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crack_van2006-12-01 10:25 am
ishafel.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2006-12-01 10:25 am
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The Lymond Chronicles: An Overview
The Lymond Chronicles: An Overview, by Ishafel
"All right," said the boy. "You've chosen a life of vice, and have been consistent and reliable and thorough in carrying it out."
Lymond considered this with every appearance of seriousness. "I see. Thus the baseness of my morals is redeemed by the stature of my manners? You admire consistency?"
There are small fandoms, and there are tiny fandoms. This fandom is tiny, but mighty.
Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles are a series of six historical novels set in the mid-sixteenth century. Francis Crawford of Lymond, Master of Culter, is a younger son home from exile, a brilliant, troubled man with a mysterious past and questionable motives. The Scotland he returns to is governed by a French regency on behalf of the child-queen Mary Queen of Scots. Its nobles are restless and power-hungry, and just over the border the English succession is in question. Lymond's fate is entertwined with Scotland's, but the series ranges far beyond Scottish politics. Lymond's quest for redemption takes him across Europe, and to Russia and the Middle East as well. Dunnett's knowledge of her subject is as exhaustive as it is impeccable, but it is her characters that make her books so memorable.
Characters [compiled by the incredibly awesome![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
tryfanstone]
The Culters
Francis Crawford of Lymond
Scottish mercenary; lover; swordsman; musician, Lymond’s dangerous and disturbing career forms the thread of the six Lymond chronicles. A classical hero, he remains one of the most charismatic characters ever created by a writer.
Sybilla, Dowager Lady Culter
Small and splendid, with cornflower blue eyes and a wicked wit. Lymond’s formidable mother.
Richard, third Baron Culter
Lymond’s elder brother. A sober figure, honest and loyal.
The Scottish Contingent
Archie Abernethy
“Elephants gave you less bother, any day.” Lymond’s friend.
Jerott Blyth
Knight of St John of Jerusalem, an obdurate, fighting brother of the Order.
Sir Graham Reid Malett
Powerful and influential Knight of St John. Nicknamed Gabriel.
The English Contingent
Kate Somerville of Flaw Valleys
Wife of Gideon, mother of Philippa. Sensible, capable Kate, who is friends with Sybilla despite their different allegiances.
Philippa Somerville.
‘Not to every young girl is it given to enter the harem of the Sultan of Turkey ...’ A child in Game of Kings, Philippa grows to adulthood in the shadow of the brilliant Culters, but will create of her own beauty and intelligence a remarkable woman.
Others
Marthe
Sharp as a honed blade, Marthe: she carries a stock of poetry to match Lymond’s own.
Guzel
Exquisite courtesan, a powerful woman who moves between men and courts by her own choice. Lymond’s Mistress.
The Dame de Doubtance
An astrologer. Fraud, soothsayer, chess piece, player– only the Dame knows, and she keeps her secrets close.
Other historical characters who play a large part in the novels – for one of the joys of reading Dunnett is the skilled intermingling of history and fiction – are Mary Queen of Scots and her mother Mary of Guise; Queen Elizabeth I of England; Catherine de Medici of France; the Tsar Ivan the Terrible; the explorer Richard Chancellor; the noblewoman Margaret Lennox, mother of Lord Darnley, and an extended, vivid cast of the nobles, knights, merchants and philosophers of the European Renaissance.
The Books
(Because the long-standing tradition in this fandom is to avoid spoilage, every attempt has been made to keep this as spoiler-free as possible, without rendering it totally useless. These books are extremely intricate and detailed, as well as being in print and available from amazon.com. If you really want to know what happens, read them.)
1 The Game of Kings (1961)
Scotland, 1547
Although the Scots, including his own brother, believe him to be a traitor, Lymond returns to Scotland determined to clear his name. While searching for the men he believes are responsible for sending him into exile, he and his band of soldiers are caught up in the ongoing political struggles between the Scots and the English. Lymond makes new allies on both sides of the border, among them the Queen Dowager of Scotland and the well-connected English family of Gideon Somerville. He manages to partially reconcile with his family, but not before he nearly loses his own life.
2 Queens' Play (1964)
France
Lymond disguises himself and infiltrates the French court in order to protect the young Mary Queen of Scots. He risks both his life and his honor, and wins through--but there are hints that a dark family secret awaits him, should he dare to try to discover it.
3 The Disorderly Knights (1966)
Malta & Scotland, 1551
Lymond travels to Malta to help the Knights of St. John fight off Turkish invaders, but finds himself caught up in the order's internal politics. He makes a dangerous enemy for himself, and for his country. Returning to Scotland, he creates a mercernary troop, hoping to provide a defense, but he soon learns that it is a weapon that can be turned against him.
4 Pawn in Frankincense (1969)
The Ottoman Empire
Lymond's battle against a powerful adversary continues, as he pursues the man across Europe and into the exotic, unpredictable courts of the Ottoman Empire. Lymond stands to lose something of great value, but if he stands fast, he may gain something even greater.
5 The Ringed Castle (1971)
England, Russia & Scotland
Having destroyed his enemy, and very nearly himself, Lymond retreats to Russia to play at empire-building. The political situation in England deteriorates, and both England and Scotland are eager to have Lymond's services, but Lymond is unwilling to go home until something happens to force his hand.
6 Checkmate (1975)
France & Scotland, 1557
Now a general in the French army, Lymond is successful on the field against the English. However, a new love and his family's dark past have him struggling against the greatest enemy of all--himself.
Resources
Fanfiction:
Master List of Chronicles of Lymond Fic
Discussion Groups:
http://community.livejournal.com/lymond/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/marzipan/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/franciscrawford/
http://www.ddra.org/
Information:
http://www.dorothydunnett.co.uk/
"All right," said the boy. "You've chosen a life of vice, and have been consistent and reliable and thorough in carrying it out."
Lymond considered this with every appearance of seriousness. "I see. Thus the baseness of my morals is redeemed by the stature of my manners? You admire consistency?"
--The Game of Kings, Dorothy Dunnett
There are small fandoms, and there are tiny fandoms. This fandom is tiny, but mighty.
Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles are a series of six historical novels set in the mid-sixteenth century. Francis Crawford of Lymond, Master of Culter, is a younger son home from exile, a brilliant, troubled man with a mysterious past and questionable motives. The Scotland he returns to is governed by a French regency on behalf of the child-queen Mary Queen of Scots. Its nobles are restless and power-hungry, and just over the border the English succession is in question. Lymond's fate is entertwined with Scotland's, but the series ranges far beyond Scottish politics. Lymond's quest for redemption takes him across Europe, and to Russia and the Middle East as well. Dunnett's knowledge of her subject is as exhaustive as it is impeccable, but it is her characters that make her books so memorable.
Characters [compiled by the incredibly awesome
tryfanstone] The Culters
Francis Crawford of Lymond
Scottish mercenary; lover; swordsman; musician, Lymond’s dangerous and disturbing career forms the thread of the six Lymond chronicles. A classical hero, he remains one of the most charismatic characters ever created by a writer.
Sybilla, Dowager Lady Culter
Small and splendid, with cornflower blue eyes and a wicked wit. Lymond’s formidable mother.
Richard, third Baron Culter
Lymond’s elder brother. A sober figure, honest and loyal.
The Scottish Contingent
Archie Abernethy
“Elephants gave you less bother, any day.” Lymond’s friend.
Jerott Blyth
Knight of St John of Jerusalem, an obdurate, fighting brother of the Order.
Sir Graham Reid Malett
Powerful and influential Knight of St John. Nicknamed Gabriel.
The English Contingent
Kate Somerville of Flaw Valleys
Wife of Gideon, mother of Philippa. Sensible, capable Kate, who is friends with Sybilla despite their different allegiances.
Philippa Somerville.
‘Not to every young girl is it given to enter the harem of the Sultan of Turkey ...’ A child in Game of Kings, Philippa grows to adulthood in the shadow of the brilliant Culters, but will create of her own beauty and intelligence a remarkable woman.
Others
Marthe
Sharp as a honed blade, Marthe: she carries a stock of poetry to match Lymond’s own.
Guzel
Exquisite courtesan, a powerful woman who moves between men and courts by her own choice. Lymond’s Mistress.
The Dame de Doubtance
An astrologer. Fraud, soothsayer, chess piece, player– only the Dame knows, and she keeps her secrets close.
Other historical characters who play a large part in the novels – for one of the joys of reading Dunnett is the skilled intermingling of history and fiction – are Mary Queen of Scots and her mother Mary of Guise; Queen Elizabeth I of England; Catherine de Medici of France; the Tsar Ivan the Terrible; the explorer Richard Chancellor; the noblewoman Margaret Lennox, mother of Lord Darnley, and an extended, vivid cast of the nobles, knights, merchants and philosophers of the European Renaissance.
The Books
(Because the long-standing tradition in this fandom is to avoid spoilage, every attempt has been made to keep this as spoiler-free as possible, without rendering it totally useless. These books are extremely intricate and detailed, as well as being in print and available from amazon.com. If you really want to know what happens, read them.)
1 The Game of Kings (1961)
Scotland, 1547
Although the Scots, including his own brother, believe him to be a traitor, Lymond returns to Scotland determined to clear his name. While searching for the men he believes are responsible for sending him into exile, he and his band of soldiers are caught up in the ongoing political struggles between the Scots and the English. Lymond makes new allies on both sides of the border, among them the Queen Dowager of Scotland and the well-connected English family of Gideon Somerville. He manages to partially reconcile with his family, but not before he nearly loses his own life.
2 Queens' Play (1964)
France
Lymond disguises himself and infiltrates the French court in order to protect the young Mary Queen of Scots. He risks both his life and his honor, and wins through--but there are hints that a dark family secret awaits him, should he dare to try to discover it.
3 The Disorderly Knights (1966)
Malta & Scotland, 1551
Lymond travels to Malta to help the Knights of St. John fight off Turkish invaders, but finds himself caught up in the order's internal politics. He makes a dangerous enemy for himself, and for his country. Returning to Scotland, he creates a mercernary troop, hoping to provide a defense, but he soon learns that it is a weapon that can be turned against him.
4 Pawn in Frankincense (1969)
The Ottoman Empire
Lymond's battle against a powerful adversary continues, as he pursues the man across Europe and into the exotic, unpredictable courts of the Ottoman Empire. Lymond stands to lose something of great value, but if he stands fast, he may gain something even greater.
5 The Ringed Castle (1971)
England, Russia & Scotland
Having destroyed his enemy, and very nearly himself, Lymond retreats to Russia to play at empire-building. The political situation in England deteriorates, and both England and Scotland are eager to have Lymond's services, but Lymond is unwilling to go home until something happens to force his hand.
6 Checkmate (1975)
France & Scotland, 1557
Now a general in the French army, Lymond is successful on the field against the English. However, a new love and his family's dark past have him struggling against the greatest enemy of all--himself.
Resources
Fanfiction:
Master List of Chronicles of Lymond Fic
Discussion Groups:
http://community.livejournal.com/lymond/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/marzipan/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/franciscrawford/
http://www.ddra.org/
Information:
http://www.dorothydunnett.co.uk/
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You haven't listed Christian Stewart.
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Lymond
JJ
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Very nice! I didn't expect Lymond to be our small fandom of the week. I'm glad.
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Dorothy Dunnett's writing style is dense and convoluted. At first I found it irritating, but by the time I finished the Chronicles the first time (at breakneck speed) I immediately started over again at he beginning, just to savor her way with words. Her characters are marvelouus - even the minor players are three dimensional. And her ability to write action sequences is unmatched. There is a swordfight in the first book that left me breathless.
I urge everyone to give these books a try. Give The Game of Kings 100 pages and you'll be hooked. I wasn't aware there was a fandom. I think it would take a lot of guts to write stories in this Universe that was created by Dorothy Dunnett's bravura story-telling.
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I just finished reading these books for about the nine hundred and sixty-third time.
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from a Friendly Lurker
(Anonymous) 2006-12-02 04:07 pm (UTC)(link)Do people who like Lymond also like Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner and its sequels?
There is a community over at
http://community.livejournal.com/_riverside/
posting good slashy stuff there.