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The Hammer and the Blade
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April Sword and Sorcery Group Read: The Hammer and the Blade by Paul S. Kemp *Spoilers*
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Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie
(last edited Apr 01, 2013 04:16PM)
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rated it 3 stars
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Just finished this one yesterday. A lot of fun! Really enjoyed it. I'll be back with more later once more people have read it:)
Really enjoying this book. I had started it and the odd names threw me off the first time and I quit reading it. However I am really glad I picked it up again as I am enjoying it immensely. Lots of action, wit and humor. Great combination. Can't put it down now.
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Me too...starting today!
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I hope to start soon, myself. Gotten a little sidetracked with other books.
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It's crazy sometimes. New books come out I've been waiting to read and then there's always the ones I've been trying to find time to read.
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I like how Kemp uses a lot of vocabulary. I'm glad I'm reading this on Kindle, so I can look up words.
Since I've read into the story, I can start posting questions!
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message 20:
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Danielle The Book Huntress , Literary Adrenaline Junkie
(last edited Apr 23, 2013 10:47PM)
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rated it 3 stars
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1. What do you think of Egil and Nix? How would you define each man in your own words?
--I liked both characters. They are what I would consider to be amiable rogues. While neither is particularly morally sterling, they seem to have a semblance of ethics. Mainly a harm no one that doesn't harm them, other than stealing from folks and robbing the dead, and killing for self-defense. Egil is what I would consider a morose, thoughtful man. He is a big guy but his personality is more scholarly in some ways. He's the kind of guy who surprises you. Nix is more of the textbook rogue. He came from the slums and is proud of it. He has never forgotten where he came from and he has a sense of paying back to his origins. I warmed up to him in the way he treated his foster mother. While I think both character are typical for this genre, they have some depth to bring to the table.
2. Are you fan of bromance (books about a strong friendship bond between men)? Is this a good example of bromance for you?
---I love bromance stories and this is a good example of that trope. I think the friendship between Egil and Nix is foundational to this novel and while understated, it adds a lot. I enjoyed their banter and how they watch out for each other. Particularly the scene where Nix saves Egil's life, willing to commit an act of moral compromise to do so.
3. Does the setting speak to you at all? What does it tell you about the story?
--The settings, where not excessively described, definitely contribute. They add to the dark, grimy tone of the novel. Especially the descriptions of Rakon's family dwelling, The Slick Tunnel, the Wastes. I felt that Kemp uses a lot of descriptors that stimulate the five senses, often not in a very appealing way. I felt some descriptions were kind of off-putting, actually.
4. What do you think about Rakon and his relationship with his sisters and mother? How would you feel if you had that kind of destiny to live up to?
--This was particularly disturbing. I wouldn't want to have any part of that deal they had made for power. It was very telling that the women paid the highest cost for that deal. Kemp seems to be making a subtle statement about women's issues that spoke to me as I read this book.
5. Is this a good example of sword and sorcery, in your opinion? What's here that is true to the genre? What's distinctive to this novel?
--Definitely a good example of the S/S genre, from the storyline and characters to the action and settings. I don't know that I've read enough S/S to pinpoint distinctives, but it did remind me of the ones I've read (Conan, Fahfard and The Gray Mouser, Elric of Melnibone')
6. How about the action/adventure? Did it work for you? How about the weapons fighting? Would you want to get into a fight with Egil and Nix?
--Good action and adventure quotient. I liked how both Egil and Nix have their characteristic fighting styles and weapons of choice. I especially liked Egil's twin hammers. I wouldn't want to fight either one of them! Would not like to get my head smashed in or get impaled on one of Nix' falchions or daggers!
7. What about the mythology and gods and legendary creatures? Does it lend the novel a dark cast as far as tone?
--The mythology is quite dark. This struck me in remembrance of Moorcock's Elric universe with the dark magics and darker gods and belief systems. As I spoke above, the bargain that Rakon's family made was shudderworthy.
8. How does Kemp use language to set tone in this novel? What impression does it give you of this world?
--Kemp's use of vocabulary was interesting. He seems very learned. In contrast, I found the descriptions of bodily functions pretty nauseating. I could have done with less detail on that score. But I guess I'm just squeamish that way.
9.Overall thoughts of this novel? What did you like? What didn't you like?
--I liked this one pretty well, but I could have done with less vulgarity. I liked the underlying themes about women and how they are misused and treated poorly in society because they are women. I liked seeing Egil and Nix become heroes in their own rights. They are rogues but also honorable in their own way.
10. How would you rate it out of 1-10 or 1-5 stars?
--I gave it 3.5/5.0 stars.
11. Will you read more books in this series or by this author?
--I think I will continue the series. I already have his Erevis Cale series, so I hope to start that one in the near future.
12. Other books like this you'd recommend.
--
Elric: The Stealer of Souls, Swords and Deviltry
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Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser...not precisely of course, but they kept putting me in mind of those 2.
2. Are you fan of bromance (books about a strong friendship bond between men)? Is this a good example of bromance for you?
I'd more call it a "buddy read". The phrase "bromance" seems to me to fit better when one looks up to or greatly admires the other. Buddy movies, TV shows and books have to do with 2 close friencs male, female or one of each (the Jack Daniels books for example). yeah. if they're well done in other ways I like them.
3. Does the setting speak to you at all? What does it tell you about the story?
It does a good job of showing us a grubby world like medieval Europe would have been. Don't know if it spoke to me...it just sort of, was.
4. What do you think about Rakon and his relationship with his sisters and mother? How would you feel if you had that kind of destiny to live up to?
I couldn't, or didn't really want to identify with that. It's an example on a psychopathy and versions of it actually exist. It's a pet peeve of mine (at least in marriage) and the (view spoiler)
5. Is this a good example of sword and sorcery, in your opinion? What's here that is true to the genre? What's distinctive to this novel?
I think so. It harkens back to the old pulp novels. It goes out of it's way to be gritty and so on. I don't really think it's that distinctive in any way. Maybe the details about why the characters are what they are, though we still have a lot to learn, especially about our "cleric" if the series keeps going.
Maybe Nix messing around with his "found" magic items is a little new. It owes more to RPGs (Dungeons and Dragons for instance) where thieves an "learn to us" certain magic items". It might be called a "twist" I suppose.
6. How about the action/adventure? Did it work for you? How about the weapons fighting? Would you want to get into a fight with Egil and Nix?
No, I'd rather have them at my back. There is lots of action in the book. Sometimes it verges over into the absurd and might strain the ability to accept (view spoiler)
But all in all okay and consistently enjoyable.
7. What about the mythology and gods and legendary creatures? Does it lend the novel a dark cast as far as tone?
A little, but that's nothing unusual anymore. It sells.
8. How does Kemp use language to set tone in this novel? What impression does it give you of this world?
Again, it emphasizes the grittiness of the story and the world. it leaves me feeling that in this world you need to expect to step into a pile of dung at any time and in any place...even inside, and that rough language is common among most of the contemporaries of our protagonists.
9.Overall thoughts of this novel? What did you like? What didn't you like?
10. How would you rate it out of 1-10 or 1-5 stars?
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
11. Will you read more books in this series or by this author?
I plan to.
I liked this book quite a lot. I'm glad I read it before I started getting busy.1. What do you think of Egil and Nix? How would you define each man in your own words?
I liked the pairing. Nix is the planner/schemer and Egil a little more centered and the moral compass.
2. Are you fan of bromance (books about a strong friendship bond between men)? Is this a good example of bromance for you?
I like a good bromance/buddy book, when the relationship is done well, and I think it is here. The humor between them felt natural, not forced, and the extent that deep down they really did care about each other was nicely portrayed.
3. Does the setting speak to you at all? What does it tell you about the story?
I thought the setting was nicely developed. Not exactly breaking new ground in anyway, but an interesting looking place with some mystery and history to it that looks like it would be fun to explore.
4. What do you think about Rakon and his relationship with his sisters and mother? How would you feel if you had that kind of destiny to live up to?
I liked the way Rakon and his family were portrayed. A fairly evil family from top to bottom. The sisters are obviously more easily empathized with, but they aren't exactly good. Rakon is pretty easy to hate, but there is just a smidgen of rationality in his evil. I liked that they weren't cookie cutout villains and had a little depth to them.
5. Is this a good example of sword and sorcery, in your opinion? What's here that is true to the genre? What's distinctive to this novel?
I don't know that this is a good sword and sorcery example, but it's a nice S&S cross with a straight-up action/adventure which was fun.
6. How about the action/adventure? Did it work for you? How about the weapons fighting? Would you want to get into a fight with Egil and Nix?
I thought it worked fine as action/adventure. Plenty of action and I love a good tomb-raiding or two. I wouldn't look for a fight with Egil and Nix, but I think they would be fun to go drinking with.
7. What about the mythology and gods and legendary creatures? Does it lend the novel a dark cast as far as tone?
The hints are certainly there at a darker mythology. Rakon is sufficiently evil and the other "monsters" are nice and frightening. I don't know that it adds a dark cast but more a sense of foreboding. I think there is more to learn about this world that could be much darker.
8. How does Kemp use language to set tone in this novel? What impression does it give you of this world?
Kemp uses a lot of language to describe concussions and throwing up. Maybe a little too much. And seriously, how many blows to the head can these guys take? Are there no plants or drugs to knock people out in this world? Otherwise, I thought his language was fairly descriptive, leaving me with an impression of a civilization built on top of something significantly older and potentially far more advanced.
9.Overall thoughts of this novel? What did you like? What didn't you like?
I liked the action and I liked the relationship between Egil and Nix. They were just a lot of fun and that by itself can make up for a lot. The plot was not earth shattering, but it was more than good enough to carry along some really nice character development. I quite enjoyed it.
10. How would you rate it out of 1-10 or 1-5 stars?
I'd give this about a 3.5 or a 4 out of 5.
11. Will you read more books in this series or by this author?
It's light entertainment, but good enough for what it is. I would like to read more in this series, but not necessarily move it to the top of a TBR pile. I'll definitely pay attention when I see Kemp's name on a book though.
12. Other books like this you'd recommend.
This was a fairly unique experience to me. I'm not sure another book springs to mind that I would say is a lot like this. And that's a good thing. New niches are great to find:)
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I appreciated your comments, Mike and Tad.
I missed this entirely and wish I hadn't. My sincere thanks to those of you who took the time to read the novel and share your thoughts. :-)Paul
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How did you come up with the ideas in this book?
Lady D,Honestly, I couldn't pinpoint any one place. My goal overall was to (a) tell a ripping yarn; (b) try to capture the same kind of sensibilities and sensawunda I felt as a younger man when I first read Leiber/Moorcock/Howard/et al, all while (c) bringing some modern sensibilities to the prose and themes (e.g., the indirect commentary on gender roles).
Hope that helps. :-)
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Can I ask more questions?
Were you aiming to make women's treatment in society a prominent theme in this novel? Maybe I just read that into the novel, but I definitely felt that aspect as I read the book. Well done, I would say.
I was, in that I went in wanting to play around with the standard damsel in distress trope. The unwritten subtitle of HAMMER is, "The Education of Egil and Nix." :-)
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Action/Adventure Aficionados
Books mentioned in this topic
Elric: The Stealer of Souls (other topics)Swords and Deviltry (other topics)
The Hammer and the Blade (other topics)
Optional Discussion Questions (in progress)
1. What do you think of Egil and Nix? How would you define each man in your own words?
2. Are you fan of bromance (books about a strong friendship bond between men)? Is this a good example of bromance for you?
3. Does the setting speak to you at all? What does it tell you about the story?
4. What do you think about Rakon and his relationship with his sisters and mother? How would you feel if you had that kind of destiny to live up to?
5. Is this a good example of sword and sorcery, in your opinion? What's here that is true to the genre? What's distinctive to this novel?
6. How about the action/adventure? Did it work for you? How about the weapons fighting? Would you want to get into a fight with Egil and Nix?
7. What about the mythology and gods and legendary creatures? Does it lend the novel a dark cast as far as tone?
8. How does Kemp use language to set tone in this novel? What impression does it give you of this world?
9.Overall thoughts of this novel? What did you like? What didn't you like?
10. How would you rate it out of 1-10 or 1-5 stars?
11. Will you read more books in this series or by this author?
12. Other books like this you'd recommend.