Fools Errand is a welcome return by Robin Hobb to the world of FitzChivalry Farseer and until I started reading it I did not realise how much I had missed the hero and cast of the Farseer Trilogy. Fitz is now believed dead by everyone bar a chosen few and answers to the name of Tom Badgerlock. ... Read review
Advantages: It is an excellent piece of Fantasy Disadvantages: Something really sad happens
Fools Errand is a welcome return by Robin Hobb to the world of FitzChivalry Farseer and until I started reading it I did not realise how much I had missed the hero and cast of the Farseer Trilogy. Fitz is now believed dead by everyone bar a chosen few and answers to the name of Tom Badgerlock. His life, he believes before the events start, is content, he raises Hap and strives to create a history of the Six Duchies. Then Chade his former mentor reenters ... ...and danger…..
Fools Errand the first part of a new trilogy by Robin Hobb takes up the story of FitzChivalry Farseer 15 years after the events of The Farseer Trilogy. As before the story focuses totally upon Fitz a man destined to never be a hero but the catalyst that causes people to become heroes. The events that destroyed his life so many years ago are apparently resolved but now when he least expects it small elements are ... more
Fools Errand is a welcome return by Robin Hobb to the world of FitzChivalry Farseer and until I started reading it I did not realise how much I had missed the hero and cast of the Farseer Trilogy. Fitz is now believed dead by everyone bar a chosen few and answers to the name of Tom Badgerlock. His life, he believes before the events start, is content, he raises Hap and strives to create a history of the Six Duchies. Then Chade his former mentor reenters his life with disturbing news. That the heir to the throne Prince Dutiful has the Skill (the Farseer Magic) but he has also inherited the Wit, a magic that is believed to be inherently evil, as well and the only person who could possibly help him could be Fitz. For if the people of the Six Duchies discover Dutiful is Witted it could bring down the Farseer line and destroy the Six Duchies. The only person who can teach Dutiful to control the Skill and hide the Wit is Fitz and he does not want the job. He is free at last of his duty and doe not want to be drawn back into the intrigues of the Six Duchies Court.
However one day another visitor arrives with disturbing news for him. The Fool has travelled far and wide since the days of the Red Ship raids and now masquerades as the Jermilian noble Lord Golden. However he has come to see Fitz with worrying news. The future has changed again and if Dutiful does not inherit the Six Duchies throne the world will be destroyed. Its only hope again is for the Catalyst (Fitz) and the White Prophet (The Fool) to ensure that Dutiful succeeds his mother to the throne. Although Fitz tries to ignore what the Fool has said he knows in his heart that one day soon he will have to return to his old way of life.
Then when Dutiful vanishes from Buckeep a few weeks before his betrothal to an Outislander noble Fitz rides out to Buckeep to begin the search for Dutiful and once again enter a world of intrigue and danger…..
Fools Errand the first part of a new trilogy by Robin Hobb takes up the story of FitzChivalry Farseer 15 years after the events of The Farseer Trilogy. As before the story focuses totally upon Fitz a man destined to never be a hero but the catalyst that causes people to become heroes. The events that destroyed his life so many years ago are apparently resolved but now when he least expects it small elements are beginning to evolve that could create a situation far worse than the Red Ship Raiders ever were. He will be forced by fate, whether he likes it or not, to make a choice that effects every man, woman and child now and ever after and if its anything like the last time he may die in the process. Everything he left behind has come back to haunt him and all he will have left, once again, is his duty.
As a character Fitz is quite horrendously flawed, even by the tragic hero standard, the bastard son of the heir to the Farseer throne. His life is literally one big tragedy he gave up everything to save the Six Duchies and virtually no one knows because officially FitzChivalry Farseer was killed 16 years ago for possession of the Wit magic. He lost the woman he loved, a daughter he has never known, his rank, his honour. His name is now a curse word throughout the Kingdom and yet this man still did everything in his power to save the Six Duchies from itself and its enemies. He has burned every single bridge between himself and his past. He is in no way a hero in the classic model. He is flawed and mortal. He is an ordinary man with extraordinary gifts attempting to survive in a world where everyone is out to get him if they discover who he is. He does not know what certain people believe they owe him and love him for what he has done. All he knows is that only one person loves him totally and that is Nighteyes the wolf his Wit-Bond partner and Nighteyes is getting old now.
Hobbs characterisation is wonderful even though we only see the other characters through Fitz’s eyes they all have that spark that makes them real to the reader. The world she has created through the two sets she has written so far has a depth to it I have not seen in a long time. It is rich in history and has hidden side that is only just beginning to be revealed now.
For the new reader of Hobbs novels I can say without a doubt that this book does not have the problem that most second trilogies have of being impossible to get into. She has made it incredibly easy for someone new to the story to just jump on the bandwagon and come along for the ride. The events of the previous story are touched upon with a subtle hand. Filling in the blank spots easily so that a new reader does not start the book and have to then go and find the original trilogy in order to understand what is happening. In any continuing story that is a hard thing to do and Hobb leaves a lot of more experienced authors miles behind.
In all an excellent start to her new trilogy and I for one cannot wait to see where she takes us next in her telling of the events of the Six Duchies and beyond.
Hardback Price: £17.99 (Bookstores) £13.99 (Amazon) ISBN 0 00 2247267
mortimus 27.06.2002 (25.10.2003)
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Review of Fools Errand: Book 1 of the Tawny Man - Robin Hobb
Advantages: A good read, still sparks the imagination Disadvantages: The characters seem flatter than before
This book reintroduces the main character, Fitz, from the Farseer trilogy, along with a host of old favourites including the Fool, Nighteyes and Chade.
Fitz, the bastard prince has managed to shrug off all responsibilities of his old life since his death and resurrection, through the Wit-magic he shares with his wolf Nighteyes. He’s living in an old cottage with his wolf and his boy, being Tom Badgerlock to all the world. But it would seem that ... ...trouble with a group of the Witted, calling themselves Piebalds, after a legendary Witted prince kidnap the heir to the throne, and on some level, Fitz’s son, Prince Dutiful.
It is up to Fitz to step back into his old life of court deception and fool everyone, with the help of the Fool, who is also playing another part as Lord Golden, to rescue the wayward prince before the arrival of his betrothed, a princess from the Outislands
This book sees ...
emderpenguin 12.12.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Fools Errand: Book 1 of the Tawny Man - Robin Hobb
Advantages: Brilliant characters, storyline and writing style Disadvantages: hard to put down!
Another exceptional trilogy from Robin Hobb. To truelly get the best out of this book I would recommend that you first read the Assassins trilogy which sets the scene, though for those who have read the first series this is a 'must read'. As with the other books by this author the depth of the writing and the unusualness of the setting are the main things that make this something special. The story contines with Fitz living happily in exile though ... ...thinks him dead as do most others for whom he cares. However, any hopes of being allowed to continue his solitary quiet life are destoyed when he is recalled to the heart and home of the Farseer Monarchy where his unusal qualities are needed to find the lost son of the queen before his secret can be revealed resulting not only in his death, but also the end of the Farseer line. ...
Dexis 16.06.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Fools Errand: Book 1 of the Tawny Man - Robin Hobb
Advantages: An entertaining and uplifting read that will involve the reader Disadvantages: A climatic ending that is saddening, wrought with sorrow
A brilliant book that stands to involve the reader into a vibrantly constructed world of fantasy as it continues the story of Fitz Chivalry Farseer. Believed dead by the man who raised him from a young age and his beloved, the reader will learn of how his story continues and of how Fitz is compelled to "set the world upon a better path" as the catalyst of the white prophet. As with the previous Farseer trilogy this book is a brilliantly entertaining ... ...down once they have become involved. The ending of this book is sorrowful, detailing yet another change in Fitz's life that he must learn to deal with. As with the original Farseer trilogy this book and the following two that complete the Tawny Man trilogy the reader will be gripped in a world of fictional fantasy so descriptively vibrant that the read will become an unforgettable experience. A truly magnificent experience. ...
SacredRaven 23.07.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Fools Errand: Book 1 of the Tawny Man - Robin Hobb
Advantages: Great Fantasy, depth of characters and storylines are amazing Disadvantages: a touch slow to start and not as much action as the Assasin books
The only thing I wanted to know before I started this book was whether or not it would live up to the Farseer trilogy (I didn't expect it to be the same type of story), but I was desperate to know whether I would be disappointed or relieved. I was...relieved!
The sedate pace set at the beginning of this book may be in contrast to the dramatic Farseer trilogy, but it's the perfect introduction for our hero, as it mirrors the circumstances in which ... ...likes to be known) who is certainly transformed from the young lad we met in 'Assassin's Apprentice' into a man middle aged, set-in-his ways, yet restless.
It's only been a matter of months since I finished the Farseer Trilogy and so only one piece of information made me think "hold on...I don't remember that!" but I trusted that before long I'd be subtly reminded by Hobb and of course, I was rewarded for my patience. Depending on your memory and ...
haggisman1 24.08.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Fools Errand: Book 1 of the Tawny Man - Robin Hobb
Advantages: Fantastic follow-up to the Farseer Trilogy Disadvantages: Mine is hardback and too heavy and bulky
A fantastic follow-up to the Farseer Trilogy.
I was hooked on the Trilogy, bizarrely enough as I was never a fantasy fanatic. So when I saw this one I simply had to have it. And I wasn't disappointed, it takes you right back into the plot and action so you don't feel like you missed anything.
At the start I was a little confused as to what was happening but of course all is explained a bit later. It's not a book that you can skim (as I sometimes ... ...take it in properly.
The characters have changed, most noticeably the Fool. He is completely unrecognisable. I have to confess I found Fitz slightly irritating at first as he had become a bit of a reclusive plodder and it was hard for him to get back into a life at the Keep.
A little slow at the beginning but overall, another fantastic read. Leaves you gagging for the next one. ...
Lisette 03.03.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Fools Errand: Book 1 of the Tawny Man - Robin Hobb
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