The Inheritance [Hardcover]

Robin Hobb and Megan Lindholm are one and the same person but they are very different writers. The Inheritance is a collection of short novels, novellas and stories, some of which are based in Hobb's popular universe of the Six Duchies. Before each of the stories, Lindholm/Hobb gives a small snippet of history as to how she came to write the piece and I loved this insight into her working process. I have read all of the novels written so far by Robin Hobb and thoroughly enjoyed them but this was my first experience at reading anything by Megan Lindholm. I would say that I'd be tentatively willing to pick up a Lindholm novel in the future but I do prefer her work as Hobb.

The three stories by Robin Hobb - strictly, one short story and two novellas - were the strongest part of this collection. In particular, I adored `Homecoming', a tale about some of the first settlers into the Rain Wilds. Lady Carillion, a noblewoman betrayed by her husband, was strong and capable, a joy to read about. The tale of the misfit group becoming the seeds of a new civilisation was just long enough to allow me to truly immerse and gave me a strong desire to re-read the Liveship Trader trilogy.

The shorter tales from the pen of Lindholm were more of a mixed bag (as is the case, I generally find, with anthologies). `A Touch of Lavender' was a quirky and very enjoyable story of aliens - beneath the surface there is a darker discussion on the nature of drug addiction and motherhood that gave this short a very powerful edge. `Strays' was also fantastically written; the punky Lonnie is a great character and one I would welcome a longer piece about. I spent the whole story wondering about how Lonnie came to be the kind of person she is and why she takes such care over stray cats.

I did not, however, like `Silver Lady and the Fortyish Man' a great deal. This story, Lindholm confesses, was written for her husband and I feel it should have remained a private matter between them. I'm sure that if I was privy to the couple's in jokes, then this tale would have been more fun. As it was, it was whimsical but incredibly lightweight and didn't leave much of an impression. I had the same feeling of dissatisfaction after finishing `The Fifth Squashed Cat' and `Drum Machine'. Both of these stories felt as though Lindholm only had the grain of an idea that she hadn't developed effectively into a complete tale.

The Inheritance is not the strongest anthology I have read and didn't leave me desperate to pick up novels by Lindholm. However, fans of the Six Duchies work by Robin Hobb will find this chance to read more about the world extremely satisfying, while newcomers can pick it up very successfully as well. Cautiously recommended.

Whether you're a fan of Megan Lindholm or Robin Hobb (or both, as I am) you may find the best thing about this collection is not the fiction, but the preface and brief introduction to each of the stories. These passages provide clarification (even for those fans who have followed the author on her online blogs and newsgroup) into the emergence and development of one of the most popular and influential fantasy authors of recent years, and offer a revealing insight into the distinctness of her two pseudonyms. When you read the preface in particular it's clear how significant this collection is for the author- it marks a milestone in her professional career and is an almost-apologetic acknowledgment of these two parts of her writing style. You sense it's a cathartic publication for the author, as well as being long-awaited for hardened fans.

While it's nicely done (and apt considering the prevalence of cats in this collection) the UK cover art by Jacqueline Morris doesn't quite capture the essence of this book, where as the US cover art (in a rare example) captures perfectly (with it's twist on the ying/yang symbol) the intent of the author with the publication of this fantasy & science-fiction anthology. It brings together various works by Megan Lindholm, who's written such well-received novels as `Wizard of the Pigeons' and `Cloven Hooves' and Robin Hobb, the author responsible for such epic fantasy series as The Farseer, Liveship Traders, Tawny Man, Soldier Son and Rain Wild Chronicles. It's comprised of ten stories, three of which are published for the first time in this collection.

(1) `A Touch of Lavender' by Megan Lindholm
(2) `Silver Lady and the Fortyish Man' by Megan Lindholm
(3) `Cut' by Megan Lindholm
(4) `The Fifth Squashed Cat' by Megan Lindholm
(5) `Strays' by Megan Lindholm
(6) `Finis'* by Megan Lindholm
(7) `Drum Machine'* by Megan Lindholm
(8) `Homecoming' by Robin Hobb
(9) `Inheritance' by Robin Hobb
(10) `Cat's Meat'* by Robin Hobb

*Previously unpublished.

(1) `A Touch of Lavender' by Megan Lindholm (56 pages)
*Previously published as part of the anthology `Isaac Asimov's Mother's Day' edited by Gardner Dozois*

Here is a rare example of the author flavouring her particular brand of engrossing fantasy with the spice of science-fiction. In my opinion it's the most imaginative, genuinely-moving and inventive short story in this collection and therefore, a superb opener. (10/10)

(2) `Silver Lady and the Fortyish Man' by Megan Lindholm (28 pages)
*Previously published as part of the anthology `Isaac Asimov's Camelot' edited by Gardner Dozois and Sheila Williams*

With a modern-day setting twinned with the inspiration of Arthurian legend, this is a very enjoyable tale filled with magical and romantic elements. (9/10)

(3) `Cut' by Megan Lindholm (12 pages)
*Previously published and still available to view online at Asimov's Science Fiction homepage*

With a short page count and not-too-distant future setting, this story quickly grabs the attention of the reader. It's sparse in fantasy elements, heavy in teen-angst and while it is a morality tale of sorts, it's one that handles its subject matter subtly rather than with a heavy-hand. (8/10)

(4) `The Fifth Squashed Cat' by Megan Lindholm (20 pages)
*Previously published as part of the anthology `Xanadu II' edited by Jane Yolen*

This story has a modern-day setting and only a tinge of fantasy. As the author makes mention of in her introduction, this is one of her stories that falls into the category of her intent to rework a tired formula, and not simply to placate the reader with the customary fantasy framework. It makes its point in an interesting and succinct way. As with all her stories, it's one the reader continues to think about long after finishing it. (7/10)

(5) `Strays' by Megan Lindholm (25 pages)
*Previously published as part of the anthology `Warrior Princess' edited by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough*

A modern-day setting once more and perhaps my least favourite in the collection, if I'm honest. It has a good core story and a gutsy protagonist, but I think you really have to be a cat person to fully appreciate this one! (6/10)

(6) `Finis' by Megan Lindholm (14 pages)
*New story for this collection*

A vampire story. Written by Robin Hobb? Really?? Well, surprisingly...yes. It was probably the last subject-matter I expected this author to explore, but it works very well. As is often the case with her work, there's a twist to the tale, or at least symmetry to the story that reveals itself only when it is read from beginning to end. The (small) problem with this story is that the twist is remarkably apparent almost from the very first page, so I felt the reveal and particularly the final line, fell a little flat. Nonetheless it's a great change of pace with setting and characters that are established and explored with all the skill for which the author is renowned. (7/10)

(7) `Drum Machine' by Megan Lindholm (15 pages)
*New story for this collection*

A little in the vein of Margaret Atwood's `The Handmaid's Tale', or at least in that branch of futuristic dystopian fiction, this story starts well as it sets the scene of an imagined future where human reproduction is strictly regulated and prospective parents must go through vetting procedures before they can conceive, and even then not produce their own genetic offspring, but only those embryos deemed compatible with their lifestyle by the relevant government body. Then the story devolves into a tale about art and the creative process, which didn't interest me as greatly. I felt a little like there were two ideas here that would have benefited from being developed as separate stories. (7/10)

(8) `Homecoming' by Robin Hobb (88 pages)

*Previously published as part of the anthology `Legends II' edited by Robert Silverberg*

One of the longer stories in the collection, `Homecoming' takes place long before the events in Hobb's `Liveship Traders' and `Rain Wilds Chronicles' series, but it has the same setting and explores the lives of some of the original settlers of the Cursed Shores- men and women exiled from their fare southern homeland to the untamed and unforgiving lands of the north. It's told in a diary-format, which works brilliantly, as well as being very accessible as it reveals much about the Cursed Shores not previously known. (8/10)

(9) `The Inheritance' by Robin Hobb (23 pages)
*Previously published as part of the Voyager short story anthology `Voyager 5: Collector's Edition' to mark their fifth anniversary in print*

This is an extremely engrossing story and is tied for me with `A Touch of Lavender' for the title of best story in this collection. Perhaps due to the fact that it's a Six Duchies tale (well Bingtown actually, but that's close enough) is really in its favour. The heroine and her plight are pure Robin Hobb. Small, but perfectly formed. (10/10)

(10) `Cat's Meat' by Robin Hobb (92 pages)

This is probably the story I was most looking forward to reading. This collection marks its first publication, it's set in the Six Duchies, part of the story is told from the perspective of a witted beast and it's the size of a novella; in other words it has all the ingredients of a mesmerising Robin Hobb offering.
I did really enjoy it, because it delivered pretty much what I expected, which was a scenario that will be very familiar to fans of the author- a protagonist who is ineffectual for most of the story until circumstances turn in her favour. Unfortunately this configuration of the ineffective vs. the dominant partner that the author has used in her stories in the past isn't developed to the extent that was possible in her novels.
It's particularly disappointing since the protagonist's name is shared by a reoccurring character in the Farseer and Tawny Man trilogies and therefore I was expecting the protagonist to take radical action to improve her circumstance (which would have been very much in keeping with her namesake), but as she didn't assert herself greatly, I gather the two characters are not one in the same (?)
The story ends on a bit of a sour note, which is a shame since there are plenty of stories in this collection that end, if not necessarily happily, then at least with a measure of hope. (7/10)

The short stories not present here that I would have like to see included, but many of which fans can still find elsewhere in other publications are `Blue Boots', `Bones for Dulath', `Superior Graphics' and `Words Like Coins'. And there are a lot more besides, more than enough to warrant The Inheritance, part deux!

I've read a lot of Robin's books and I've never been disappointed. 'The Inheritance' was different from others that I'd read by Robin Hobb simply because it was a selection of short stories. It was intriguing, lots of interesting subjects, leading you on to further pleasures. The one I had the most enjoyment from was 'The Homecoming'. I'd read the Rain Wilds books and found that I wanted more. So I was very pleased to read the beginning of the Rain Wilds, once again, I was begging for more!!! I don't know if there is a book featuring the time between 'The Homecoming' and 'The Liveship Traders', but I would be interested in reading it. I love books to do with dragons and magic, and Robin Hobb always comes up trumps. I reccommend ALL her books and look forward to reading a lot more in the future.