“Hugh Matthews” is actually the masterful writer of Jack Vance pastiches, Matthew Hughes. In this entertaining confection, Krunzle the Quick (aka, Krunzle the Incorrigible, Krunzle the Corruptible, etc.), is caught while trying to steal some jewels from a wealthy merchant. Instead of turning Krunzle over to the authorities, the merchant has his sorcerer drap a magic snake around Krunzle’s neck. The merchant’s daughter has run off with a handsome guardsman and the merchant wants her back. He dispatches Krunzle to find his daughter and return her to him. If Krunzle should stray from this mission, the magic snake will choke Krunzle until he regains his focus. Plenty of adventures result from Krunzle’s hunt for the missing girl. Orcs and trolls enter the story as well as some engaging secrets. If you’re looking for a fun novel with a Jack Vance flavor, try Song of the Serpent. GRADE: B+
Was able to get the Woods book from my library. Thanks!
Patti, there are some great essays in THE FUN STUFF. I’ll be interested to see how you react to James Wood.
Will get it when I get back.
This one has a great cover.
Jeff, the novel is even better than the cover!
Woods? Snake drap? Get back? I need some coffee………….. ……… ….. .. .
Rick, trust me on this: SONG OF THE SERPENT will keep you wide away while you read it!
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Matthew, I hope you’re working on a sequel to SONG OF THE SERPENT!
Sorry, George. SotS was a work-for-hire for Paizo, and they hold all the rights. There would only be a sequel if they decided they wanted one and hired me to write it.
But Krunzle lives on, in a sense, in the character of Raffalon the thief, about whom I’ve been writing novelettes that appear in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Plus, he’s the hero of “The Inn of the Seven Blessings,” which is part of ROGUES, a cross-genre anthology edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, coming out in June.
When I have enough Raffalon stories, I’ll put them together in an ebook and POD paperback and sell them from the Archonate bookstore.
Matthew, that sounds great! I have ROGUES on pre-order and I’ll buy the POD version of the Raffalon stories as soon as you make it available!