Don't worry Allen, you shall no longer cry out into the void! I'm planning on picking up Parker too. Looking forward to your short works/standalones. I'll start there.
The way you talk about the authentic character work across all Parker's books makes me very optimistic that I will love his writing style, that is the most important thing for me to be able to enjoy a story. Also really appreciate the rec to start with a standalone, I am going to have to make it happen asap 🤩
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria I actually just bought The Company, The Folding Knife and Purple and Black after this video, so I might just squeeze that novella in before the end of the year :))))
I just read my first Guy Gavriel Kay (lions of al-rassan, I loved it!) I’m finding that authors I’ve had on the back burner or lower on my priority list are suddenly all I’m wanting to read right now. Currently reading Erikson for the first time, + am planning to start Janny Wurts soon, this video was exactly what I needed to add Parker to the list!
I have to check him out for sure. One of the things that I love about Erikson's writing is his edploration of humanity, and that is something I am always interested in and want more of. Thanks for the rec!
I think Parker does explore some similar themes (definitely NOT compassion lol) but they do it in different ways. I'd argue that Malazan is more optimistic than a lot of Parker's work which is why I love both of them
The way you talk about books makes me want to drop what i am reading and pick up whatever you are talking about. I have read and loved LPQ and Tower of Babel because of you. Excited for more and looking forward to the kj parker guides!
Great pitch for one of my all time favorite authors! I hadn't thought about it this way before but you are spot on in saying you could pick him out from a single page of writing very easily - no one else writes like him, not even Tom Holt. I hope in your next Parker video you will discuss his short stories as well as the Novellas and Standalones, some of them are absolutely amazing. In particular "A Small Price to Pay for Birdsong" and "Let Maps to Others" are some of the best short stories I have ever read. Thanks so much for spreading the word about one of the most underrated authors of all time! Way more people need to try his work.
This sounds so up my alley. I've had The Folding Knife on my list since you mentioned it in one of your videos, but haven't been able to find it over here for a reasonable price. (Japan)
I wouldn’t have read K. J. Parker if it wasn’t for you raving about his works! I’m actually really glad that I started with his collections-which I know you’ll dive into in a later video-as it gave me a taste of his storytelling, writing style, and (like you said) distinct authorial voice. It gave me the necessary expectation of patience and established a trust of his capabilities. I can’t wait to read The Company (tentatively planned for February with Tori)!
Ooh, that's cool. I've been curious about him for a while, but I haven't actually taken the time to read one of his books yet. I did read one novella, which I found just ok, but I think there's still the potential that I'll like some of his other stuff more
Loved this overview! I have all his standalones on the shelf ready to go and I think they’re gonna be huge hits for me. I actually started years ago with 16 Ways and Purple and Black and did find them to be quite similar in a narrative voice and some of the plotting, so I’ve already experienced what you’re talking about with the first person stuff.
I really enjoy how Parker writes the competent characters. It’s much more engaging when a competent character has an error in judgement, in contrast when someone tries to accomplish the same tension by writing an incompetent character.
Agreed! I love when they mess up, not because they're not intelligent, but because they didn't see everything or forgot something small or underestimated their enemy
Okay, okay! I'll hop on the K.J. Parker bandwagon . . . eventually. First, I have to read Warlord Chronicles because you, among others (Johanna!), have bullied me into reading that.
So … did you know that KJ Parker was …. 😂😂😂 I am glad you convinced me to read Parker. I started with The Hammer and I maintain that his books have more vibes than even some thrillers I have read. Very well written.
I’ve been meaning to give Parker a shot ever since I saw that Jimmy Nutt fellow give a positive review of The Folding Knife. Is that also the video that put Parker on your radar?
Amazing review. Spot on, on so many things that made KJ PARKER became (in less than 2 years for me) one of my favorite author. I especially agree that with his first person's book, it tends to feel "the same", especially when you read them one after another. I did read the Siege and Saevus Corax in a relatively short time and for sure i had a diminishing return on my enjoyment of reading due to that. (eventhough i still thinks the last book of the Siege is amazing) I even try reading him in French. (I read Color of Steel in French) Mainly because his book have so many specific vocabulary that i have to search for many words. I wanted to test the experience to read it without that chore. Well i got to learn new French words in the process :p Strangely engouh i've read one novel by Tom Holt (Doughnut) and i did not enjoy it as much as any of his KJ Parker books. I don't really know why...
So awesome that you've had a similar experience! Yeah, I think the key to his 1st person works is to not read too many in a short time. I'm working my way through his trilogies and will eventually get to the Siege. Also, I learn SO MANY technical words from his books lol
Hahaha, guilty of having only read 16 Ways. I swear I'll pick up more soon! I wanted to join the Fencer trilogy, but they're so dang long and I'm reading too many other books 😭
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandriafollowing this up to say it's great to have you regularly posting videos again. I picked up Purple and Black based on your recommendation and have been a big Parker fan ever since.
Hmmmm……such a great video Allen, but now I’m not sure I’ll like K. J. Parker? Some aspects you describe, right up my alley, others?…..not so much. Well the good news is I started Colours in the Steel and am very much liking it so far, hopefully I can catch up before your next discussion. Thanks for sharing!💚
Hahahhaha I realized when listening to it that it's a terrible pitch for his books. The best you can do is try it out! I hope you continue to like Fencer!
If Colours in the Steel doesn't end up working for you, you might still one to try something else, Colours in the Steel is his first book as Parker and so the voice isn't fully developed yet. The novella's and short stories are a great starting point (Academic Exercises collects 10 of them and 3 amazing essays, and fully half of those are in my top 10 favorite pieces of short fiction of all time). Also the negative repetitive things Allen mentioned are really only noticeable if you are reading a lot of them back to back, which I wouldn't recommend anyway. He is one of my all time favorite authors, but also someone you will usually want a palette cleanser book between anyway.
The everyday darkness of humans is so unsettling yet so important to acknowledge. 2025 will be the year! I will pick up something by this author or I’ll wallow about my lacking moral compass. 😅
"Folding Knife" is a fantastic example of his work, and quite approachable. If you want to hop on with something shorter you can't go wrong with "Purple and Black" or with "Blue and Gold", but if you go for those don't buy them as stand alone novellas, they are both collected in "Academic Exercises" along with 3 other amazing short works (and 5 other stories that are still good) and 3 spectacular essays. If you really want to jump into the deep end, try the Engineer Trilogy starting with "Devices and Desires" - this is one of his longest and most complex - but it is also absolutely spectacular.
You recently inspired me to look into the Engineers Trilogy. But it isn't available as an e-book, for either Kobo or Kindle. I guess this could be part of the 1% I read in physical format (like, but not convenient), but its 4x as expensive as most mass market paperbacks (at least in Canada). Probably just as well since I have 100s of unread books in my library.
Engineer Trilogy is available on Kindle in the US so you might try a VPN to get it onto your ereader (not sure if that works for them) - it does tend to be quite expensive in physical. Absolutely worth looking for, its one of the best things I have ever read (it was my Parker starting point many years ago) and to my taste among Parker's absolute best, though I have loved almost everything of his.
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria I know you love P&B; that's why I read it (and I did love it enough) Oops! Shows how long it's been since I last touched TFK 🤦🏻♀️ I just need you to convince Parker's publishers to let you do audio versions 😂
You don't really notice that about the 1st person narrators unless you read them back to back - and honestly you will probably want a pallete cleanser book between between parkers anyway - He's amazing but wants spacing out.
It might be more helpful to think of Tom Holt as a completely different author. I read Doughnut and I’m almost finished with When It’s A Jar, and Holt is not my thing at all. He leans too hard into the silly, and the characters are not nearly as engaging. K.J. does plot much better than Holt… this is perhaps unfair as I’ve only read two books from each, but it’s enough that I’ll go through all of K.J. Parker’s stuff now before I pick up any Tom Holt. When humor is the main focus I lose interest, and I it’s not so funny.
I think they're both intelligent writers with distinct prose who work in alternate historical settings but they read very differently. That said, I've only read Tigana
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandriaGGK is more flowery (not in a derogatory way) where Parker is more direct and workmanlike but I'm not sure if that isn't because his main characters are a bit blunt in personality.
"I don't know. I didn't do the cover." - Allen, The Library of Allenxandria. (btw, excellent video. I'm sold.)
@@BrianBell7 🤣🤣
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria BellTube✔
Parker's writing style is very recognizable, and his Home Depot book titles are legendary 😉 also, I thought we got a Sopranos ending at 14:54 haha
Hahahahahaha no idea how that gap appeared
Don't worry Allen, you shall no longer cry out into the void! I'm planning on picking up Parker too. Looking forward to your short works/standalones. I'll start there.
Yessssssss
Yaaaaaaaaaas!! I'm so excited to dig into his books!
Dooooo eeeet
The way you talk about the authentic character work across all Parker's books makes me very optimistic that I will love his writing style, that is the most important thing for me to be able to enjoy a story. Also really appreciate the rec to start with a standalone, I am going to have to make it happen asap 🤩
If you can snag the Purple and Black novella, it hits hard in just 100 or so pages
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria I actually just bought The Company, The Folding Knife and Purple and Black after this video, so I might just squeeze that novella in before the end of the year :))))
I just read my first Guy Gavriel Kay (lions of al-rassan, I loved it!)
I’m finding that authors I’ve had on the back burner or lower on my priority list are suddenly all I’m wanting to read right now.
Currently reading Erikson for the first time, + am planning to start Janny Wurts soon, this video was exactly what I needed to add Parker to the list!
Erikson is great and I really want to read more GGK. I've only read Tigana
I have to check him out for sure. One of the things that I love about Erikson's writing is his edploration of humanity, and that is something I am always interested in and want more of. Thanks for the rec!
I think Parker does explore some similar themes (definitely NOT compassion lol) but they do it in different ways. I'd argue that Malazan is more optimistic than a lot of Parker's work which is why I love both of them
The way you talk about books makes me want to drop what i am reading and pick up whatever you are talking about. I have read and loved LPQ and Tower of Babel because of you. Excited for more and looking forward to the kj parker guides!
Thank you so much!
Great pitch for one of my all time favorite authors! I hadn't thought about it this way before but you are spot on in saying you could pick him out from a single page of writing very easily - no one else writes like him, not even Tom Holt.
I hope in your next Parker video you will discuss his short stories as well as the Novellas and Standalones, some of them are absolutely amazing. In particular "A Small Price to Pay for Birdsong" and "Let Maps to Others" are some of the best short stories I have ever read.
Thanks so much for spreading the word about one of the most underrated authors of all time! Way more people need to try his work.
I love Small Price. One of those stories that really throws you for a loop and sits with you
The next vid is on his standalones!
This sounds so up my alley. I've had The Folding Knife on my list since you mentioned it in one of your videos, but haven't been able to find it over here for a reasonable price. (Japan)
Oh no that sucks! Definitely give him a try if something affordable comes up
Great video, Allen! You summarized what we like in Parker books pretty well.
Anything to add that I left out?
Awesome breakdown, you catch everything about his books that I've been enjoying so far. I need to read everything that man has written.
Do it! I'm greatly enjoying the process! What all have you read of him it is it just Fencer 1 and 2?
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria I've read The Company and The Folding Knife too. Planning to do Engineer trilogy early-ish next year, then just keep going.
Im definitely going to need to put one of his books on my 2025 tbr list.
Good choice!
I wouldn’t have read K. J. Parker if it wasn’t for you raving about his works! I’m actually really glad that I started with his collections-which I know you’ll dive into in a later video-as it gave me a taste of his storytelling, writing style, and (like you said) distinct authorial voice. It gave me the necessary expectation of patience and established a trust of his capabilities. I can’t wait to read The Company (tentatively planned for February with Tori)!
Same.... I've read short stories and novellas and definitely have plans (and own) most of his standalones and the Engineer Trilogy.
Yesssss!
Engineer is so good
Great video! Got me excited, looking forward to your standalone video. Happy Holidays!
Same to you!
I bought The Folding Knife based on your recommendation and I think I'll get to it this year. I think it will be something I really enjoy
@@cheyennebuckbooks hope you love it! Or at least like it. Or at least understand why I do lol
Ooh, that's cool. I've been curious about him for a while, but I haven't actually taken the time to read one of his books yet. I did read one novella, which I found just ok, but I think there's still the potential that I'll like some of his other stuff more
Purple and Black is the novella of choice!
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandria Great to know, thanks! I might be able to read it before the end of the year
Loved this overview! I have all his standalones on the shelf ready to go and I think they’re gonna be huge hits for me. I actually started years ago with 16 Ways and Purple and Black and did find them to be quite similar in a narrative voice and some of the plotting, so I’ve already experienced what you’re talking about with the first person stuff.
Purple and Black still hits me like a truck three years later
@ love that 💪
I really enjoy how Parker writes the competent characters. It’s much more engaging when a competent character has an error in judgement, in contrast when someone tries to accomplish the same tension by writing an incompetent character.
Agreed! I love when they mess up, not because they're not intelligent, but because they didn't see everything or forgot something small or underestimated their enemy
Allen: "mundane malevolencies"
Me: write that down! (SpongeBob meme)
Hahaha glad you enjoyed
You've definitely piqued my interest. Folding Knife is already on my TBR just not very high (yet!). Will certainly read in the near(ish) future.
Nice! I hope you enioy
Okay, okay! I'll hop on the K.J. Parker bandwagon . . . eventually. First, I have to read Warlord Chronicles because you, among others (Johanna!), have bullied me into reading that.
If nothing else, you'd appreciate his uniqueness
Do my eyes deceive me?? The Illustrious Philip Chase committing to reading K.J. Parker?? A god does exist!! Glory to and praise be!
So … did you know that KJ Parker was …. 😂😂😂
I am glad you convinced me to read Parker. I started with The Hammer and I maintain that his books have more vibes than even some thrillers I have read. Very well written.
The Hammer's final third is a...hammer blow
I’ve been meaning to give Parker a shot ever since I saw that Jimmy Nutt fellow give a positive review of The Folding Knife.
Is that also the video that put Parker on your radar?
Amazing review. Spot on, on so many things that made KJ PARKER became (in less than 2 years for me) one of my favorite author. I especially agree that with his first person's book, it tends to feel "the same", especially when you read them one after another. I did read the Siege and Saevus Corax in a relatively short time and for sure i had a diminishing return on my enjoyment of reading due to that. (eventhough i still thinks the last book of the Siege is amazing) I even try reading him in French. (I read Color of Steel in French) Mainly because his book have so many specific vocabulary that i have to search for many words. I wanted to test the experience to read it without that chore. Well i got to learn new French words in the process :p Strangely engouh i've read one novel by Tom Holt (Doughnut) and i did not enjoy it as much as any of his KJ Parker books. I don't really know why...
So awesome that you've had a similar experience! Yeah, I think the key to his 1st person works is to not read too many in a short time. I'm working my way through his trilogies and will eventually get to the Siege.
Also, I learn SO MANY technical words from his books lol
Hahaha, guilty of having only read 16 Ways. I swear I'll pick up more soon! I wanted to join the Fencer trilogy, but they're so dang long and I'm reading too many other books 😭
Yeah I get that. That's why the standalones are good
Hey did you know that KJ Parker is a pseudonym for Tom Holt?
!!
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandriafollowing this up to say it's great to have you regularly posting videos again. I picked up Purple and Black based on your recommendation and have been a big Parker fan ever since.
Hmmmm……such a great video Allen, but now I’m not sure I’ll like K. J. Parker? Some aspects you describe, right up my alley, others?…..not so much. Well the good news is I started Colours in the Steel and am very much liking it so far, hopefully I can catch up before your next discussion. Thanks for sharing!💚
Hahahhaha I realized when listening to it that it's a terrible pitch for his books. The best you can do is try it out! I hope you continue to like Fencer!
If Colours in the Steel doesn't end up working for you, you might still one to try something else, Colours in the Steel is his first book as Parker and so the voice isn't fully developed yet. The novella's and short stories are a great starting point (Academic Exercises collects 10 of them and 3 amazing essays, and fully half of those are in my top 10 favorite pieces of short fiction of all time).
Also the negative repetitive things Allen mentioned are really only noticeable if you are reading a lot of them back to back, which I wouldn't recommend anyway. He is one of my all time favorite authors, but also someone you will usually want a palette cleanser book between anyway.
The everyday darkness of humans is so unsettling yet so important to acknowledge. 2025 will be the year! I will pick up something by this author or I’ll wallow about my lacking moral compass. 😅
He sounds a lot like GGK. Where would you recommend I start?
"Folding Knife" is a fantastic example of his work, and quite approachable.
If you want to hop on with something shorter you can't go wrong with "Purple and Black" or with "Blue and Gold", but if you go for those don't buy them as stand alone novellas, they are both collected in "Academic Exercises" along with 3 other amazing short works (and 5 other stories that are still good) and 3 spectacular essays.
If you really want to jump into the deep end, try the Engineer Trilogy starting with "Devices and Desires" - this is one of his longest and most complex - but it is also absolutely spectacular.
Purple and Black
Great video! Please do a new Book Jeopardy! 🙏
That's coming in the next month or so...maybe after the holidays
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandriaIt'll all be KJ Parker Perhaps questions, right?
You recently inspired me to look into the Engineers Trilogy. But it isn't available as an e-book, for either Kobo or Kindle. I guess this could be part of the 1% I read in physical format (like, but not convenient), but its 4x as expensive as most mass market paperbacks (at least in Canada). Probably just as well since I have 100s of unread books in my library.
Engineer is tremendous. Such great thematic and character work.
Engineer Trilogy is available on Kindle in the US so you might try a VPN to get it onto your ereader (not sure if that works for them) - it does tend to be quite expensive in physical. Absolutely worth looking for, its one of the best things I have ever read (it was my Parker starting point many years ago) and to my taste among Parker's absolute best, though I have loved almost everything of his.
He has just moved up to a priority read for 2025 😊
Yessssssss
yassss Florida Man strikes again
@@demidrek-heyward 🤣
Having started with Purple and Black, you're not convincing me to continue Folding Knife by saying all the first-person narrators are same-y 😂
I love Purple and Black! Also, Folding Knife is 3rd person!
@TheLibraryofAllenxandria I know you love P&B; that's why I read it
(and I did love it enough)
Oops! Shows how long it's been since I last touched TFK 🤦🏻♀️
I just need you to convince Parker's publishers to let you do audio versions 😂
@RadellasReadingRoom I wish. We need to start a letter-writing campaign
You don't really notice that about the 1st person narrators unless you read them back to back - and honestly you will probably want a pallete cleanser book between between parkers anyway - He's amazing but wants spacing out.
@dr.corwin4198 I completely agree with this
This is R J Barker’s brother, right?
😛
It might be more helpful to think of Tom Holt as a completely different author. I read Doughnut and I’m almost finished with When It’s A Jar, and Holt is not my thing at all. He leans too hard into the silly, and the characters are not nearly as engaging. K.J. does plot much better than Holt… this is perhaps unfair as I’ve only read two books from each, but it’s enough that I’ll go through all of K.J. Parker’s stuff now before I pick up any Tom Holt. When humor is the main focus I lose interest, and I it’s not so funny.
Yeah humor books are hit or miss for me. I havent read Holt yet but I'm planning on reading his history ones like Alexander or the Nero one
Is he any simmilar to guy gavriel kay?
I think they're both intelligent writers with distinct prose who work in alternate historical settings but they read very differently. That said, I've only read Tigana
@@TheLibraryofAllenxandriaGGK is more flowery (not in a derogatory way) where Parker is more direct and workmanlike but I'm not sure if that isn't because his main characters are a bit blunt in personality.