The Patrimony

Horseclans #6

by Robert Adams

The Thonheeks of Sanderz-Vawn is dead. And the black pall of conspiracy hangs over Sanderz Hall. For Tim Sanderz, exiled long years ago, has returned from the Horseclans to reclaim his inheritance. But his stepmother has other plans...Before Tim's half-brother and the Undying High Lord Milo can send aid Sanderz Hall has become an armed camp where Ehleen battles Horseclansman with cunning, treachery and sword -swinging might. And there is more at stake than mere inheritance. The Confederation's ancient enemy is once again at work, using its inhuman science to plant the seeds of Lord Milo's destruction.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Post Apocalyptic, Fiction, Ebooks, Science Fiction Fantasy, Military Fiction

Paperback

First published April 1, 1980

About the author

Franklin Robert Adams (August 31, 1933 - January 4, 1990) was an American science fiction and fantasy writer, formerly a career soldier. He is best known for his "Horseclans" books. He wrote as Robert Adams, an abbreviated form of his full name.

Adams was an early pioneer of the post-holocaust novel. His Horseclans novels are precursors to many of today's attempts at this type of story, many of which do not exhibit his painstakingly detailed world view or extraordinary plot follow-through (many of his Horseclans books are so interlinked that they make sense only when read in order; he did not create many "stand alone" books in the series).

Hallmarks of Adams' style include a focus on violent, non-stop action, meticulous detail in matters historical and military, strong description, and digressions expounding on various subjects from a conservative and libertarian viewpoint.

Reviews

[Lewis Stone]

Unfortunately, this book is where I gave up on the Horseclans series. When I started these books, I couldn't have been more excited. A post-apocalyptic epic about undying lords, evil witchmen, and armoured telepathic sabre-tooth cats... what's not to love?

Unfortunately, Horseclans ended up feeling like a frustratingly wasted opportunity to me - a story filled with great ideas but written by an author who had no idea how to actually use any of them. After the first two books, Adams loses all interest in doing anything with the main characters or concepts. Instead, the following books (up to this one, which I gave up on partway through) all feel like repetitive and time-wasting filler.

Rather than focusing on the cats, the immortal high lords, or the witchmen, Adams fixates more and more on lesser side stories - and even then, he does a poor job of it. The books lose all excitement or momentum extremely quickly, as most of the pages are filled with incredibly boring and monotonous details on militaristic activities. For every chapter of pulpy action or plot development, there are five chapters that are wasted by Adams' desperate need to constantly show off his technical medieval military knowledge without any attempt to actually make it remotely interesting for the reader... and my GOD, does it get tiring fast. Hell, even after countless pages describing marching formations and daily military activities, the battles aren't much better. By book five, we hardly even see any of the action. Why? Because again, Adams would rather waste entire battle scenes dryly describing army formations etc. without actually showing the reader any of the exciting parts. It just doesn't make for good or thrilling reading.

And the exposition makes it even worse. I can't describe how dull it gets to read page after page of pointless exposition, sloppily crammed into the books with no flow, finesse, or even logical placement or structure. There are so many lengthy sections where Adams name-drops dozens of locations and characters without even describing what, who, or where anything is, making it almost impossible to keep track of anything because... well, it's just bad writing and worldbuilding.

I think the best example of how Horseclans completely wastes almost all of its most interesting concepts is the prairiecats. Seriously, imagine being an author who comes up with an idea as awesome and thrilling as telepathic sabre-tooth cats who ride into battle wearing armour and steel tips on their fangs... then proceeding to do absolutely NOTHING with them after only the first book for the following FIVE instalments. Seriously, Mr Adams? You can fill half the pages of most of these books describing how marching columns look, how soldiers set up their camps, yadda yadda... but you can't even fit a single page of decent sabre-tooth cat action into most of them?

All in all, it's a huge shame. I loved the first book, really liked the second, but this series dropped off hard and fast.

Ah well. Maybe I'll try again one day.

[David Palazzolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

So here’s some more jumbled thoughts on this train wreck of a series that I’m embarrassed to say I can’t put down. Virtually any other series like this I would have stopped long ago despite my love for fantasy, sci fi and horror train wrecks, but I have been curious about this series for nearly three or so decades. So many of my (dating myself here) AD&D gaming buddies loved Horseclans, recommending it profusely, it’s remained in the back of my mind as this weird kind of “great mystery” and that curiosity and my ability to have bought most of the series in under $15 have overridden my better angels. A bit of further warnings—Robert Adams has something to offend everyone, from the LGBTQ+ community to religious ones (particularly Christianity which he calls out regularly) so be aware.

This book brings us another time jump in the story of about 30 or so years, and while some of the characters from the previous novel stick around, many others just vanish without a trace and we also miss seeing more of how the Confederation’s newest members acclimate to their new status, which was something I would have liked to have seen. Among those coming back, we now have a middle aged Geros in semi-retirement and who by now has made peace with his lot in the warrior life, which has now made him an uninteresting and one-note. Anyone—particularly a new character—could have taken his place with little to no difference at all. Bili the Axe is also here, middle aged as well—he doesn’t get the chance to show off much of his warriors skill, so just in case anyone doubts that Bili still has a fire in his chimney despite snow on his roof, Robert Adams tacks on a needless sex scene with the Undying Lady Aldora, making it clear he hasn’t lost any of the skills he had between the ages of 18-20 (the last time they were together).

We have a few new characters—Tim Sanderz, long thought dead and come to claim the title of Thoheeks of Vawn-Sanderz that has become vacated with the death of his father Hwahltuh. He is your basic “brave hero” from central casting and is thus uninteresting, his lady love and sister(!) Gilianha who is in the beginning of the novel portrayed as smart, independent, capable and strong enough to stand with her first husband’s (not Tim) best hunters. However, upon being widowed and finding out about her father’s suspicious death returns to the old homestead and becomes merely love interest and damsel in distress. I find it interesting that Adams seems fine with incest, but can’t reconcile his attitude toward LGBTQ+ orientations

We find a new use for the “mindspeak” set of powers thanks to blind Ahl Sanderz and Mairee, daughter of Geros—apparently Ahl is able to see through Mairee’s eyes. Ahl is presented as something of a schemer and keeper of secrets, but after Tim arrives he is quickly thrust to the side and rarely interacts. Mairee is mostly a silent companion. If she ever speaks I think it might be once to her father, but I cannot think of any actual part of the book where she doesn’t silently stand by being Ahl’s surrogate eyes. And then we have Neeka, an apothecary who through misfortune winds up an indentured servant of sorts to our main villain Mehleena, a cookie cutter mad Ehleen woman who is driven by her lust for power, deviant desires and fits of pure violent insanity. Neeka’s back story also takes up a third of the book

By the end, we are introduced to three more Undying and are given something of a cliffhanger regarding one of them that I’m intrigued to see exactly how it plays out.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a rocky start, I'm genuinely starting to enjoy Robert Adams' Horseclans novels. Every book since Revenge of the Horseclans has featured great action on top of Adams' unique worldbuilding, all while avoiding the clunky prose that marred the author's earliest efforts. That being said, the series continues to have its obvious flaws. Foremost among these is Adams' tendency to leave important plotlines hanging, both within a story and between volumes. Want to know how your favorite hero wriggles out of their most recent jam? Sorry, but first you need to wade through twenty pages of Adams filling out the backstory of some recently-introduced character. And that's if Adams bothers to finish off the original storyline at all… Although I'm sure that some aficionados love these detours, I don't find them to be the least bit endearing, and The Patrimony is the first Horseclans novel that's kept from greatness primarily due to its lack of narrative focus. It's an otherwise-entertaining addition to Adams' universe that's plagued by its inability to stick with its core plot: an easy read, but far too frustrating to warrant more than a 3-star rating.

The Patrimony begins with the biggest time-jump since the start of Revenge of the Horseclans. In particular, it picks up approximately thirty years after the conclusion of The Savage Mountains, with Bili Morguhn (apparently) having survived his campaign in the western mountains and now enjoying life as an aging archduke. The novel's core plotline kicks off when Kindred-born Duke Hwahltuh of Sanderz-Vawn dies and his rebellious Ehleen wife looks to install her effeminate son as the next duke. Hwahltuh's oldest son Tim, who is also Bili Morguhn's half-brother, is then called back from the Middle Kingdoms to claim his rightful inheritance. All of this sparks a limited conflict between Vawn's Ehleen- and Kindred-backed factions- a battle that eventually involves Bili, the aging Sir Geros, and the undying High Lords. Meanwhile, the reader is given extensive backstories for Tim, his sister/lover Giliahna of Kuhmbuhluhn, and the mysterious Ehleen apothecary Neeka.

When I started The Patrimony, I was incredibly confused by Adams' decision to forego a direct sequel to The Savage Mountains. After all, that novel concluded with Bili having been separated from the Confederation force, possibly dead due to a massive earthquake. I suppose Bili survived, married the leader of the Moon Maidens (another unresolved plotline…), and settled down to start a family! In any case, all of these disconnects force you to approach The Patrimony differently from its direct predecessors: i.e.- as a standalone addendum to those stories that features many of the same characters. And from that perspective, the novel is mostly a success. I'd even say that, if the The Patrimony were released years later, after Adams had already concluded his main narrative, then I'd probably rank it as one of the stronger Horseclans novels up to this point. The action scenes in particular and amongst the best in the series, even if the novel strays away from grand battles.

Unfortunately, I'm forced to assess The Patrimony as it was actually presented, and from this perspective the book is a bit of a chore. Personally, after realizing that the novel didn't continue The Savage Mountains, I spent a fair chunk of the volume merely hoping to "get it through it", in hopes that Adams would get back to the core plotline in the next volume (hint: he doesn't). My frustrations were worsened by the fact that much of the book's second half is consumed by the backstory of Neeka. Although the backstories for Tim and Giliahna are also longer than they need to be, those are clearly the two most important (new) characters in the book. The same can't be said about Neeka, who proves to be an important figure by book's end but is a tertiary persona when her backstory begins. And then that backstory goes on for thirty or forty pages! Seeing as Adams is comfortable with developing side plots, perhaps the Neeka backstory should've been fleshed out into its own novel. Nothing recounted there significantly impacts the core plot of The Patrimony, apart from developing a bit of sympathy for what is initially an antagonist.

Although I went into The Patrimony with higher hopes than any of its predecessors, it ultimately reinformed many of my reservations about the series as a whole. At the current moment, I'm enjoying the series just enough to continue onward, even if Adams' gradual improvement as a writer appears to have stalled out. I simply need to accept the Horseclans series for what it is.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Thoheeks of Sanderz Vawn is dead and Tim living in exile has to return home to reclaim what is his by birthright but his stepmother has nefarious schemes of her own to ensure her son will take the inheritance.
With Milo unable to send aid quickly enough and Sanderz hall now an armed camp where the Ehleen battle the Horseclans time is running out for Tim...

[Jutta Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good

As always enjoy reading the Norwegian books. Let yourself inside the fantasy,you will enjoy it. It will be interesting to see what happens.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another in the cycle of post-apocalyptic fantasy that is the Horseclans.

One thing that interests me about this novel is the meandering narrative told from a number of view points and time frames. It is unusual in this genre in that whilst "flashbacks" are relatively common to have more than half the novel dedicated to it is odd.

It is also written by someone who had a vast knowledge of ancient arms and armour and a more than passing understanding of military strategy and tactics. He sometimes goes into a little too much detail here and people who do not have any understanding of weaponry may struggle to understand what is going on.

Having said that one disturbing thing about the novels is the manner in which the main "heroes" of the story are incredibly homophobic, and they have plenty of opportunity to show this as the "forces of evil" against which they struggle are based upon ancient Greek culture (which is redolent in man on man and woman on woman love, Lesbians are named after the Greek isle of Lesbos).

Having said that I did enjoy my swash being buckled, a bit of hack and slash is always welcome and I do want to know what the Witch Kingdom have in store for the Confederation so I will move on to the next in the series of 18. Maybe just not yet.

[Mohammad Ali Abedi · Rating 3 out of 5]

(There are 18 books, and I read until Book 10, Bili the Axe)

I read a bunch of these books, and eventually I got bored of it, but man, what a ride. The story is set in a post-apocalypse world. Everything has gone wrong, from nuclear warfare to plagues, so nothing remains from our time. This new world is run by barbarians and swords. In the new world, there are a few changes. Some clans have the ability to mindspeak to a few select animals, such as big cats (which are more like panthers), and a select few have the power of immortality. Such as our main character, the Undying High Lord Milo!

Milo starts up as a small clan leader, and eventually his clan starts growing bigger as the novels progress.

The series is a manly fantasy story with none of the silly dancing elves stuff. Every few pages, someone gets either killed or raped, and the good guys usually are responsible for both. There isn’t a really strong plot or characters to speak off, but if you have to want to pretend you are a man and raping some villagers and chopping off heads, then it can be fun.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read this once, while I read the first few a couple of times over the years. The first few books are pretty good. Nothing superb, but a fun, fast read if you like this kind of thing. It's more of a fantasy, but there is a Science Fiction basis - it's a post apocalyptic (nuclear war) world where a nomadic people are the good guys. Some super smart animals, a few immortals & such dropped in.

By about book 6 or 7, I got a little worn out with the series. I've been meaning to go back & read it again, since I didn't have the entire series all at once, but read it out of order, in scattered pieces across the years.

[Little Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Horseclans series is probably the best blend of fantasy and SiFi I have ever read. Pretty much something for everyone in these books. Great characters, epic storyline, fantastic writings. My highest recommendation

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my review of the Horseclans series under Swords of the Horseclans, Horseclans #2.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

14 years since I last read this, I'd totally forgotten the Neeka storyline and what was going on at the Center...

[Fatbaldguy60 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but some plot lines are getting repetitive.

[Steve]

Horseclans

[Steve]

Horseclans

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intrigue and more fun with battles! You cannot get books like this anymore. If you like Robert Jordan, then this series is a must read.

[Brent Moffitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little strange with odd shifts in locale and perspective, but after adjusting to the shift, interesting story telling.

[Kione · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay! I'm collecting the rest of the Horseclan books. I'll let you know more after I finish them :)

[Tim Weakley · Rating 3 out of 5]

My project for next summer is to read these all over again. It'll be fun to meet the characters all over again.