There’s been a lot of talk lately about ‘the death of Grimdark’, that nasty, violent, and unremittingly grim sub-genre of Fantasy that was in fashion for a while – if it ever existed at all, that is.
Certainly, my impression is that readers have tired of the never-ending grimness, the forever state of decay and weariness that infused each book, each with its own unsympathetic characters, the ne’er do wells, the losers, the ones who use violence for reasons that are usually – well, grim. If readers wanted to be depressed they need look no further than what’s happening in the real world, seems to be the zeitgeist.
And yet, good writing will (usually) out, rising to the top of the massive murk that is created by the glut of too many similar books on too many similar themes*. Ed McDonald’s debut novel may just be enough to belie the death of Grimdark, and show us that we can read ‘grim’ again.
The story is of Captain Ryhart Galharrow, a government mercenary, one of the elite Blackwings who are called upon to protect this world from the return of the Deep Kings. Eighty years ago, there was an apocalyptic war between the Deep Kings of the Empire and the republic, a battle that was only stopped by Nall’s Engine, a weapon so powerful that it made the Deep Kings retreat and left a strange No-Man’s land called the Misery between the Kings and the humans left alive. Galharrow’s job is to maintain and defend the line against those who keep trying to breach the wilderness of corruption, using zombies, ghosts and magic.
At the same time Galharrow is under the thrall of Crowfoot, one of the god-like defenders. Whilst he may go about his business, when the god-like beings call he must answer. And so when Gallharrow receives a message (in a particularly painful and gruesome way) he has to change his plans and save a noblewoman wizard, Ezabeth Tanza, at Station Twelve, which comes under attack by rather gruesome zombie-like drudges.
When back in the city of Valengrad, Galharrow discovers from Tanza that things may not be what he thinks they are. The light-magic that generates power for the city and keeps the Deep Kings at bay may not be entirely as powerful as people are led to believe. There’s a conspiracy to hide a big secret between the powers that be and the defenders of the land, which as the evil Empire rises may possibly mean that the much-vaunted city defences on which all depend may not work…
There’s a lot there that may sound vaguely familiar – a gruff antihero, strange creatures, stranger magic and squalid living conditions, for example. But what works here is that the whole thing’s put together here as a working, viable environment with rounded, nuanced characters, genuinely horrible creatures and memorable landscapes. Perhaps most importantly, even when events may be dire, things are never without hope, nor at the same time easily mended. The dialogue is appropriately sweary and brusque without being particularly excessive, the violence reasoned if not acceptable. The book does not glorify violence but instead shows the desperation of distressed people in difficult circumstances.
The last part of the book deals with the consequences of the conspiracy, an enormous Minas Tirith-type battle and the return of some decidedly gruesome Dark Gods who seem rather Lovecraft-ian in their cosmic dealings.
This is a knowing book, surprisingly thoughtful for a debut novel.
It helps that there’s a certain degree of skill in the writing, too – the battle scenes range in scale and complexity, yet seem to flow effortlessly (something any writer will tell you is difficult to do) and surprisingly visually. Despite being a little bit repetitive in the middle, this kept the pages turning nicely. Ed can make us feel about these flawed characters, when we know we perhaps should not.
The strongest thing you remember, despite all of the violence and the grimness, which stays with you after you’ve finished the book, is the quality of the complex relationship between Galharrow and Ezabeth.
In summary, Blackwing is a very impressive debut, with complex characters and an imaginative setting that does much to impress the reader – even those who, rather like me, were a little jaded of Grimdark.
Instead, it is so impressive that Grimdark may just find a new audience here. Just when you think that the sub-genre’s all done and dusted, and there’s nothing left to tell, books as good as this show that there may just be some dark, twisted life in the old dog yet.
*See also the glut of sub-par Stephen King-style Horror novels in the 1980’s that almost killed genre sales at the time, I gather.
Blackwing by Ed McDonald
The Raven’s Mark, Book One
Published by Gollancz, July 2017
384 pages
ISBN: 978-1473222014
I am looking forward to this one!
Thanks, Stuart: it was one of those pleasant surprises. I wasn’t going to read it all – it’s not due out for a while! – but once I started, it took over!
Does this end on a cliffhanger for book 2 or is it more of a wrap things up for this installment?
Hi Mitch. The book ties up many aspects of the plot but, like many books, it also sets things up for the next. There’s a lot still to resolve and consequences as a result of the last part of the novel.
Awesome. Thank you for the clarification. Books that feel more like an episode of a series in terms of plot mean I will read them as they come out. Otherwise I will buy them and just wait to read them until all the books are out.
It is a trend at the moment, Mitch, as I’m sure you’ve noticed! To say that “it can be annoying” is a bit of an understatement, looking at some of the comments we get here. Pleased what I said was useful, though.