Influences - Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
In the first of an occasional series of blog posts, I’m going to look at the work of other writers I admire and whose work I’ve found influential. When I first thought about writing this series the task felt overwhelming. I’ve been reading for decades. Although I’m a slow reader, when I looked back on the books that stayed with me, the list was intimidating. Stacked high were the expected sci-fi and fantasy classics, alongside a wider range of titles in other genres, all jostling for my attention.
Where to start? A chronological list was one option but although my early reading was formative my tastes have changed. Instead, I decided to approach this from the perspective of the books that influenced my own novel, Hall of Bones. Which brings us to Robin Hobb.
Robin Hobb, who also writes under the name of Megan Lindholm, is an American author of multiple fantasy series. I discovered her through Assassin’s Apprentice, the first book in her Farseer fantasy trilogy set in the Realm of the Elderlings world, which has formed the basis of several other works. Assassin’s Apprentice was first published in 1995, although a copy didn’t find its way into my hands until 2007. I guess that makes it an established fantasy classic these days.
Hobb weaves a complex tale in this series, introducing us to the Six Duchies and the various manoeuvrings among the royal family for control of the throne. Her world is filled with complex, rounded characters you believe in and care about and her choice of protagonist, FitzChivalry, offers an interesting vantage point. Fitz is the bastard son of Prince Chivalry, brought into the royal household where he’s trained to become an assassin by King Shrewd’s spymaster, Chade. Fitz as the outsider, working for the royal family’s interests whilst not being one of them, creates a dynamic where his position is always precarious, while the story keeps you guessing all the way.
The intrigue is combined with a subtle use of magic, centring around two similar but distinct disciplines. There’s the Skill, a form of magic approved by the royal family and their advisors, which allows its users to share their thoughts. More frowned upon is the Wit, which can be used to establish a bond between humans and animals, allowing them to communicate. The deep connection between animals and humans is one of the most memorable aspects of this series. Despite Fitz’s position and shadowy profession, the importance and value of friendship is another.
An innovative aspect is the power of names. The premise is that in the Six Duchies parents name their children after a particular quality or characteristic. By emphasising its importance on the child in this way they grow up embodying that quality. Thus, you have King Shrewd, Queen Desire and Prince Regal all behaving exactly as you’d expect.
Assassin’s Apprentice is a wonderful book, which opened my mind to what could be achieved in a high-quality fantasy novel. Every author is influenced by the books they’ve read and enjoyed. I’ll freely admit many of the ideas Hobb uses found their way into the pages of Hall of Bones. Like most fiction, fantasy tends to utilise the various recognised tropes used by authors in the past (and those tropes will undoubtedly be used again by authors in the future). My work is no different. The skill is in applying these whilst offering a fresh perspective and a distinctive voice – both things Hobb pulls off with considerable aplomb. If I’ve executed this half as well in Hall of Bones I’ll be absolutely delighted.
If you want to know more about Robin Hobb and discover her writing, I’d encourage you to check out her author website at http://www.robinhobb.com/index.htm.
