The Highwayman | ||||||||
R.A. Salvatore | ||||||||
CDS Books, 372 pages | ||||||||
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A review by Lisa DuMond
In this return to the world of Corona, Salvatore time-travels to God's Year 54 to introduce Brother Bran Dynard, a devout follower
of the Blessed Abelle and carrier of amazing discoveries and an incredible book to share with his beloved church. Earnest and
naïve, Bran never thinks to take into account one of the dark truths of religion; those in power will do almost anything to
prevent change. It's a miscalculation that will cost the brother and his beautiful and amazing new bride dearly.
Time-travel to God's Year 74 and life has only gotten more worse for the good people under the "protection" of Lord Pryd. Powries
lurk everywhere to attack and consume the incautious; Lord Pryd's demands kill the poor more slowly and painfully. The Church of
the Blessed Abelle battle the brutal Samhaists for dominance. And war is never far from any contact with other rulers. As always,
it is the peasants who pay the highest price for the discord. It appears there is no hope.
Enter the mysterious figure of the Highwayman. Seemingly invincible and capable of amazing feats that defy explanation. And,
he has no love for church, lords, or the loathsome Powries -- all of whom share in the desperate state that is grinding the common
people away to nothing. Perhaps, there is cause for hope, after all.
But, Salvatore is not satisfied with just any hero. The Highwayman may be one of the most unusual crusaders in fantasy. His
origins, his alter ego, his occasional bursts of smugness and ill-advised spite, and the source of his abilities distinguish
him from the clichéd supermen of most fiction. The Highwayman is flawed, a person readers can empathise with, rather than
gaze upon in awe. If some of his decisions are not the wisest, whose ever are? How would any of us react to finding ourselves in
the same position of power?
The Highwayman holds up the best and the worst in humans, inviting us to think about the cause and effect of action and
inaction. When is violence justified? What is the reality behind the mask we and our institutions wear every day? Is the worst
character really so different from ourselves? Or is it all in the choices we make?
Don't worry. I suspect the Highwayman will be back to puzzle through these thoughts along with us. It promises to be fascinating
to watch a hero mature and learn before our eyes. What will he become? There is so much more to his story; let's hope we are there to see it all.
In between reviews, articles, and interviews, Lisa DuMond writes science fiction, horror, dark realism, and humour. DARKERS, her first novel, was published in August 2000 by Hard Shell Word Factory. She is a contributing editor at SF Site and for BLACK GATE magazine. Lisa has also written for BOOKPAGE, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, Science Fiction Weekly, and SCIENCE FICTION CHRONICLE. You can check out Lisa and her work at her website hikeeba!. |
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