The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

At the borders of the empire, contagions are abundant, and leviathans threaten the outer rings. The blood of those same leviathans is a key ingredient in magically transforming people to grant powerful abilities. Dinios “Din” Kol is one of those fortunate enough to have been altered. Due to his extremely enhanced memory skills, he has become an “engraver” and these skills are perfect in his role as a new assistant to Ana Dolabra, perhaps, the greatest living detective. And now that the body of a high-level magistrate has been found, murdered by means of aggressive plants exploding from inside his body, Ana and Din have been assigned the case.

While Ana brings her genius for detective sleuthing, she is also an eccentric who prefers to wear a blindfold most of the time so as to not let her vision interrupt her thinking. Din’s perfect memory is ideal for interrogating suspects and witnesses and is able to “play-back” the facts verbatim if required. Useful in discovering discrepancies, to be sure. The murder mystery is off and running, despite the fact that both Ana and Din have secrets of their own.

Author Robert Jackson Bennett has proven many times before that he is a master at building original fantasy worlds, demonstrating in-depth world-building with all the trappings you’d hope for. This first novel in a new series proves it once again. This is a rich world, with unusual circumstances, cultures, and motivations. The reader is plunged into the middle of it all, but Bennett is adept at providing the knowledge necessary for understanding without resorting to massive info dumps that bog down the plot.

Many reviewers compare the mystery elements of this novel to a Sherlock Holmes/Watson experience, but I think a much better analogy are the works of Rex Stout. Here, Din is the fact finder, the one who goes out and about gathering evidence much like Archie Goodwin. We get most of the story from his perspective. Ana, like Nero Wolfe, largely remains behind and waits for the information to come in where she then analyzes, deduces, and brings her genius to bear.

The entire novel moves along swiftly as more deaths occur, and the danger level rises. Din discovers more about himself but his anxiety over his secret threatens to overwhelm him. I loved discovering new abilities in other characters, engineered enhancements like strength, amazing math skills, and another that I shall not divulge for fear of spoilers. There are numerous characters from all walks of life thrown into the mix and like many fantasy novels, the names are not common to our experience and can be tough to keep track of. This is “smart” fantasy to be sure, neither a D&D adventure nor a Hercule Poirot murder mystery. No matter what you call it, it is exceptional, and certainly a fun read. I look forward to the next book in the series, not only for another complex murder mystery but also to learn more of this unique world.

Highly recommended.

The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive #1) by Brandon Sanderson

This, ladies and gentlemen, is why I read.

I am going to do my best to explain why this one made it into my favorites list which is not easy to do given the total number of books I've read.  First, I will say that I am a relative newcomer to Sanderson's work.  I read the Mistborn Trilogy Boxed Set last year and Elantris earlier this year. I knew after just reading that first Mistborn book that Sanderson would be one of my must-read authors and by the end of that trilogy I had vowed to read everything he writes, even if it means traversing the entire Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan just to get to those final volumes by Sanderson.

I had not actually intended on reading The Way of Kings next, mostly because of the sheer size of it. Size, in and of itself, doesn't bother me and I've read numerous "doorstoppers" before. But they can sometimes seem too drawn out and slow moving and I was simply worried that the same might happen to my beloved Sanderson.

But no, it was not to be. Sanderson has written the near perfect novel here. His world building, as incredible as always, is beyond my ability to describe adequately. While complicated, the cultural, religious, and political systems upon which the plot is developed makes sense and yet still does not divert the reader from where his/her attention should be focused: upon the plot and the characters. Same goes for the magic system that we get to explore with the characters, discovering its nuances at the same time as the characters.

And speaking of characters, many other lengthy books or series in the fantasy genre that I've read suffer from too many characters, too many points-of-view. And there are a lot of characters here as well, but Sanderson chooses to focus on a select few so that we readers don't get bogged down, flipping back pages to try and remember who so-and-so is. And each of his focus characters is intriguing in their own ways. They have complex backgrounds and motivations and none of them are all good or all bad. They are real. And each time a new chapter opened and returned me to that particular character, I would instantly sink into their part of the story.

And the plot. I won't rehash that here; I could never do it justice. Suffice it to say that all the elements of good story-telling are here: intrigue, peril, action, romance, noble honor, dastardly betrayal...I could go on and on. But to put it all together and make it soooo enjoyable requires the genius of Brandon Sanderson. Usually when I read a long work such as this, I churn through the final hundred pages or so to get that feeling of finally conquering that mountain of pages. But with this one I found myself stalling, not wanting it to end, despite its page length. As I write this I actually am feeling a little in withdrawal about the whole thing. And this is the beginning of what is reportedly a 10-book series? 

I know this sounds like total fanboy gushing but reading this novel really did effect me more than 99% of the novels I read. And I'm the type of reader who likes most of what he reads. So if you haven't discovered Sanderson yet, I suggest you still start out with the Mistborn series (at least the first trilogy)  and work your way through from there. 

Highest possible recommendation!

The Eagle (Camulod Chronicles #9) by Jack Whyte

Sigh…and so this wonderful series, very likely my favorite series of all time, comes to its conclusion. 

The 9th and final novel in “The Camulod Chronicles” is centered around and told from the point of view of Clothar, the Gaul from the previous book in the series, and who we know today as Lancelot.  While books 8 and 9 form a duology within the larger series, this one really zeroes in on Clothar’s loyalty and love for Arthur and Camulod (Camelot) with much of the book detailing events of Arthur’s reign as King.  Arthur’s primary goal of uniting the myriad kingdoms, tribes, and factions of Britain into a benevolent and peaceful whole is the background for the novel although we are also treated to Clothar’s activities in Gaul as he acts as Arthur’s representative in building up alliances there as well. It was fascinating to watch how the concepts of knighthood and the games of competition (later to become jousts) developed.

Truth be told, I had long been fretting over this approaching final volume.  The previous books all number among my favorites (with the slight deviation that was book 8) and I was dreading the end.  Not only would it bring to a conclusion, one of my all time (if not THE all-time) favorite series, it would also have to deal with the epic, sad conclusion that we all know from the legend of King Arthur.  Indeed, Mordred is introduced in this volume and the Arthur-Lancelot-Guinevere triangle is dealt with but I will not spoil just how this all plays out.  Suffice it to say that the ending is quite emotional but in an amazingly satisfying way.  The author of this series, Jack Whyte, proves yet again how to take an established mythology, extract the best parts of what makes it a story, make it incredibly realistic (this really might have happened!) and leave a little on the table to grow into its very own mythology.

After closing the final page on this long series of long novels, I simply leaned back in my chair, sighed… and smiled.  I will cherish these books always and never hesitate to recommend them to one and all.

The Lance Thrower (The Camulod Chronicles #8) by Jack Whyte

The final two novels in the Camulod Chronicles (this one and book #9, The Eagle) form a duology within the larger series and are told from the point of view of the young Frank, Clothar. We know him as Lancelot but in keeping with the realistic and historically appropriate method in which this entire series is written, the name Clothar is much more appropriate.

This novel is mostly a coming-of-age novel for Clothar, written in his first person perspective, telling the tale from the viewpoint of his later years as a way to make sure his children understand their own familial history. About a third of it takes place when he is just 10 years old and a student under the tutelage of Germanus (a great character we’ve encountered before) while the rest is from when he is 16-18 years old. It is not until the end that Clothar finally meets up with Merlyn and Arthur, himself.

This overall series has become one of my all-time favorites (of all genres) and so it is with some reluctance that I divulge that this is my least favorite of the series. There is nothing particularly “wrong” with it but to my mind much of it seemed somewhat unnecessary to the overall series. In essence it is very much a stand-alone novel within the larger set, and can be read as such…but the most satisfying parts are where it does intersect with the rest of the series and familiar beloved characters. Alas, these parts are few and I confess I was hoping for more of that, and sooner. However, it does a great job of setting up the important character of Clothar and letting us see how he developed his approach to life, and provide some insightful teasers, all of which will ultimately pay off in the concluding volume, I’m sure.

So now I look forward to The Eagle, albeit with mixed emotions. That’s always the way it is with a truly great series, knowing there is only one left to experience, but I will force myself, somehow, to undertake the task. After all the build-up I’ll finally get to experience the heart of Arthur’s story, in the amazing way that only Jack Whyte can tell it.

Uther (The Camulod Chronicles #7) by Jack Whyte

It was with great reverence and a bit of trepidation that I returned to my reading of the Camulod Chronicles.  The first six novels of this amazing series form a complete series by themselves and I was a little worried that even though I had greatly enjoyed those novels, this next one might be more of a “filler” novel. After all, it tells the story of Uther Pendragon, a life that was already mostly covered during the events of book three, The Eagles' Brood, where he is shown growing up with his cousin Merlyn. The shear length of the book also added to my concern, weighing in at over 900 paperback pages. So… at the risk of suffering through a lengthy filler novel, I plunged in anyway, tossing my fears aside for the simple reason that I trust this author, Jack Whyte, to provide me with yet another amazing novel, much as he had with the first six books.

And he did just that. Most of the first half of the book was, indeed, a repeat of the events of The Eagles' Brood but while that book was told from the first person perspective of Merlyn Britannicus as he looked back on long-ago events, this book was from Uther’s third person perspective as those events unfolded. It’s quite a different viewpoint because the two characters are so different from another. 

The second half of the book covered Uther’s life after leaving Camulod (Camelot) as he becomes King of Cambria and leads his alliance in an aggressive defense against Lot of Cornwall.  These events were not covered in previous books in the series other than a passive mention of Uther being off doing his thing in the West. So I was happy to fill in these holes. We do know the end result of Uther’s campaigns, of course, and so the second half of the book does read a little like a tragedy. But to read of Uther’s actions, his thoughts and growth as a character, his relationship with Ygraine, their child Arthur, the difficulty with dealing with various allies as Uther tries to counter the devious Lot… all of that was truly awesome.

Historical novels that center on warfare can often get bogged down in endless battles but the battles that take place in the final 200 pages of this book were absolutely intriguing. To watch Uther’s brilliance at overcoming difficult odds, designing a new brand of warfare when desperately needed, and demonstrate ideal leadership qualities was extremely fulfilling. The battles themselves are like a combination of a strategic chess match and well-choreographed action sequences filled with all the bloody horror one would expect from up close and personal sword play, flails impacting helmets, pounding horse hooves, etc. I never once felt bogged down or wished for the plot to speed up even though this is a very long novel. But don’t get the impression this is strictly a war novel. That’s really only a small part of Uther’s life and of this novel.

Once again, a Jack Whyte novel gets my highest recommendation. But definitely start at the beginning of the series (The Skystone) in order to be privy to the numerous interactions and history leading up to the rise of Arthur himself. Only two more books to go in the larger series and I am already dreading the moment when I will have turned the last page.

The Sorcerer: Metamorphosis (Camulod Chronicles #6) by Jack Whyte

This is the sixth and final novel in the main “Camulod Chronicles” series which tells the story of Arthur, Merlyn, and the rest from a historically realistic and scientifically plausible way. (There are three other books still to come in the series but they are companion pieces to this main set).

This book sees the culmination of all of the fascinating history that has led up to the final crowning of Arthur, making him the king of kings in England.  But it begins when Arthur is still only around 14 years old with Merlyn continuing with his education.  While Arthur is technically the reason for this entire series, it is once again, not really about him.  Once again, Merlyn relates the events from a first person perspective and follow along with his extraordinary life.  There are some slowish parts in the first half of the book, mostly surrounding discussions of the influx of Christianity, but they are necessary to the way the final chapters unfold.  Merlyn undergoes his own metamorphosis in this book, becoming the more traditional version of the sorcerer we think of today.  Of course, just like the rest of this series, it isn’t actual magic but rather his intelligent use of natural chemicals and techniques that allows him to be seen as performing acts of great sorcery and thus his reputation as a sorcerer is born.

A very satisfying conclusion to one of my all-time favorite “historical-fantasy” series.  I look forward to turning now to the companion novels, which I understand describe many of the same events but from different perspectives.

The Fort at River's Bend (Camulod Chronicles #5) by Jack Whyte

The fifth novel in The Camulod Chronicles finally gets to the education of Arthur by his mentor and surrogate father, Merlyn.  It covers the period of time where young Arthur is aged 8 through 15, very formative years indeed.  It’s also, perhaps, the most idyllic novel in the entire series.  The end of the last book, "The Saxon Shore", saw an assassination attempt on young Arthur’s life so Merlyn and a small group of trusted friends and protectors make their way secretly to an old abandoned fort not far from Hadrian’s Wall.  There, Merlyn and company undertake the duties of educating Arthur and forming the man who will become the great king of all Britain.  It’s almost a utopian novel in fact as there is only enough danger to the group to keep their skills up and provide key lessons for Arthur and his young companions and virtually no threats from outside political forces. This peaceful time also allows Merlyn to make some welcome changes in his own outlook on life and to recover from the loss of his wife. The end of the novel makes it clear that those circumstances will soon be changing as the group must return to Camulod (Camelot) to face new threats from old enemies.

This novel, as with all the others so far in the series, is a non-magical version of the Arthurian tale. It’s basically pure historical fiction with all of the tropes of magical Merlin, Excalibur, the Lady of the Lake, etc. all told via realistic explanations. The only caveat to this are some dreams that Merlyn has occasionally that seem to foretell what will come.  

The book is told from Merlyn’s first person point of view, from a time long after the events depicted.  This allows him to provide foreshadowing here and there but nothing that would surprise anybody who knows the basics of Arthurian lore. It’s also great fun to read how Merlyn excuses his own behavior when he has been foolish or stubborn.  

These novels are awesome and I really am savoring each and every one.  I seem to go through actual withdrawal when I complete one so I’m glad there are still several more to go.

Paperback Fantastic Vol 2 - Fantasy - edited by Justin Marriott

The second of three projected ‘zines in Justin Marriott’s “Paperback Fantastic” series is devoted to fantasy fiction. The first issue focused on Science Fiction while the third will target horror fiction. As expected, this second issue matches the slick product of the first with another great cover designed by Bill Cunningham. 

The bulk of the book is allocated to reviews of fantasy fiction through the ages, although most tend to gear towards the 'sword and sorcery' or ‘sword and sandal’ stories ala Conan, Fafhred and the Gray Mouser, Elric, and Brak the Barbarian. Many of the authors represented here are house-hold names like Edgar Rice Burroughs, H. Rider Haggard, Andrew J. Offutt, Michael Moorcock, Fritz Leiber, and of course, Robert E. Howard. Naturally, there are many names you may be less familiar with. Eleven different reviewers offer their opinions in thoughtful reviews (Full Disclosure once again: I’m one of them), and even when I disagreed, I was pleased to see good supporting arguments as to why the reviewers felt as they did. Above all, they are informative. 

Along with the interesting reviews are a number of “Fantastic Factoids”. These are two-page spreads that spotlight themes or cover artists. These include subjects such as “DAW and Tarzan”, “Flashing Swords”, “Dray Prescott”, “Fantasy Femmes” and “Fantastic Stories”.

A real bonus in this volume (just as in the first issue) is the full color artwork. Almost every review is accompanied by a full color depiction of the cover. Again, the covers chosen aren’t necessarily the ones you’ve seen and known from the bookstore shelves. They offer a full mix of UK and US covers as well as some from other countries. Sometimes, several covers are presented representing different styles and artists for the same book/comic. Additionally, each cover presented includes details of the artist and other facts about the book’s history.

As always, these products offer a great way to get a sampling of a specific genre. Fantasy fans will soak this up while those who’ve only ever wondered about what this genre is all about will find plenty to whet their appetites. 

Highly recommended.

Eagle Sage (Lon Tobyn Chronicles #3) by David B. Coe

David Coe does an excellent job of completing the Lon Tobyn Chronicle trilogy, begun in "Children of Amarid", followed by "The Outlanders". I had expected this final volume to bring war between the two parts of the known world: Tobyn-Ser and Lon-Ser. After all, the first two volumes of the trilogy seemed to be setting that up. And indeed, war seems to be coming as the plot details the arrival of an Eagle, binding to a mage which historically has only occurred when a war leader is required. But no. Coe masterfully takes us in an altogether different direction, capitalizing on major events from the first book which I had believed to be resolved.

Taken as a whole, this trilogy has truly been a hidden gem. It’s traditional fantasy to be sure but original in concept and well executed. There are no elves or dwarves, no plots derived from D&D game systems. David Coe holds a PhD in History, a background that I can’t help but feel was valuable in the world building. The social and political structures are realistic despite this being a fantasy world. The characters are well developed and engaging and even though there are a lot of them they are all genuine and memorable. I still find it difficult to believe these books were the debut novels by this author. As I noted on a previous review of book one, the version I read shows a copyright date of 2000 (mass market paperback published in 2001). Since that time, per the author, all three of the the books in the Lon Tobyn Chronicles have been re-released from Lore Seekers Press and include a thorough edit with improvements to prose, syntax, etc. However, none of the story or character development was altered.

As a fan of the author’s "Thieftaker" novels and stories under the pen name D.B. Jackson I had wanted to try his traditional fantasy.  Frankly, I was skeptical because the covers look like most of the other ‘80’s and 90’s fantasy tomes and I have struggled with many of those in recent years. But there is something to be said for this sort of fantasy. It’s not grimdark or dystopian fantasy and you’ll not find much in the way of foul language littering the pages. Just an excellent fantasy story that you could read aloud to your 10-year-old or your grandmother.

Very glad I took this chance. I’ll be reading more from Mr. Coe.

The Saxon Shore (The Camulod Chronicles #4) by Jack Whyte

I continue to marvel at this series, enjoying every minute of reading it even though the individual books seem to be getting longer and longer.  Topping over 700 pages, this volume is not a quick read but I’m fine with that because while the richness of the story spurns me on to read faster, the atmosphere and Jack Whyte’s style of writing compel me to read slower just so I can spend more time with it.  Yeah…it’s one of those.

The final chapters of the previous book in the series, "The Eagles' Brood" end with Merlyn’s rescuing the newborn baby, Arthur Pendragon and I had assumed this novel would be mostly about Arthur’s education while growing up.  Instead, almost the entire book is devoted to but one year in the lives of these characters, with Arthur only putting in a cameo appearance now and then.  Only in the last 50 pages or so does time advance swiftly and allow us to see Arthur at the age of 7 and 8 years old, already exhibiting signs of the leader he will become. The bulk of the book revolves around Merlyn’s laying the political groundwork and gaining alliances for the coming of Arthur’s leadership in the future. Of course there is much that occurs to Merlyn and his companions along the way, both good and bad.

I think with this volume I have discovered one aspect of the overall series that makes it truly special for me.  Of course I enjoyed all of the standard aspects of high quality writing that makes a book an excellent read: strong fleshed out characters, well-paced plotting, etc. etc.  But these novels also allow the reader to see the world building actually happening on the page. I always love a novel with a well thought-out and developed world and usually remark on that in my reviews. But Jack Whyte has taken it one step further by allowing us readers to view the world being built by the characters themselves.  Whether it is the discovery of new techniques for breeding horses, advancements in weaponry (including Merlyn’s accidental discovery of what will become the jousting pole), or even societal advancements like new ways of governing the people, or evolving religious competition, it all unfolds for us and we get to be a part of it. I liken it to one of my favorite types of computer games: builder games like Civilization.

It is tempting to classify this series as straight historical fiction rather than fantasy even though it is the story of Arthur, Merlin, Camelot, etc. There is no fantasy here at all (other than the phenomenon of predictive dreams that Merlyn is blessed/cursed with). Merlyn’s reputation as a sorcerer is growing but it is simply because of tricks or misunderstandings about what people actually see. The author has done a marvelous job of removing the fantasy from this fantastical tale and making it almost entirely pure historical fiction of 5th century Britain.

On to book number 5, "The Fort at River's Bend".

Furies of Calderon (The Codex Alera series) by Jim Butcher

I’ve been a fan of Jim Butcher for a number of years now, having poured through the Dresden Files books and stories. While waiting for more to come out, I decided to give this series a try as well, having heard many good things about it.  I always wonder if an author that is known for a certain style of writing (modern day humorous urban fantasy) can pull off a switch to something else (traditional epic fantasy).  Some might think these categories are both “fantasy” and conclude they really aren’t that different, but I would disagree.  Writing a crime/action thriller akin to Steve Berry or David Baldacci would be closer to a Harry Dresden novel than traditional epic fantasy.

So does he pull it off?  I would answer with a resounding “yes” to that question.  This is the first novel in a series of six books but is a complete story in itself with a beginning, middle, and an end.  In my mind many fantasy writers today forget that and write a single story spread over three or four books. This one certainly has lead-ins to follow-on books but if a reader were to stop here, I think they would be quite satisfied.

The magic system is pretty interesting and reminds me a lot of the sort of stuff Brandon Sanderson would devise.  It’s not fully explained but we know enough to follow along with the action.  That goes for the world building in general too.  I feel like I know a little about one corner of this world and that works well here.  No big info dumps to wade through on geopolitical systems or religious hierarchies or lengthy explanations of the flora and fauna.  The characters were well developed and I felt drawn to them, even the bad guys.  There is some gray here, fortunately.  I always appreciate it when antagonists are fully realized and may only be “bad” because they have different perspectives than the “good” characters.

There are some lengthy battle scenes, which may bog down the narrative for some people.  I’ve noticed this with the later Dresden books too.  Seems like Butcher can get carried away with those and sometimes they seem too long.  But the characters’ individual stories are all tied in to the action and the unexpected relationships that develop during these action sequences are a treat.

All in all, this was a wonderful beginning to the series and I am looking forward to following on with these characters in their adventures to come.

Murder in Absentia (Felix the Fox #1) by Assaph Mehr

It's always fun to discover an intriguing concept for a novel and then see it executed so well. Here is a novel that combines a fantasy setting based on ancient Rome with a murder mystery. 

Felix is a professional investigator, an expert at retrieving information and putting together clues to solve crimes. A Roman PI, if you will. But he’s more than that because in this world of dark magic, he must understand those arts as well. When a young man is found dead, with a horrid, twisted look on his face, it is clear such dark forces have had their way with him. The dead man’s father happens to be a senator who suspects foul play so Felix is called on to the case.

The author of this book, Assaph Mehr, has done a remarkable job here. The world building alone is worth the price of admission. His descriptions of the Roman-like cities, structures, people, etc. are superb and provide a genuine flavor of what could be a real place. There are numerous “Roman” words used like Canicula, Gladius, Triclinium, and Pharos. Some are straight out of the actual language and some are fictional terms made up for this novel. There is a handy glossary included but frankly, I never felt the need to use it because the context was sufficient to understand the meanings. 

The magic system is entirely practical. It is also subtle, always there in the background but never hammering us with massive magical battles or detailed spell weaving. It blends in with the overall story very well, not stealing the thunder from the actual story of solving a murder. In fact, while this book is classified as a "fantasy", it reads more like historical mystery. As for solving the crime, that is also blended in well with the colorful cultural depictions and personalities we meet along the way. The solution is certainly not obvious and I had to wait until the final denouement when Felix gathers all the relevant parties ala Hercule Poirot to disclose the solution.

A fun novel all the way around, smartly written and begging for a sequel.  Thankfully, there is one, and hopefully more on the way.

The Outlanders (The Lon Tobyn Chronicles) by David B. Coe

The second book in the “Lon Tobyn Chronicles” picks up approximately four years after the events of book one, "Children of Amarid". One of the main characters from that first book has spent much of those four years interrogating their only prisoner from the attacks of the neighboring lands of Lon-Ser. He convinces his friends in the Order of Mages that is in their best interest to attempt to form a peaceful coexistence with that land but others within the Order are not inclined to agree. The resulting internal struggle forms the beginning of much drama that unfolds in this second novel.

Once again, the author does an excellent job of world-building, this time concentrating on Lon-Ser which is a much more advanced civilization than the rather typical fantasy setting of Tobyn-Ser introduced in book one. Their use of mechanical and technological advancements would grant them a huge advantage in any conflict. But such advancements of course, do not prevent individuals from craving power and prestige and thus their political leaders often advance by assassinating their predecessors. 

This novel does suffer a tiny bit from “middle book” syndrome. While I enjoyed the settings, the characters, and the plot development, I knew there was a final novel still to come. So the climactic moments, while nicely done, were perhaps a little less climactic than what will likely be the case in book three.  Having said that though, I greatly look forward to that final novel to see how all these characters interact and whether or not peace will reign.

The Eagles' Brood (Camulod Chronicles) by Jack Whyte

Once again I am marveling at this series known as “The Camulod Chronicles,“, the vast epic story of the Legends of King Arthur, but told as historical novels rather than fantasy.  This is a series to savor over time rather than rush through from one book to the next, tempted as I am to do so simply because of the fantastic storytelling and pure reading enjoyment.

This third volume starts a new “chapter” in the series as we have moved on to a new generation in the larger story.  The first two books are told from the viewpoint of Publius Varrus, but now we turn to events from his nephew’s perspective, Caius Merlyn Britannicus.  That’s right…the Merlin of legend is now the narrator of the story but this is not the long white bearded old wizard we often think of, at least not yet.  He is a warrior and leader of men, much like his cousin and best friend, Uther Pendragon.

This novel is a transitional book in the series as it takes us through the lives of the young Merlyn and Uther and ends with the discovery of a young 7-8 week old infant by the name of Arthur.  But more than that, the largely idyllic story heretofore of the building of the Colony of Camulod (Camelot) and the advancement of ideas and invention has morphed into the inevitable war torn strife of our heroes defending against the invading Saxons and others.  Much more about wars and battles in this one, and consequently more brutal than the first two, culminating in the final battles between Uther and Lot of Cornwall.  It’s also transitional in other ways as Merlyn’s encounters with influential people he meets during his travels alter his perspectives on religion, culture, and the motivations of countries.  He comes to realize, for example, that the invading Saxons, whom he has always thought of as inherently evil, are really no different than his own ancestors, the Romans, who also invaded the British Isles. No doubt these sorts of realizations will greatly affect his influence on Arthur.

I love the way the author presents a wonderful sweeping saga of a story, building in all of the familiar aspects of the legend but keeping it all at such a rich personal level.  A hint of magic does sneak into this one in the form of a few Merlyn’s dreams but they are more prescience than sorcery.  I really want to know how these same events unfolded from Uther’s perspective but alas I will have to wait, for Uther doesn’t get his own book until #7 in the series.  Meanwhile I greatly look forward to the next installment, The Saxon Shore, wherein I hope to discover just what sort of adventures Merlyn will be having with his new ward, baby Arthur.

Children of Amarid by David B. Coe

The people of Tobyn-Ser have a long history of trusting and relying upon the benevolent actions of an order of mages known as the Children of Amarid. But now, this trust is rapidly eroding as crops are destroyed, villages are burned, and innocent people are being killed, seemingly at the hands of these same mages. Are these renegade mages at work or is it something more dire? A young man named Jaryd, newly recognized as a mage, finds himself at the center of the effort to unmask the nature of the evil invading their lands.

I was introduced to the works of author David Coe through his Thieftaker novels and stories, written under the name D.B. Jackson. I liked them so much that I’ve wanted to go back and try his more traditional fantasy and I’m very happy I did. This book is actually his very first published novel and is the first part of the “LonTobyn” trilogy. I found it to be an excellent read with vivid characters and an interesting plot. The world building is nice, as is the magic system. It is not without the sort of flaws that one might expect from a first novel, however. For example, I thought it could have used a bit more focus in some areas and occasionally the plot was uneven and meandered a little too much. There was also quite a bit of background presented in fairly large info dumps, but he handled this in clever ways such as through a story from somebody or a lesson for Jaryd, allowing us to learn about some of the history right along with him. 

But these are nitpicky issues, far outweighed by the sheer fun of reading a traditional fantasy novel filled with as much hopefulness as peril. It’s not “grimdark” fantasy or hard-boiled; you’ll find no f-bombs here. In style it resembles Raymond Feist’s “Riftwar” series. I like almost all kinds of fantasy and relish variety so have no problems with grimdark, etc. But it is nice every once in a while, to read a smooth-flowing fantasy yarn that doesn’t leave you with a feeling of dread.

So, I offer my strongest compliment I can ever give to a first book in a series: I can’t wait to read the next one.

Updated: The version I read is dated 1998 but per the author, all three of the LonTobyn Chronicles have been re-released from Lore Seekers Press. After a thorough edit, making improvements to prose, syntax, etc. but not to story or character development, some 20,000 words have been pruned from this first volume. My comments about a meandering and uneven plot are likely no longer relevant. 

The Singing Sword (The Camulod Chronicles) by Jack Whyte

The second book in the “Camulod Chronicles” picks up shortly after the events of the first book, The Skystone.  It continues the tale of Caius Britannicus and Publius Varrus (both great grandfathers of the future King Arthur of Briton) as they continue to build the colony of Camulod during the turn of the 5th century AD, when Rome was pulling out of Briton and leaving the Brits, the Celts, and other assorted peoples to deal with various invading groups such as the Saxons and the Northmen.

I love the way this series is a truly accurate historical novel series, at this point at least, that also just happens to be related to the Arthurian legends.  As the colony of Camulod gets established, we get to see major historical events and influences unfold.  For example, due to the need for mobility in responding to threats, the art of warfare using horses is advanced.  Rome was never known for its cavalry but now there is a need for well-trained warriors on horses.  A breeding program is introduced to increase the size of the horses, the stirrup is introduced, and the swords are lengthened to allow use from horseback.  All of these developments are actual historical occurrences.  We also get to witness the first rough efforts to convert a Senate-like council meeting where elitism prevails to a newer style of local government in the form of a round circle of chairs where all have an equal voice.  I think we all know where this will lead to in an Arthurian sense.

But more importantly, this is a well-told tale.  Just as in the first novel, this is a first person account by Publius Varrus, a former legionnaire, partly crippled through a battle injury, and now a master blacksmith.  One might correctly guess from the title that he is the eventual crafter of Excalibur.  His first person point of view lends a great perspective on bringing these great events down to the individual level and allowing the everyday life of families, lovers, builders, etc. to be as personal and emotional for the reader as it is for him.  Great and satisfying personal achievements are matched by great loss and even tragedy.  It is rare when a fictional novel brings a tear to my eye but this one managed to do it.

All of these great historical shifts in thinking and technique take many years.  The first two novels cover most of Caius and Publius’s long lives but it is inevitable that we move on.  I’m excited for the third book in the series The Eagles' Brood where I understand that Publius’s grandson takes over the first person account.  His name is Caius Merlyn Britannicus, first cousin of Uther Pendragon. 

The Skystone (The Camulod Chronicles) by Jack Whyte

This book is the first novel in the “Camulod” series, a nine book set that encompasses the Arthurian mythos from a historical perspective rather than a “fantasy” perspective.  I had been reluctant to begin, even though I had heard plenty of good things about the entire series.  This was mostly due to the fact that I have read numerous Arthurian accounts, many of them relatively recently, and was unsure of starting yet another one.

So glad I did give it a try though!  Right from the beginning it reminded me of perhaps my favorite Arthurian series, Bernard Cornwell’s "Warlord Chronicles".  That is to say, this book started out with gritty warfare told from the perspective of the Roman warriors on the front lines, down in the dirt and mud, fighting for their legates, their legionnaires, and for the glory of Rome.  The story begins in the final days of the Roman Empire in Briton (~375 AD – 425 AD) and involves several flashback sequences that help establish the two major characters for the novel, Publius Varrus and Caius Brittanicus, both solid Roman soldiers.  A career-ending injury to Publius leads to major changes and we quickly pull back from the day-to-day soldiering and begin to see the larger picture of what everyday life was like for citizens in Roman Briton during that era.  By the end of the book we get to experience even larger issues as we live through what amounts to the abandonment of Briton by the Roman Empire, just after the overrunning of Hadrian’s Wall and the final shake-up of emperors.

  The story is told from Publius’ first person POV as he transforms his life from soldier to blacksmith.  There is not a clue that we are in the Arthurian world throughout the first half of the book…it’s pure historical fiction.  And excellent historical fiction it is.  Well-rounded characters I came to care about and worthy goals I hoped they could achieve.  Publius’ quest for Skystones (meteor rocks) is the central driving force but it is not until the second half of the book that we get some clues that this is taking place several generations before Arthur and the gang’s appearance.  It is fascinating to read how terms such as dragon's nests, the Lady of the Lake and the Pendragon clan are introduced via perfectly natural non-fantasy methods.  No magic what-so-ever in this book.

I suspect this entire series will be a fascinating read.  I expect we will see Whyte continue to incorporate traditional Arthurian names, places and events as well as the names of various historical figures that have been suggested as being the possible basis for the original King Arthur legend. This implies, of course, that Whyte's version of history is the true story that has become distorted over time to become the legend and stories of magic that we know today.  It should be a great ride.

The Bloody Crown of Conan by Robert E. Howard

This book compiles three of Robert E. Howard's longer Conan works, including the only full length Conan novel that he ever wrote, "The Hour of the Dragon."  It also contains "The People of the Black Circle" as well as "A Witch Shall Be Born" which contains probably the most famous scene in all of Conan literature: the one where he gets nailed to a tree, crucified really, and left to the mercy of the hungry vultures and the elements.  As the title implies, all three stories are from Conan's later days, when he is king.  

As in all of these Del Rey editions of Howard's work, the book also contains several untitled synopsis (synopses? synopsizes?), fragments, etc. as well as a thought-provoking essay on Howard and his life and times as it pertains to the included stories.

I think the noble nature of Conan really comes out in these stories, particularly in "The Hour of the Dragon".  When Conan has the opportunity to conquer a neighboring kingdom he says, "Let others dream imperial dreams. I but wish to hold what is mine.  I have no desire to rule an empire welded together by blood and fire.  It's one thing to seize a throne with the aid of its subjects and rule them with their consent.  It's another to subjugate a foreign realm and rule it by fear."  As Patrice Louinet says in the essay, "Whoever had the idea of retitling Howard's novel, 'Conan the Conqueror' had evidently not understood its theme: Conan is anything but a conqueror by nature."

Enjoyable reading and, of course, absolutely required reading for Conan enthusiasts.

Bran Mak Morn - The Last King by Robert E. Howard

Before Conan, before Solomon Kane, and even before Kull of Atlantis, there was Bran Mak Morn, King of the Picts.  In fact, Bran was the second main character ever developed by Robert E. Howard, second only to Francis X. Gordon (El Borak).  This book contains several stories about Bran as well as numerous fragments, untitled/unsold stories, essays, letters (most notably to and from Weird Tales magazine and Howard’s buddy, H.P. Lovecraft), etc. that help to define REH’s life-long interest in the Picts.

The more pulp fiction that I read, the more I have come to appreciate Howard’s work.  His historical research and in-depth understanding of history, its peoples and cultures, all led to stories that have a genuine ring of actual historical texture to them, even for those stories that are part of his imaginary history.  The Picts are a perfect example, described in this book in an authentic manner while also appearing in Conan’s Hyborian age stories.  Often, they are the enemy race and easily maligned so for Howard to create a character such as Bran Mak Morn that will lead such a people, was perhaps risky but also admirable. 

These stories were written early in Howard’s career and as such there is inconsistency among them.  I wish Howard had developed Bran more thoroughly through additional stories but alas, Conan came along and that market drove Howard’s output for several years and put an end to Bran.  A couple of the stories in this volume have very small roles for Bran himself and tend to concentrate on co-characters or take a wide-angle lens approach to the history of the era.  It seems as if Howard’s penchant for research was translating itself directly into the story, rather than developing a typical plot structure that we might expect.  This book includes those stories for the sake of completeness, even though the pulp magazines didn’t buy them. As such, while I heartily recommend this book to Howard readers (indeed, necessary reading), for others who are simply looking for another Conan-style character, I would still encourage diving into these stories simply on their own merits…just expect a different experience.

Flashing Swords! 2 (Lin Carter - editor)

From the 1960’s on into the 1980’s, a group of fantasy authors participated in a somewhat loosely organized association they called “Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America” or SAGA. It was an informal group begun by Lin Carter and meant to promote the appreciation of the sword and sorcery sub-genre of fantasy fiction. This book collects four long stories by the group’s members, all of which depict their own on-going series characters:

1) “The Rug and the Bull” by L. Sprague de Camp features a Pusadian tale

2) “The Jade Man’s Eyes” by Michael Moorcock features his anti-hero, Elric

3) “Toads of Grimmerdale” by Andre Norton, a Witch World story

4) “Ghoul’s Garden” by John Jakes, a Brak the Barbarian entry

All four stories were good ones even though I hadn’t read any of the larger works by several of these authors. I suppose if I had read some Witch World before, for example, I might have appreciated the characters, the settings, the lore, etc. even more. But as it was they all worked sufficiently for those readers who have no prior anchor points. My favorite of them all was the Brak story, perhaps because I have read those. These are iconic series and characters and I enjoyed the chance to sample those that were new to me.