In which I review two quite different pieces by versatile author Kevin Hearne
The Squirrel on the
Train, by Kevin Hearne (Subterranean Press)
My introduction to Kevin Hearne’s work was Iron Druid, so I was delighted to
discover that the dogs belonging to Druid Atticus O’Sullivan, or perhaps the
other way around, he belonging to them, have their own adventures. This one
begins with a train trip to Portland, during which the dogs are terribly upset
because there is a squirrel (die,
evil squirrel!) on top of the train. Atticus explains that the wind shear will
cause the squirrel to jump off and when they arrive, squirrel in place, of
course the dogs conclude that all natural order, including the laws of physics,
will now be overturned. Their fears are confirmed when an Atticus look-alike is
murdered, and so the chase is afoot. A-four paws, that is.
This utterly charming novella showcases Hearne’s skill at
whimsical humor and his versatility as an author.
A Plague of Giants, by Kevin Hearne (Del Rey, 2017).
At some time in the past of this fantasy world, the balance
of trade and power has been overturned through not one but two invasions of
oversized warriors; one race being known to the others, quasi-Viking
fire-wielders driven from their lands by a volcanic eruption. The second,
strangers from over the sea, are mysterious and even more lethal. How these
upheavals came about and were responded to is related in the present time
through a bardic storyteller who assumes the likeness of various participants
along the time line. In the present, we know that the giants have been defeated
at a terrible cost, yet wounds remain unhealed and intrigues abound,
threatening chaos.
This is a long, slowly-paced book that incorporates the
stories of a large cast of characters from different cultures, much of it
channeled through the central storyteller, with past and present timelines
looping back on themselves. The world-building is amazing in itself, rich and
complex, with each culture possessing its own form of magical gift (“kenning”)
acquired through near-lethal trials. The individual stories are marvelous, the
characters clearly distinct. My favorite is Abhinava Khose, born into a clan of
plains hunters and unable to tell his family that not only does he never want
to kill animals, but he is gay. He’s sensitive, compassionate, a natural leader, and unexpectedly
courageous. The inner conflicts reflect and intensify the outer drama in his
tale.
Read at a leisurely pace to savor the adventures of each
person, the book is a delight. It’s not a tale to skim for “what happens next.”
The ending is already established. However, that slowness, when combined with
the length and complexity of the timelines, means it’s easy to get lost in the
story of the moment and forget the multitude of details that have come before,
to keep track of the cast of thousands and the sheer number of place names,
group names, and so forth. In the ebook version I read, there are no maps or
helpful lists, but there are series of charming portraits of important
characters. Add to this the revelation that A
Plague of Giants is only the first in a series means either loving the
world so much you never want to leave it, or not experiencing the satisfaction
of a complete story arc.
Kevin Hearne is an immensely capable author. A Plague of Giants and its subsequent
volumes represents a highly ambitious project that I have no doubt he will
carry on in a brilliant fashion. Besides the difficulties presented by the
length and complexity of the book, I would have liked to spend more consecutive
time with my favorite characters, each of whom surely deserves an entire book
of his or her own.
