It's taken me a bunch of readings and a lot of years, but I think i've finally grown to not merely respect this book, but actually like it too.
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If you want to know why Steven Brust is my favourite author hands down, read the introduction to my epinion of Jhereg.
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TECKLA
WRITTEN: Third
CHRONOLOGICALLY: Fifth (after Jhereg, before Phoenix)
Disclaimer: I generally don't like when reviews give away content or plot of what they're reviewing, but what makes this book earn my respect does have to with some of its content. I'll try not to reveal too much, but if it bothers you, please contact me and tell me and i'll try to modify it.
WHY I RESPECT IT (and what it's all about)
There's an analogy I can make here between writing choices and commercial music groups.
I've noticed that with some of the music I listen to, the first couple of albums are usually what I consider the best. Why? Because that's when the band is still fresh and new and allowing themselves to explore. It's when the music isn't so much about the production as much as it is about the creativity. When I think of the music of Nine Inch Nails, Dream Theater, Busta Rhymes, even certain compositional periods of Steve Reich, Phillip Glass, or Ligeti, I always see this early experimentation that is so raw and full of energy that gradually transforms into later music that is just replication of what pushed them into success. Once they get comfortable with a certain style and once they have achieved a certain degree of fandom, they lose the ability to create something truly new and exciting - something that is still their signature sound, but remains original.
Both Jhereg and Yendi are written in similar styles, and they are highly effective and successful books. Brust is comfortable and adept at this style (as is evident from future books such as Taltos and Dragon) and it would have been easy for him to hone in on this and create a typecast for himself.
Instead, he wrote Teckla.
It's not a mystery. It's not about a territorial war or an assassination contract. It's not even really about killing. It has to do with a troubled marriage and racial struggles. But mainly, it has to do with identity. Vlad is an Easterner - therefore Dragaerans discriminate against him. Vlad has a Dragaeran title and he is living in a society of Dragaerans - therefore other Easterners discriminate against him.
So you see that identity struggle throughout the book - not just in Vlad's interactions with others, but also within himself. There are actions he takes that are decidedly the Easterner in him and others that are decidedly the Dragaeran in him, and they are in constant battle. So while the book Taltos gives the reader a historical perspective on Vlad, Teckla shows the psychological effects of Vlad's upbringing and how his approach to it differs from Cawti.
It is Brust's bold direction to the series fills me with admiration. He uses Teckla as an avenue to explore real issues and explore a vastly different style of writing that couldn't have been comfortable for him. And while the book isn't perfect, it still comes off as highly successful.
WHY I LIKE IT
Outside of the respect factor and experimentation, how does the book hold up by itself? Why do I like it?
I think that the main reason that I like it is because it's the first time the reader sees (and is perhaps the first time that Vlad himself thinks) that Vlad is by no means perfect. He has some character flaws (related to the identity thing mentioned above) that he needs to come to terms with. He's lived comfortably as an assassin who simultaneously denies and is proud of his Easterner heritage. Suddenly his wife questions him, his race questions him, and he has to ask himself which parts of his lifestyle he should still respect and which he shouldn't. While all of this is going on, he still has to do deal with his lifestyle as an assassin. It's a book that parallels real-life issues and captures them well.
Another reason the book is strong is because of the character development of others in Vlad's universe. I touched upon this in my introduction to Jhereg, but it's worthy to mention again how each character has their own distinct personality, not only on the surface but also from a philosophical level, a psyche level. Cawti is struggling with the same issues as Vlad, but she approaches it from a much different perspective. Kelly has a very different psychological make up than Vlad, as does the various members of his organization. It takes a skilled author to be able to create a book through the eyes of only one character and yet portray many characters so strongly and with such conviction.
Finally, the little details are what make the book so great. I love the chapter headings - Vlad's laundry list. Each chapter starts with a heading of directions Vlad gives to his tailor/launderer, and it is something in that chapter that causes the need. For example, one chapter's heading is "remove stain from right cuff". In that chapter, Vlad stains the right cuff by accidentally spilling some wine on it.
OVERALL
I still respect the book more than I like it. But the amount of respect I give to it is greater than that of Yendi or even to a degree Jhereg. The book landmarks Brust's decision to always try something new and original, and he fails to disappoint me with this in every subsequent Vlad book.
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FOOTNOTE
I know, i know. tri-quel isn't a real word. :)
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