Customer Reviews

The Harp and the Blade

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

John Myers Myers is best known for his cult classic fantasy novel `Silverlock', and because of this, some of the reissues of his first novel, `The Harp and the Blade', have been marketed as fantasy as well. This is an incorrect labeling of the book - it is a straight up historical novel adventure set in wild and lawless tenth century France. The protagonist is a wandering Irish bard, a younger son of an Irish chieftain with no inheritance, no roots, no alliances, and no loyalties except to poetry. While plying his trade in France, he runs afoul of a ruthless local strong man who styles himself a Duke, and later rescues and allies himself with a young lord who is said Duke's only real competition. Through a series of adventures that include Viking raids, warrior monks, incognito rescues from castles, and nefarious bandits, as well as a few pitched battles, our hero matures and learns the value of cause and comrades.

`The Harp and the Blade' is a truly impressive first novel. The writing is sharp, and the story fast paced and engrossing. Anyone familiar with Myer's more famous work, `Silverlock', will not be surprised to learn that the most charming elements of `The Harp and the Blade' are the catchy and creative songs that Myers created as original compositions for his bard hero to sing. It appears that Myer's talent emerged fully matured in this, the first of his many books. This book is a must read for any John Myers Myers fans, and will not disappoint anyone who enjoys good historical adventures. I give it my hearty recommendation.

Theo Logos

I really enjoyed this book. In my opinion Myers best work. It has more action than Silverlock, and again detailed the transformation of a louse into a man. The book takes place in Celtic Europe, and talks about life and how individuals affect the events that eventually shape the way the world changes.

While endorsing Theo Logos' review, I just wanted to comment that the cover of the pictured edition wins my personal award for Most Misleading Crossed Genre Blurb Ever, and that award still stands more than 20 years after I read it. It is not, as he remarks, a fantasy, as it is an historical fiction. Nor is it druidic, as the one pagan priest we see early on is a remnant of an aborignal, pre-Celtic people. (This is also where the one possibly fantastic element in the story comes in: the priest may or may not be psychic, and he lays a curse that may or may not have anything to do with subsequent developments.) Nor does it take place in England, as most of the action occurs in what appears to be Brittany. Nor does a loincloth-clad barbarian type ever stand in a protective and vaguely homoerotic way next to a more slightly built, somewhat less exhibitionist bard, and not a single monolithic circle is seen anywhere. I concede a menhir, but that's not the same thing.

Damn good story though. Too bad it doesn't look to be in print.

The protagonist of this novel is *not* a louse. A louse (defined as a mean or despicable person) wouldn't have worried about, or experienced remorse concerning, the violent incident that begins this book. In any event he pays for this moral lapse. There are other characters to which this appellation, or worse, applies. As in real life not all of them pay for their lack of morals.

The blue-painted wizard appeared and spoke to Finnian. "You let a man die today because you couldn't be bothered!"

"It wasn't my business."

"You think nothing in life is your business!" the wizard howled, "but I'll make it so things will be!

Finnian waited alert, ready to kill if the wizard voiced a curse, but he only looked hard and said:

"From now on, as long as you stay in my land, you will aid any man or woman in need of help."

That didn't sound so bad... until Finnian discovered the whole realm needed help!