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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Haven's Worst Nightmare, October 21, 2001
In the refuse pile known as the city of Haven, Hawk and Fisher are one feared couple. In fact, very few couples are feared more. Captains in Haven's overworked, underpaid guard force, the two of them fight crime in one of the city's worst beats - and crime generally loses when the two of them are involved. A rather painful loss. Unfortunately for the law-abiding citizens of Haven, were there any to be found, Hawk and Fisher are only one couple and can only be in one place at one time. Crime manages to thrive despite their best efforts and that's enough to turn anyone cynical - which is exactly what they are. Overworked, underpaid, cynical, armed with sharp pointy things, and the best at what they do. GUARDS OF HAVEN is actually a set of three mid-length stories, told in chronologial order and occurring one right after the other. With a 'mystery' flavor, the stories have a definitive fantasy setting. The guards have no qualms about morality; they try to do what's right but their methods have become a little more violent along the way. The same undertone runs throughout the book, which deals with the nitty-gritty city life. Morality's an option, not a way of life. For all that though, the book is funny and invigorating. Hawk and Fisher have enough quirks to make them realistic. The description is enough to give the necessary information but never so much as to slow the plot down. The flashes of the deeper relationship between Hawk and Fisher are enough to make the hopeless romantic in me celebrate but never too much to be called 'mush.' This is definitely a book worth a read. Just don't go to Haven to buy it.
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Three Great Books in One, July 15, 2001
The Swords of Haven is a collection of first three books of the Hawk & Fisher series: Hawk & Fisher, Winner Take All, and The God Killer. The first story, Hawk & Fisher, is an intriguing murder mystery. Hawk and Fisher, set to guard an important person during a party, have to find out who is killing off the guests one by one. In the second book, Hawk and Fisher are guarding the life of a political candidate, which isn't as easy as you'd first think. In the third story, Hawk and Fisher are assigned to the God Squad, the small group that keeps order on Haven's Street of the Gods. Someone is killing the gods and the other gods, understandably, are frightened. If someone doesn't do something, the gods might take matters into their own hands, and Haven might not survive a war amongst the gods. Hawk and Fisher are a husband and wife fighting team. They are notorious in Haven, and people on the wrong side of the law wisely steer clear of them. They have a penchant for violence, and the fight scenes are many in this book. But don't let the tough guy exterior fool you. Hawk and Fisher are also intelligent, witty in a dark, tongue in cheek way, and are handy at solving mysteries. I read Simon R. Green's book Blue Moon Rising before I read Sword of Haven, and while it is not necessary to do so, I'm glad I did. Swords of Haven is based in the same world, and there is some talk in book of when the Blue Moon rose. I would also recommend reading Swords of Haven and Guards of Haven before reading Beyond the Blue Moon.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Crime and intrigue in a corrupt magical city, July 13, 1999
By A Customer
I learned of the original prints of these books years ago, and despaired of ever finding them. Then I ran across *this* volume and rejoiced. (I hope they're reprinting 4-6. I have #4 and #6 from the original printing, used, and they're also great, BTW.) Hawk and Fisher *are* Rupert and Julia as far as I'm concerned, and it's hardly any secret: physical descriptions (including eyepatch), the way Hawk calls Fisher "lass" (though other Green characters do that), and a telling sewer scene when Fisher doesn't want to leave Hawk alone "in the dark" (remember Rupert's fear of the dark?). Not to mention when they admit to being from "around Hillsdown" and being up north when the Blue Moon rose. Still, it's a great series--light-hearted, not too serious, and a good deal of social satire (you see this especially in the Haven elections in _Winner Takes All_). Oh, and for those who wonder, SWAT in Haven stands for "Special Wizardry and Tactics."
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