The Blue Hawk

by Peter Dickinson

In an ancient kingdom, a boy and his hawk challenge the gods

All his life, Tron has been destined to join the priests who rule his strange desert kingdom. When the old king grows sick, a ritual is called for to restore his the sacrifice of a blue hawk, the symbol of the god Gdu. For the first time, Tron is chosen to take part in the ritual. Just before the bird is sacrificed, the young priest notices that its eyes are cloudy. The bird is sick, and to give its soul to the king would be to kill him. And so Tron steals the bird away.

The priests are enraged at his disruption of the ritual. Some call for his head, but others see Tron’s potential. They give him three months to train the wild bird—three months to save its life and rescue the kingdom from the wrath of the gods.

This ebook features an illustrated personal history of Peter Dickinson including rare images from the author’s collection.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, Science Fiction, Egypt

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Peter Malcolm de Brissac Dickinson OBE FRSL was a prolific English author and poet, best known for children's books and detective stories.

Peter Dickinson lived in Hampshire with his second wife, author Robin McKinley. He wrote more than fifty novels for adults and young readers. He won both the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Children's Award twice, and his novel The Blue Hawk won The Guardian Award in 1975.

Reviews

[Gretchen Rubin]

I LOVED THIS BOOK. I plan to re-read it quite soon. I may have loved it as much as Tulku.

[Fuzzball Baggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very different from what I'm used to, but a good read. I usually go for more epic world-encompassing plots whereas this plot focused on just one small boy, but it felt important nevertheless and became more epic at the end. I really liked the bond between the boy, his god, and his hawk. It's quite an old book but it's not boring in the way that some old-fashioned books are, I actually thought it was modern until I looked at when it was written.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A beautiful and nuanced story with a lot of interesting depictions of religion (both individual and political aspects). Also core.relationships are friendships, no romance. Hadn't reread since a kid myself, but it held up!

[Kenya Starflight · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book caught my eye purely based on the name of the author -- I grew up loving the movie "Flight of Dragons," and not only did Peter Dickinson write the book that movie is based on, but the filmmakers named the main character in his honor. A curious reason to pick up a book, perhaps, but it at least caught my attention... and the premise of a young man up against gods and kings, and with a magnificent bird of prey by his side, was intriguing enough to hold my attention. And while the characters of this book are a bit flat, the world and culture Dickinson constructed was magnificent, as was his unique approach to the nature of godhood and mankind's relationships to their deities.

Tron is a priest-in-training who is present at the ritual of the Blue Hawk, where a beautiful blue hawk will be sacrificed to prolong the life of the king. But Tron has been chosen as "Goat," which means that for one day he can do whatever he pleases to disrupt the rituals of the priests... and directed by a mysterious sign of the gods, he steals the hawk, condemning the king to death. When the priests seek Tron's death for his interference, he is forced to flee first the temple, then the kingdom itself, both to protect himself and the magnificent hawk. Neither gods nor the new king are done with him, however... and to save the kingdom from ruin by a stagnant, all-powerful priesthood, Tron will have to play a role in a power game that could destroy everything he believes in.

Dickinson has a poetic, lyrical writing style, one that creates vivid descriptions and draws you into the world and characters. There are some odd stylistic choices here and there -- such as an entire chapter written in present tense whereas the rest of the book is in past tense -- but for the most part it's very enjoyable to read. The world and culture he has constructed bears some superficial similarities to ancient Egypt, but has enough of its own unique flair that it doesn't feel like a wholesale ripoff, and the system of government and religion are fascinating to explore.

Tron himself feels less like a heroic character and more like a character who is simply pushed about by the whims of the plot, and I never really felt like he was developed enough to be interesting. In fact, none of the characters really stood out to me, which is a shame seeing as the world around them was so richly realized. And while I loved some of the philosophical and theological concepts introduced late in the book, I kind of wish they had been introduced earlier so they didn't feel thrown in at the last minute. Just a personal preference.

"The Blue Hawk" is a relatively short read, but one with a lovingly detailed world and a fascinating exploration of the relationship between gods and their worshipers. And while it's not a masterpiece, it's a lovely fantasy novel that deserves more recognition than it gets.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The civilization that Dickinson creates in this book feels so real and unconstructed that I loved reading it just for that culture. I'm not sure exactly where he's going with the idea of the gods, but his thoughts on spirituality were interesting to think about. The plot is not gripping, there is a huge feeling of predestination through the book that banishs all potential suspense, but I thought that was part of what he was trying to convey.

[Debbie Gascoyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't read this for many years and had forgotten it. Even though I still have my old pb copy from back in the day, it was never one of my all-time favourites of Dickinson's work. It is very fine, and quite remarkable for its thoughtful examination of the way religion can be corrupted from within.

[William Leight · Rating 4 out of 5]

This falls on the speculative fiction for children side of Dickinson's strangely bifurcated career, although it's certainly still very readable for adults. It's an adventure story, set in an imaginary but vaguely ancient-Egyptian kingdom in which a boy priest, Tron (the book precedes the movie by some years) gets caught up in a power struggle between the priesthood and the king. Dickinson has Le Guin's knack for creating societies that have an inner coherence, even if he doesn't quite have her breadth of imagination. In particular, he manages the tricky balance of showing the high priests manipulating omens and rites to get the outcome they want, without falling into the trap of suggesting that they are cynics who know that their religion is a sham. Everybody believes in the gods: Tron, in particular, is constantly looking for a sign from the god Gdu, the god that he is being trained to be a priest of, whose symbol is the titular hawk. The almost total lack of female characters and the resort to war as the necessary prod to move society forward reflect the influence of a certain type of boys' own adventure stories, but the focus on the gods -- the sincere belief on the part of the high priests who truly rule that they are simply interpreting the will of the gods, and even more so Tron's struggle to truly serve Gdu, a struggle that is as much internal as external -- ensure that "The Blue Hawk" rises above that level. It's not quite at the level of the Changes trilogy, but still very well done.

[Cedar · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites

I first read this book almost 50 years ago, as a teenager, when it first came out. I often reread it over the years, and my paperback copy is dog-eared and well loved. It is buried in a bookshelf I can't easily access, so I bought the kindle version and so can finally leave a review this time around. I love this very well written story of dedication, faith, perseverance and loss, told about Tron, a young priest trainee, learning the ways of the Hawk God, Lord Gdu, removed from his home and family as a toddler, yet managing to emerge as his own person, with a strong sense of honor, finding his way in a increasingly political and scary world by releasing the Blue Hawk and inadvertently causing the death of his King. Tron may have faltered occasionally, but persevered, riding in the dead king's coffin, on the way to shape not only his destiny, but the destiny of his God, his King, his priesthood and eventually, perhaps, his world.

I'll be reading this yet again! I love it!

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very interesting story set in ancient Egypt - although perhaps not quite the ancient Ehypt we would recognise. In this world the gods are real enough that they speak to a young boy and guide him into an action that causes a sequence of momentous events, beginning with the death of the king and ending... well I won't say where it ends, as that would spoil the story - but as a story it hangs together very well indeed, and is more than worth the time spent readig it.

I am suprised this book has not generated more reviews as it really is very good. The world is richly imagined and drawn. There is love and friendship here, power and politics, and plenty to set you thinking about the nature of change, of the world and of our place in it.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ambitious and creative book, not like anything being written today--as far as I know. The world-building and view of the Gods and their role in the kingdom is subtle and fascinating.

On the other hand, it took me six weeks to finish, because the action is episodic and Dickinson dips into didacticism occasionally, mostly because he's so eager to convey his complicated ideas. Not really for kids even if it has a teenage protagonist.

[Pam Christison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not give many 5 star ratings, and I think this is actually 4.5 stars, but I do think I loved this book so I’m rounding up. I love the setting, a fantasy ancient Egypt. Tron is an amazing character whose growth is so well done. The scope of the plot is both local and immense. I love the interaction with the gods. And I loved the writing style too. This is my first, but surely not my last, Peter Dickenson book.

[Nik Gervae · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent young-adult novel about the journeys of an initiate in a priesthood resembling that of ancient Egypt, who's prompted by the gods to an act that upsets the established order and surfaces a rivalry between the king and the priesthood. It's all told rather drily, but the turns in the story are interesting, and the conclusion was quite unexpected.

[alissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dickinson's writing is so deeply immersive, creating a world with deep tradition and layered power struggles, sensed but not fully understood by the main character. The story is rich with cultural details, yet at the same time leaves room for wonder.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scintillation Bookclub, July 2023

I love the mix of religious awe and fantasy aliens, as the reader moves between superstition and belief. I like how the kid moves towards a more mature understanding of his responsibilities and choices. I miss having more girls in the story.

[Bea Harvie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this so often as a kid and I was impressed by how much I had forgotten over the intervening decades

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just could not get into this found it very boring, I very rarely leave a book unfinished but I gave up after 8 chapters

[Sam Amos]

this was an... interesting read I enjoyed the trip into a different religion but I would have liked a little more context and background especially with the pronunciation of the names of the gods

[Beth Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread for book club. Very immersive yet weirdly remote.

[Anna King · Rating 1 out of 5]

expo confusing asf whatever

[STU · Rating 3 out of 5]

Verging on 4 stars for some of it.
Interesting story.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

As good as a fantasy novel can be!

[Kenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a book about the tension between religion, state, and freedom, and neither the plot nor the ideas seemed particularly gripping to me. But in the final pages of the book, the main character, Tron, shares his vision of "the Gods"--a vision that I found incredibly compelling. Using metaphors that tied the Gods to the natural world, and calling Tron's vision a "might-have-been" story rather than a absolutely true revelation, Dickinson presented a thoughtful, post-modern theology that made tied the plot together and deepened the ideas that had come before. While the beginning of the book was just okay, I'm so glad I made it to the end and the M. Night Shyamalan-like resolution.

[springsnotfail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spare, interesting, powerful story about a boy in a temple novitiate (seems possibly ancient Egyptian in its model?) who is called to steal the sacred hawk and run away with it. He's caught up in a power struggle he doesn't understand, but also has a special bond with the hawk. Really beautiful, very strange; reminds me a bit of the second Earthsea book by Le Guin.

[Shaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a reread, although I didn't read this book as a kid. The intricacies of the setting and the balances of power are relevant to the story being told and the journey is wondrous in many ways. I admire this book a good bit, but somehow I don't feel very emotionally attached to it. I also wish there were more women and girls.

[Kathryn Baron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this story. I no longer remember when I 1st found it - but the story and the images are wonderful. The best description of Hawking I think I've ever read. A Simple plot. A vivid story. Absolutely recommended.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent, vivid imagery. "Be free from my worship, free from my love."

[William Crosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantasy, to be read as if it were an anthropological description. Discusses roles of gods, priests, loyalty.

[Stephen Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in an imaginary kingdom about 3000 years ago (to judge by the technology and social system) a 13-year-old boy who has been training to become a priest of the hawk-god Gdu rescues a sacrificial hawk belonging to an untameable species from a ceremony and inadvertently gets involved in political and religious intrigues of his time. But at root it is a story of a boy and a hawk.

[Alison Tala]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14827225