- Hardcover: 592 pages
- Publisher: Voyager (15 Oct 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0002247267
- ISBN-13: 978-0002247269
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16.4 x 5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 199,561 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Tawny Man Trilogy
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
In Fool's Errand, first of the "Tawny Man" trilogy, Robin Hobb brings back Fitz, hero of her emotionally powerful and intrigue-filled Assassin trilogy, from 15 years of self-imposed exile from his royal relations and from the world of power. Hobb is particularly good at the passage of time and the things it does not change; Fitz plausibly thinks of himself as older and more settled than he actually is. She is also good on the actual changes--Fitz's mentor Chade is teetering on the brink of old age and his androgynous ally the Fool has returned to court as the fop Lord Gallant; these are characters we cared about before and she makes it matter that they have aged or altered. Fitz is bonded by Wit to a wolf; the heir, Prince Dutiful, the son he never saw, is adrift with his own Wit in a world where people get lynched for it. Hobb's leisurely story-telling never lacks urgency and menace; this is a humane book which includes nightmarish touches along the way. Her sense of the world of magic and the world of political power is acute--she makes us see more than her flawed hero, even though we share his eyes.--Roz Kaveney
Review
Ship of Magic:
‘Promises to be a truly extraordinary saga… the characterizations are consistently superb, and [Hobb] animates everything with love for and knowledge of the sea. If Patrick O’Brian were to turn to writing high fantasy, he might produce something like this.’
BOOKLIST
‘A wonderful book, written by a writer at the height of her abilities’
J V JONES
Assassin’s Apprentice:
‘A gleaming debut’
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Royal Assassin:
‘Hobb continues to revitalize a genre that often seems all too generic, making it new in ways that range from the subtle to the deeply shocking…’
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First Sentence
He came one late, wet spring, and brought the wide world back to my doorstep. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
He came one late, wet spring, and brought the wide world back to my doorstep. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book will leave you begging for more. From the first pages of the first Farseer series I was well and truly hooked. Hobb's writing style, putting the whole story in the first person, we see what he sees and little else, makes it all the more personal, and captivating.
At the end of the first series I was left hanging, and this book was a great comeback to something that many may have left for dead.
At the end of the first series I was left hanging, and this book was a great comeback to something that many may have left for dead.
Though some may say it is a little long until it gets back into Fitz' court life, it is still captivating and i cannot wait until the next installment. It is definitly a great read, so long as you understand what occured in the first series.
The book very clevely covers the passage of fifteen years since the Red Ship wars (1st series), she does not just blurt out what happened in those years and leav it, she tells it succinctly but references do crop up throughout the book, she makes it important thet people have changed, especially the Fool, who has changed dramatically but beneath it all he is still the Fool, an enigmatic but terribly likeable character.
Though not as fast paced as the first series, it is still a captivating read. And it is important to have read the first series first, it explains a lot about all the characters.
Altogether a well deserved five stars, and we can but hope that this trend continues throughout her work. I wonder if she'll add to the Liveship Traders series next (though not quite as brilliant, still well worth reading)
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Robin Hobb (Megan Lindholm) has attracted quite a devoted audience with her last two sets of books, the Farseer 'Assassin' trilogy and the Live Ship Trader series, and with good reason, as these are fantasies of quite a different stripe from the normal and told with power, wit, and depth. While not absolutely necessary to enjoying this book, as there are enough explanatory sections here to catch the gist of the action of the prior books, I do recommend that you read the Assassin trilogy first, as it will not only provide the reader with all the past action, it will give you a fine benchmark of the how the characters were at the time of those books, allowing you to easily see the changes that time has wrought.
This book picks up 15 years after the ending of the Farseer set, with FitzChivalry Farseer and his Wit bond-mate wolf Nighteyes leading a quiet life as a farmer trying to raise his adopted son Hap, carefully avoiding any traffic with his former life of intrigue as a royal assassin. This early section of the book is remarkable for how strong the character development is, even though there is almost no action during this portion, showing a much more mature Fitz who has almost come to terms with the sacrifices he was required to make in the earlier books. Of course, this idyllic setting can't last, as first his former mentor Chade arrives for a visit to try and convince Fitz to return to service at Buckkeep Castle, followed by the very enigmatic Fool, now known as Lord Golden, and finally is convinced to return to Buckkeep by a summons from Chade to help find Prince Dutiful, Fitz's son by body, but not by himself as a person, who has either been kidnapped or run away.
Thus the action is enjoined, leading Fitz not just away from his farm, but into consideration of the whys and needs of both his Wit and Skill abilities. A set of considerations that have relevance for everyone, questions on should you lead if you can, can you let a social injustice continue when you have the means and ability to do something about it, about the importance of life and the time to properly allow death to reign, the strength of personal relationships and what is owed to friends, where the responsibilities of a parent begin and end. Throughout, Fitz, Nighteyes, and the Fool continue to grow as characters, till you feel that these are people you know, have lived, ached, lost and triumphed with.
Hobb's descriptive powers are well in evidence here, and her characters are neatly folded into her imagined universe, that includes not just the world of Wit and Skill of the Assassin works but also is explicitly tied to her Live Ship set, though that tie, so far, is only mentioned in passing, not fully developed. This book, unlike so many that are planned as part of a larger group of works, is very complete in itself, with an excellent resolution to all the problems and concerns it starts with. But I have a feeling the next book will make more of the tie to the Liveships and Bingtown traders, and I am looking forward to it.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I thought this was the most wonderful story, it stood on its own but is also a more than worthy sequel. Robin Hobbs narrative just keeps on getting better, the characters in this book have grown and developed from the Farseer books, into people that you can really care about. The relationships have such depth and feeling, and Hobbs description and way with words means that you feel every event personally. I look forward to The Golden Fool with great anticipation. I enjoyed the Liveship trilogy and certainly think you need to read these and the Farseer trilogy to get the best from the Tawny Man. I never thought I would enjoy a 'fantasy' story so much but this has got to be one of the best tales I have read, and I do read a lot. I am in a way dreading the final instalment as I have an awful feeling that we may lose more of the central characters. But these tales are compulsive reading and once started, putting them down is painful. I guess I will just have to start again and reread them to pass the time until Fools Fate is issued.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Engaging and Involving
Superbly written it is an engaging and involving read. Fans of Tolkien and the Dark Materials trilogy will find a lot to enjoy. Read more
Published 17 days ago by Kingster
Another good read
This book carries on from the previous trilogy, some 15 years later. Robin Hobb writes in such a way that has you believing in the character and feeling what he feels. Read more
Published 20 days ago by alex4003
the tawny man
This is my third trilogy from this author and just like the first two once I started it grips you and you just want to turn the pages to see what happens next, a well told follow... Read more
Published 2 months ago by povetheman
Highly enjoyable
A highly enjoyable continuation of the Farseer series. Do be sure to read the Ship of Destiny trilogy before moving to the Tawny Man Trilogy in order to get a fuller understanding... Read more
Published 3 months ago by jinx
Every bit as good as before
The first book in Robin Hobb's third trilogy set in the 'Realm of the Elderlings' returns to the setting of the first trilogy and the first-person narration from Fitz, who is... Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. R. Johnson-Rollings
Ho-Humm
Sorry Robin, I thought the Assassin's Apprentice was a great book, but frankly you should have stopped there. The series has become ponderous and slow since. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Man-O-War1977
Robin Hobb - Fool's Errand
As always with me took a few pages to get in there but as always an excellent read! You soon disappear into Robin's world.
Published 17 months ago by MacStuart
Great
Fitz again - wonderful. I loved him in the Farseer trilogy and had not realised this trilogy was a continuation - it like getting my family back. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Sue Lucas
Pleasantly Pleased
I really enjoyed this book as it flowed rather well, did not require any deductive powers on my part and most of the characters fit well together. Read more
Published 18 months ago by dragonbird
The story continues at last...
The Tawny man series brings at last some true ending to the story of FitzChivalry Farseer. Once more in these books Fitz's life is controlled by his name. Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2009 by Thanos
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