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Fool's Errand (Tawny Man book 1) by Robin Hobb
01/05/2004 . Source: Sana Master 
pub: Bantam. 688 page paperback. Price: £7.99 (UK). ISBN: 0553582445. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check out website: www.booksattransworld.co.uk
This book marks the beginning of the 'Tawny Man' series, a new trilogy in the Farseer universe. The first three ended with the successful continuation of the reign of the Farseer kings. The protagonist FitzChivalry, the abdicated King's bastard son and sometime royal assassin, 'died' and creating himself an alternate identity retired from court.
The first novel, 'Fool's Errand', begins with Fitz's new existence as a solitary hermit known as Tom Badgerlock, living with his adopted son, Hap, and the wolf he is bonded to, Nighteyes. In many ways, the beginning of this novel is a retrospective of the events that occurred at the end of the last trilogy.
Tom seems to be a much older man, still plagued with the addictive and painful skill magic that is his legacy from the Farseer line and not wholly content with this life that he has chosen. This seems to be the primary underlying theme in all of Tom's thoughts. He is torn between his duty to the throne and being able to choose how he wants to live his life.
The first trilogy Tom spent desperately trying to take control of his own life and he retires with evident relief, but this novel opens with his nagging discontent. His rural life is disrupted with news of the abduction of the Farseer heir and a plea from the Regent for his help in secretly recovering the prince in time for his betrothal to a foreign princess.
Through pride, he attempts to hide from this dissatisfaction and procrastinates endlessly about returning to life at court. Once Tom comes to terms with the end of his peaceful existence, he returns. No longer the feted bastard son, but as an anonymous guardsman. FitzChivalry, the royal assassin, was 'executed' in the first trilogy.
The plot threads in this novel are skilfully twisted presenting a story that draws the reader in much as a spider does with its web. This method is characteristic of Hobb. I remember the first Farseer trilogy being as addictive as Fitz's skill magic. This was a trait of the 'Liveship Traders' trilogy and I re-discovered my hunger when I began reading this, 'The Tawny Man' series.
Hobb has a way with plot that induces you to forget your entire life for the duration of the novel. Her characters are well drawn and realistic but, in many ways, they are anti-heroic. Fitz has led a life hidden in the walls of Buckeep, he has many secrets and killing for the crown is just one of them. The brutality and bestiality he brings with him to the increasingly civilised court of the Farseers is a shock to many of the characters and, to some extent, he seems out of place. He forces acceptance in ways that a predator, such as his bond animal, the wolf, would.
This wildness is a trait that marks him as the bastard he is, in a way implying that by not being constrained by the bounds of legitimacy, he is not fully civilised. He is an intriguing character, by turns likeable and detestable but never incomprehensible because the reader rides in his head. Other characters are often shocked at Fitz but the reader, as Fitz, is secure in knowing he has done his best.
Hobb's second trilogy, 'The Liveship Traders', is set in the same world as the Farseers, but the two stories did not really meet. In this novel, Hobb begins drawing the threads of the two together and the reader learns of characters that were once familiar. It is like hearing news of an old friend you are not in touch with anymore. It is done skilfully and so their lives touch briefly but go no further.
Robin Hobb is an author whose manipulation of the written word is masterful, 'Fool's Errand' is a good read and time well spent.
Sana Master
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