Bili the Axe

Horseclans #10

by Robert Adams

BILI LEADS HIS FORCES IN DESPERATE BATTLE AGAINST AN ARMY OF BLOODTHIRSTY INVADERS... THE GATHERING OF THE HOST With the help of powerful inhuman allies, Prince Bryuhn has persuaded Bili and his warriors to delay their return to Confederation lands and join in his campaign against the deadly invading army that threatens to destroy New Kuhmbuhluhn. But even as Bili and his warriors rally to the Kuhmbuhluhmers' aid, the forces of the Wit

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

185 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 4, 1983

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

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my absolute favorite of Adams' Horseclans books. Great characters, great setting, great adventure. I never liked the "undying" characters as much as the human characters, and Bili was very human but still a great hero.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robert Adams' lengthy Horseclans saga continues on with Bili the Axe. It's the tenth Horseclans novel, overall, as well as the penultimate installment in the extended story arc of Bili Morguhn. As such, it promises to start wrapping up many of the storylines concerning Bili's Western campaigns, some of which date all of the way back to Revenge of the Horseclans. Emphasis on the word "promise". Adams is nothing if not deliberate with his overarching storylines, and Bili the Axe is yet another Horseclans novel where the buildup overwhelms the payoff. It's certainly not a waste of time for fans of the series, and if you enjoyed the last several Horseclans volumes you'll probably find Bili the Axe to be roughly similar in quality. Just don't be expecting any particularly memorable developments. It looks like most of that action will have to wait until Champion of the Last Battle, assuming we get any sort of resolution to Adams' ever-thickening web of plotlines…

Bili the Axe picks up several months after the events of The Witch Goddess. Despite destroying the primary Ganik stronghold, Bili and company are still being retained by Prince Byruhn of New Kumbuhluhn. Byruhn once again manipulates our heroes into spearheading New Kumbuhluhn's military campaigns, this time against an invasion of militarily sophisticated northerners known as Skohshuns. Meanwhile, the "Witchman" Erica Arenstein leads her dwindling band of Ganiks in an effort to uncover her lost scientific equipment, whereas Erica's former colleague Jay Corbett leads a force of troops with modern weaponry toward the same cache of equipment. All signs point to a climactic battle that pits Bili's allies against both the Skoshuns and the Witchmen of the Kennedy Center. As with all previous Horseclans novels, Bili the Axe mixes its supernatural elements with loads of military detail and intricate worldbuilding. It also continues to indulge is frequent POV shifting, often to secondary characters with an unclear relationship to the core storyline.

If you've read my reviews of earlier Horseclans novels, I don't have much new to add. Adams' worldbuilding continues to be top-notch, whereas I continue to have issues with aspects of the author's storytelling. More specifically, although Bili the Axe is loaded with fantastic plot elements, those components are pieced together us a way that makes for a lackluster read. Way too much detail about the political/military history of the world, and not enough character development. That being said, I'll note that many of complaints evaporate when the perspective shifts to Jay Corbett and his Broomtown regiment. Bili is an interesting protagonist, but Adams appears to be far more comfortable inhabiting the mind of a "modern man" like Corbett. I'd go so far as to say that Corbett has rapidly developed into the most sympathetic character in the series, and I'd be seriously upset if Adams doesn't give him a solid send-off. The same goes for Sir Geros, although The Patriarchy has already given us a glimpse at how Geros' story plays out.

Just like the vast majority of its predecessors, Bili the Axe ultimately earns a decent yet unspectacular, 3-star rating. Worth reading if you've already made it this far. I just hope that Adams somehow finds a way to justify six books' in Champion of the Last Battle, otherwise I'll find little reason to continue on to the post-Bili entries in the Horseclans series.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bili now very close to death recalls his many, many years of battles and adventures.
In particular in this episode we hear of the epic war between Bili and his forces, slyly tricked into fighting for Prince Byruhn against the Ganik armies led by Erica who is desperately working her way across country with her Ganik army to get to the centre where the "Witchmen" are still plotting to get back their scientific equipment lost high in the hills after the quake a few books ago.

[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]

This is in the middle of the series and worth reading. He's a memorable character introduced earlier on, so it was fun reading a book about him. This breaks the rule below.

After 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

[Fatbaldguy60 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, Bili is ok, but there is too much repetition in the books with Bili.

[Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read most of the Horseclans books when they were new -- this is really the only one that I have any memory of

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always felt that this book was the best Horseclans book. So much fun to read.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad post-apocalyptic series

[Kione · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woohoo! Another one to the collection!