Our Man In Damara: An Oswald Nichts Story

This positively filthy book features the protagonist Oswald Nichts. Grim, seldom smiling, solemn, stern and devastatingly handsome, Oswald is the top spy for the Damarran Government. Skilled in the art of stealth, subterfuge and hand to hand fighting, Oswald is described as "the spy's spy" "The best of the best." And "The last resort" of a king that is described, frankly, as rather incompetent in most other ways.

Oswald is a man among men, able to bare fist fight a yeti, seduce the queen of Sembia, sneak past Drow patrols, withstand the torture of devils, and versed in courtly etiquette.

Oswald's superior is a woman who goes by the name of 'The Crimson Thread', who he seems utterly devoted to, but who herself is also utterly devoted to the task of protecting Damara. Their unrequited romance between those two is a key part of the Oswald's characterisation, as he is devoted to her, yet recognises he can never have her, she seems to represent all that is best in his country-land.

Don't worry too much though, dear leader, he gets lots of action elsewhere, as one of the key ways he seems to get into, get out of, get around, and endure trouble is through various carnal escapades with all sorts of men and women. These scenes are written in explicit, lavish and. to be frank, often a little unrealistic.  

In this particular story Oswald is sent to investigate a possible Orcus cult in Damarra, headed by a Nobleman, Lord Arctus Ziege. As infiltrates Arctus's inner circle (repeatedly, thoroughly and with explicit detail!) and uncovers a plot of deeply terrifying proportions. In the end his role is uncovered and Oswald and Arctus are put at odds, fighting and trying to outsmart each other, all the time with a romantic tension you could cut with a knife.

Oswald utilizes all manner of cunning, gadgets and seduction techniques to win the day at last, tearing down Arctus's organization and preventing the terrible ritual that would have ended in the possession of the King of Damarra by Orcus himself.

At the conclusion, Oswald is given a choice of whether or not to save Arctus- despite all he's done, or let him die in a fiery explosion. He struggles with the choice, but in the end realizes that he cannot compromise in his loyalty to Damara itself, and "The Crimson Thread." So, with a single tear dripping from his eyes, as Arctus pleads behind him, he turns and walks slowly away from the blossoming explosion that destroys Arctus, the last of his cult, and his mansion.

It ends with him having tea with "The Crimson Thread" who slides over a small dossier - his next mission.

A tightly plotted, melodramatic, rather smutty novel that, for all it's many, many flaws is something of a page turner, at least.

There is no indication of who the author is.