In the Courts of the Crimson Kings
(Libby/OverDrive eAudiobook)

*Starred Review* One of Stirling's finest novels leaps from the Lords of Creation universe, in which aliens terraformed Mars and Venus in the era of the dinosaurs and still watch over us. On Mars, Terran archaeologist Jeremy Wainman and Martian female mercenary Teyud za-Zhalt set out for the Martian wilderness in search of an ancient artifact. They find it and, also, love. But then they come into the cross fire among at least three murderous conspiracies, one of them led by a Martian prince who aims to usurp the Crimson Throne, to which Teyud is actually the lawful heiress. Two-thirds of the novel is absolutely impossible to put down, as battle, murder, and sudden death rage across a superbly drawn Mars that most closely recalls the work of Leigh Brackett. Very few writers other than Stirling could imagine such formidable females as Teyud or invent a biology-based technology that pits her, Jeremy, and their companions against a pack of landship engines that have gone feral and threaten to slaughter them wholesale. For good measure, the book ends, after 200 pages of edge-of-the-seat action, in a way that doesn't preclude further Lords of Creation volumes, for which more than a few readers will be screaming.--Green, Roland Copyright 2008 Booklist

Stirling's charming second pastiche of 1930s planetary romances (after 2006's The Sky People) moves from Venus to Mars, where different Terran factions vie to pick up the pieces of the Tollamune emperor's shattered realm. Archeologist Jeremy Wainman, sent by the U.S. Aerospace Force to explore the lost city of Rema-Dza, promptly falls in love with Martian mercenary Teyud za-Zhalt; no surprise that she turns out to be heir to the long-vanished Crimson Dynasty, or that they rush off to thwart an attempt to usurp the Ruby Throne. Soon they find themselves fighting a pack of feral airship engines and questing after the invisible crown of the first emperor. Stirling successfully creates a truly alien environment ("Rugs crawled to envelop the feet"), and his flair for the dramatic and obvious affection for the Mars of Burroughs, Brackett and Bradbury almost make up for his inclusion of pirates with eye patches, heavily armored guards riding "fat-tired, self-propelled unicycles" and other moments of near-parody. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

The splendid alternate universe Stirling invented in The Sky People (2006) has--quite justifiably--metamorphosed into a series. Two hundred million years ago, mysterious aliens dropped by, terraformed Venus and Mars and stocked them with dinosaurs and other Mesozoic life forms from Earth. Two hundred thousand years ago, the Lords of Creation swung by again, this time conveying humans and other mammals to both planets. Now, in the year 2000, Mars's ancient civilization--highly advanced in bioengineering, weak in physical science--is slowly dying, along with its emperor, Sajir sa-Tomond. Apparently without issue, the emperor is secretly preparing to declare his daughter, Teyud za-Zhalt, as his heir. Representing Earth's Western powers, archaeologist Jeremy Wainman has come to Mars to locate and study the lost city Rema-Dza. His companion, intelligence agent Sally Yamashita, knows their real mission is to locate dangerously powerful ancient technology left by the Lords of Creation, one such device already having turned up on Venus, and keep it out of the hands of the Eastbloc competition. Jeremy's guide will be Teyud, an expert and fearless warrior. But neither Teyud nor Sajir yet know that several political factions, among them ambitious Prince Heltaw, have figured out who Teyud really is and will stop at nothing to kill or control her. The pace soon heats up, while the wonders--magnificently wacky Martian biological machines; the planet's antediluvian, fully developed and carefully crafted social system; alien technology so advanced it's magic; the possibility that the aliens themselves are, somehow, still hanging around--never cease. Stirling has hit an unexpectedly rich lode of creative ore, or perhaps finally plumbed a hidden reserve of talent: Either way, after years of happy somewhat-above-mediocrity, it's a wonderful surprise. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

*Starred Review* One of Stirling's finest novels leaps from the Lords of Creation universe, in which aliens terraformed Mars and Venus in the era of the dinosaurs—and still watch over us. On Mars, Terran archaeologist Jeremy Wainman and Martian female mercenary Teyud za-Zhalt set out for the Martian wilderness in search of an ancient artifact. They find it and, also, love. But then they come into the cross fire among at least three murderous conspiracies, one of them led by a Martian prince who aims to usurp the Crimson Throne, to which Teyud is actually the lawful heiress. Two-thirds of the novel is absolutely impossible to put down, as battle, murder, and sudden death rage across a superbly drawn Mars that most closely recalls the work of Leigh Brackett. Very few writers other than Stirling could imagine such formidable females as Teyud or invent a biology-based technology that pits her, Jeremy, and their companions against a pack of landship engines that have gone feral and threaten to slaughter them wholesale. For good measure, the book ends, after 200 pages of edge-of-the-seat action, in a way that doesn't preclude further Lords of Creation volumes, for which more than a few readers will be screaming. Copyright 2008 Booklist Reviews.

Stirling's charming second pastiche of 1930s planetary romances (after 2006's The Sky People ) moves from Venus to Mars, where different Terran factions vie to pick up the pieces of the Tollamune emperor's shattered realm. Archeologist Jeremy Wainman, sent by the U.S. Aerospace Force to explore the lost city of Rema-Dza, promptly falls in love with Martian mercenary Teyud za-Zhalt; no surprise that she turns out to be heir to the long-vanished Crimson Dynasty, or that they rush off to thwart an attempt to usurp the Ruby Throne. Soon they find themselves fighting a pack of feral airship engines and questing after the invisible crown of the first emperor. Stirling successfully creates a truly alien environment ("Rugs crawled to envelop the feet"), and his flair for the dramatic and obvious affection for the Mars of Burroughs, Brackett and Bradbury almost make up for his inclusion of pirates with eye patches, heavily armored guards riding "fat-tired, self-propelled unicycles" and other moments of near-parody. (Mar.)