Even when finding oneself engaged in interstellar war, good form must be observed. Our story is set thousands of years after the Terran Exodus, where two powerful, planet-dominating families – the elegant House Jakabitus and the less refined Hahn Empire – have reached a critical point in their generations-long war. Master Hennik, the Hahn ruler’s only son, has been captured, and the disposition of his internment may represent a last and welcome chance for peace.
Enter Wollard, the impeccably distinguished and impossibly correct Master of Formalities for House Jakabitus. When he suggests that Master Hennik be taken in as a ward of the House, certain complications arise. Wollard believes utterly and devotedly in adhering to rules and good etiquette. But how does one inform the ruler of a planet that you are claiming his son as your own – and still create enough goodwill to deescalate an intergalactic war?
Downton Abbey in Space? Master of Formalities was a delightful book. It’s cataloged as science fiction, but other than that the date is announced at the beginning of every formal meeting (“Know that two thousand, one hundred, and seventy-one conventional years have passed since the Terran Exodus.”) and they must have some very fast space ships to hop from planet to planet almost overnight, there’s not a lot of SF here. Rather, it’s a humorous, and at times “hysterical” transposition of classic…
I was frankly kind of annoyed that the author was diverting from his successful Magic … I was frankly kind of annoyed that the author was diverting from his successful Magic 2.0 universe to write something else, simply because I’ve enjoyed those. But I went ahead and pre-ordered this one, and you know what?
Comedy of Manners Have you ever found yourself sitting in a movie and laughing with one or two others while the rest of the audience stared at you blankly? Then you will love this book. You won’t read a passage to friends who then bust up laughing, because this book has no punch lines; you won’t find slapstick or goofy bits, it’s all written with a perfectly straight face.