Book Review: The Folding Knife by K.J. Parker

I'm one of those people who, upon discovering an author I really enjoy, will track down every book ever written by that author and read them all. I did that with C.J. Cherryh, C.S. Friedman, Melanie Rawn, Mercedes Lackey, and others I'm sure I'm forgetting at the moment, over the course of my reading life. Since reading The Company by K.J. Parker (recommended to me separately by my sister and a friend), I have slowly but surely been reading my way through her other novels.

The Folding Knife is actually the third Parker novel I've read. (I'm holding out on you, sorry folks. I read The Hammer before The Folding Knife, review as yet unwritten.) The Folding Knife is the most plot-driven of three. It isn't as beautifully written as The Company, but the plot and the motivations of the characters are thoughtfully laid out.

The Folding Knife tracks the life of Basso from childhood through adulthood. It begins with a scene from the end, then rewinds and tells the story that led up to that moment. It was actually really well done. When I got the end, I reread the first scene to make sure. So much changes because I understand the character better, and yet the actual details don't change at all. The only thing that's really changed is my understanding of those details.

The Folding Knife isn't one of those ubiquitous terrible-childhood-pity-me-good-man-anyway stories. Yes, his parents were unaffectionate and uncaring. Yes, he acted out. But those are just the bones that inform his character. Those scenes aren't meant to inspire angst or pity in us, but to help us make sense of Basso's subsequent actions. Basso learns very quickly that he has to be at least one step ahead of the game to stay on top. Fortunately for him, he's not only very good at doing so, but he is also extremely lucky. He makes impulsive decisions for selfish reasons that turn out to have beneficial results for him financially, personally, and politically. He constantly walks a knife-edge between lies and truth, ruin and fame, and one misstep will destroy everything he's worked toward his whole life.

Unfortunately for Basso, he's already made that misstep. The question becomes... how long can he keep everything afloat?

I have to admit, I got to the end of The Folding Knife and flailed around. This can't be the end! I wailed. What happens next?! Excellently done.