A Fulfilling and Believable Fantasy with Life Lessons
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I first experienced The Deed of Paksenarrion in late 1993 when my children were in elementary school. I am an avid SF and fantasy reader and found this book to be both highly engaging and multi layered with materiel to satisfy those interested in a quick engaging read and those seeking detailed plot, character, and world development. Each read reveals a treasure of nuance and subtext such that not only do I continue to read it at least once a year along with Ben Hur in the original, the Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, with which I do believe it compares favorably but I also gave my old copies to my son and daughter at the first appropriate age, who now as adults reread their copies assiduously and have lent them out so many times that we are each on our third or fourth copies made necessary by the books finally falling apart on us from sheer exhaustion. As a professional therapist I have also assigned this book as bibliotherapy because the main character's personal growth teaches hope, resilience, and persistence through the strong female protagonist who is a authentic character that struggles through credible existential angst.
We meet Paks as a young farm girl who leaves home rather than acquiesce to her father's marriage plans. She craves adventure and excitement rather than the life of a pig farmer's wife. Her encounters with others who demonstrate a range of complexity beyond her naive classification of people as friends/ enemies, good/bad force her to mature even as she goes through the life and death struggles of learning her chosen trade of mercenary soldier in a world reminiscent of middle earth. With engaging descriptions of life in a mercenary camp and battle waged with sword and shield in a company that fights in close order there is plenty of action. Her encounters with "the elder races" and the "clerics" of her world expand her world view and force her to ask basic existential questions about who she is, why she exists and what she ought to do with her life. Her travels along the road to becoming a paladin (a warrior for the high lord) are anything but predictable or easy. Her struggles in the second and third books of the trilogy force her to deal with her past in order to prepare for her future and grow as an individual. This book transcends role playing games and the often simplistic sword and sorcerer genre while using the best they have to offer in a new and appealing package. Well worth your time and money but be careful about lending it out as it will cost you a considerable amount to keep replacing it over the years so you can have it available as one of your old favorites to read on nights when you want an old and familiar friend for company.
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A Yearly Read
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I have read this book on a yearly basis ever since I saw it the first time while I was in higschool. I'm always finding new and interesting nuances I didn't catch the first time through. It's good to meet up with old friends, and hear their stories again. If you liked Tolkien, this is definitely a story you'll enjoy.
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a definite reread
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One of the best examples of epic fantasy I have read. Believeable characters, that pull you right in and don't bog the reader down with excess information.
I have read and reread my copy so many times it's dog eared. If you like marching off to fight evil this is the book for you. Moon shows exceptional knowledge on military matters, horsemanship and basic relationships. Something missing in many of the fantasy novels.
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New Favorite
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My favorite author in the fantasy genre has been Anne McCaffrey for quite some time. However, after borrowing this book from a friend I have discovered a new favorite to add to my short list. It is not that I do not read much, it is that I believe I am rather hard to impress. Elizabeth Moon draws you into her world as a magnet draws metal fragments. I for one, had no wish to escape and enjoyed my stay in the world she created. One of the most well written books I have ever read. If you do not read this you will be all the lesser for it.
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A brilliant work
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There is a lot of bad fantasy out there, and sorting through to the good stuff is hard. Well this is the real deal. This book is a brilliantly executed piece of fiction that follows the title character from her life as a sheepherder through war and finally to knighthood. The writing is excellent through most of the book and even the points I am most critical of are far better than the average fare. Most importantly the story is very compelling, and avoids the usual soap-opera mush that seems to be so common today. The story stays focused on Paksenarrion and her struggle. Paks is a very human character trying to find her way and discovering some great strength along the way. Moon does a good job with the genre, and though she borrows occasionally from the old fantasy masters, she does it well.
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