Category: Robin Hobb

Speculative Fiction Authors I’ve Changed My Mind About

Over months, or maybe over years, I've been trying to listen. I've been trying to learn. I realized that sometimes, you need to look at somebody's set of works time-wise; because how they describe certain things can change too. Sometimes, having read other authors, you may appreciate that this one has made an actual effort … Continue reading Speculative Fiction Authors I’ve Changed My Mind About →

Rain Wilds Chronicles by Robin Hobb

Trigger Warning: SPOILERS For the last two years or more, I have been both wrong and right about Robin Hobb's books on the Realms of the Elderlings. I was right that the less Six Duchies' story, the better everything gets. But I was wrong that the author herself is homophobic. Or sexist on purpose. Liveship … Continue reading Rain Wilds Chronicles by Robin Hobb →

Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb

Trigger warning: an incoherent reflection. No explicit spoilers, though I had fears about this trilogy. I remembered enough that in the books on Fitz Farseer by this author, there was too much of heavy-handed moralising and of somewhat simplified intrigue. So I approached this new trilogy unsure about what to expect. And it was almost … Continue reading Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb →

Revisiting Six Duchies—Part Two

A Not-so Nitpicky Reflection on “Fool's Quest” by Robin Hobb Who is who Fitz Farseer—our protagonist Bee—his younger daughter Shun—Fitz's ward Chade—Fitz's old mentor Fool—Fitz's buddy, a White Prophet FitzVigilant—once Bee's tutor Dutiful—Six Duchies' king Elliania—his Queen Consort Starling—a bard, once Fitz's lover Where is where Six Duchies—our main Homely Kingdom Chalced—west from Six Duchies … Continue reading Revisiting Six Duchies—Part Two →

Revisiting Six Duchies—Part One

A Nitpicky Reflection on “Fool's Assassin” by Robin Hobb WARNING: heavy spoilers and heavy angst Who is who Fitz Farseer—a royal bastard, assassin and magician, now living under disguise as a gentryman Molly Chandler—his wife. Once the wife of Burrich, Fitz's foster daddy. Kinky. Nettle—their elder daughter, living at Buckkeep's court Bee—Fitz and Molly's late-comer … Continue reading Revisiting Six Duchies—Part One →

My Reflections on The Farseer Trilogy — Part Three

Naïvety, Hypocrisy and Conformism I must admit that ASOIAF — plainly written and overloaded with sex and curses as it is — is at least more realistic. Oh yes, Mr Martin also doesn't care about commonfolk, but at least he is well aware that feudalism isn't helpful for ordinary people. He is aware that being … Continue reading My Reflections on The Farseer Trilogy — Part Three →

My Reflections on The Farseer Trilogy — Part Two

Commonfolk Concern Illusion I'm enough experienced in the fantasy literature to know that depicting commonfolk is often only a pretense. You know, for example, the main hero was brought up on a farm, but he is from a royal family (Belgariad so much). Hobb, although in comparison with Eddings is much better and non-sexist writer, … Continue reading My Reflections on The Farseer Trilogy — Part Two →