In the non-magical fantasy world of K.J. Parker's Engineer Trilogy (Devices and Desires, Evil for Evil, and The Escapement) the Republic of Mezentia is the (vastly) technologically superior neighbor of two neighboring kingdoms, Eremia and Vadani. A Mezentian engineer, Ziani Vaatzes, escapes from prison after he is convicted of a peculiarly Mezentian crime -- namely, deviating from the Republic's very strict engineering specifications by building an off-specification doll for his daughter -- and ends up in Eremia, whose army Mezentia recently butchered after an ill-advised invasion attempt by the Eremian leader, Duke Orsea. Catching wind of Ziani's defection, the Mezentines decide to nip this alliance in the bud by engaging in a methodical and overwhelming act of genocide against the Eremians.

Parker sets up some lovely dramatic conflicts (I haven't even mentioned that the leader of the Vadani, Duke Valens, is in love with Orsea's wife). But, boy, does this series drag. The primary culprit is Parker's verbosity, which extends to every corner of these over-long books. Parker has a weakness for extremely dry mini-dissertations on weapons, clothing, horses, and any number of other topics. And she seems to transcribe in real time the tedious internal monologues of her main characters, who all sound remarkably similar to each other (and to the author).

The plot is not bad, but, fittingly for a series about engineers, it ends up feeling too technical, and thus impersonal. Despite a fair proportion of major events -- cities sacked, relationships destroyed, friends betrayed -- the trilogy never reaches the feverish intensity of the best fantasy novels, even as the many gears that Parker sets in motion finally lock into place. The problem, I think, is that Parker's characters overthink everything (hence the interminable internal monologues). What should have been a grudge match ends up being a chess match: intricate, even elegant, but short on emotional punch.

Copyright © 2009 Steven Wu