Crown Duel
Encyclopedia
Crown Duel is a fantasy novel written by Sherwood Smith
(originally published as two books Crown Duel and Court Duel). It was her first published work that takes place on the actual Sartorias-deles
(rather than Wren's World), the world she has been "writing about since [she] was eight years old."
In war, at least, she knew in whom she could trust. Now she can trust no one
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Crown Duel was originally published as The Crown and Court Duel separately, due to factors such as the publisher's belief that there would be reduced interest among the young-adult audience if the length were increased by combining the two halves. The Crown and Court Duel edition contained certain references to Wren's world, creating the appearance that Wren's world and "Sartorias-deles" were the same. These substitutions of Wren's world references for Sartoran references were implemented to restore the story the way Smith originally wrote it.
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There are two subsequent stories, "Beauty" in Firebirds Rising, "Court Ship" in Firebirds Soaring (both anthologies from Viking) and a prequel about Vidanric's early life called A Stranger to Command (Norilana Books).
Sherwood Smith
Sherwood Smith writes fantasy and science fiction for young adult as well as adults. She has participated in and organized writing groups for many years.Smith's works include the YA novel Crown Duel...
(originally published as two books Crown Duel and Court Duel). It was her first published work that takes place on the actual Sartorias-deles
Sartorias-deles
Sartorias-deles is the name of the fictitious world that is the setting for many of the books by Sherwood Smith. It is one of four inhabited planets in the Erhal system....
(rather than Wren's World), the world she has been "writing about since [she] was eight years old."
Synopsis
Young Countess Meliara swears to her dying father that she and her brother will defend their people from the growing greed of the king. That promise leads them into a war for which they are ill-prepared, which threatens the very people they are trying to protect. But war is simple compared to what follows, in peacetime. Meliara is summoned to live at the royal palace, where friends and enemies look alike, and intrigue fills the dance halls and the drawing rooms. If she is to survive, Meliara must learn a whole new way of fighting-with wits and words and secret alliances.In war, at least, she knew in whom she could trust. Now she can trust no one
Publication
Publishing history
- 1997, USA, Jane Yolen Books, Harcourt (ISBN 0-15-201608-2), pub date 1 April 1997, hardback (First edition)
- 1998, USA, Harcourt Children's Books (ISBN 0152016090), pub date ? March 1998, hardback (Court Duel)
- 2002, USA, Penguin Books (ISBN 0142301515), Pub date ? June 2002, paperback (combines Crown Duel and Court Duel as one)
- 2010, USA, Book View Cafe, e-book (combines Crown Duel and Court Duel with added short story, plus six scenes from Vidanric's point of view)
Publishing details
- While in notebook form, Sherwood Smith gave Crown Duel the working title Mel's Adventure in Remalna.
- Crown Duel is the first book in Sherwood Smith's "Long Project" to be published with a character narrating in the first personFirst-person narrativeFirst-person point of view is a narrative mode where a story is narrated by one character at a time, speaking for and about themselves. First-person narrative may be singular, plural or multiple as well as being an authoritative, reliable or deceptive "voice" and represents point of view in the...
All the early notebooks were written in first person.
There are two subsequent stories, "Beauty" in Firebirds Rising, "Court Ship" in Firebirds Soaring (both anthologies from Viking) and a prequel about Vidanric's early life called A Stranger to Command (Norilana Books).