Book Review: The Man With the Golden Torc

Reviewed By: Cheryl - RAM

The Man With the Golden Torc     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Simon R. Green
Class/Genre:   Fantasy   Humorous
Series: Torc # 1
Roc, Hardcover, June 2007

This fast-paced novel is a cross between a superhero comic and a James Bond novel - the hero is super strong and even has a neat "costume", the villains are suitably bizarre, and the power plays are murderous.

Eddie Drood is an agent for his extremely secretive and powerful family in a world which contains just about any of the usual supernatural creatures found in modern fantasy plus an assortment of aliens as well.

This premise does not stand up to close examination. It is better to go with the flow and not stop to think too closely about the improbability of a single world containing so many creatures from so many traditions. But it's easy not to nitpick, and to simply get carried away by the story.

Although Eddie has never gotten on very well with his family, he does take pride in carrying out their good fight against the various evil creatures which threaten the world. At least, he is a loyal fighter for his family until he unexpectedly finds himself being hunted down by his own relatives.

Eddie's break with his family fuels most of the book. I didn't always find Eddie's attitude towards his family convincing - his desire to bring down a family he always hated when he eventually figures out that they have been keeping secrets from him seems rather one-dimensional and unconvincing. This is a reaction that I would have expected from the rebellious teen he once was; I would expect someone Eddie's age to have begun to develop a bit of adult cynicism and the maturity to walk away rather than lash out. But, as I said before, this is a book to be read quickly for maximum enjoyment, not one to be analysed.

This is a fast-paced and light (in spite of the comic-book violence) read which should entertain fans of this type of urban fantasy.

Cheryl - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Cheryl - RAM