REVIEW: Talion: Revenant by Michael A. Stackpole
Publishing information: Paperback; 467 pgs
Publisher: Spectra; 31 May 1997
ISBN: 9780553576566
Standalone
Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Tyson
Amazon
Synopsis: "The man he is sworn to protect is the man who butchered his family.
Justices the select of the Talion, endowed with fearsome magick and lethal martial skills roam the Shattered Empire, crushing the lawless and championing the oppressed. Their word is law and their judgement binding on highborn and low.
Nolan is a Justice born in what once was the free nation of Sinjaria. Orphaned in the war of conquest with the nation of Hamis, he traveled to far Talianna and secured the right to become a Justice. Now, years later, the Master of all Talions has a dangerous assignment for Nolan: He is to guard the life of the king who destroyed Sinjaria and slaughtered his family. Alone, Nolan ventures into the political maelstrom that is the court of Hamis to stop an assassin even his Masters think cannot be slain. . . ."
While on a book forum someone mentioned that Michael Stackpole had written a fantasy novel in the vein of Judge Dredd, not one to waste time, I quickly searched for the book and found Talion: Revenant was still available and order a copy.
In Talion we have a young man, Nolan, who has recently lost his family when the neighboring kingdom invades his homeland. As the only survivor he walks for several months to Talianna with the hope that he will become a Talion. A judge that walks in all the kingdoms righting the wrongs of evildoers.
Nolan is an intriguing character as his plan for revenge is etched in stone and he dreams of one day coming across the king whose army murdered his family but his is also able to grow and change his perception of things. Usually you find a hardened character who is unbendable, yet Stackpole has written a character that learns from past mistakes and new information and then alters his objectives and perceptions. It was quite refreshing to see.
Another thing I liked about Talion was the worldbuilding. There was a rich history to the world his characters inhabit and throughout the book we catch glimpses here and there. It is a shame that this is the only book in this particular world as there are so many details and stories that are told that I would like to know more about. Even the Talion order is fascinating. For instance, there are different sects of Talions from judges and infantry to tailors and housekeepers with each and every one of them filling an important role in their society.
The story is told with every other chapter focusing on Nolan's past starting with his journey to Talianna and becoming a Talion as well as his various attempts at capturing his greatest nemesis, while the other chapters focus on his current mission. The chapters are folded perfectly that they compliment one another and eventually come to a head in the final chapters of the novel.
Talion: Revenant is an older book but a hidden gem. While I wouldn't personally categorize it as Judge Dredd fantasy edition, there are some parallels. Talion is an interesting story that takes place in a world that truly needs to be revisited as it has a lot to be uncovered. Recommended
Overall 7.5/10
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