Steven Brust is on my short list of authors I wish were more prolific. His works are knifeplay - a series of deft knowledgeable cuts that intend to win the fight, and when he has time, a bit of flourish to make you enjoy that you’re losing to a master. Brust writes so that you read for the enjoyment of reading, something that is so rarely done nowdays.

I stumbled on Brust early: To Reign in Hell sold in a base PX in Germany around ‘86 or so while I was in the military. Since then, I have bought paperbacks the week they were printed and when I could afford them, hardbacks. The reason why I point this out: I’m biased, so don’t look for objectivity in my review.

Dzur, now out in hardback, is a story of Vlad Taltos’ homecoming: he’s been away, slowly spiralling up the ladder of heroic power until he’s attained near-unkillable status and is faced with the results of his actions from many books ago. His wife is in danger due to his “gift” of South Adrillanka, and she’s trying to get out of the Jhereg game. Others in the organization, perceiving her as an easy mark, are hungry for her territory.

So Vlad decides to place himself between a rock and a hard place, in this case, between the sorcerous Left Hand of the Jhereg and the organization’s Right Hand, which, like his swordplay, grants him an opportunity to deftly make his desires known. Brust allows Vlad to philisophically take stock of what it is to be a Dzur, which helpfully allows for a good discussions, observance of action/inaction and foremost, leads to a wonderful resolution that’s true to character as he has changed over the course of the Jhereg series.

Readers familiar with Brust will enjoy the revelations and returns of Kragar and Kiera the Theif, as well as some opponents. New readers will enjoy the best description of a succulent meal that I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. The writing is strong, and readers will enjoy the comfortable witty dialogue between Taltos and his familiar Jhereg.

What’s weak about this book? As ever, it’s too short, and took far too long to get on the shelf. Brust has been incredibly careful to not over-commit on the stories - which a lesser writer would transform into a formula. And while some of the Jhereg series smacks of formula, the core of the book is true character reactions to true-to-environment scenarios.

After every book, Vlad has jumped up the power scale: first in organization, then in connections, then in magical power (spell breaker then Lady Teldra). Only once did I feel the character didn’t deserve the reward at the end of the book. Brust, as an author, now is faced with pretty much the “all powerful” character problem: what does he have to write to invoke threat?

For the insiders: the book doesn’t have Aliera and Morrolan, and leaves the resolution between Morrolan, Vlad and Lady Teldra open. It appears that the consequences of that will be a story until themselves.

End of the line: you’ll like or love the story, you’ll want more due to it’s brevity, and you’ll wonder if Brust is going to be able to keep this up. If he does, I’ll be there.