Alternative Worlds
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Oath of Swords
David Weber
Baen, Jan 2007, $15.00
ISBN: 1416520864
When the War God demands the service of a human, four of the Five Races know to heed his words. The fifth race, the Hradani, are too busy going berserker even amidst themselves when they are not thieving from others to care what any God commands though they reluctantly obey once the blood letting calms down; albeit calming being a relative term. Rage is the norm for this species.
Prince Bahzell Bahnakson is a typical uncivilized Hradani barbarian who the War God has selected to perform a quest. Bahzell has no time for deity intrusion on his life as he has personal issues beyond being a detested Hradani that has forced him to flee with a price on his head that brings fortune seekers after him. He asks himself why he is trekking at the bidding of the War God accompanied only by a horrendous ballad singer as the realm seemingly wants him dead. Assassins are a minor harassment; demons a bit more trouble. More worrisome is a pantheon of Gods ordering him about; thank goodness he is a Hradani used to ignoring everyone and every thing even sorcery except his instincts; though lately he is not sure what are his thoughts and what a deity or sorcerer whispers. However, the worst punishment of all confronting him is bad poetry.
This is a reprint of an entertaining mid 1980s epic fantasy that can be read by itself though the sequel THE WAR GOD’S OWN enhances understanding of the antihero. The quest is amusing and tense as Bahzell accompanied by the bad poet land in one quagmire after another with an assortment of characters either wanting him dead or obeying their demands though much of the latter commands are contradictory adding to his dilemma. With a wink at the quest fantasy thrillers, David Weber shows he can leave his deep space heroines to write an enjoyable fantasy.
David Weber
Baen, Jan 2007, $15.00
ISBN: 1416520864
When the War God demands the service of a human, four of the Five Races know to heed his words. The fifth race, the Hradani, are too busy going berserker even amidst themselves when they are not thieving from others to care what any God commands though they reluctantly obey once the blood letting calms down; albeit calming being a relative term. Rage is the norm for this species.
Prince Bahzell Bahnakson is a typical uncivilized Hradani barbarian who the War God has selected to perform a quest. Bahzell has no time for deity intrusion on his life as he has personal issues beyond being a detested Hradani that has forced him to flee with a price on his head that brings fortune seekers after him. He asks himself why he is trekking at the bidding of the War God accompanied only by a horrendous ballad singer as the realm seemingly wants him dead. Assassins are a minor harassment; demons a bit more trouble. More worrisome is a pantheon of Gods ordering him about; thank goodness he is a Hradani used to ignoring everyone and every thing even sorcery except his instincts; though lately he is not sure what are his thoughts and what a deity or sorcerer whispers. However, the worst punishment of all confronting him is bad poetry.
This is a reprint of an entertaining mid 1980s epic fantasy that can be read by itself though the sequel THE WAR GOD’S OWN enhances understanding of the antihero. The quest is amusing and tense as Bahzell accompanied by the bad poet land in one quagmire after another with an assortment of characters either wanting him dead or obeying their demands though much of the latter commands are contradictory adding to his dilemma. With a wink at the quest fantasy thrillers, David Weber shows he can leave his deep space heroines to write an enjoyable fantasy.
