Master of Formalities

WARNING WARNING WARNING!!!! I've you're fresh off of completing Scott Meyer's Magic 2.0 series and are looking at this to read more of his works... STOP. Seriously, I mean it. Don't go any further. If you loved his writing style for the Magic 2.0 series and came here expecting a different story told in that same awesomely silly wittiness, you are going to be very, very, VERY dissapointed [And yes, I am aware that the Master of Formalities would say that to use the word 'very' is in bad form as there are many other words which would greater convey this meaning and to not only use the word three times, but to emphasize the final usage in all capitals, thereby rendering said written word in the equivalent of shouting, would normally equate to bad form on an unheard of level][Which is why it must be done... to prove a point] [If I may continue...]

I'mma tell you straight up... I did not like this story at the beginning. I was listening and waiting for the story to start, and was waiting, and waiting, and then realized that it had already done so. Like many of you reviewer browsers, I too was fresh off of Magic 2.0's Martin Banks adventures and was hungry for more... Little did I know, Mr. Meyer wasn't a one trick writing pony.

I know this is supposed to be a review of 'tMoF' so it might be odd that I keep bringing up the Magic 2.0 series, but it's only because I'm trying to use that for context to frame a warning.

After a quarter of the way through the book, while pausing to read reviews of said book, it's when then that it sunk in that in order to enjoy this story I needed to experience it in a completely different mindset.

Ok, here, try this on for size... 'Magic 2.0' is Futurama comedy [smart, fun, and cheesy]... 'The Master of Formalities' is dry, British, 70's sitcom humor [no extra explanation needed]. It's a martini served so dry it's in powder form. But fear not! For I have discovered the perfect way to experience this book... When reading or listening to this book, mentally visualize Wollard as John Cleese. Seriously. Instantly the entire book transformed in my mind and from then on every fantastical instance and every bone dry humor joke became... well, I'd like to say magical and sparkly or something, but well, the whole 'dry humor' thing doesn't lead to those sorts of mirthical outbreaks, does it?

This book is silly, this book is not really nonsensical [how is it that my spell-checker knows the word 'nonsensical' but doesn't accept the positive 'sensical' as sensical?]

The Narrator, Luke Daniels hands the characters with audible dexterity and aplomb. Each of the rather large cast of characters were given unique and distinctive voices and accents, making them easy to identify.

I absolutely loved Meyer's "Off to be the Wizard" series. Good space opera is really hard to find, so I picked this up with high expectations.

I got about 25% through before realizing that I didn't care about the characters, the plot, the setting, or really anything that was going on. I was forcing myself through it, waiting for something to happen that might pique my curiosity or make me care. That's too long for me to wait. Personally, I don't think this book has the heart or the humor of the author's other work.

Master of Formalities is a comedy of manners (says so on the cover) set 2170 years from whenever the great Terran exodus is going to happen. Now all the prime real estate in the galaxy is settled, and every world sovereign unto itself. Binding the galaxy together in peace and harmony is a vast organization of very polite people whose job it is to speak truth to power. Masters of Formalities have the often difficult job of explaining to planetary rulers not what they can or can't do, but what happened the last time someone took some course of action, and what course might be most prudent. The Masters of Formality can't order anyone to take their advice, but a ruler would have to be crazy to ignore it, defying the covenant all civilized planets signed and risking the social and economic consequences of having their status as civilized worlds revoked.

Which is not to say all is peace and harmony between the civilized worlds.

In point of fact, Apios and The Hahn Home World have been at war for many generations, a war which has turned the once neutral and inhabited planet Ophion 6 into a stalemated battlefield, girded by a line of troops facing each other with little alteration, or even altercation, under the watchful eyes of orbital battleships. Peaceful, perhaps not, but static at least.

Until the Hahn begin actually attacking across the line, breaching the Apiosian defenses and, if somewhat clumsily, killing hundreds in hand to hand combat. Despite the fact that the Hahn are a nasty piece of work, and the Apiosians are fairly decent fellows, the latter also revere a sport somewhere between judo and wrestling, and the Hahn fatalities are somewhat heavier than theirs. Besides which, the Apiosians have come up with a regenerative technology that lets them rebuild soldiers from whatever they can scrape up, and not just rebuild them, but make them stronger, faster, and more lethal.

Which happens repeatedly to the poor sod who had been head cook for Lady Jakabitus, ruler of Apios' household. Gint had been such a gentle lad, but war will change a man, especially after he's been resurrected enough times.

Not only are the Apiosian's able to kill a good number of the Hahn aggressors, but they were able to take a few prisoners, including, much to their surprise, Hennrik, the son of the Hahn Home World's ruler, and second in line of succession, along with a servant, Migg.

Though the notion of executing them both, or one or the the other, get's played with, Lady Jakabitus vetoes it, which her Master of Formalities, Wollard, is quite in agreement with. With some help from the researches in his organizations Central Authority, Wollard comes up with a plan that might just end the war without bloodshed or less of it anyway. Hennrick should be adopted into House Jakabitus.

This doesn't go over tremendously well with the actual scion of the house, Rayzo, who at 14 is two years younger than Hennrik, but he bears the prospect in mostly good grace. If they'd known beforehand just how much trouble they were in for, execution might well have gone back on the table as an option.

Master of Formalities has a bit of Jeeves and Wooster, quite a bit of Upstairs Downstairs, and Downton Abbey, and just a general sense of BBC snark. Which is odd, since the author, Scott Meyer is a Floridian comic and comic strip writer, or he was until he announced the death of his strip, Basic Instructions, so that he can spend more time writing novels.

Well, that's something, anyway.

I enjoyed Master of Formalities far more than most of the serious SF I’ve read recently, and recommend it to all you closet snobs out there who think the world would be a better place if only there were a few more butlers around.

This book presented a plot line I had not specifically encountered before, and I read a LOT of scifi. Instead of the butler doing it, the Master of Formalities does it! Every major politico has their Master of Formalities who advises on protocol--much more nuanced than sticking to who outranks whom, where to seat them at a formal gathering, etc. The Masters appear to run the families/cities/countries very very subtly sub rosa. The characters were well developed and I found myself at the end wanting to know what happens next.

Master of Formalities was a fun read that kept with Scott Meyer's general comedic style. There was something about it that made me think of Dune, if Dune were lighthearted and "the prophecy" was ridiculous and revolved around sports instead of religion. If I were to write a quippy tagline for this novel, it would be...

In a galactic empire beset by war, nothing changes the course of history like having your shorts yanked down... except maybe hitting yourself in the groin. :D

I really liked this one, it's considerably better than the author's other Magic 2.0 series(which aren't terrible, mind you). The characters are interesting and while there are a number of cliches present throughout the novel, they are successfully tweaked to feel like amusing in-jokes with the reader, and do not render the story plodding or overly predictable.

The only minor quibble I have is that the ending was overly convenient for all involved, and it would have been better if things did not work out quite so neatly. But still a solid read, especially in the arena of self-published novels.

This is a truly masterfully written book. I actually became depressed upon nearing the end of this book, due to my enjoying it so much. Scott Meyer is easly the best author who's books I have had the pleasure of reading in my short lifetime (17 years). I cannot recommend this book enough. I would even go so far as to put it in perspective of Dune. It was not as dry (get it? Dry!), but it still managed to maintain a good amount of sociopolitical complexity. This book focused more on humor, albeit not outright jokes. The introductions of certain characters and their actions towards others really added to this (vague to avoid spoilers). I cannot wait for the next book my Scott Meyer. He is a truly adept and skilled author.
.
I do realize how poorly written my review is, especially for a book review, but hopefully that will not deter you from reading this book

‘Master of Formalities’ is a fun and quirky book which is as outrageous as it is fun. The characters are interesting and the situations that the author puts them in are a lot of fun. The book is well written and thought out. Although not as laugh out loud funny as the Wizard 2.0 series if you liked those you’ll probably like this as well which is how I came across Scott Meyer. Highly recommended for those sci-fi folks who like a bit of humor.

This is a moral disguised as science fiction. There are flashed of Keith Laumer's Retief character throughout. The underlying plot pokes fun at the high and mighty of all ages and locations. They don't really change. They don't learn. And everyone else suffers the consequences of their egotistical bungling but them. This should be required reading by any intelligent voter, before an international lection.

I started reading this book with some trepidation. I thoroughly enjoyed Scott Meyer's magic 2.0 series so far, but this was a complete departure from that style of book. The book description itself kind of made me think of the Dune books (5 and later. The boring ones.) and I thought it might just be a long book about formal nonsense that I don't care about (think house Harkonnen and house Atreides). I gave the book a shot anyway because I loved Scott Meyer's other books so much.

I was so wrong. This book is FANTASTIC! I loved every page of it. It took me a few days to read because of limited time, and when I wasn't actually reading the book, I was thinking about the book. Really original concept and great execution. Can't wait to see more sci-fi from Mr. Meyer.

I'm really hoping for more in the series, although it feels like a stand alone novel. The book moved along quickly, took some themes that could be applied to the real world and turned them into quite a lot of fun reading. Bravo.

I was disappointed in this book, although I normally love Scott's work. The main characters and major houses of the book basically act like various teenage stereotypes while the overall plot is boring and uninspired. The depiction of "sports" was pretty funny though.

Quite different. Master of Formalities tells about some sort of glorified diplomatic profession in an expanded human galaxy, the life in palace Jakabitus and war. It's mostly fun and clever. Loved the main characters and Audible narration is hilarious (used the whispersync to voice feature). Highly recommend and will keep an eye on this author.

Just what I hoped for, formulaic enough for comfort but eenough twists for enjoyment. I love the character development and the commentary on the subversion strict protocol allows. Read cor fun but watch for deeper truths about current social mores and assumptions.

I love this book. The humor is dry and understated—more, perhaps, British-type humor (intended, I believe) than outright American blatantness. The story is very well told and it was difficult to put this down. Science fiction is not an easy genre to write, blend it with humor, and it puts any potential author way out on a limb. I think Mr. Meyer did a great job and has established his own niche for, I hope, a lot of novels in, perhaps, a number of genres, the common thread being the very clever humor. Highly recommended.

An elegantly constructed novel with an interesting premise and complex characters. Would love to see a sequel. My first time reading this author but, based on "Master of Formalities", will definitely investigate his other offerings.

Shows what happens when a bureaucracy goes too far. I listened to the audible version and the narrator hit it perfectly. All rulers have MCs attached who find precedents and give advice based on that. It's a parody and a well done one.

I liked the tension in the main character between doing his job perfectly and doing what was right. The humorous touches were amusing, and the characters became more interesting as the book progressed. I will try another of this author's books.

If you enjoyed any of Scott Meyers other books, you will probably enjoy this one. If you haven't read any of his other books and end up enjoying this one, then I strongly suggest that you read his other books too. I would also add that all of the audio books are fantastic and I think listening to these books adds something to the humor that you might not get otherwise.

After listening to and fully enjoying the Magic 2.0 series with the children on a cross county road trip I was thrilled to listen to Master of Formalities. Briliant! The children (9, 11 and 21) laughed and cheered. We are looking forward to more from Scott Meyer hopefully in time for our next road trip.

This is one of those books thats really really long. However, as a reader, i enjoyed it over all. The story is new and layered. Which is when it all comes to a climax and end... it makes you want more.

Once again, Mr. Meyer's story is dominated by characters who are completely idiotic and essentially "losers" who make a series of very bad decisions which results in a very annoying and depressing story. There are no heroes in this story or moments that make you feel good. Only protagonists who continually humiliate themselves, only it is not comedic, just annoying. Similar to Meyer's story "Off To Be The Wizard."I made it about halfway through this one before I had to give up.

A universe guided by decorum, wars fought under proper form and cultural clashes make for a semi science fiction look at dry humor, good manners and odd athletic events. It was not what I expected, and I appreciated that.

Meyer continues to cement his place as our generation's master of blending science fiction and comedy together. In Master of Formalities, Meyer creates the perfect blend of epic political space opera with interesting and compelling personal growth and interaction between the characters at the center of the narrative.

Comparisons to Douglas Adams are inevitable, and well-deserved - the book references pays deft homage to classics like The Long, Dark Tea-Time of the Soul - but Meyer has never been a one-trick pony, and his literary style has hints of several masters while still maintaining its own unique feeling. In Master of Formalities, the scale and political atmosphere definitely invoke Frank Herbert's Dune, and the novel's protagonist Wollard would find himself feeling distinctly at home in any of P.G. Wodehouse's works.

Master of Formalities is a hilarious, interesting, well-paced novel written by the sci-fi comedy master of our generation. Go read it now.

Creative and believable future way of life - clever plot and interesting characters-
Halfway through I started looking for a follow up book, but did not find one. Still, I ordered another kindle book by the author.

This British-inspired comedy is real science fiction with a heavy dose of class warfare, planetary warfare, war between the sexes, and just a little bit of Bill the Galactic Hero. It's full of likeable but often disagreeable characters, somewhat silly plot twists, satire, and the occasional real surprise. There are lots of backstabbing and role reversals. It's an excellent light read and well worth the money.