REVIEW - SHIP OF MAGIC & THE MAD SHIP
In her second trilogy - The
Liveship Traders - Robin Hobb dazzles. Particularly during the second novel
in the series, The Mad Ship, she noticeably matures as an author. The
quality of the story - and storytelling - only continue to blossom throughout
this epic adventure. The story begins with the death of the patriarch of the
Vestrit family - Ephron. His death causes a total reshuffling of the lives of
those he leaves behind. This shift, coupled with the delicate political
situation in Bingtown (the family's home port), which is well and truly ready to bubble over, are the
catalysts for change in the lives of the rest of the Vestrits. As you may have
guessed from the title, this trilogy is about sentient ships. The price to
obtain a liveship is heavy, expected to be paid back over several generations
- a family commitment. Three generations, of the same blood must live
and die on board the liveship before it awakes (or 'quickens'). It retains the
memories of all those who live aboard it, is deeply intelligent, and will
develop a personality just as humans do - only over hundreds, instead of tens,
of years.
Whereas the Wit and the Skill (the strange magics present in the Kingdom of the Six Duchies) are the central mystery of the Farseer trilogy, questions surrounding the sentience of liveships provide the driving intrigue of this series. Although at first The Liveship Traders seems totally unrelated to the events of Hobb's first three books, there are satisfying connections between the world of Fitz (the protagonist of the first trilogy) and the lives of the Vestrits, which deepen intriguingly as the story continues. A noticeable difference between the trilogies is the complexity of the story. Unlike the Farseer trilogy, which primarily followed the life of only one character, the Liveship trilogy sees Robin Hobb branch out to follow the lives of many, and it is a masterful transition. Additionally, Hobb's story pacing remains magnificent. There are no unnecessary scenes, descriptions or subplots - things move at a satisfying speed, never lulling or becoming tedious.
You can distinguish a great writer from a good one by the quality of the world they build their narrative within. When you are not merely intrigued by the actions of the characters, but also by the world that they inhabit, the author has truly created something wonderful. The clash of cultures that occurs between The Bingtown Traders and the 'New Traders' (migrants from the neighbouring state of Chalced), and the mysterious, ancient alliance between the Bingtown and Rain Wild Traders are excellent platforms from which Hobb is able to explore the history, culture and customs of each of the places she has created. I have not even finished this trilogy and I am already deeply invested in the idea of reading on through her other series so that the secrets of the Elderlings and Rain Wilders might be revealed. Another triumph from a woman who is fast becoming one of my favourite fantasy authors.
Whereas the Wit and the Skill (the strange magics present in the Kingdom of the Six Duchies) are the central mystery of the Farseer trilogy, questions surrounding the sentience of liveships provide the driving intrigue of this series. Although at first The Liveship Traders seems totally unrelated to the events of Hobb's first three books, there are satisfying connections between the world of Fitz (the protagonist of the first trilogy) and the lives of the Vestrits, which deepen intriguingly as the story continues. A noticeable difference between the trilogies is the complexity of the story. Unlike the Farseer trilogy, which primarily followed the life of only one character, the Liveship trilogy sees Robin Hobb branch out to follow the lives of many, and it is a masterful transition. Additionally, Hobb's story pacing remains magnificent. There are no unnecessary scenes, descriptions or subplots - things move at a satisfying speed, never lulling or becoming tedious.
You can distinguish a great writer from a good one by the quality of the world they build their narrative within. When you are not merely intrigued by the actions of the characters, but also by the world that they inhabit, the author has truly created something wonderful. The clash of cultures that occurs between The Bingtown Traders and the 'New Traders' (migrants from the neighbouring state of Chalced), and the mysterious, ancient alliance between the Bingtown and Rain Wild Traders are excellent platforms from which Hobb is able to explore the history, culture and customs of each of the places she has created. I have not even finished this trilogy and I am already deeply invested in the idea of reading on through her other series so that the secrets of the Elderlings and Rain Wilders might be revealed. Another triumph from a woman who is fast becoming one of my favourite fantasy authors.
