Published
October 6th 2015.
The Knight
has three novellas. To wit:
The Hedge
Knight
The Sworn
Sword
The Mystery
Knight
I’ve read these three novellas previously when
they came out in the three different anthologies: Legends I, Legends II,
and Warriors. Having read these
stories separately before, I was interested to see them put together as one
whole piece, where Martin’s suspicious tendency for excellent storytelling
could flow freely from one chapter to the next, without having to wait for a new
novella’s release.
I’m not a big fantasy fan. I have nothing at
all against it – it’s just that I enjoy good science fiction more than I enjoy
good fantasy. I’ve read and enjoyed Middlearth, The Magician, Tigana, etc. But
then came George R.R. Martin. Several people told me to read the first book in
his "A Song of Ice and Fire" saga, "A Game of Thrones". I
finally succumbed to the thousand-pager, and I'm now hooked, impatiently
waiting for Martin to finish the sixth and seventh books in the series to finally read the
fifth, "A Dance with Dragons" (it awaits the publication of the
"The Winds of Winter" and "A Dream of Spring" to be
tackled...).
"The Hedge Knight", "The Sworn
Sword" and "The Mystery Knight" are set one hundred years before
"A Game of Thrones". As is usual in his books, although the plot is
good, it pales before his ability to tell a story. Storytelling in high gear...
Better yet, one notices people, events and places which will become key in the
future. Details and major story lines are equally weaved into "The Hedge
Knight" and I've discovered why the Fossoways had a red and a green apple
in their shield, and the start of the chain of events which will put the Mad
King in the throne...
There’s nothing very noticeable about this
simple story, a fact that serves to accentuate Martin’s talent. Seldom do I
experience the magic of a rapid page-turner these days. My interior imagery is
loaded with too many books to feel as excited anymore (sometimes it
happens...).
But this man issues words from his fingers that
are pure genre nirvana.
I can’t quite determine what it's that makes
his writing so addictive. Sentences, paragraphs and pages collude to urge you
to read on and on and on. One begins his books as reader and consumer and one
ends them as slave... I love how George R.R. Martin mixes an element of mystery
into his knight’s tale.
With all the characters that Martin invents
I've noticed Lord Gorman Peake of Starpike. Is it is an homage to Mervyn Peake,
who wrote the Gormenghast books, who had a main character named Steerpike?
All told, these 3 novellas still lack the mythological
depth of Ice and Fire.
Gary
Gianni, who is best known for his work on the comic strip Prince Valiant is
also a very fine addition to the book. As a lifelong bibliophile I began my
love affair with books as a child with picture books, often a favorite
illustrated compilation of fairy tales. Gianni’s artwork brings back the magic
of childhood story time and completes the enchantment woven from George R. R. Martin’s
enthralling tales.
Illustrations by Gary Gianni.
