This book starts as a fantasy book with a strange king who keeps forgetting things after he has an episode and his acolytes who don't seem to be too keen for him to remember what he forgot. They keep bringing in candidates for a queen, but this always seems to fail.

Without giving too many spoilers, let me note that the book transforms into science-fiction about halfway through the story. We find out why the king is having the episodes, who these helpers who seem to be helpless themselves are etc.

An Interesting story and an interesting twist.