The Unbeheaded King

Jorian, the fugitive former king of Xylar, flees his scheduled execution, utilizing sorcery and demon-powered transportation to rescue his wife, Queen Estrildis, from captivity.

Having escaped the siege of Iraz, Jorian and wizard Karadur fly to Xylar in a bathtub to rescue Estrildis. After failed attempts and being arrested in Othomae, Jorian ultimately hires a rival sorcerer to complete the mission. He successfully navigates various dangers and political complexities across the twelve cities to regain his wife.

Full disclosure: I plucked this book out of my carry-on bag just before the plane took off. I didn't realize it was volume #3 of a series, or I would have grabbed another... But with two hours in front of me and maybe 30 minutes before I would be able to stand up and change books, I decided to just dive in. And I wasn't particularly disappointed.

Jorain is the current King of Xylar, a country with an interesting mechanism for ensuring that their monarch doesn't get too grabby - a limited term, ending with a quick visit by the headsman. While I'm sure that the prior volumes describe the situation is more detail, I quickly got the jist of the situation - he was one step ahead of the headsman. In this volume, Jorain's primary purpose is in show more the rescuing of his favorite royal wife from the Xlyanian palace. He tries a stealthy entrance and then a sorcerous wife retrieval - neither successful.

At the end, though, he finds that memory makes the heart grow fonder and he finds that he's not quite as enamored of his wife as he used to be. Fortunately her lady in waiting has some redeeming qualities.

This volume was pleasantly ribald... I really enjoyed the interplay between the characters and the sexual tension that pervades the book... It was a quick read, but definitely enjoyable. show less

Overall, I am very fond of De Camp, but some how I like his earlier books, especially the Incomplete Enchanter series done with Fletcher Pratt. These later comic fantasies are competent but somehow a little vulgar --more slapstick than wit.

This is typical L. Sprague de Camp fair - although it feels like it's 1960's stye fantasy rather than 1980's.

It's lightweight fluff. It's fun. There are long meandering stories that are entertaining. There are limericks and poems that are sometimes fun, sometimes excruciating. The story itself romps along and is really pretty predictable.

If you're looking for something heavy to get your teeth into, this isn't the place. If you're after the book equivalent of a pop-corn movie then you're in the right place.

Gut zu lesender Abschluß des Dreiteilers um Jorian von Ardamai.
Nette und kurzweilige Unterhaltung, Popcorn-Kino in Buchform.

King Jerien escapes his beheading and has many adventures

Tres años antes, Jorian fue coronado rey de Xylar. Pero las leyes de Xylar decretaban que sus monarcas debían ser decapitados al final de un reinado de cinco años. A Jorian no le hacía feliz perder su cabeza. Con la ayuda del anciano mago Karadur, consiguió escapar.
Desgraciadamente, no pudo llevar consigo a su amada, la reina Estrildis, ni encontraba el modo de liberarala del palacio de la ciudad de Xylar.
Pero Jorian siente que su suerte ha cambiado. Él y el anciano mago Karadur son transportados a través del aire de la noche en una gran bañera de cobre movida por un demonio controlado por Karadur. Bajo ellos se encuentra ya la ciudad de Xylar. Mientras el demonio mantiene la bañera flotando sobre el palacio, Jorian debe show more descolgarse por una cuerda y rescatar a Estrildis.
El plan era infalible, pero ... show less