★★★
Summary: Human dwellers formed the culture of Majipoor since many thousand years. The first pontifex remained a figure of myth and poetry. The main protagonist Simmilgord wants to uncover his true history. A position as curator for a new museum in the city where Dvorn was born and died comes in handy. He and his archaeologist friend Lutiel travel there full of hope and scepticism.
Review: A very slow start full of buzzwords which are probably only meaningful for Majipoor fans, which I am not (yet). The story is about truth and how we work with it. The scientific background with local amateurish excavators, bullying chefs, and self-doubts feel authentic, and I liked the character developments. Some day, I’ll have to read more of Majipoor, escpecially Lord Valentine’s Castle.
Meta: isfdb. Published in Subterranean Online, Winter 2011. Read in The Best of Subterranean. Available online.
Reißwolf 