The Star Wars prequels might be the most unmercifully criticized body of work in science fiction and fantasy today -- justifiably, for the most part.  But I have always felt that fans' rage over the wooden acting, terrible dialogue, over-usage of CGI, and unsatisfactory story-telling has overshadowed the redeeming aspects of the movies.  They are few, but they are there.  Since Star Wars has just as often been characterized as fantasy as it has as sci-fi and since we do reserve some room on this website for science fiction either way, I thought the Bard the perfect place to defend those precious few things about Episodes I, II, and III that make them worth watching.

I have to admit, I was skeptical about Robin Hobb.  CJ kept insisting that it was some of the best fantasy she'd read in a long time, but every time I read the blurb on the back cover I hesitated.  It was the character names that threw me off: Prince Chivalry, King Shrewd?  It sounded like an ironic fairy story for children.  That's what I get for judging a book by its cover.

Assassin's Apprentice is book one of The Farseer, the first of three trilogies set in Hobb's Six Duchies.  The Six Duchies is what it sounds like: six historically separate lands now united under one King.  As it turns out, it is the custom of the Six Duchies to give names to nobility based on each lord or lady's prospective character traits: if a mother wishes her son to grow up to be wise, she names him Shrewd; if she hopes her daughter to be patient, she names her Patience.  All in the hope that this will drive each person to live up to their name.  An interesting idea, and the first of many examples of Robin Hobb's tendency to realign her reader's perceptions.

As any good reader of the genre knows, George R. R. Martin is one of the biggest names in fantasy.  His A Song of Ice and Fire series has pretty much set the standard for mature, well-written epic fantasy in recent years.  The first three books in the series, A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, and A Storm of Swords, respectively, were published precisely two years apart starting in 1996.  Following the 2000 publication of Swords, however, everything slowed down.  The fourth volume, A Feast for Crows, did not appear until 2005.  Now, in 2008, the prospective publication date of A Dance with Dragons, the series' fifth book, remains tentative at best.  So the question remains: what happened to Dragons and, perhaps more importantly, what is going on with Martin's writing process?  More after the break.

The fool nods in the corner, eyes grainy above his tankard, as the Bard finally comes to the long close of his latest tale.  The hearth has grown almost cold and the common room is near to empty, but the Bard plucks out the last few stanzas of his epic as if performing before a throng.  His voice is deep and is beginning to betray a slight rasp as he projects to his imaginary audience.  His robes are regal but threadbare, though his harp is perfect and shining.  The howling wind outside suddenly sweeps into the room as the front door bangs open and the last embers of the fire die out.  The Bard turns and fixes you with a haughty stare.

"You've missed it," he says.

The fool jerks awake and rolls his eyes nervously, for the Bard is prone to a vicious temper.

"But there's always tomorrow night," the Bard says, cracking a leering grin.  "Now let's drink."


The Accidental Bard is a blog about fantasy fiction.  While fantasy is the primary topic, news about related movie projects, science fiction, and anything else the resident minstrels might decide are relevant are also fair game.  The Bard is a gathering place for everyone out there who can't quite kick the habit.  So come on in.  The liquor's cheap.

If you want to know more about the Bard and its proprietors, hie to the About page.  If you are worried about learning too much too soon about the fantasy novels we discuss here, I suggest you read the Spoiler Policy. 

Otherwise, relax before the fire and wait: more is coming soon.