Master of Formalities by Scott Meyer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved the Magic 2.0 series, so I was very eager to see what author Scott Meyer could do with a new narrative. I wasn’t disappointed.
Master of Formalities is a semi-satirical send-up of SF and politics in which a state of near constant war is avoided by the efforts of the Masters of Formalities, who ensure that a bizarre Victorian era type of rules of etiquette are followed in all dealings.
Wollard runs the household operations for the refined and proper House Jakabitus, sternly maintaining discipline and good manners with the staff. But the long-standing war with the improper Hahn Empire has gone on far too long, and Wollard finds he can influence his betters into pursuing détente, if only he can maintain proper form…
The writing from Meyer is once again very fine and very funny. Master of Formalities isn’t the breezy read the Wizard books are, which is not to say it isn’t very enjoyable. Just not quite as effortlessly entertaining. The tale is really quite long, possibly too long. There was no point in which I wasn’t enjoying it, so I have no suggestions for reducing it, but it really was a considerable read. Just as a thought, I wonder if this might have worked well as a serialized tale. You can’t help but see similarities to programs like Downton Abbey and so I think it might be interesting if the tale was presented with a similar episodic approach.
Meyer is fast becoming one of my favorite authors, and if Master of Formalities is a very different kind of read from him, that is in no way a bad thing. It’s clever and funny and while I may not be clamoring for a sequel, I absolutely enjoyed it. Recommended.
