Fool's Errand

The Tawny Man Trilogy, Book 1

By: Robin Hobb

Narrated by: James Langton

Length: 25 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

For fifteen years FitzChivalry Farseer has lived in self-imposed exile, assumed to be dead by almost all who once cared about him. But now, into his isolated life, visitors begin to arrive: Fitz's mentor from his assassin days; a hedge-witch who foresees the return of a long-lost love; and the Fool, the former White Prophet, who beckons Fitz to fulfill his destiny.

Then comes the summons he cannot ignore. Prince Dutiful, the young heir to the Farseer throne, has vanished. Fitz, possessed of magical skills both royal and profane, is the only one who can retrieve him in time for his betrothal ceremony, thus sparing the Six Duchies profound political embarrassment - or worse. But even Fitz does not suspect the web of treachery that awaits him - or how his loyalties will be tested to the breaking point.

©2002 Robin Hobb (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

A solid fantasy story in first person

Fool's Errand is good story with excellent characters. The author handles the first person narrative deftly. This is my first Robin Hobb book, so the many references to other characters and stories upon which this series was based were unfamiliar to me, but none of them were crucial to enjoying the story.
The author has a nice balance between character study, plot, action and humor. Most of the funniest lines come from the wolf, and I thought the narrator did a great job voicing Night Eyes. Despite being the first book in a series, the book had a good finish which won't leave you feeling the book just stops so you need to buy the next one.
It felt a bit slow at the beginning, but I feel like that was important to the main character's arc.
This is a well written book which held my interest, and I will definitely be listening to more Robin Hobb in the future.

Hobb is Golden

In this first book of the second trilogy of the Farseer saga, we walk into the self-imposed exiled life of FitzChilvary who is now known as Tom Badgerlock. He dreams of his Molly who is now happily married to another. He wonders where his beloved Fool is. And he has all but cut ties with the throne of Six Duchies and his mentor Chade. His wit bond wolf, Night Eyes, is still with him as is his adopted son, Hap. But he is never completely free of being needed by the monarchy and after fifteen years of a solitary life, his former life begins to encroach and he once again becomes the Catalyst.

Hobb carries us back into some details of the first trilogy and develops Fitz more. She also brings with it a new character - Prince Dutiful. She continues to carry us deeper into the magic of the Six Duchies and we are drawn back in much as Fitz is. As we are carried away into the newest plot to bring down the Farseer reign we once again become engrossed into the Six Duchies and its magic.

Hobb is an excellent story teller and we cannot help but love her characters. There are some exceptionally touching scenes and much emotion is stirred up within us because she develops the characters to the point where we become them.

Toward the end of this book I was in an airport and I texted my husband and wrote, "There are few things so embarrassing as to be in tears in an airport." The end of this book will bring you to these levels of emotion and the next thing you want to do is move right into the next book to see what happens next.

James Langton is an excellent narrator, but you do you have to get used to the Irish accent of Chade and the mispronunciation of some of the names of the characters. But these are small concessions to an otherwise good performance and excellent book.

A BUTTERFLY OF A DREAM

LEAVE OLD PAINS ALONE.
This is the next series after the Farseer Trilogy. Some people are going to be confused as all the books in this series have the word Fool in them and the first book in the trilogy that takes place after this also has Fool in the title. If you are not already a fan and you have not read and loved the Farseer Trilogy then you will not like this. This is for fans only. Most of the book is remembering the past and very little takes place. Most of the book is narration. If it was not for the fact that I am in love with Hobb's brain, I would not have listen to all of this. I love the writer, I like the characters and I want to read the rest of the series along with the series that follows, so I had no choice, but I was not happy. There is only about five hours of story in this 24 hour epic.

A MAN WAS WHAT HE MADE OF HIMSELF NOT WHAT HE WAS BORN.
This phrase is repeated and is one of my favorite thoughts. The Bastard repeats it to the orphan, yet it is kind of ironic that he is so faithful to the farseer line, simply due to birth.

PEOPLE SEE WHAT THE EXPECT TO SEE
I expect the story to pick up in the next two books, so I will continue the series. If you have not read Hobb, I would suggest starting with the Liveship Trader series, it is my favorite. In this story we do visit the Treasure Island that we first visited in Ship of Magic and she is hinting that it may play an important role in the next book.

SLEEP IS THE GREAT HEALER

The Tawny Man is Here at Last!

When I discovered that the Tawny Man Trilogy was finally coming (back) to audio form, I was ecstatic and purchased Fool's Errand as soon as it was released here on Audible. If you enjoyed the Farseer Trilogy, this one is not to be missed.

The reader is different from that of the Farseer trilogy, but still pulls off a magnificent performance. He does pronounce a few names differently from Paul Boehmer (most notably Burrich and Kettricken) and he gives Nighteyes a gruffy, wolfy sort of voice that is very unlike Paul's reading of him, but I found that I got used to these changes without much trouble.

Two Requirements to like this book...

1. Like slow paced stories with lyrical language.
2. Be a fan of the series.

I picked this up as part of a 2 for 1 sale. It was my first Robin Hobb book. I plowed through to the end but felt like I was missing a large part of the story. While Hobb does provide plenty of background, it was clear to me early on that I really needed to have read the other books in the series to fully enjoy this one. One last note if you like your action hot and fast, go to another book. This story has some action, but it's strength is the language itself. If you have a love of words start at the beginning of the series and enjoy.

ABOUT DANG TIME!!!!

If you could sum up Fool's Errand in three words, what would they be?

Save your son!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Fool's Errand?

Fitz waking up next to Nighteyes in the cave. Oh... and Golden's "kiss"! LOL

Have you listened to any of James Langton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. Both were excellent. He's got a great voice for adult characters, both rugged and refined. He distinguishes between characters very well.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Cried like a freaking baby multiple times!!! Happy and sad tears!

Any additional comments?

This has been available in the UK for over a year! Very ticked that it took so long. But ELATED to finally get to listen to it! Langton was an excellent choice for adult Fitz and Fool, and elderly Nighteyes! But also did well as Dutiful and Ketricken. Did NOT like the change in some of the names' pronunciation, but they're not so bad that my mind couldn't translate instantly - just very unnecessary!
No surprise, but this is not a book for a first intro to Hobb's Six Duchies/Liveship world. This is her darkest trilogy/mini-series yet (though as of now, the next Fool/Fitz series is about to start, so that may change shortly!) This particular book is an AWESOME reintroduction to Fitz and The Fool and their adventures through the Six Duchies. Can't wait to listen to books 2 & 3 and the new series!

New narrator a bit disconcerting

What made the experience of listening to Fool's Errand the most enjoyable?

The further adventures of Fitz, Nighteyes and the Fool. It is like coming back to old friends.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I do not know why some series need a change in narrator. But Paul Boehmer is gone. After almost 80 hours of the Farseer Trilogy you become accustomed to a narrator. I can not fault James Langton's performance. I simply find the change off putting. Of all the voices the voices of Nighteyes is the one that I find the most annoying. Add to that the change in the pronunciations of various names and it is frustrating. Couldn't he at least have listened to some of the Farseer Trilogy and keep it in sync.

I have only given the performance 3 stars. Not because it is bad. But because the changes grate and impact my enjoyment of the book

Otherwise a great continuation of the series.

Robin Hobb does it again!!!!!

Just flows perfectly!!! Hard to stop listening!! One part made me bawl like a baby, knew it had to come, but love and hated at the same time!!!! Can't wait for book 2!!!

Impossibly Slow

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Someone not looking for action or for the plot to move along at all.

Has Fool's Errand turned you off from other books in this genre?

no.

What does James Langton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Good performance, well defined characters and accents.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

There was some action at the end.

Any additional comments?

I don't mind the overall homo-erotic vibe between all male characters but the fact the all the action happened before the book started and is just recalled by the main characters is torture.

just can't get into it...

i don't know if it's the book or the narrator, but i'm having a hard time getting any interest up for this book. i've tried for days to listen to this one, but keep falling asleep and can't recall what i've heard when i wake up.
i'm only in the first few chapters (granted i've slept through most of it) i'm ready to return this one.