ISBN: 0-446-52132-9 Order from: Amazon.com
This start of a fantasy series features a somewhat novel hero in a pretty standard quest, benefiting from exotic and magical world, but lacking in excitement and suspense.
Reviewed by David on September 13, 1998
Genre: Fantasy (Quest)
Synopsis: When a man washed ashore after a sea battle makes a request of a tribal herdsman and some-time shaman before dying in his arms, Etjole feels compelled by his honor to try to complete the dead man's mission. Unfortunately, this means abandoning his family and village, and going nearly across the world to save a woman from an evil and sorcerous captor. Etjole's reluctant quest gathers a couple of unusual companions, and pits him against strange and magical obstacles.
Full Review: Despite the tradition of honoring the dying men's wishes, most people in the poor village resembling sub-Saharan Africa would have considered the request impossible, and stayed at home. But Etjole is as honorable as he is determined. Bidding reluctant good-buys to his wife, two children, cattle and his birth village, Etjole sets on the long quest north with a few weapons, a supply of trading beads, some dried food and water. Etjole is a simple and almost painfully honest man. But he is not without wisdom, and, despite frequently admitting ignorance of the much larger and more sophisticated world outside his village, he is well equipped to handle its perils and trials.
On the way, Etjole saves a greedy mercenary and a large cat, who become his companions. Rarely passing an opportunity to help a human—or otherwise—folk in need of assistance, Etjole steadfastly continues on his quest—for he wants to complete is as soon as possible and return back to his family and his simple village. And woe betide those who stand in the way of this simple herdsman, whether human or monster, demon or a beautiful woman.
This is clearly the first book of a series and cannot stand on its own. The hero is somewhat novel, being a mature man with teenage children, unlikely to look for emotional entanglements. The perils and sights on the way are suitably exotic: sentient monkeys, walking walls, malicious tornadoes and carnivorous mirages. There is even an ironic encounter with a stretch of a modern freeway.
There are some Gulliver-like elements in the quest, complete with in-jokes and tiny human-like creatures. Apparently most animals, and not a few of natural phenomena, are sentient and can converse with the hero, fairy tale-like. The humorous superficiality of the world, together with an interesting but dispassionate hero, detracts from the emotional content of the novel.
Overall: 5.5; Plot: 6; Characters: 5.5; Style: 5; World-building: 6; Originality: 6;
Copyright date 1998, Warner Books (Aspect), June 1998, Cloth, 344 pages
ISBN: 0-446-52132-9 Order from: Amazon.com