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A remarkable collaboration between two of my favorite authors, Steven Brust and Emma Bull, Freedom & Necessity is not an easy read, but well worth the investment. It is the mid-nineteenth century story of a man, James Cobham, who awakes to find himself in a country inn with no idea how he arrived there. He begins a correspondence with his cousin, Richard (hence the epistolary form) which then blooms into a full letter exchange and intimate journal entries from all the key characters.
The novel was difficult to read. A mystery grown not just from the plot's conspiracy, but enhanced by the many layers of lies, perceptions, and innuendo from the characters. Sometimes, I found myself more than a little confused, but putting together the bits and pieces was more than half the fun of this impressive novel. Heavy topics like Hegel's philosophy and deep discussions of motive and method were interspersed with horseback chases, gunfights and hot romance. Really, the only unbelievable portion of this fantasy was the reliability of the postal system! Freedom & Necessity wasn't just an interesting read, it was a work of art. Take a moment to read this excerpt for a quick look at the style of this wonderful novel. The character's style was unique. The authors employed beautiful imagery and a wonderful sense of flow. The words and phrases were oftentimes brilliant. If I must find criticism it can only fall on the character's uncanny ability to understand their fellow's motives. Freedom & Necessity is not your typical Tolkeinian fantasy, if that's what you are looking for you will be disappointed. Rather, it is a historical novel which successfully relates the philosophy of Hegel in life and history.
About the Book
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