Customer Reviews

A Hard Day's Knight (Nightside)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Fans of Simon R. Green may have been a little disappointed with his Ghost of Chance novel this year, but don't lose faith just yet because Green's latest in the Nightside series, A Hard Day's Knight, is fantastic!

I had been losing a little interest in the Nightside series lately, I felt like since the Lilith wars, John Taylor hadn't had any big surprises or quests to deal with. Yes, he did defeat demons and gods, but he seemed to indestructible to beat. Of course when you introduce King Arthur into the picture then everything gets a whole new look. But besides introducing the gallant King Arthur, A Hard Day's Knight also introduces some very surprising and interesting twists to the series. I can't say what they are but it will definitely effect that rest of the series in a significant way.


Of course besides these new characters and twists in the overall story, I felt A Hard Day's Knight was a better story overall compared to some of the most recent books in the series. Fans of the series will get back to what they initially loved about the series, tricks, magic, violence, and a sarcastic wit. We finally get to see Taylor back in the real world and have to face down some thugs without his magical gift. Suzie gets to play a bigger part in this story than she has in the last few books, and I found the overall wit and tone of the book much more to my liking.

Of course if goes without saying (but of course I will say it) that readers who haven't read the series should start from the beginning of the series, but overall I very much enjoyed A Hard Day's Knight, and I can't wait for the next book in this revitalized series.

[...]

I've been waiting a long time for the next Nightside novel. Mr Green's been writing a few new series', like the Droods, but let's face it, Nightside is in a class of it's own.

And what a class it is. This is absolutely fantastic. Full of new characters, honourable legends, tie in's with his other books, plenty of action and mystery. You knwo the general storyline- John Taylor has Excalibur and has to find King Arthur, but you never quite know what is going to happen, or even if he will indeed find him, until he does. Great book. Great execution. Well worth the wait and I sincerely hope and pray the next one is as good.


Should you read it? YES!!!!!!!!


On a personal note, after I read this book, I wished that I had discovered this series only recently, instead of years ago. That way, I would be able to enjoy many these books consecutively one after the other, without having to wait 1-2 years in between like we have to now. The one downside to his books are that they are a bit short, usually between 200 and 300 pages. It's a bit like a drug. There's the anticipation, then the actual high when you read it, and then it's over all too soon.

(not that I have personal experience with drugs of course)

Can't wait for the next one!

In the Nightside, private investigator John Taylor obtains the legendary Excalibur though he is unsure why Arthur's sword has been sent to him by the Post. He does not want the blade partly because he knows his heart is not worthy of such a weapon. On the other hand, he knows in Nightside he is much more worthy than probably everyone else. Still he believes the blade needs safe keeping. He feels strongly, though he would prefer not to, venture into London Proper to deliver Excalibur to the London Knights, the Last Defenders of Camelot.

However, John's enemies wait in ambush to kill him, steal the legend, or preferably both. Although unsure how his adversaries know, John and his lover Shotgun Suzie, the bounty hunter Valkyrie, who when it comes to dead or alive always brings them in dead. They begin the deadly trek. They remain ignorant to the significance of what they do as his destiny is to prevent a potentially end of the world war and that a traitor amidst the London Knights has sold his soul to gain power by giving the sword to malevolent beasts.

This is a super refreshing Nightside entry starting with the double edged title as the quest takes place during A Hard Day's Night while the other reference is obvious. Side allusions are a consistent fun part of a Simon R. Green urban fantasy as the author has done repeatedly with this saga and the Secret History series. The story line is fast-paced and loaded with action as the foes have the numbers and the weapons, but John knows he has his beloved "Oh Christ, It's Her, Run" watching his back in London's Nightside and Proper.

Harriet Klausner

There are 2 sorts of Nightside books. The best being the ones that move the collective storyline of the Nightside forward or expand our understanding of the characters and generally change the landscape of the books in a very important way.

This, sadly, is not one of those books.

This is the sort of book where you can read the first chapter and then the last few chapters and say "that was a very nice novella." The entire middle of the portion is literally just John and Susie turning in circles and Simon Green padding the book. You could actually give this book a skip as nothing really important happens until the very end and for sure Simon Green will cover the events of this book in the next chapter of the next book. Are the ending events important - yes - but they are so "thrown in" that they really just serve to set up the next novel.

Is it well written you ask? Shrugs - I guess - but Simon really needs to stop his dependency on "catch phrases" that make the book seem to be written by a giant Microsoft Word macro. For example, many long time readers will no doubt recognize these over used phrases:

... a force was beating on the wind...
... all at once the room changed, there was a presence that wasn't there before...
... people saw us an quickly walked to the other side of the street...
... her name is Suzie Shooter or... "oh hell its her..."...

And there are so many others. I guess after 10 books I should start passing on these as nothing ever changes...

Simon is capable of writing great novels - but his retirement-fund series (Drood, Nightside) are becoming poorly written and just plain lazy.

I'll be the first to admit that the first book in the series sat on my bookshelf for a number of years before I picked it up again, only to be pulled into the world of the Nightside at full force. Over the last month I have traversed multiple story lines across the saga that is this wonderful dark world.

In a way, this book wraps up several of the story lines that were begun in the very first book of the series, and yet continues many of the underlying stories and plot lines in new and exciting ways. If this is where the Nightside ends, I think I could be happy with it's conclusion. Thankfully, I don't think this is the case, and I am looking forward to many more adventures with John Taylor and "Oh God, its her, run.". Do yourself a favor and start at the beginning, i promise you a ride you won't soon forget.

This is the 11th book in the Nightside series by Green; last I heard there are thirteen books planned for this series. This book picks up just moments where the last left off and plunges us into a wonderful new Nightside mystery that is more epic than the last couple books and more, like novels mid-series.

John Taylor and Shotgun Suzie discover that the sword-like package that showed up at the end of book 10 is indeed Excaliber and it is here for a purpose. If only John knew what that purpose was. Now John has to journey out of the Nightside to London Proper to visit the London Knights in hopes that they will have some insight into what the sword's return means.

This was another great Nightside novel and it gets up back more to the style of the books mid-way through the series. We are back to a more epic storyline, where John is helping to save the Nightside (and maybe the whole world) from certain destruction. We get a lot of page space with John and Suzie, which was wonderful.

The main characters dealt with in this novel focus around the London Knights so they are not as quirky as some of John's sidekicks in previous novels, this is balanced by the fact that Suzie is featured throughout the book. Many events in earlier books are tied in with this book. There is a lot of action and a lot of things going on. I enjoyed the evil alternate Earth with the evil Knights of the Round Table and the inclusion of the Arthurian legend throughout. A lot of events surrounding the Elves are dealt with and the Droods from Green's Secret Histories series are mentioned a few times in passing.

I did miss some of my old favorite characters. Razor Eddie never shows, and neither do many of the other big players in the Nightside. They are mentioned in passing, but never given more page space then that.

The book ends well and with a rather large surprise. It really makes me look forward to the next book in this series. The plot is engaging and the book moves at a fast paced, those familiar with this series will find it is similar in writing style to previous Nightside books.

Overall a very satisfying addition to the series, fans of the Nightside won't be disappointed. I was happy that Green went back to a more epic storyline and that John and Suzie get so much page space. I was a little disappointed that we didn't see more of our other favorite characters, but was happy with how the storyline included a lot of Arthurian legend throughout. There are surprises in this book and I am excited to see what the next Nightside novel brings.

Taking place right after the events of: "The Good, the Bad, and the Uncanny". John Taylor, our white trench-coat private eye finds a wrapped package, reviled to be Excalibur at his apartment. This leads him on a journey from the streets of London, to the hopeless world of Sinister Albion, and back to the Nightside. The story is an edge-on-your-seat thrill-ride with tons of action.

The writing has some good lines, as well as whip-smart pacing. John Taylor, as narrator gives some good dialog as well as some dry humor. He also has great chemistry with Suzie Shooter also known as "Oh, Chist it's her, run!" The supporting characters are written well but tend to be flat. As well as one that dose stupid things just to make the story progress. The climax at the end however totally makes up for that as well as a surprise that will make you want read whats next.

Another story worthy for the Nightside

I had looked at the first book in the series for many, many months and didn't think I was interested. Once day, out of desperation for something new to read I picked up the first book and read it. I was hooked. I have followed the whole series. I read somewhere that Green was going to discontinue the series at book 12. I hope not. The characters and events are different and involving. I don't think there is anything like it. I think I missed something though in one of the books, because the last I had read, Susie's face was still disfigured and she had decided she liked it that way. In this book a reference was made to her now normal face. I'll have to go back and try to find where I missed that she had gotten her face fixed. Reading the Nightside is like visiting a comfortable old friend. It is so easy to just give yourself over to the books and stories. Please continue the Nightside Mr. Green.

This was a refreshing and fantastic contribution to the Nightside series. I read it in one day. Mr. Green has a huge imagination and this starts of fast and goes from there. I will let you read other reviews to get a synopsis but this comes highly recommended. I love you he ties in other books into this Universe. I loved it. You can't go wrong.

A Hard Day's Knight (2011) is the eleventh Fantasy novel in the Nightside series, following The Good, the Bad, and the Uncanny. The initial work in this series is Something from the Nightside.

In the previous volume, the talk of the town was the arrival of King Arthur's sword Excalibur. Everywhere Taylor went, the sword was mentioned. Yet nobody knew why it was coming to the Nightside.

Taylor also learned that Walker was dying. Henry kept trying to talk Taylor into taking his position, but John continued to refuse. Then the Collector was killed.

In this novel, John Taylor is a private investigator. He is the son of Charles Taylor and Lilith. Taylor has quite a reputation in the Nightside, partially from his prior deeds and even more from his heritage.

Suzie Shooter -- AKA Shotgun Suzie -- is a bounty hunter. She is also Taylor's girlfriend, although they are still working out issues from her childhood abuse. They are living together in a small house in the outskirts of Nightside.

Henry Walker had been the chief administrator of the Nightside. Now he is dead and Taylor is his replacement.

Cathy is Taylor's secretary. He had saved her from a carnivorous house. Now she operates all his technological devices.

Julian Advent is the great Victorian Adventurer. A timeslip had brought him to the present and he had started the Unnatural Inquirer in the Nightside. Now he is the chief of the New Authorities.

Lady Gaia is the incarnation of the Earth Spirit. She appears to be quite young, but is really as old as the Earth itself.

In this story, John finds a long, narrow parcel on the kitchen table. He asks Suzie about it and learns that it had been left leaning against the front doorjamb. So he examines it thoroughly and then opens it.

Inside the package is a sword with a blade about six feet long. It has a leather sheath with Celtic inscriptions. When Taylor draws the sword, it shines brightly.

The sword seems as light as a feather. It already knows how to fight and shows John the proper moves. Taylor is certain that the sword is Excalibur, but why has it been sent to him?

Outside the house, a crowd has formed. They are shouting "Excalibur". Suzie tells them to get off her lawn.

Some of the crowd are just spectators. One keeps saying that Merlin is a louse. Some think that John is the rightful ruler of Nightside. But others have come to take the sword.

Different groups in the crowd start fighting each other. They push into the lawn and the mines and protective magics start taking out the intruders. Then some try to break into the back and more mines and magics go off.

John has had enough of these shenanigans, so he draws Excalibur. Its presence fills the air and the crowd kneels before it. Taylor asks if anyone wants to take the sword from him. Then he orders them off his property before he uses the Voice on them.

The crowd leaves. Of course, John doesn't really have the Voice, but they don't know that. Besides, the Authorities might give it to him at any time.

Then Julian calls with a problem. There is a Soul Bomb in the Mammon Emporium. Julian wants Taylor to talk to the man.

Afterward, John goes to visit the London Knights. Suzie walks with him to the Underground and tries to convince him to let her come along. But Taylor is adamant that she stay behind.

In London Proper, John goes to the blank wall that is the entrance to the Castle Inconnu. He announces himself and informs them that he is not going away. After a short delay, a door appears and he enters the castle.

Taylor explains his problem to the Knights. His guide takes him to talk with Lady Gaia. She states that he is not the ultimate holder of Excalibur, but merely the means of getting the sword to the proper person.

This tale takes John to meet King Artur, the puppet ruler of another England. He also encounters a Merlin Satanspawn, the demon behind the throne in that alternate universe. Taylor is also faced with a civil war among the Elves that would be fought in Nightside and elsewhere on Earth.

This novel does not follow the recent format. The sword Excalibur dominates the plot from the beginning. The Soul Bomb episode, however, is the second short plot that usually occurs at the beginning.

On the next trip, John takes Suzie with him. The next installment in this series is The Bride Wore Black Leather.

Highly recommended for Green fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of exotic magic, political intrigue, and unusual romance Read and enjoy!.

-Arthur W. Jordin