Silverthorn - Raymond E. Feist

Written by Tom Clare in Book Reviews, Sunday 21 September, 2008

Magician was a full-blooded fantasy affair if ever there was one. Though it displayed its traditional, swords 'n' sorcery brand of fantasy with pride, it clearly didn't do things by halves; over the course of the eight hundred or so pages the reader is treated to an endless array of colourful characters and witty dialogue, a veritable trove of additional sub-plots and intrigues as well as enough blockbuster action sequences to put a Hollywood movie to shame. A very complete work, which was all the more remarkable an achievement given that it was Raymond E. Feist's first major published work.

What is often overlooked in the appropriately lengthy shadow cast by Magician is that there were two further books that formed the rest of the Riftwar Saga, and whisper it quietly; Silverthorn is perhaps the most enjoyable of the lot. By all accounts, it's simple to identify why Silverthorn is an improvement on its predecessor - it spins a similarly impressive tale to Magician but focuses on a far more impressive bunch of characters.

***WARNING - the following text contains minor story/event-based spoilers for those who have not read Magician - Raymond E. Feist.***

With Magician finishing with end of the Riftwar between the worlds of Midkemia and Kelewan, it appeared that with Macros the Black's self-sacrificing mission to destroy the rifts connecting the two worlds, peace would arise. However, as Silverthorn picks up the tale shortly afterwards, we find that the rifts may have introduced a far greater threat to Midkemia, as a new evil begins gathering Moredhel (dark elves), goblins and vigilantes under his banner - the entity, known as Murmandamus, has the ability to resurrect his dead followers and use destructive magic unlike anything even the most powerful of magicians had ever witnessed.

Feist's decision to shift the narrative delivery to two different (albeit familiar) figures proved to be an inspired one, benefiting the story massively. Arutha conDoin, newly crowned Prince of Krondor and the quiet younger brother of King Lyam proves to be a real gem. He is forced into a lengthy and dangerous journey for silverthorn, a rare plant thought to provide the antidote to a loved ones poisoning. Learning that he has been branded with the tag of 'Bane of Darkness', it becomes uncomfortably clear to Arutha that Murmandamus is sparing little in his pursuit of the Prince. The character of Arutha isn't embellished with many fancy lines or otherworldly skills; indeed, his brooding and single-minded drive to find the silverthorn make him all-too human at times. The greatest assets of Feist's carefully-crafted character are not all evident in the immediate; but as the journey unfolds, an understated demeanour and exceptional reserves of determination make Arutha a likable leader among the motley band of travellers who accompany him.

If Arutha is good, the second main narrative outlet, Jimmy the Hand, is a downright masterstroke. Having cameoed in a brief though memorable scene towards the end of Magician, the enigmatic fifteen year-old thief is interesting not only because of his remarkable stealth, observational powers and street savviness, but also because he is blessed with some of the wittiest and amusing dialogue you'll come across in a fantasy novel. Just as you think he's taking a backseat, he'll drop a remarkable anecdote about his past to remind you that there's more to him than meets the eye. He's effortlessly likable, and there's a great deal of depth to his persona, meaning whether it's action, intrigue or back-story you're reading about, chances are if Jimmy's involved, it will be good.

In every area that characters have been polished to perfection; the first books hero, Pug (a master magician) makes a welcome return, this time playing a decent supporting role in his own side-story. Considering the series still had another book and many more twists to throw at the reader, it's striking how complete a character Pug seems, as the reader will have charted his progress from an unremarkable fifteen year-old child to a man with a wife and two children, the subtle changes have been perfectly gauged.

Feist's imagination is impressively conveyed; the occasional lapse into flowery description can be overlooked as he appears able to pile memorable set-pieces and venues into his stories with an almost breathtaking ease and consistency. It's utterly engrossing at times - scenes such as a ten-man bar brawl get the heart racing with their electric pace; whilst the stealthy infiltration of enemy outposts and forestry unfold in a manner so tense, there are times you'll be physically holding your breath.

It's very hard to find fault with the book - perhaps the only qualm I could even venture is that for short intervals, the second half of the novel is marginally less spellbinding than the first, which speaking relatively, is entirely understandable. Silverthorn is an entirely worthy sequel to Magician, representing one of the high points for eighties fantasy fiction; totally absorbing and absolutely recommended.
OVERALL: 9/10

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