No Disrespect (SS spoilers)

[fools fated]

The soldier son trilogy dissapointed me.

As a fan of Hobb's other series i was expecting alot from these books. instead i was given a spoilt shallow child.
I understand the ideas behind this series but failed to see any real dimension of growth of the charachters. basically the books were about a kid who gets fat and hates himself, then reluctantly decides he can help, but still pines for his former life.
I thought it unusual that weight was the main issue for the protaginist, when his society was at war and civilisation was coming apart.

I do wonder if hobb was pushed into publishing such under-developed garbage?

Please note, this is just one persons opinion. I found the adventures of fitz and the fool delightful and each book a masterpiece. But Soldier son is crap, not just in comparison with Robbs other work, but with the fantasy genre as an entirety.

[maulkin]

I am more ambivalent about the Soldier Son books. The setting and background are quite intriguing. The Speck culture is interesting and like the idea of setting a fantasy story in the context of a war between an emerging industrial society and a tribal forest people. I read the books on a research trip to the Siberian forests, so the issues explored in the books had particular relevance to me. I also quite like the quirky idea of storing magic as body fat and I think that the manner in which the books explore the difference in attitudes to obesity among the Specks and Gernians is quite interesting. However, I agree that the story just does not hang together well. The pace is too slow and the number of interesting events too few. I also agree that Nevare is a singularly unsympathetic and unengaging character. A character who fails to accomplish anything because of his divided nature may be interesting to contemplate in the abstract but does not make an engaging protagonist for a fantasy story.

[chriSchaeffer]

I didn't like the Solider Son series because I hate nature. seriously.

hurray for concrete and steel!

[taloshield]

I did not care for it because the characters seemed to have no depth. I felt there was little growth and development in any of the characters, thus making them shallow and uninteresting.
I also hate the whole "military" mindset. Do as your told because your superiors are more important that you...what a bunch of crap. No one is more important than anyone just because of their rank.

I did love the concept though. Industrial clashing with Magic. It is an idea I have always wondered what would happen. Would the natural and powerful Magic be able to stand up against the rough but forceful power of industry? Neat idea, alot of possibilities. Seemed as though she had the right idea, but was rushed into writing it.

[Chiquita]

I'm reading the third book in this series now. I have to say it's my least favourite series so far. I too was expecting great things and I had held off reading the series until I had all three books. I'm finding the series to drag, I guess not enough interesting things to keep me hooked? I'm not particularly fond of Nevare's character.. in fact I like Epiny WAY more. Maybe Robin should write a story about her and Spink?

I do think there was an interesting concept.. industrial vs. magic but it hasn't seemed to engage me while I'm reading them.

The Specks are much more interesting than the military Gernians.. I didn't really care for their "class" system in children or all the religious overtones..err undertones?

[bofeus01]

Okay I beleive this is coming a bit late but I would like to defend the soldiers son trilogy for a few reasons. First of all because i myself served in the army I do believe the way in which Hobb portrayed his lifestyle and his sense of obligation to do which is always right was quite accurate (and yes the ranking of another soldier being higher then you does mean he is more important enlist in any army and you will learn that in 5 minutes). Another important factor I would like to point out is anyone who looks A drop deeper into the book will see that nevare is never fully whole the entire story and part of that character which could be so interesting is supposed to be a very dull and boring story and i believe if you look into the book you will see that his cousin epiny at first glance sees Nevare as A extreme bore. Now my final point is this i read soldiers son trilogy before i read anything that was in the farseer world and i will put it plainly fitzchivalry is a completely different character and I think those most dissapointed are those expecting another tawny man or farseer trilogy which I dont believe this came to show us at all and I think if you reread this and give it some more thought you will find that this story is also a riveting story in its own way and in many many ways has alot more relevance to our societies flaws and issues then the farseer world had so the only thing i can really say bad about it is that its A bit to down to earth but I think thats part of the charm to the whole trilogy.

[maulkin]

I also read the Soldier Son books before the Farseer books. I agree that Nevare has valid reasons for being the way he is and, generally speaking, I approve of "alternative" protagonists with interesting quirks and character flaws. However, I think that basing an entire trilogy around a character who is boring, submissive and self-pitying goes a little too far. Heroes are supposed to be people that we can empathise with (or at least sympathise with). Nevare simply has too few positive traits for this to be possible (at least for me). His key "virtue" is his devotion to duty which, in the context of the story, merely becomes another tragic flaw.

[Maulkin's Tangle]

I thought the Soldier Son books were excellent (although I seem to be a wee bit in a minority here). Probably not as good as the RotE books, but then again, what is? :-). What surprised me was the hammering the series took on Amazon via the reviews, I'll be honest and say I was put off for a good year or so until a work colleague convinced me to give them a go.

I found all of the usual five star ingredients there; good characters, solid plot, exciting epic story, political machinations\intrigue, a study of morality and justice relevant to us in the 'real' word. I didn't even think the pace was slow, I thought it went just as fast as it needed to be. Nevare always came across as an introspective character (obviously), but I never found him to boring or whining - some of what happended to him would surely allow a bit of moaning! His problem was that he tried to live up to expecations of his father and his society and was found wanting through no fault of his own - again - surely a bit of selfpity is allowed here. His father was an interesting character, set up almost as a minor villain, but really just a flawed man who put duty before all and was genuinely trying to do the best for his family without understanding that, in this case, both were mutually exclusive. The first half of the second book - when things really go wrong for Nevare - was a bit of a struggle - but even then, I think that was required to build for what was to follow - so again no complaints.

The depth and complexity of the characters was up to the usual high standard, and that along with the other plus points I mentioned before give it a solid 'A' in my book. All in all - a worthy addition in my humble opinion.

[Farseer]

Well said, Maulkin's Tangle, and I fully agree - love it !

[Nuytsia]

I find myself wondering what I would have thought of the Solider Son trilogy if I had read it after the Farseer books....... SS was the first thing of Hobb's that I read and obviously I liked it or I wouldn't have gone on to read everything else!
But I do wonder, would I have felt disappointed if I'd read it after the others, or .... not!