3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Swashbuckling good fun, April 22, 2009
This review is from: Blaggard's Moon (Paperback)
Pirate Smith Delaney finds himself atop a tall post in the midst of a tropical lagoon waiting for a particularly gruesome death to arrive in the form of savage mer-monkeys. Attempting to keep his thoughts from the flesh-hungry piranha in the waters around him, and the imminent arrival of the Onka Din Botlay -- rippers of bone - Delaney casts his thoughts to and fro in hopes of finding a solution to his desperate predicament. Rather than discovering a clever means of escape, he is alternately drawn into examining his life to date and recalling a particularly engaging tale spun by a fellow pirate - Ham Drumbone - detailing the lives of several world-shaking figures in the kingdom of Nearing Vast. Delaney's own life plays a small yet significant role in the histories of these persons, and the two trains of thought eventually converge upon the present.
Set in a fictional world somewhat reminiscent of the Elizabethan age, George Bryan Polivka's Blaggard's Moon is a prequel written after the conclusion of his Trophy Chase Trilogy. I found the premise of a Christian pirate novel irresistible, and the results immensely entertaining. It takes a certain amount of skill to convey authentic pirate language while refraining from outright blasphemy and cursing, yet Polvikka pulls it off. Both his narration and dialogue are lively - vivid, captivating and just plain fun. Indeed, Polivka's work clearly places him amongst the top writers in Christian fantasy today.
Using the context of piracy to contrast righteous and corrupt behaviour, Polvikka casts Damrick Fellows as a man fiercely dedicated to ridding the world of evil, Conch Imbry as a ruthless, greedy and heartless pirate king, and the lovely Jenta Stillsmithers as the woman caught in a dangerous dance that is largely outside of her control. Though the main characters seem stereotypical, this trio of super-hero, villain, and damsel in distress are endowed with living, breathing three-dimensional fullness that etches their characters in the mind. The sharp contrast of choosing for God and choosing against Him in both these lives and that of others Delaney has known drive him to self-examination during his final hours.
The near exclusive use of Delaney's recollections of Drumbone's tale combined with discrete incidents from his own life result in a story that is taking place on a stage that nearly entirely exists in Delaney's mind. An uncommon device in what is essentially an action novel, the alternating narrative viewpoints only add to the rush towards the present, where all three stories eventually meet. Lovers of boisterous sea battles need not worry; his reminiscences are filled with active language, fierce battles complete with nautical language and complex schemes hatched by merchants and pirates alike.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quality Christian Fantasy, April 25, 2009
This review is from: Blaggard's Moon (Paperback)
The Story. Blaggard's Moon is a unique book because it is actually three stories. In the opening, pirate Smith Delaney, who readers of the Trophy Chase Trilogy will know, is sitting on a post with piranha swimming below. Through his musings, the reader learns that he's been abandoned there as punishment for some unknown deed. Throughout most of the book, Delaney is remembering his life, particularly his decision to become a pirate. But in the remembering, he recalls a period of time when the storyteller on board, Ham Drumbone, related to his pirate shipmates the tale of Jenta Stillmithers and the Hell's Gatemen. The majority of the book is Jenta's story--one of hope and sacrifice and redemption and love and fear and grief and conviction.
Yes, there are battles, though not related in the blow-by-blow style most common today. Still, there are sword fights and gun battles and ship-to-ship assaults. There is blood on the deck and in the water. There are bodies on the pier and skeletons on the ocean floor. This is definitely a pirates' story. But at the center is Jenta.
Strengths. This is a book I'm excited about. The packaging is terrific--Harvest House did a wonderful job with the cover, the paper, the interior art.
The writing is terrific. Perhaps because of the non-linear structure of the story, it has a somewhat literary feel. Certainly there is a wonderful rhythm to the writing, and the descriptions are vivid and evocative.
The characters win the day, though. In my opinion, Mr. Polivka is masterful in developing believable, authentic characters. It is their authenticity that make them memorable and engaging, in my opinion.
While the characters make the reader care, the story keeps the reader turning pages. It is amazing that Delaney didn't leave his post for 330 pages, but the tension and suspense of his story line consistently grew.
Ultimately, Blaggard's Moon is important because it carries a timeless message.
Recommendation. I feel confident that Blaggard's Moon is destined to win Mr. Polivka another Christy Award nomination. (The third book in the Trophy Chase Trilogy, The Battle for Vast Dominion, has been nominated this year.) Readers should not think of this book as "just a pirate story." It is more, and readers of fantasy, of historical, romance, suspense, or literary fiction will find a satisfying novel. I recommend Blaggard's Moon as a must read. Those who enjoy a faster-paced story will find enough here to keep them entertained, and they may be surprised by how a deeper tale affects them.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The incredible prequel to "The Legend of the Firefish", April 4, 2009
This review is from: Blaggard's Moon (Paperback)
"Blaggard's Moon"by George Polivka is a wonderful book. The author of "The Legend of the Firefish" does not disappoint in this tale of pirates, their choices and the sea. This novel is the perfect place to start reading as it is the prequel to the Trophy Case Trilogy which consists of "The Legend Of The Firefish", "The Hand That Bears The Sword", and "The Battle For Vast Dominion". This is a wonderful adventure novel about choices and consequences seasoned with the salty sea air. "Blaggard's Moon" has it all - romance, war, swashes and buckles. This is masterfully written Christian science fiction/fantasy, a genre that is very new to me, but becoming dearer with every novel I read. The author's language takes the reader to new levels, proving that intellectuals really do read and write quality fantasy.
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