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Aldair in Albion

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Aldair, quite against his will, embarks upon an Oddyssey of discovery in which he traces his ancestry all the way back to the fabled Isle of Albion. When he learns the sobering truth of whence he came, he must continue the quest until he at last discovers the why and how, and most importantly, the what next. Answering these questions takes Aldair through three more novellas, entitled "Aldair, Master of Ships," "Aldair Across the Misty Sea," and "Aldair and the Legion of Beasts." In the series Barrett explores the nature of humanity as he describes Aldair's quest for truth and knowledge. The first few books in a series are usually best, and the Aldair saga is no exception. This novella is far and away the best of the Aldair series.

Neal Barrett, Jr., who will soon be entering his sixth decade as a novelist, has covered tremendous range in his career. He not only has visited countless different settings, plots, and characters, but also an enormous variety of literary styles. The Aldair series, four short novels totaling about a thousand pages, offers a glimpse of Barrett from earlier in his development. We meet the title character, an upright-walking pig, as he makes a narrow escape from the heart of a repressive empire. Most of the book will see him on the run, while at the same time gradually garnering information about the nature of the world and himself.

Stylistically, "Aldair in Albion" follows the pulp classics of yesteryear. There's lots of fast-paced action, fighting, captures, escapes, recaptures, and final showdowns, all flying by at a rapid clip. Action fans will not be disappointed, though no one should look here for literary depth. Underneath, however, more is simmering than merely swords and arrows and talking animals. This is definitely a novel that touches on some major ideas, with a big surprise waiting at the conclusion.