If I Pay Thee Not In Gold - Hardcover

Mercedes Lackey; Piers Anthony

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0671721755 ISBN 13: 9780671721756

Publisher: Baen, 1993

Synopsis

Living in a society in which women rule through their magical powers, the rebellious Xylina is given a choice between execution and using her powers to conquer the most glorious male in Mazonia. 60,000 first printing. $25,000 ad/promo.

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews:

Inventive but rather superficial fantasy written by Lackey from a summary provided by Anthony, then revised and edited by him. In Mazonia, only women possess the ability to produce illusions through conjuration, and so men are their slaves; the most powerful conjuror becomes queen. Young Xylina, mighty but inhibited and unambitious, acquires a talented slave, Faro, by defeating him in the arena. But Xylina falls victim to a series of untoward events and fails to prosper. She begins to suspect not ill fortune but the machinations of a potent enemy. The demon Ware, despite his oath to obey Queen Adria, lends Xylina money and reveals that Xylina's enemy is in fact the Queen. Then, when Xylina is unable to repay her debt to Ware, Adria agrees to guarantee Xylina's debt--but as payment Xylina must lead an expedition to remote lands to secure a crystal fragment that will make Adria immortal. Slowly, Xylina comes to trust Ware, who loves her with strictly honorable intent; numerous complications, created by the demon's ludicrously bizarre sexuality, ensue. After various adventures, Xylina obtains the crystal but decides to keep it for herself--so forcing a magical duel with dangerous Adria. Intriguing social fantasy that grows ever less persuasive and appealing once the enterprise gets hijacked by subplots about halfway through, leaving many promising ideas undeveloped. Still, a huge audience is guaranteed. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From Publishers Weekly:

This clumsy collaboration between Anthony (the Xanth novels) and Lackey (the Heralds of Valdemar series) is a wasted effort. In the militaristic matriarchy of Mazonia, only women can use magic and men are slaves. Xylina, an impoverished orphan, enters the public combat required of all girls as a rite of passage and wins ownership of an intelligent but vicious and bitter male gladiator. Xylina and her slave become friends with amazing speed, and he sets out to help her use her magical abilities to earn money and to rise in society. Mysterious disasters repeatedly befall Xylina, who eventually discovers she has made a powerful enemy. She also has a powerful ally, but getting help from that quarter may cost her more than she can afford. One or two intriguing ideas here are eclipsed by stilted dialogue and an insipid plot in which the heroine spends half the book worrying about finances and the other half on a dull quest. Anthony's fans will recognize the Xanth-like magic and politics, while Lackey's readers will appreciate the besieged but plucky heroine. But neither group will enjoy this talky, over-long tale that seems to bring out the worst in each writer.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Baen
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0671721755
• ISBN 13: 9780671721756
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 398