[Dragaera] Juicy speculation for you all on The Last Contract

[Steve Rapaport]

I just put this on the Lyorn Records and thought I'd share it for comment.

I've included older text for context:

*The Last Contract* will be the last book in the Vlad
Taltos<http://dragaera.wikia.com/wiki/Vlad_Taltos>series. The obvious
question is, what's the contract? Presumably, the
"contract" refers to work <http://dragaera.wikia.com/wiki/Work> that Vlad
will perform, but on whom?

One obvious suggestion is, one of the gods<http://dragaera.wikia.com/wiki/God>.
After all, he's picked up Godslayer<http://dragaera.wikia.com/wiki/Godslayer>,
it seems logical that at some point he'll use it. (Plus there's always
Chekhov's
Law <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chekhov%27s_gun>)

Another possibility: "the last contract" may be the last contract taken out
*against* Vlad. Okay, unlikely, but there *are* still an awful lot of people
out there who want him dead.

Yet another: Either or both of the above plus a surprise twist ending.
Author fakes us out by including a contract for Vlad, and/or a contract
against him, then reinterprets "contract" in a less sinister way that's more
significant to the world's fate. For example, the last contract might be an
agreement involving Kieron <http://dragaera.wikia.com/wiki/Kieron> and the
gods <http://dragaera.wikia.com/wiki/God> and brokered by Vlad, ultimately
resolving relations between
Dragaera<http://dragaera.wikia.com/wiki/Dragaera>and the East, giving
Easterners <http://dragaera.wikia.com/wiki/Easterner> access to Deathgate
Falls <http://dragaera.wikia.com/wiki/Deathgate_Falls>, or making them part
of the Cycle <http://dragaera.wikia.com/wiki/Cycle>, or some other momentous
change.

Such an ending would not only give impetus and conclusion to the series as a
whole, but neatly encapsulate Vlad's career arc beginning as an assassin,
but concluding as a power broker and master negotiator with the gods,
surpassing even his previous work as
Dolivar<http://dragaera.wikia.com/wiki/Dolivar>.
(Otherwise, you'd wonder why Vlad was more worth a series than Dolivar!)

If it is really to be a happy ending, he might even find a solution for the
East that pleases Cawti <http://dragaera.wikia.com/wiki/Cawti> and
Kelly<http://dragaera.wikia.com/wiki/Kelly>,
and effect a reconciliation.

Of course Zelazny never worried too much about tying up all loose ends or
making everyone happy, and Brust may not either...
-- 
\Steve