by Jason Joyner | Apr 22, 2009 | Blaggard's Moon, Blog, pirates, reading, reviews, speculative fiction
Leave a comment to win the latest Ted Dekker hardback, BoneMan’s Daughters.
—
Time to wrap up the CSFF tour for the month. I’ve been discussing the books of George Bryan Polivka with my new…uh, friend, Spinner Sleeve.
Ye mockin’ me boy?
No sir! He’s one of the stars of the pirate treasure of a novel Blaggard’s Moon. Over the last couple of posts, I’ve discussed the Trophy Chase trilogy by Polivka. The books, impressive to begin with, improved throughout the series. I wondered how he would follow it up.
Blaggard’s Moon is actually a prequel to the series, which is an interesting place to go, as it has the potential for disaster (see Lucas, George). It was advertised as the musings of Smith Delaney, one of the supporting characters from the trilogy, as he awaits his certain death. Which might not be so certain, since he appears in later books.
Don’t get cute here. What say ye about the story of Blaggard’s Moon?
Always interesting to blog with a sharp, pointy thing in your back. Anyway, as other blog tour members have noted, it has an interesting construction. Delaney is stuck on a pole over a pond from which the vicious mermonkeys (no really, these aren’t your old sea monkeys) will surface in the dead of night to munch on his bones. He thinks over his own story on how he ended up in this predicament, yet it interlaces with a story told by master story-teller Ham Drumbone on a pirate ship.
Ham’s story follows pirate king Conch Imbry, pirate hunter Damrick Fellows (boo!) and mysterious lady Jenta Smithmiller as intrigue, battle, and death weaves throughout. The reader is left guessing how this all ties together, which it does very nicely at the end.
Ye best be sayin’ that.
Actually, I mean it. Even without duress, I loved this book. The beginning is a little confusing as Polivka settles us into the structure of the story, but he soon had me hooked. The author is a gifted story teller in his own right, with a vivid imagination and great description. He must have done exhaustive research, as he sets the reader on the high seas feeling the salt air, or ducking the musket balls and choking on the gunpowder. I’m not a nautical person, but the authenticity shows through strongly.
It is almost as good as the characterization. I’ve not read another author who so clearly imbues each character with their unique way and feel. I knew the characters, and the myriad cast is very enjoyable without any confusion. From Lady Jenta to minor pirate captains to the businessman Runsford Ryland, each stands strong with their own voice. My only complaint is that Polivka doesn’t always stay in one character’s point of view in a segment, making it confusing sometimes knowing whose head you’re in. He’s spoken before on why he writes this way, but it still doesn’t change the confusion.
The story has a suspenseful plot with well-described action, heartfelt romance, wrenching tragedy, and a touching theme. I enjoyed it more than the Trophy Chase trilogy because his heroes are more heroic. In the trilogy, he used the main character Packer Throme to wrestle with theological issues (which were pretty much keeping in-character for Packer, being a former seminary student), but this wrestling, while poignant, slowed the action down. There’s a touch of that here, but the story blazes on overall.
Okay, yer point has been made. Ye love the book. Good answer, so I guess me n’the boys will be lookin’ fer some other bloggers to hassle.
You know, a “blogger” isn’t a “blaggard”.
It ain’t! Why, the lousy rat who sent me here will have a new blowhole when I’m a’done with him. Have ye anything else to say?
Blaggard’s Moon is a very enjoyable and highly recommended read for the casual fiction fan. For my writing friends, you should check Polivka out for his talented characterization and rich description and world-building. So far, this is my favorite book of the year. (Oh, and I don’t think Mr. Sleeve has read the end of the book. I actually don’t think he can read period.)
ADDENDUM: I’m a physician assistant, and I did a physical on a very nice gentleman who would have nonetheless been a perfect fit for one of Polivka’s characters. Missing front teeth, bandana on his head, somewhat scraggly beard, he fit the part to a tee. Made me a little nervous about REALLY having a visitor with me while I blog…
—
by Jason Joyner | Apr 22, 2009 | Blaggard's Moon, Blog, pirates, reading, reviews, speculative fiction
Leave a comment to win the latest Ted Dekker hardback, BoneMan’s Daughters.
—
Time to wrap up the CSFF tour for the month. I’ve been discussing the books of George Bryan Polivka with my new…uh, friend, Spinner Sleeve.
Ye mockin’ me boy?
No sir! He’s one of the stars of the pirate treasure of a novel Blaggard’s Moon. Over the last couple of posts, I’ve discussed the Trophy Chase trilogy by Polivka. The books, impressive to begin with, improved throughout the series. I wondered how he would follow it up.
Blaggard’s Moon is actually a prequel to the series, which is an interesting place to go, as it has the potential for disaster (see Lucas, George). It was advertised as the musings of Smith Delaney, one of the supporting characters from the trilogy, as he awaits his certain death. Which might not be so certain, since he appears in later books.
Don’t get cute here. What say ye about the story of Blaggard’s Moon?
Always interesting to blog with a sharp, pointy thing in your back. Anyway, as other blog tour members have noted, it has an interesting construction. Delaney is stuck on a pole over a pond from which the vicious mermonkeys (no really, these aren’t your old sea monkeys) will surface in the dead of night to munch on his bones. He thinks over his own story on how he ended up in this predicament, yet it interlaces with a story told by master story-teller Ham Drumbone on a pirate ship.
Ham’s story follows pirate king Conch Imbry, pirate hunter Damrick Fellows (boo!) and mysterious lady Jenta Smithmiller as intrigue, battle, and death weaves throughout. The reader is left guessing how this all ties together, which it does very nicely at the end.
Ye best be sayin’ that.
Actually, I mean it. Even without duress, I loved this book. The beginning is a little confusing as Polivka settles us into the structure of the story, but he soon had me hooked. The author is a gifted story teller in his own right, with a vivid imagination and great description. He must have done exhaustive research, as he sets the reader on the high seas feeling the salt air, or ducking the musket balls and choking on the gunpowder. I’m not a nautical person, but the authenticity shows through strongly.
It is almost as good as the characterization. I’ve not read another author who so clearly imbues each character with their unique way and feel. I knew the characters, and the myriad cast is very enjoyable without any confusion. From Lady Jenta to minor pirate captains to the businessman Runsford Ryland, each stands strong with their own voice. My only complaint is that Polivka doesn’t always stay in one character’s point of view in a segment, making it confusing sometimes knowing whose head you’re in. He’s spoken before on why he writes this way, but it still doesn’t change the confusion.
The story has a suspenseful plot with well-described action, heartfelt romance, wrenching tragedy, and a touching theme. I enjoyed it more than the Trophy Chase trilogy because his heroes are more heroic. In the trilogy, he used the main character Packer Throme to wrestle with theological issues (which were pretty much keeping in-character for Packer, being a former seminary student), but this wrestling, while poignant, slowed the action down. There’s a touch of that here, but the story blazes on overall.
Okay, yer point has been made. Ye love the book. Good answer, so I guess me n’the boys will be lookin’ fer some other bloggers to hassle.
You know, a “blogger” isn’t a “blaggard”.
It ain’t! Why, the lousy rat who sent me here will have a new blowhole when I’m a’done with him. Have ye anything else to say?
Blaggard’s Moon is a very enjoyable and highly recommended read for the casual fiction fan. For my writing friends, you should check Polivka out for his talented characterization and rich description and world-building. So far, this is my favorite book of the year. (Oh, and I don’t think Mr. Sleeve has read the end of the book. I actually don’t think he can read period.)
ADDENDUM: I’m a physician assistant, and I did a physical on a very nice gentleman who would have nonetheless been a perfect fit for one of Polivka’s characters. Missing front teeth, bandana on his head, somewhat scraggly beard, he fit the part to a tee. Made me a little nervous about REALLY having a visitor with me while I blog…
—
by Jason Joyner | Apr 22, 2009 | Blog, rant
We interrupt this tour to be extremely contrary: I don’t like Earth Day, and I don’t “celebrate” it.
What’s up with that?
I have no problem in taking care of the environment. I have been a proponent of being a good steward of God’s creation for a long time. One of Francis Schaeffer’s books makes a compelling case why Christians should be the best environmentalists, and I really identified with what he said (it’s been a long time, so I don’t remember specifics). I carry a sack when hiking so I can pick up garbage as I go. I always look for ways that I can conserve in a sensible way. I don’t like Hummers (though there are other reasons over them being environmentally incorrect).
I don’t like Earth Day because it smacks of a new holiday of a new religion. I have a problem with the worldview that seems to be behind most of the promotion of this day. The worldview, in my opinion, is materialist and naturalist, meaning that “Mother” Earth is all there is, and we have to take care of our “Mother”. I’m sorry, but this “mother” had a Father first. I will take care of my environment because I believe God doesn’t want me to trash His creation, but I refuse to worship Gaia, a popular term for this reverential treatment of our planet.
Honestly, I also believe there is a conspiracy with Earth Day being in the spring. Sure, spring speaks of new life and is a good time to “clean up” (think of all the city clean up days after a long winter). But it seems that it is one more thing to distract from Easter what it stands for: the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
Some might point to the pagan origins of Easter, and that Christians “co-opted” the day for their message. You know what, there was probably some of that going on. So I don’t want to see the most important time of the year for me “co-opted” for some empty philosophy that has no ultimate meaning.
Forgive me for being a Scrooge, but I will do my part to be “green” and to take care of God’s creation, as He called it good when He made it. I won’t bow to another to worship though. Maybe I’m taking this too far. I only hope I am.
by Jason Joyner | Apr 22, 2009 | Blog, rant
We interrupt this tour to be extremely contrary: I don’t like Earth Day, and I don’t “celebrate” it.
What’s up with that?
I have no problem in taking care of the environment. I have been a proponent of being a good steward of God’s creation for a long time. One of Francis Schaeffer’s books makes a compelling case why Christians should be the best environmentalists, and I really identified with what he said (it’s been a long time, so I don’t remember specifics). I carry a sack when hiking so I can pick up garbage as I go. I always look for ways that I can conserve in a sensible way. I don’t like Hummers (though there are other reasons over them being environmentally incorrect).
I don’t like Earth Day because it smacks of a new holiday of a new religion. I have a problem with the worldview that seems to be behind most of the promotion of this day. The worldview, in my opinion, is materialist and naturalist, meaning that “Mother” Earth is all there is, and we have to take care of our “Mother”. I’m sorry, but this “mother” had a Father first. I will take care of my environment because I believe God doesn’t want me to trash His creation, but I refuse to worship Gaia, a popular term for this reverential treatment of our planet.
Honestly, I also believe there is a conspiracy with Earth Day being in the spring. Sure, spring speaks of new life and is a good time to “clean up” (think of all the city clean up days after a long winter). But it seems that it is one more thing to distract from Easter what it stands for: the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
Some might point to the pagan origins of Easter, and that Christians “co-opted” the day for their message. You know what, there was probably some of that going on. So I don’t want to see the most important time of the year for me “co-opted” for some empty philosophy that has no ultimate meaning.
Forgive me for being a Scrooge, but I will do my part to be “green” and to take care of God’s creation, as He called it good when He made it. I won’t bow to another to worship though. Maybe I’m taking this too far. I only hope I am.
by Jason Joyner | Apr 21, 2009 | Blaggard's Moon, Blog, CSFF, pirates, reviews
Leave a comment to win the latest Ted Dekker hardback, BoneMan’s Daughters.
—
O-o-okay. We’re continuing the CSFF tour featuring George Bryan Polivka’s book Blaggard’s Moon. I’ve got a few special guests with me. Spinner Sleeve and his boys have, um, commandeered this blog and…OUCH. Hey!
Yak too much, and ye’ll be shorter than ye already are. Don’t be expectin’ any help soon. Jus’ do as we say, n’ this’ll be over n’ done. If ye want to be smack solid sure to end this here “bloggin'” career, then open yer yap some more.
Ye told us about The Legend of the Firefish and The Hand that Bears the Sword the day before. What do ye have fer us now?
Uh, just a second guys…
The Trophy Chase trilogy culminates in The Battle for Nearing Vast. Packer and Panna Throme are thrust into leadership to save their kingdom from the invading Drammune forces. As Panna tries to navigate the serpentine politics at home, Packer boards the Trophy Chase one more time to sail into the heart of the enemy. The Hezzan of Drammune, the ultimate leader of that warlike nation, wants the secret of the Firefish, but will Packer be able to give that secret away?
Get to the fights!
Straight away! As the climax of the first book ended in the waters of the Achawuk Islands, the feeding ground of the Firefish, so the third book winds its way to these fateful isles, where the final confrontation will occur and Packer has one more surprise in store.
The momentum that Polivka built with the first two books carries him full sails into the gripping finale. After enjoying the twists and turns of the second book, I couldn’t turn away from finishing, and it was a worthy tale for pub master and priest alike. The surprise wasn’t too much of one, but he did a good job of tying up the loose ends from the series in a satisfying way. The Epilogue may have been a little too “romantic,” but I’m a sucker for happy endings.
Overall, the Trophy Case trilogy starts a little slow, but rich and elegant in language and description. As the wind blows through the three books, the action and suspense builds into a wholly satisfying tale. If you like pirates or fantasy, these are books in the CBA realm that shouldn’t be missed.
Is that good, guys?
I suppose. Ye share the same annoyin’ flowry words with Ham Drumbone. But we reckon the point is made – this feller Polivka is a worthy pirate storyteller. Don’t think yer off the hook yet. Jes sit tight until tomorrow, and we’ll be seein’ if ye can wrap this up to our likin’. The lads here are gettin’ ready fer a little action.
There’s others in the tour. See here for a list of updated blogs. And I’ll wrap up tomorrow, if I can keep these fine fellows entertained. Cribbage anyone?
Yarrr!
