THE SPRING OF THE RAM

Book Two of Dunnett's series begun with Niccolo Rising (1986); here, it's 1461 and Nicholas (also Niccolo), our 19-year-old entrepreneur—the self-made former apprentice of Book One—sets sail from Italy for an exotic hotbed of East-West trade. Nicholas' goal: Trebizond, the Greek stronghold on the Black Sea, where dye-makings, raw silks, and other temptations outshine the threat of fierce Turks. Having procured—through wit and shrewd bargaining—the sponsorship of Cosimo de' Medici, Nicholas finds his initial days at sea marred by a dreadful discovery: his young stepdaughter Catherine has been seduced by—illegally "married" to—his tricky competitor, good-looking Pagano Doria, who trades for Genoa. After a multi-adventure voyage, both Nicholas and Doria achieve their destination and begin currying favor with Trebizond's decadent emperor David. Sultan Mehmet, though, has gathered troops: Will he squander energy fighting Sinope and/or the White Sheep tribe, or will he attack Trebizond? While this is being debated, Nicholas goes on an exploratory expedition and is nearly murdered by the treacherous Doria (who then exploits Nicholas' missing-in-action status and tries to claim, through Catherine, his company). But Nicholas is really scheming with the White Sheep gang, getting first dibs on the Asian trade caravan, and plotting, always plotting. As the Ottoman armies strangle Trebizond, Nicholas and gang—rebel Catherine in tow—slip away, disguised as Turks, in their treasure-stuffed ships. As always, Dunnett (the Francis of Lymond series, etc.) is literate, witty, and sure in her scholarship. A cumbersome snarl of names, places and plot twists will daunt some; but, on the whole, this mix of colorful characters, thrill-a-minute intrigues and 15th-century scenery makes rich fare for genre fans.