The Paladin (Cherryh novel)

1988 novel by C. J. Cherryh

The Paladin
The Paladin original cover
Author	C. J. Cherryh
Cover artist	Gary Ruddell
Language	English
Genre	Fantasy
Published	1988 Baen Books
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (hardback & paperback)
Pages	400 (paperback)
ISBN	0-671-31837-3
OCLC	49015067

The Paladin is a 1988 fantasy novel by American writer C. J. Cherryh. It was published by Baen Books and was nominated for the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 1989.^[1] The book features no actual magic or supernatural occurrences, and is considered an example of the low fantasy subgenre of fantasy fiction. It takes place in a fictional country modeled on Tang dynasty China.

Cover of the 2002 re-issue by Baen Books.

The Lord Saukendar, Imperial sword master and stalwart supporter of the Emperor is betrayed, falsely accused of an affair with his childhood sweetheart Lady Meiya, now the Emperor's wife. Meiya is dead, and hostile forces have command of the Emperor's regency. Wounded, desperate and cut off from his supporters, Saukendar runs for the border.

In a homemade cabin high in the hills Saukendar survives crippled and alone, his warhorse Jiro and his regrets his only company, while the empire is bled by the rapacious warlords that are regent to the Emperor. Only occasional assassins dispatched by the Regent disturb his morose existence.

Taizu, a country girl from Hua locates him, demands he teach her sufficient swordsmanship to exact her revenge for her people's suffering. Despite his better judgment and strenuous efforts to discourage her, she forces him to take her on as apprentice swordswoman. Shoka, as he prefers to be known to his friends, becomes fond of the girl.

In the process of teaching her and supporting her cause, they become embroiled in the affairs of empire, becoming the spearhead of a revolt that rescues the Emperor from his Regent and his people from the clutches of the warlords.

References

↑ "1989 Award Winners & Nominees". Worlds Without End. Retrieved July 15, 2009.

External links

Website at Baen Books, including free sample
Page at Worlds Without End

v t e C. J. Cherryh
Bibliography
Science fiction series	Alliance–Union universe The Faded Sun Trilogy Alternate Realities The Chanur novels The Merchanter novels Devil to the Belt Foreigner series Finisterre universe
Fantasy series	The Morgaine Stories Ealdwood Stories The Russian Stories The Fortress Series
Science fiction novels	Brothers of Earth Hunter of Worlds Hestia Serpent's Reach Downbelow Station Merchanter's Luck Forty Thousand in Gehenna Angel with the Sword Cuckoo's Egg Cyteen Rimrunners Tripoint Rider at the Gate Cloud's Rider Finity's End Hammerfall Forge of Heaven Regenesis Alliance Rising (with Jane S. Fancher) Alliance Unbound (with Fancher)
Fantasy novels	Gate of Ivrel Well of Shiuan Fires of Azeroth Exile's Gate Ealdwood The Dreamstone The Tree of Swords and Jewels The Paladin Rusalka Chernevog Yvgenie The Goblin Mirror Faery in Shadow Lois & Clark: A Superman Novel
Short fiction collections	Glass and Amber The Collected Short Fiction of C. J. Cherryh
Short fiction	"Cassandra" "The Scapegoat" "The Brothers"
Related	Jane Fancher (spouse) David A. Cherry (brother) Heroes in Hell Merovingen Nights Azi Mri Themes of C. J. Cherryh's works The Cherryh Odyssey The Company War 77185 Cherryh
Category

Authority control databases	Open Library

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