The Trade of Queens

Book Six of the Merchant Princes

By: Charles Stross

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 11 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

A dissident faction of the Clan, the alternate universe group of families that has traded covertly with our world for a century or more, have carried nuclear devices between the worlds and exploded them in Washington, DC, killing the President of the United States. Now they will exterminate the rest of the Clan and keep Miriam alive only long enough to bear her child, the heir to the throne of their land in the Gruinmarkt world.

The worst and deepest secret is now revealed: behind the horrifying plot is a faction of the US government itself, preparing for a political takeover in the aftermath of disaster. There is no safe place for Miriam and her Clan except, perhaps, in the third alternate world, New Britain--which has just had a revolution and a nuclear incident of its own.

Charles Stross's Merchant Princes series reaches a spectacular climax in this sixth volume. Praised by Nobel laureate Paul Krugman as "great fun," this is state of the art, cutting edge SF grown out of a fantastic premise.

©2010 Charles Stross (P)2015 Macmillan Audio

an open ending

it's a good story but this is the last book? the ending is inconclusive

a very weak ending tainted with strawman politics

I was disappointed. We are discussing the last book and devoured them in under a week. the last ending however, well either it's a inept parody or a strawman. It broke my suspension of disbelief and enjoyment.

too much left hanging

i have too agree with all the reviews I read saying that Charlie Stross ran out of steam. Stop after the first book.

Loved it.

Can't wait for the next. Hope there will be many more in the series. The reader is very good. Fascinating story.

The author went to sleep

Any additional comments?

I usually like to listen to Charles Stross's works, but this one is just poorly thought out. When I finished I was confused thinking there must be more. Never have I listened to a book where so much is left unresolved. Most of the story lines are remain dangling. I am rather frustrated and will not be listening or reading anything from this author anytime soon. So potential readers be forewarned, if you read the series expect your first response to be where is the next novel to complete the series. Sadly, there is none (at least I am aware of).

Silly ideological venting ruins it

Love the performance. The main character and her developing cadre interact quite nicely. It works for me.

The story is reminiscent of the main character. She is smart and creative, and desperately trying to find herself. Her life is constantly out of control, confused, overwhelmed and disjointed yet she persists. Always searching but never finding much personal growth.

The story has a real quality and stretched one... wonderful at times, then overblown. It swings back and fourth similar to when Miriam is being stuffed into "Helga"...overblown falsity and madeupness.

[spoiler]
I appreciate the story and dialog. The detail is great especially if you're into that. BUT when the author decides to have the U.S. nuke the shit out of a world I lost all connection. Perhaps the disconnect with a "real world" is intentional (we'll see) but the ideological venting I found extremely stiff. I'll hold my nose and finish the series but there's a nagging doubt it'll land in a satisfying place.

Longwinded rant about American politics

Charles Stross should have written this as a blog. Most of this book is just a tirade against an American administration now gone and politics/policies that grew out of 9/11. That might have been OK if it ever made a point or was interesting in any way, but it didn't and it wasn't. Meantime, there's barely a plot, no interesting character interactions or dialog, and a dud of an ending that leaves more dangling threads than completed strands.

Kate Reading is great as always, but even Kate can't save this stinky mess.