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5.0 out of 5 stars
A fantasy with real swords, March 21, 2001
Behind the Throne is classified fantasy-adventure because it takes place in a medieval world that never was. This lets an author have person-to-person battle instead of the faceless conflicts of modern war, arrange events at will without having to align with history, imagine new cultures and nations. This is not the usual fantasy-adventure romp with lots of naked sweaty muscles, comic-book violence, and a celebratory clench-a-wench ale-swigging at the end. There is no magic, no mysticism, and less philosophizing than you find in an exchange between two hard-boiled detectives. It is battle and war and pain and death from beginning to end, with small bits of personal peace and reward. Good people die, and bad people live too long. Moral questions do not have easy solutions, and even the hard solutions aren't perfect. I liked it very much. Dougherty has a clear, transparent writing style that focuses attention on the story rather than the author. His characters are described by their actions, so they develop a little more slowly than "The noble Pancha Dru with his eagle's countenance and heroic heart" but feel more like people than like dreams. I don't feel like chucking Alvin Riall under the chin and feeding him cookies, which is the impulse most of the modern ilk of fantasy heroes and heroines arouse in me. Dougherty even has female characters with independence and fingthing ability -- which is not an anachronism. Medieval chatelaines held their husband's castles in their absence, under war and siege, in all reality. Martin Dougherty is a science teacher and a fencing coach. He has written popular fantasy-adventure gaming materials for several years. The gamers I have known demand logic and realism in their fantasy wars. Dougherty has successfully transferred those elements to novel-length fiction. I hope he writes more.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Carpe Hunc Librum, October 9, 2000
Martin J. Dougherty has created a very clearly-drawn world for this superb piece of heroic fantasy. This allows the plot to move smoothly from place to place at a cracking pace, while still allowing ample character development. The plot concerns Duke Alvin Riall, who is victim to the machinations of the treasonous baron Terrik. The former is banished from Valdir, making it easier for Terrik to make an attempt for the throne. the story mixes political intrigue with epic battles and duels. It never drags because the action is is so well described, and the characterisation is so good. There are some really sympathetic characters in Riall and King Yantr, both are struggling to do what is necessary as well as what is honourable and right. There are also really cool characters in Terrik, and the double-hard Sir Evrik, my personal favourite. i wholeheartedly recommend this book, even to those who would not normally read heroic fantasy, there are no dragons or wizards here, only the location is mythical. Dougherty is better than Gemmell, and I look forward to his next book.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Even 'we' like adventure!, September 5, 2000
Right, I'm one of those very strange people who doesn't 'get on' with Pratchett and I don't care for Sharpe books much either. You've guessed it - I'm a girl. So, why did I like 'Behind the Throne' by MJ Dougherty so much? This book is all fighting - from duels to skirmishes, from sieges to pitch battles and on to all out war. And, it seems to happen every three pages or so. Yet, I loved it. The characterisation is such that, even without any kissing and not a description of a dress in sight, 'us girls' can still appreciate a rollicking good read full of cunning, intrique , adventure and daring. So, if you like books where your villians are villianous, your heroes are everthing they should be, chivalry and honour are alive and well and they all have very, very, big swords then give this book a go. It's the one for you. Will someone hurry up and make a film of this so Sean Connery can play Evrik before it's too late. Watch me be first in the queue come opening night!
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