03-21-2006, 09:50 PM
They are all by Boris Akunin. They are set in Russia in the 1870's. Or more precisely, they are about the 1870's as told from the russian viewpoint. They are current novels and Akunin is one of the top novelists in russia today. Or topselling at least. It was strange to find these victorian novels told from the russian side.
The main protagonist is Erast Fandorin. Maybe not the protagonist, but he's the one who solves the mysteries. He's the leading character as seen through other people's eyes.
In the Winter Queen, we see the fresh faced Erast and see him discover his gift for detective work. Tragedy at the end of the book hardens him.
The next book in the sequence but not the next book in the release order is "The Turkish Gambit" It's told from the point of view of a woman who goes to battle lines in the war between the Ottoman's and the russians to find her fiancee. The book is told from her point of view and it's about her relation ship with Erast. He once again plays Sherlock Holmes to discover who is sabotaging the Russian war effort.
Finally, "Murder on the Leviathan" It's an Agatha Christie sort of book ( I stole that description from a review but it is very apt) Ten people have been murdered in Paris. The French detective must sail on board the most advanced sailing ship of the time "The Leviathan" because he knows the killer is on board.
All the chapters are broken down by character viewpoints. Some are by the French Detective, others by the French Detectives table companion who soon learn why they are grouped together in the same Salon aboard ship. All the characters in the story get a narrative, except Erast Fandorin. The boat sails from Paris to Calcutta with many adventurs along the way.
The books are all a fun read. Like the Alatriste books, there are many more Russian language versions already written. One is due out in April, which only leaves me seven more books to be translated. The Greg Lynch book of the day club continues.
It's an interesting way to tell a story. You have this protagonist in all three books, but he's always described from somebody elses viewpoint. He never tells the stories he's involved in. As mysteries go, they are not all that mysterious. As Historical fiction, I say yes.
The main protagonist is Erast Fandorin. Maybe not the protagonist, but he's the one who solves the mysteries. He's the leading character as seen through other people's eyes.
In the Winter Queen, we see the fresh faced Erast and see him discover his gift for detective work. Tragedy at the end of the book hardens him.
The next book in the sequence but not the next book in the release order is "The Turkish Gambit" It's told from the point of view of a woman who goes to battle lines in the war between the Ottoman's and the russians to find her fiancee. The book is told from her point of view and it's about her relation ship with Erast. He once again plays Sherlock Holmes to discover who is sabotaging the Russian war effort.
Finally, "Murder on the Leviathan" It's an Agatha Christie sort of book ( I stole that description from a review but it is very apt) Ten people have been murdered in Paris. The French detective must sail on board the most advanced sailing ship of the time "The Leviathan" because he knows the killer is on board.
All the chapters are broken down by character viewpoints. Some are by the French Detective, others by the French Detectives table companion who soon learn why they are grouped together in the same Salon aboard ship. All the characters in the story get a narrative, except Erast Fandorin. The boat sails from Paris to Calcutta with many adventurs along the way.
The books are all a fun read. Like the Alatriste books, there are many more Russian language versions already written. One is due out in April, which only leaves me seven more books to be translated. The Greg Lynch book of the day club continues.
It's an interesting way to tell a story. You have this protagonist in all three books, but he's always described from somebody elses viewpoint. He never tells the stories he's involved in. As mysteries go, they are not all that mysterious. As Historical fiction, I say yes.
So much for the flickr badge idea. Dammit