The Folding Knife -K. J. Parker

The Folding Knife
K. J. Parker
pub: Orbit
501 pages

Basso is the First Citizen of Vesani Republic. Controlling the governments and the Republic’s largest bank he becomes almost a power unto himself. He is a shrewd businessman, and while mainly working for his own profit, also benefits the citizens of the Republic. He is not a man without problems however. Blessed with incredible luck he none the less pushes himself and the country to far, and makes a mistake.

Right. Yes. Ah. I am really not sure about the book. I dislike books that feel like they’re making an allegory of present situations and once that thoughts occurred it’s difficult not to see the book as a message about bankers, government and war. Then again it might be bad timing of current situation and the books release date, or just me forcing the idea on the book.

The prologue and the cover (“Even great men make mistakes”) sets up an expectation of failure, which stays with the reader throughout the book, and there’s a constant feeling of waiting for something to go wrong. The ending when it comes is quite depressing, as to be expected when the end result is known to be failure.

Now I’ve mentioned the cover, a quick word about the title. The titular folding knife turns up early in the book, and is mentioned quite a few times at the start of the story. It then seemingly disappears. It’s seems an odd object to have hung the title on.

Another point I’m going to get out of my system is K. J. Parker’s obsession with the pitchfork as a weapon. I have read The Engineer’s Trilogy, The Company, and Shadow, and each one mentions the pitchfork as a dangerous implement of warfare. While their may be a point, the repetition is wearing.

The writing is very good, and there is a smattering of humour throughout. The story holds together well, and Basso is easy to get behind, despite being a bastard. It’s a good read, but starts to unravel once you take a step back. There is a nagging sense that the book holds a story that would have sat better in a series rather than in a single volume.

The world the story is set in is well visualized, but presented in such a way that at times it seems solely created to act as a playground for the main character. Little touches make it seem as thought the world here ought to tie in with those in other K. J. Parker books, but it’s not obvious if that’s the case.

In and of itself I liked the book, but against a background of K. J. Parker’s other work it feels shallow. And I think there is lies the problem. It lacks the sprawl and depth of the Engineer trilogy, and the punch of The Company. If you’ve read K. J. Parker, and want more, go out and get it (despite what I’ve said above it is still a good book, and better than a lot of other things you might pick up.). If you haven’t read K. J. Parker, and want an introduction to his style and work, give it a go.

Going to be interesting to see the comments on this one. Can someone at least back me up on the pitchfork thing.