Rhone By John A. Karr
Publishing information: Paperback; 390 pages
Publisher: Wild Wolf Publishing; 02 April 2010
ISBN 10: 0956373348
ISBN 13: 978-0956373342
Standalone at this time
Copy: Provided by author
Reviewer: Tyson and PeterWilliam
Back of the Book: "Mars has a hero that will defy both god and man ...
Rhone is an ex-soldier of mixed blood, more man than demon but with reserves of hellish power. He has led a peaceful life as a fisherman since his soldiering days and is raising a daughter, Enna. Returning home one day he finds Enna murdered -- or so he believes.
And so begins Rhone's manipulation by Ducain, a demigod hell-bent on ruling the heavens. After avenging his daughter's death, Rhone grieves and isolates himself in the mountains. Ducain tells him his daughter's soul is locked in purgatory but can be retrieved ... and if Rhone also frees the titan who once defied the king of gods, Enna will live again."
Ty It seems as though every new fantasy book release lately has to be a massive undertaking for the reader as they juggle characters, locations, politics, and magic systems. While some of those books become successful, others fall flat and the authors need to go back to the drawing board. Luckily, there are some authors out there that can tell a great story without a lot of the extra baggage. At the heart of Rhone we have a story of love and redemption. Something everyone can associate with.
Pete Yeah, the story comes off the page like an arrow. There isn't much muddling about with scenes that are necessary set up for future plot points. Each and every page is very here and very now. Aside from love and redemption, there is definitely some good old-fashioned vengeance about as well. In the case of Ducain, it's of the bitter, soul-gnawing variety. With our protagonist, Rhone, it's reminiscient of a Clint Eastwood movie - righteous retribution.
Ty When we begin Rhone we find him as a fisherman in an out of the way village doing the best to raise his one true love, his daughter Enna. Rhone has a lot of secrets and is looking to put his past to rest and focus on his family. Unfortunately, one demigod has other plans.
Many of the characters found in Rhone are very familiar. They should be as John Karr has listed some big names as his influence for the novel. Aside from Robert E. Howard and Michael Moorcock as inspiration, Karr also draws heavily on Western mythology. The gods on Mars share many of the same qualities as those found in Greece or Rome. The gods have petty squabbles among themselves and are jealous of one another. This sets up the stage for the story, as a very lowly demigod, Ducain, has devised a plan to become king of the gods of Mars.
The only hook is that Ducain needs Rhone to realize his dream. Once the ball starts to roll we are thrust into a well written dark sword and sorcery tale that is reminiscent of a Greek tragedy as Rhone must go into hell and bring back his daughter and the item that Ducain has requested.
Many of the characters found in Rhone are very familiar. They should be as John Karr has listed some big names as his influence for the novel. Aside from Robert E. Howard and Michael Moorcock as inspiration, Karr also draws heavily on Western mythology. The gods on Mars share many of the same qualities as those found in Greece or Rome. The gods have petty squabbles among themselves and are jealous of one another. This sets up the stage for the story, as a very lowly demigod, Ducain, has devised a plan to become king of the gods of Mars.
The only hook is that Ducain needs Rhone to realize his dream. Once the ball starts to roll we are thrust into a well written dark sword and sorcery tale that is reminiscent of a Greek tragedy as Rhone must go into hell and bring back his daughter and the item that Ducain has requested.
Pete Definitely, well done here. The early acknowledgement note in the book, listing Howard, Moorcock, Karl Edward Wagner and Edgar Rice Burroughs, helped set me up perfectly for what was in store. If you're a fan of the 'old school' speculative fiction written by those four previous listed greats, then this story will tug at you with that hint of nostalgia.
You have a Greek tragedy occuring on Mars, with a Greco-Roman pantheon and a protagonist who starts the tale as a 'tough guy' and ends it as nothing short of outright 'badassery.' While I was initially wondering what a river in France had to do with it, the protagonist's name became all his own well before the tale was told and seemed to fit perfectly.
You have a Greek tragedy occuring on Mars, with a Greco-Roman pantheon and a protagonist who starts the tale as a 'tough guy' and ends it as nothing short of outright 'badassery.' While I was initially wondering what a river in France had to do with it, the protagonist's name became all his own well before the tale was told and seemed to fit perfectly.
Ty The characters in Rhone are well thought out, each god has their own personality and dominion. Rhone has a clear background and you can't help but be rooting for him and his quest. While he is half demon and half man with a muddy past, his humanity is clear. The love he feels for his daughter and the lengths he goes through to see her again makes him a hero that you can't help but hope he succeeds.
The setting for Rhone is on Mars when Earth is a very young planet and is just starting to see life bloom on the planet. It is also interesting to see how the individuals on Mars look upon the blue planet in the sky. The history is not all that creative in that it borrows heavily upon Western mythology, but while one could consider that a weakness, I found it to be a strength as it made it easier to follow the gods as I could draw from my personal knowledge of mythology and make comparisons and extrapolate from it. I also, kept thinking in the back of my mind "how does this world relate to Earth's, and will the series tie the two planets together?"
The setting for Rhone is on Mars when Earth is a very young planet and is just starting to see life bloom on the planet. It is also interesting to see how the individuals on Mars look upon the blue planet in the sky. The history is not all that creative in that it borrows heavily upon Western mythology, but while one could consider that a weakness, I found it to be a strength as it made it easier to follow the gods as I could draw from my personal knowledge of mythology and make comparisons and extrapolate from it. I also, kept thinking in the back of my mind "how does this world relate to Earth's, and will the series tie the two planets together?"
Pete The characters and setting was what put me in mind of previous authors like Howard, Moorcock and Burroughs (sorry, I've never read Wagner). Even if the author had not included the early acknowledgement to those previous authors, the story itself would have transparently demonstrated their influences upon Karr.
I was very intrigued by a connection the author seemed to be developing between the two planets. I began to assume that this connection would develop a bit further than it did by the end of the tale, but I suppose I'll simply have to wait until further installments are penned and published.
I was very intrigued by a connection the author seemed to be developing between the two planets. I began to assume that this connection would develop a bit further than it did by the end of the tale, but I suppose I'll simply have to wait until further installments are penned and published.
Ty There is plenty of action in Rhone and Karr definitely follows in the footsteps of some great literary giants and he does it well. There are a few fights where they are quickly resolved. I would have like to have seen more of the battle but it was not to be.
I only have a small complaint with Rhone, I would have like to have seen a few more chapters dedicated to his daughter. We see her in various stages of her life as Rhone travels through the underworld to save her, but I would have like to have had a few chapters where she is the main character or point of view. My complaint is very minor and would have only increased my enjoyment of the novel.
I only have a small complaint with Rhone, I would have like to have seen a few more chapters dedicated to his daughter. We see her in various stages of her life as Rhone travels through the underworld to save her, but I would have like to have had a few chapters where she is the main character or point of view. My complaint is very minor and would have only increased my enjoyment of the novel.
Pete Based on how the story ends, I'll simply have to read the next installment. While it was a bit disappointing at first thought, it became more acceptable as I began to think of all the things I wanted to see more of, or see more developed. When I stopped to think of the pantheon gods and demi-gods, the undead, the paranormal and only the briefest of glimpses at the UR (there has got to be a lot more behind that curtain), I started to realize that Karr has a lot more to unfold and reveal.
At the heart of Rhone is a quest story that is done exceptionally well. John Karr does an exceptional job of telling a concise story that is filled with what you would expect from a sword and sorcery novel and throws in a dash of humanity to lighten the mood. While this is not Karr's first novel, I have a feeling that this will be his breakout novel and that I will be returning to Rhone and Mars in the near future. A great hack and slash sword and sorcery with the spirit of the great science fiction and fantasy giants of yesteryear. The end of Rhone leaves us with a cliff hanger and I hope that we see a sequel soon.
Plot 8
Characters 8
Style 8
Overall 8/10
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