The Standing Dead
Book 2 of The Stone Dance of the Chameleon
Ricardo Pinto
Random House
Trade paperback, 525 pages, R180
Reviewed by Al du Pisani, 2003
Regular readers may recall my review of the first volume in this series:
The Chosen. To recap, I was ambivalent about the
book, and could not make up my mind if I liked it or hated it. Fortunately, or
maybe unfortunately for the author, I have no such reservations about the
second book: I hate it.
Our hero Carnelian, and his lover, the god-to-be Osidian, survives the
assassination attempt that ended the previous volume. But it causes them to be
exiled from the domain of the Chosen, and they have to find refuge among the
oppressed tribes under the Earthsky. Carnelian, like the totem of his House,
the chameleon, is able to blend into tribal life, and find acceptance.
Osidian is not, and does not. And Osidian is a corrupter, corrupting first
before destroying.
In his insane scheme to regain his lost throne, he destroys the tribe that
take him in. First by feeding them, then by destroying their enemies, and
then by destroying them. Because he feed them by killing animals sacred to
them. Destroy their enemies by killing their men, and leaving the women
and children to remain as slaves. And then to make allegiance with their
enemies, and importing their blood god into their lands.
And Carnelian always decide to act decisively, once it is too late to
change anything. A weak boy growing into manhood, not being able to be any
more than his birth and breeding asks. And where he is unable to play the game
his equals have been playing since birth. Usually ending in a lot of
dead people.
Not recommended.
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