Fool's Errand (Tawny Man #1) - Softcover

Hobb, Robin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0553582445 ISBN 13: 9780553582444

Publisher: Spectra, 2002

Synopsis

“Fantasy as it ought to be written . . . Robin Hobb’s books are diamonds in a sea of zircons.”—George R. R. Martin 

For fifteen years FitzChivalry Farseer has lived in self-imposed exile, assumed to be dead by almost all who once cared about him. But now, into his isolated life, visitors begin to arrive: Fitz’s mentor from his assassin days; a hedge-witch who foresees the return of a long-lost love; and the Fool, the former White Prophet, who beckons Fitz to fulfill his destiny.
 
Then comes the summons he cannot ignore. Prince Dutiful, the young heir to the Farseer throne, has vanished. Fitz, possessed of magical skills both royal and profane, is the only one who can retrieve him in time for his betrothal ceremony, thus sparing the Six Duchies profound political embarrassment . . . or worse. But even Fitz does not suspect the web of treachery that awaits him—or how his loyalties will be tested to the breaking point.
 
Praise for Robin Hobb and Fool’s Errand
 
“[Robin] Hobb has created a world brimming with detail and complexity [and] once again proves herself a full master of the epic fantasy.”—Tulsa World
 
“Splendid . . . Despite some truly wrenching twists, there is a welcome sense of new beginnings.”—Locus

About this title

Review:

This first volume of a new trilogy from one of fantasy's most popular and skilled authors will delight longtime Hobb fans as well as first-time readers of her work.

FitzChivalry, the hero of The Farseer trilogy, now lives an isolated and quiet life with his foster son Hap and his Wit partner wolf, Nighteyes, until he is sought out by his old mentor Chade and the enigmatic, charming Fool. Once again, duty calls: Fitz must find a missing prince and prevent political chaos in the Six Duchies. The mission will test his conflicting loyalty to country and family, his uneasy compromise with his own magic, and all the relationships he values most.

If you're a fantasy fan who hasn't yet explored the Farseer world, this is a fine place to start: Hobb deftly provides new readers with all the needed information. The finely detailed world building and intensive character development rarely slow down the action of the story. Fool's Errand is a complex, beautifully written and sometimes heart-rending examination of the consequences of duty and love. --Roz Genessee

From the Back Cover:

Critical acclaim for Robin Hobb’s magnificent Liveship Traders trilogy:

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. Kudos to the author and encore!”
— Booklist

“I fell right through the pages.... Even better than the Assassin books. I didn’t think that was possible.”
— George R.R. Martin

Mad Ship

“Hobb displays a wonderful imagination.... Should delight fans.”
— Kirkus Reviews

“A major work ... read[s] like a cross between Tolkien and Patrick O’Brian. Hobb gives high fantasy a nautical spin that will please a great many readers.”
— Publishers Weekly

“Imaginative and compelling.”
— Library Journal

Ship of Destiny

“This book soars.... A splendid conclusion to one of the finest fantasy sagas to bridge the millennium ... A masterful achievement.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The triumphant conclusion to what is probably the best fantasy trilogy of the past decade and a prospective fantasy classic.”
— Booklist (starred review)

About this edition

• Publisher: Spectra
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0553582445
• ISBN 13: 9780553582444
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 672