The Privilege of the Sword'' is, to some extent, about Katherine learning to become one of these. In ''The Fall of the Kings'' her cousin Jessica turns out to be one as well.
* [[All Myths Are True]]: Toyed with in ''The Fall of the Kings''.
* [[All Myths Are True]]: Toyed with in ''The Fall of the Kings''.
* [[The Apprentice]]: Michael Godwin to Richard at times.
* [[The Apprentice (trope)|The Apprentice]]: Michael Godwin to Richard at times.
* [[Butt Monkey]]
* [[Butt Monkey]]
* [[Career Killers]]
* [[Career Killers]]
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* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: Alec, most of the time.
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: Alec, most of the time.
* [[Everyone Is Bi]]: Not ''everyone'', strictly speaking, but certainly a large majority of the characters.
* [[Everyone Is Bi]]: Not ''everyone'', strictly speaking, but certainly a large majority of the characters.
* [[Gambit Pileup]]: Lord Ferris is clearly on top of the pile, mind you.
* [[Gambit Pileup]]: Lord Ferris is clearly on top of the pile, mind you.
** Well, he thinks he is. But when {{spoiler|Diane}} is the local [[Magnificent Bastard]], don't bet on Lord Ferris.
** Well, he thinks he is. But when {{spoiler|Diane}} is the local [[Magnificent Bastard]], don't bet on Lord Ferris.
* [[Hitman With a Heart]]
* [[Hitman with a Heart]]
* [[Jade Colored Glasses]]
* [[Jade-Colored Glasses]]
* [[Jerkass Woobie]]: Alec. He does some pretty awful things (like picking fights with other swordsmen so he can watch Richard kill them) and he's regularly sarcastic, bitter, and cruel, even to people he loves--but once you've gotten a sense of just ''how'' screwed up he is and why, it's hard not to feel sorry for him in spite of his behavior.
* [[Jerkass Woobie]]: Alec. He does some pretty awful things (like picking fights with other swordsmen so he can watch Richard kill them) and he's regularly sarcastic, bitter, and cruel, even to people he loves--but once you've gotten a sense of just ''how'' screwed up he is and why, it's hard not to feel sorry for him in spite of his behavior.
* [[Land of One City]]: Noticeably averted.
* [[Land of One City]]: Noticeably averted.
* [[Love Hurts]]
* [[Love Hurts]]
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* [[No Celebrities Were Harmed]]: The not-Shakespeare play.
* [[No Celebrities Were Harmed]]: The not-Shakespeare play.
* [[No Communities Were Harmed]]: Riverside has a fair amount in common with the Southwark of Shakespeare's day (which was and is on the banks of the River Thames).
* [[No Communities Were Harmed]]: Riverside has a fair amount in common with the Southwark of Shakespeare's day (which was and is on the banks of the River Thames).
* [[Rape As Drama]]: ''The Privilege of the Sword'' has an example which deals very respectfully with the subject.
* [[Rape as Drama]]: ''The Privilege of the Sword'' has an example which deals very respectfully with the subject.
** Implied in ''Swordspoint'' as well.
** Implied in ''Swordspoint'' as well.
* [[Title Drop]]
* [[Title Drop]]
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[[Category:Fantasy Literature]]
[[Category:Fantasy Literature]]
[[Category:Gay and Lesbian Fiction]]
[[Category:Gay and Lesbian Fiction]]
[[Category:Swordspoint]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Trope]]

Latest revision as of 09:09, 11 April 2017

Swordspoint is a cult classic fantasy of manners (with elements of urban fantasy and heroic fantasy) written by Ellen Kushner in 1987. Later on, it saw two sequels: The Fall of the Kings (which was co-written with Delia Sherman) and The Privilege of the Sword. All three were critically acclaimed and are often held up as examples of a peculiar type of novel, with the basic setting of high fantasy but none of the magic.

Swordspoint tells the story of Richard, a swordsman in Riverside, and Alec, a university student (possibly from the Hill) who lives with him. When Richard kills two men in a duel in an aristocrat's garden, he finds himself embroiled in a rather unpleasant business. There are few he can turn to for help (which he likely wouldn't do anyway) because, every day, swordsmen become less and less respectable.

The Privilege of the Sword is set a generation after Swordspoint, and The Fall of the Kings is set a generation (give or take) after that.

Tropes used in Swordspoint include:
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