Book Review: The Wise Man’s Fear
by: Patrick Rothfuss
SO GOOD.
Really, that’s all I need to say, but I’ll try and take up some more page space.
When I read a book I’m really into my temperature drops and my pulse rate rises. Seriously, everytime I put down the book I was cold and my heart was beating. Even the not exciting stuff. It’s rare to read a book that gripping – only a handful a year have that effect on me.
Thematically, there really isn’t much “new” here. It’s the tale of the rise to power of a literal storybook hero, a myth in the making. It’s the execution that is the catch. I drew reading this out for as long as I could (a couple weeks) savoring it bit by bit…but eventually it had to end. And what a strange, sedate ending. Strange in that it so obviously a part of such a lengthy and well thought out story that it burns my brain. I WISH I COULD DO THAT.
So yeah, we’re still listening to the story of our hero’s rise to greatness, as told by his semi-broken down, older, self. There are some hints of interesting things going on in the present, but we get only hints of that with minor ties to the past in ways that are not clear yet, but that I can already tell will be so later. The rise itself is almost textbook: hero moves from place to place, generally starting off at the bottom rung, disliked and disrespected, rises to at least a decent level of success. More or less. I mean, you could look at an outline of the story and say “Meh, nothing new to read there” – but you’d be missing out.
There are also some pretty strong similarities to stuff in the Wheel of Time – mainly the matriarchal warrior society that uses sign language and is freer with nudity & sex. It’s expanded in a different direction than Jordan’s Aiel, but just as interesting… perhaps even more so, given that many interesting nuggets have only been hinted at so far in this world.
Back in the present, some pretty humbling things happen to the hero (well, at least one thing) to illustrate how far he has fallen and we (ME! at least) are left wondering what the hell happened to him. Seriously. Rothfuss. Dude. I’m hurting here! Can you churn out a couple books this year, please?
FOUR AND THREE QUARTER STARS
I’m witholding that last quarter because I’m going mad for more information about the Chandrians and the “main” plot. I get the sense that it will take 2-3 more books to catch us up to the present… and then probably at least another book for Kvothe to regain something of his past self. I hope not… but hey, worst case scenario means less likely to be let down? Maybe?
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