Rating: 
Summary: Stellar
Review: To fans who only know Peter David from his many Star Trek novels or comic book series, "Sir Apropos" may seem oddly out of place. Nothing could be further from the truth. "Apropos" displays not only David's trademark humorous style, but also the poignancy and characterization that have been quiet hallmarks of his work elsewhere. Amid a frank look at the character's disreputable beginnings and rise to power, there are moral issues in play that bring to mind classics of the genre. Unlike many of those classics, however, there are few definite "black and white" moral issues; everything is in shades of gray, wherein legend and heroic story often whitewash unpleasant truth. As the tale of a medieval anti-hero and opportunist confronted by legend and expectation, "Sir Apropos of Nothing" is remarkable-- and highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun, Frothy Fantasy
Review: Too obvious for satire, too subdued for parody, Apropos is lodged firmly in the realm of comedic fantasy (Or is that fantastic comedy?). In a way it's reminiscent of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead: what happens to a supporting character while the hero is out doing his do-goody thing? Only in this instance, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern take matters into their own hands and do away with Hamlet. The story moves quickly- the 500 pages read more like 250- and the plot twists are neither cliched nor too predictable. The whole point of the tale is that legends are pretty much bloated bits of bogusness and all those noble heroes we read about in most fantasies wouldn't have lasted ten minutes in even the most gentle of fictional realities. Apropos may be a tad too cynical and nonheroic for those looking for more traditional fare, but that's what makes things *funny*. By all accounts he shouldn't be the main character, but a little itchy feeling in your brain is there to tell you that anybody who didn't act that way would quickly find himself impaled in the back by an enemy lance or gobbled up by a Phoenix. Surrounded by prudish unicorns and stuck with a potential pyromaniac of a Princess, Apropos does the best with what little conscience he has. I do agree that most of the puns are lame, and sometimes characters, places, and titles are merely just grandiose set ups for a bad joke or two three hundred pages down the line. The first chapter felt completely out of place and, despite Apropos thinking that beginning his tale in medias res will draw interest, it's more of an irritating introduction than anything. But otherwise it's a fun, fresh book in what is rapidly becoming a very stale genre.
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