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44th out of 1,560 books
—
10,553 voters
Fool's Errand (Tawny Man #1)
by
Robin Hobb (Goodreads Author)
In Fool's Errand, first of the "Tawny Man" trilogy, Robin Hobb brings back Fitz, hero of her emotionally powerful and intrigue-filled Assassin trilogy, from 15 years of self-imposed exile from his royal relations and from the world of power. Hobb is particularly good at the passage of time and the things it does not change; Fitz plausibly thinks of himself as older and mor...more
Paperback, 661 pages
Published
2002
by Voyager
(first published 2001)
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3.75
GAAH! These books frustrate the hell out of me! Absolutely and wholly.
But I love them. The plot. The characters.
I think I hate them like I do because they are so damn realistic. Never the happy ending to anything. Only the harsh and brutal reality.
The main character is brave. And good. Lovable. He is also a fool. A wimp. That makes mistakes. That you yell "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?" at.
Same for other characters. One moment you scream your head of at them. The next you sit there grinn...more
GAAH! These books frustrate the hell out of me! Absolutely and wholly.
But I love them. The plot. The characters.
I think I hate them like I do because they are so damn realistic. Never the happy ending to anything. Only the harsh and brutal reality.
The main character is brave. And good. Lovable. He is also a fool. A wimp. That makes mistakes. That you yell "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?" at.
Same for other characters. One moment you scream your head of at them. The next you sit there grinn...more
While this is the first book in a trilogy, it seems that there are a couple of other trilogies that precede it, and I think it would have been quite helpful had I read those first. I didn't feel lost--I could follow the plot well enough--but there was so much backstory, so much interesting history that I think it would have added to the experience, and helped to understand the characters and their motivations better, had I read those other books first.
Still, I enjoyed "Fool's Errand." I'd never...more
Still, I enjoyed "Fool's Errand." I'd never...more
7 likes · like · see review
view all 11 comments
I thoroughly enjoyed this series - the political maneuvering, the complex plotlines, the multi-dimensional characters. In a way, this was a protracted happy-ending for the first trilogy. It is difficult to express what I love about this series without giving the plot away. Suffice to say, I found the Fool's gift to Fitz from the Girl on the Dragon a philosophical and profound answer to some of the unanswered questions in the first. I am not too certain who did the growing up, I, the reader or Fi...more
Quite good! I think I lost a bit by not having read the previous books, but things were explained enough that I had no trouble following the story and filling in the background.
2 likes · like · see review
Astounding. More please!
(view spoiler)...more
(view spoiler)...more
This series returns to the world of FitzChivalry Farseer. Only now he has renamed himself Tom Badgerlock. Ten years have passed since he retired from court intrigue and politics, but (of course) there is need for him again and he is drawn back. He is required to go and save his son (of his body only). The agent of this change is the Fool, also known as the White Prophet, who also has a new name, Lord Golden. While the story felt a bit pedestrian, the familiar characters drew me along and made me...more
3/23/04 - 10/10
Book 1:
just as good as farseer if not better. the relationships are more detailed - fitz, fool, nighteyes, dutiful. another big page turner. fitz is such a terrific charcter.
Series 9/10:
The Tawny Man blends some characters and situations from Hobb's first two series. This series again focuses on Fitz, the main character from the Farseer series. I think the more narrow focus really helps. Relationships are more detailed and Fitz is an incredible character. Not a ton of things happ...more
Book 1:
just as good as farseer if not better. the relationships are more detailed - fitz, fool, nighteyes, dutiful. another big page turner. fitz is such a terrific charcter.
Series 9/10:
The Tawny Man blends some characters and situations from Hobb's first two series. This series again focuses on Fitz, the main character from the Farseer series. I think the more narrow focus really helps. Relationships are more detailed and Fitz is an incredible character. Not a ton of things happ...more
After 10 hours of near non-stop reading, I have finished reading this extraordinary book. After beginning with the Farseer triology and progressing to the Liveship triology, I picked up the Tawny Man triology with a near maniacal need for more. Robin Hobb has created a fantasy universe the likes of which modern Fantasy has never seen.
The Fool's Errand is one of the most emotionally draining books I have ever read. Not even Martin in his SoIaF series has affected me so deeply. Similar to the Far...more
The Fool's Errand is one of the most emotionally draining books I have ever read. Not even Martin in his SoIaF series has affected me so deeply. Similar to the Far...more
Originally published on my blog here in September 2003.
The start of the third of Robin Hobb's fantasy trilogies returns to the background and characters of her first (the second, the Live Ship Traders series, is set in a distant part of the same world). Following the cataclysmic conclusion to the Red Ships War in the Farseer series, the royal assassin Fitz has hidden himself away in obscurity for over a decade. Rather than being recognised as the reluctant saviour of the Six Duchies that he actu...more
The start of the third of Robin Hobb's fantasy trilogies returns to the background and characters of her first (the second, the Live Ship Traders series, is set in a distant part of the same world). Following the cataclysmic conclusion to the Red Ships War in the Farseer series, the royal assassin Fitz has hidden himself away in obscurity for over a decade. Rather than being recognised as the reluctant saviour of the Six Duchies that he actu...more
Spoilers!!!
What a pleasure to come across Fitz and the Fool again.
15 years have passed since the end of Royal Assassin, and Fitz is no longer FitzChivalry Fraseer, the witted bastard everyone believes is long dead. He is now known as Tom Badgerlock, a farmer.
I loved getting a full account of what happened to him since we've last seen him, dreaming about carving his own dragon with Nighteyes. His meeting with Chade was heart worming and dream shattering at the same time, but ever since the Fool,...more
What a pleasure to come across Fitz and the Fool again.
15 years have passed since the end of Royal Assassin, and Fitz is no longer FitzChivalry Fraseer, the witted bastard everyone believes is long dead. He is now known as Tom Badgerlock, a farmer.
I loved getting a full account of what happened to him since we've last seen him, dreaming about carving his own dragon with Nighteyes. His meeting with Chade was heart worming and dream shattering at the same time, but ever since the Fool,...more
It's been a long time since I have been sucked into an epic fantasy. I just don't have the time for them like I used to. That is, unless I make the time. Which is what happened with this book. Robin Hobb skillfully paints a world of magic and adventure. The culture wars about magic and those blessed with it are also wonderful and have strong parallels to our world. I haven't read the Farseer trilogy that apparently comes before this one, I just picked up this book at a thrift store thinking "wha...more
The first time I read Fool's Errand, I would not have given it 5 stars. I read it when it came out--actually before, since I had the advance. I wanted to know what happened to Fitz and his friends so desperately, and the story doesn't go anywhere fast. I finished it disappointed and dissatisfied. And Robin Hobb tends to backload her books. I noticed starting with this one, but Ship of Magic suffers from it too. It seems as though it is hard for her to get started and there is time more or less s...more
For those who have waded through FitzChivalry's previous trilogy adventure (Assassin's Books), this is a brilliant return to cherished characters and wonderful opening to new storylines. For those who have never laid eye on the city of Buck Keep - never fear, you'll be pulled along for the ride.
Summary (no plot spoilers):
Hidden away in a small cabin with adopted son, Hap, Fitz is shaken out of self-imposed exile to serve his family, the Farseers.
With his aging wolf companion by his side and old...more
Summary (no plot spoilers):
Hidden away in a small cabin with adopted son, Hap, Fitz is shaken out of self-imposed exile to serve his family, the Farseers.
With his aging wolf companion by his side and old...more
Con entusiasmo sono tornata a leggere la Hobb, che avevo stimato ed apprezzato nella Trilogia dei Lungavista.
Nel primo romanzo di questa nuova trilogia non spiccano novità di rilievo rispetto alla precedente e in questo senso il seguito sembra più voluto dal successo commerciale che sentito davvero dall'autrice.
Ciò si denota nella lunghezza stessa di questo romanzo, che in diversi punti di dilunga eccessivamente (e vanamente) per aumentare il numero di pagine complessive piuttosto che per motivi...more
Nel primo romanzo di questa nuova trilogia non spiccano novità di rilievo rispetto alla precedente e in questo senso il seguito sembra più voluto dal successo commerciale che sentito davvero dall'autrice.
Ciò si denota nella lunghezza stessa di questo romanzo, che in diversi punti di dilunga eccessivamente (e vanamente) per aumentare il numero di pagine complessive piuttosto che per motivi...more
This is a multi-series combined review and is copied/pasted across all of Hobb's related series. It does not refer only to this trilogy, and includes Liveship, Rain Wilds, Farseer, Tawny Man, and Dragon Keeper series.
These are the most compelling, most enjoyable, best-plotted, most complicated epic fantasy books I've read in ages. I adored them. There are 5 (?) interwoven, inter-dependent series that the author clearly outlined before picking up her pen for the first time. The characters are wo...more
These are the most compelling, most enjoyable, best-plotted, most complicated epic fantasy books I've read in ages. I adored them. There are 5 (?) interwoven, inter-dependent series that the author clearly outlined before picking up her pen for the first time. The characters are wo...more
This is the first book in a new trilogy narrated by FitzChivalry, but takes place a number of years later. The same protagonist now goes by the name Tom, and feels and acts like an ageing man.
If you're familiar with the first trilogy and still have most of it fresh in mind, you'll probably end up skimming about a third of this book. Aside from that though, it's a pretty enjoyable story. There are many series where the first two books or so are good but then proceed steadily downhill. (Wheel of T...more
If you're familiar with the first trilogy and still have most of it fresh in mind, you'll probably end up skimming about a third of this book. Aside from that though, it's a pretty enjoyable story. There are many series where the first two books or so are good but then proceed steadily downhill. (Wheel of T...more
Wordy. This book is wordy. It needed an editor badly. It could have been tightened up, as there were things there that didn't need to be. However, in terms of brining the reader back to the world they missed after the Farseer Trilogy, it was fantastic. All the old gang is back together, almost, and once again they must save the world.
The plot was a little shaky, and you could tell that it wasn't given the same attention as the OVERALL plot of the series. It was a subplot. Those were handled bet...more
The plot was a little shaky, and you could tell that it wasn't given the same attention as the OVERALL plot of the series. It was a subplot. Those were handled bet...more
I tried to read this book about a month ago, but quickly realized I was missing something. I looked it up and found out that this is the 1st book in the 3rd trilogy set in this world, so I put it down and pick up the real first book Assassin's apprentice. Robin Hobb's stories are very character oriented and she does well investing just enough effort into her characters to hook the reader right away.
I have noticed that some authors need a significant number of pages to develop plot lines that in...more
I have noticed that some authors need a significant number of pages to develop plot lines that in...more
This is the continuation for her other trilogy. I enjoyed it and it definately qualifies as a page turner. Whilst good, I don't feel it was quite as good as the Farseer Trilogy.
The beauty of the other trilogy was how the twists and turns would make the ending completely unpredicable. With this one, at least the first book, you did know how it was going to end roughly. That said, there are a few seeds that have been planted that will probably be relevant for the next couple of books. I think my...more
The beauty of the other trilogy was how the twists and turns would make the ending completely unpredicable. With this one, at least the first book, you did know how it was going to end roughly. That said, there are a few seeds that have been planted that will probably be relevant for the next couple of books. I think my...more
Apr 02, 2011
LKM
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to LKM by:
Jaina
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There are sooooo many things I like about Hobbs books, and this one was no disappointment.
The characters are the same as always,; well, even 'matured', if you may, so they show depth that others book not always show. The world is as beautiful and complex as ever, and then of course there's the politics and court intrigue... even if this one is but a prelude of what is to come.
One of the things I like most of these books, outside of character and world development, is that no matter what book yo...more
The characters are the same as always,; well, even 'matured', if you may, so they show depth that others book not always show. The world is as beautiful and complex as ever, and then of course there's the politics and court intrigue... even if this one is but a prelude of what is to come.
One of the things I like most of these books, outside of character and world development, is that no matter what book yo...more
Since reading the Farseer Trilogy, I gobbled my way through the Liveship Traders trilogy just so I could get started on this set of books.
After finishing the Tawny Man series, I was really glad I read the Liveship Traders series first because there were references that I could link together, since they are written in the same world (though the stories are completely unrelated).
The Tawny Man series begins where the Farseer series ended, though some time in the future, and though this series are a...more
After finishing the Tawny Man series, I was really glad I read the Liveship Traders series first because there were references that I could link together, since they are written in the same world (though the stories are completely unrelated).
The Tawny Man series begins where the Farseer series ended, though some time in the future, and though this series are a...more
I strongly suggest reading The Farseer trilogy before the Tawny Man one, otherwise you will lose a lot of the character development and at the same time you might be a bit confused. I have to give this first volume only a 4 though, which is a low score for me considering it is Robin Hobb.
The first part is somewhat slow, really. The author retells past events, but Fitz musings and thoughts are at times repetitive and the true story starts after a lot of pages have gone.
The Farseer readers will be...more
The first part is somewhat slow, really. The author retells past events, but Fitz musings and thoughts are at times repetitive and the true story starts after a lot of pages have gone.
The Farseer readers will be...more
I like the 'old' Fitz more than I did the young, whiny Fitz. I like Hobb's writing, she does a very good job of pulling you through the story - I find myself glued to the pages, even though she has paragraphs and paragraphs of descriptions. Lots of world building here.
On that note - there seems to be tons of holes in the magic system. There are just so many inconsistencies. I realize that Fitz doesn't know about the Skill or the Wit completely, but there were times he COULD have used the Wit, bu...more
On that note - there seems to be tons of holes in the magic system. There are just so many inconsistencies. I realize that Fitz doesn't know about the Skill or the Wit completely, but there were times he COULD have used the Wit, bu...more
This is the first book in The Tawny Man trilogy (before The Golden Fool, and Fool's Fate).
Fool's Errand takes place fifteen years after the events of the Red Ship Wars. Fitz, who goes by the name of Tom Badgerlock, now lives a quiet life in a remote cottage by the woods with his wolf Nighteyes and his foster son Hap, a mismatched-eyed boy brought to him years ago by Startling.
The Minstrel's visits are the only regular ones he gets, bringing him comfort but also news from the world around. The on...more
Fool's Errand takes place fifteen years after the events of the Red Ship Wars. Fitz, who goes by the name of Tom Badgerlock, now lives a quiet life in a remote cottage by the woods with his wolf Nighteyes and his foster son Hap, a mismatched-eyed boy brought to him years ago by Startling.
The Minstrel's visits are the only regular ones he gets, bringing him comfort but also news from the world around. The on...more
O cenário e a maior parte dos personagens são os comuns à Saga do Assassino, uma vez que a narrativa tem lugar quinze anos depois da estória que conseguiu apaixonar os leitores de fantasia um pouco por todo o mundo. Foi, por isso, com grande satisfação que me deixei levar uma vez mais pela mestria da autora e penetrei nos Seis Ducados para mais uma aventura.
Para todos os fãs da saga já mencionada, este regresso dos seus personagens e as novas viagens pelos seus mágicos e estranhos caminhos, são...more
Para todos os fãs da saga já mencionada, este regresso dos seus personagens e as novas viagens pelos seus mágicos e estranhos caminhos, são...more
yet another realistic and depressing (and excellent) addition to this universe.
some quotes that really stuck with me:
"A while later, lingered in the hinterlands of sleep. Sometimes i think there is more rest in that place between wakefulness and sleep than there is in true sleep. the mind walks in the twilight of both states, and finds the truths that are hidden alike by daylight and dreams. things we are not ready to know abide in that place, awaiting that unguarded frame of mind."
"I waited. Si...more
some quotes that really stuck with me:
"A while later, lingered in the hinterlands of sleep. Sometimes i think there is more rest in that place between wakefulness and sleep than there is in true sleep. the mind walks in the twilight of both states, and finds the truths that are hidden alike by daylight and dreams. things we are not ready to know abide in that place, awaiting that unguarded frame of mind."
"I waited. Si...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Positives: it's great to return to the lives of some favorite characters, namely, Fitz, Fool, and even Chade. I am looking forward to reading the rst of the storyline.
Negatives: way too much filler. There was a lot of unnecessary dialogue and explanations and just words! So tedious in places. For example, at one pont Fitz suddenly becomes fashionista and starts gushing about his clothing, the cut and fit etc. where did that come from. So unlike the character up to that point. Also, I feel that w...more
Negatives: way too much filler. There was a lot of unnecessary dialogue and explanations and just words! So tedious in places. For example, at one pont Fitz suddenly becomes fashionista and starts gushing about his clothing, the cut and fit etc. where did that come from. So unlike the character up to that point. Also, I feel that w...more
I read this book back when it first came out 10? years ago and remember not liking it all that much. In fact, I remembered nothing about the next two books so either I did not read them or I made myself forget. This time, I liked this first book much better, but of course still not as much.
The scope of the story is much smaller, and it takes a while to get going. I don't blame anyone for that because there's 15 years between Assassin's Quest and the beginning of this book, and because (understa...more
The scope of the story is much smaller, and it takes a while to get going. I don't blame anyone for that because there's 15 years between Assassin's Quest and the beginning of this book, and because (understa...more
This is some good stuff.
I read The Farseer Trilogy about 3 or 4 years ago, and haven't read it since as it was such a good series I wanted to wait a few years so if I were to read it again I could gain even more from it.
Then I got hold of this and I just adored going back to Fitz's story, a perfect character as are the Fool and Nighteyes. Kept me immersed in the story right until the very end and started The Golden Fool straight away.
As with all Hobb books, I feel you need to get over the initia...more
I read The Farseer Trilogy about 3 or 4 years ago, and haven't read it since as it was such a good series I wanted to wait a few years so if I were to read it again I could gain even more from it.
Then I got hold of this and I just adored going back to Fitz's story, a perfect character as are the Fool and Nighteyes. Kept me immersed in the story right until the very end and started The Golden Fool straight away.
As with all Hobb books, I feel you need to get over the initia...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fantasy Book Club...: Fool's Errand (Tawny Man #1) - Finished Reading *SPOILERS* | 16 | 42 | Mar 30, 2012 10:06pm | |
| Fantasy Book Club...: Fool's Errand (Tawny Man #1) - Planning to Read, Roll Call, First Impressions | 26 | 42 | Mar 24, 2012 06:22pm |
** I am shocked to find that some people think a 2 star 'I liked it' rating is a bad rating. What? I liked it. I LIKED it! That means I read the whole thing, to the last page, in spite of my life raining comets on me. It's a good book that survives the reading process with me. If a book is so-so, it ends up under the bed somewhere, or maybe under a stinky judo bag in the back of the van. So a 2 st...more
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“Death is not the opposite of life, but the opposite of choice.”
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