Review by inaramid -- Fish Wielder

[inaramid]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Fish Wielder" by J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison.]

---

4 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

It began with the cooking of the Great Pudding of Power.

In ancient Grome, the Dark Lord Mauron sought to eat the Pudding in order to wield the Bracelet of Evil and wreak havoc upon the land. The elf king, Elfrod, thwarted Mauron’s plans, ushering an era of uneasy peace. A thousand years later, something stirs in the darkness. Figures cloaked in black—followers of the Bad Religion—prowl the night in the name of the Heartless One. They’re looking for the Pudding, but to what nefarious end?

One Pudding to rule them all.

Enter Thoral Mighty Fist (a.k.a. the Fist Wielder), a barbarian with a tragic past, a flair for drama, and a ruthless commitment to hygiene. (Seriously. He has a special paper to wipe his behind.) Along with a talking koi named Bradfast and a pedigreed steed called Warlordhorse, Thoral is off to put a stop to everything. There’s an immortal necromancer along the way, a death team of deadly assassins, and a mysterious walking tree. And of course, there has to be an elf princess. Move over Arwen Evenstar and make way for Nalweegie, the Evening Snack (so named because her beauty can quell the heart’s hunger without the beholder feeling so overly full). Will Nalweegie’s love for Thoral endure despite his shockingly shocking secret? And will Thoral ever be sure of his feelings for the princess and determine—once and for all—that she has no head lice?

It’s the perfect recipe for what author J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison calls an “epically silly epic fantasy of epic proportions.” Fish Wielder delivers on this promise, taking readers on a hysterical quest teeming with fantasy tropes, where masterpieces like The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia are lampooned to great comedic effect. Hardison shines a spotlight on an eminent and beloved genre, showcasing everything that’s so hackneyed, and funny, and maybe just a tiny bit ridiculous about it. It does make you wonder. Why do elves have a name for everything? What’s with the faux-medieval dialogues? Why are women hostages always clad in skimpy outfits? Are villains allergic to simplicity? Why are their plans so absurdly convoluted—and why do they have to monologue about them? Why do heroes randomly break into songs or poems like they’re in a musical? And most of all, why do characters always get interrupted when they’re about to reveal a secret?

Fish Wielder got me asking these questions—and roaring with laughter at the answers, both stated or implied. Of course, a bad guy would have a stash of tiny scraps of garments with him, just in case he scores a fair maiden along the way. And elves, being elves, just have to have their own weird names for everything. Best not to crack your head over that.

From calling his own work “silly” to signing his name as “J.R.R.R.” as a nod to the greats whose names also have 3 Rs, Hardison seems intent to not take anything seriously. His writing, however, shows the opposite. There is much thought and care put into Fish Wielder, and aside from two minor typos, the text flows smoothly all throughout. Indeed, far from being just a parody, Fish Wielder is a legitimate fantasy novel in itself. With a tightly knit plot, engaging characters, and a tongue-in-cheek, fourth-wall-breaking narrative, Hardison steers the book away from becoming juvenile or too derivative. The plot has several surprising twists, and while Thoral Mighty Fist and his own “fellowship of the pudding” are basically iterations of some other fictional characters, they’re all remarkably compelling. Thoral’s moroseness is amusingly reminiscent of Jon Snow’s brooding disposition in Game of Thrones, but there’s also a certain silliness about him that makes him a more accessible and endearing protagonist. Hardison imbues everyone with a purpose and a personality that I find myself liking even the one lowly assassin who eventually expires in the most disastrous (and hilarious) way imaginable.

A fantasy novel relies greatly on the author’s ability to immerse the reader in a make-believe world, and while Hardison’s world is one that’s familiar and well-trodden, he takes full advantage of every cliché to create a story that’s funny and fun. I haven’t laughed so much in a long time, at least not while reading a book, and for reminding me what a joyful activity reading can be, I rate Fish Wielder 4 out of 4 stars. If you don’t mind a bit of violence and gore, then follow the exploits of this germophobic barbarian and find out how he became the greatest warrior in the land—and how he earned the moniker of...Fish Wielder!

******
Fish Wielder
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes

Like inaramid's review? Post a comment saying so!

[CommMayo]

This book sounds like a blast. I love the opening to your review: "It began with the cooking of the Great Pudding of Power."

The tone in your review does a great job to convey the playfulness of this novel. Excellent job!

[inaramid]

This book sounds like a blast. I love the opening to your review: "It began with the cooking of the Great Pudding of Power."

The tone in your review does a great job to convey the playfulness of this novel. Excellent job!

Because the LOTR movie started with, "It began with the forging of the rings of power," or something like that

[vinodsai]

Amazing Review. A warrior named Thoral Mighty Fist who carries a magic sword and a talking fish named Brad who also breathes air. They try to save the world of Grome and go on the ultimate quest to find the lost Pudding of Power. Lots of action with comedy.

[inaramid]

Amazing Review. A warrior named Thoral Mighty Fist who carries a magic sword and a talking fish named Brad who also breathes air. They try to save the world of Grome and go on the ultimate quest to find the lost Pudding of Power. Lots of action with comedy.

Thanks for commenting.