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Agent White
On the eve of his retirement, High Guard First Class Ezra Beckitt is still plagued by the memories and doubts of his last case- and something else. Something strange happened to him during his rookie year, an event that he has since written off as a dream and buried in his mind. Some things won't stay buried though- and the past has a way of coming back to haunt the present. From the low streets of Hatis City to the lofty passes of a citadel in the rock, Ezra Beckitt is about to discover that he is a part of a larger world- one that has appointed a task for him, whether he wants it or not. For all of his life Ezra has defended the law.... but now he must become an Agent of the White. And Light cannot exist without Shadow......
196 pages, Paperback
First published February 10, 2014
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82 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 12, 2014
Sometimes the Past Has a Funny Way of Catching up to You
Was there ever a time in your life that you went over and over again wondering if you made the right choice? A time when you could have been the one to stop everything from going wrong?
What if you got a second chance to make the wrong things right?
After almost 30 years protecting Hatis City High Guard Ezra Beckitt, one of the most respected officers of the law to have ever had the privilege, is about to retire, He should be happy, he's made a real difference in his years as High Guard, but it all feels empty and in some way he can't really put his finger on, his life feels unfinished. Going through the motions and thinking back he realizes there have been times when the strange finger of fate would have pointed him down different paths, paths which might have led to a far different outcome if he'd only taken the right step. Just when he thinks he'll have to put his past behind him and accept the fate he's chosen new clues and answers to long buried mysteries have come to light and Ezra Beckitt will be called on to be an Agent of the White.
Equal parts fast-paced noir and modern fantasy tale this was a quick and involving read. I'm sure that for Kanuckel fans the long wait will have been worth it! With Agent White we're introduced to Ezra Beckitt one the best High Guards (this world's answer to detectives) to have ever had the honor of protecting the corrupt and complacent Hatis City. Tired but far from ready for retirement, he's recently begun to reminisce about his past and the events that led him here. Surreal and unusual, the world in which he lives is not as it has always seemed. Over and over again he is shown the strange link between light and dark, truth and fiction, so that the hidden world just below the surface of his own will finally be revealed.
There's not a lot more I can say about Agent White that won't reveal the little nuances of the plot and the last thing I would want to do is spoil it for another reader. I really enjoyed reading about Ezra and following the trail that leads him to face parts of himself that he'd left behind. Ezra is a strong, witty and unusual guy, a man who has long felt like another cog in the machine, but who's starting to discover he has a lot more individuality left in him than he thought. There are so many great characters in this book I can't really tell you about and a bunch of great scenes guaranteed to stick with the reader long after they finish the book (that ending, a few different scenes that play out in a kitchen, one of Ez's first memories as a Guard, just tons of them!) because of their cinematic quality, Kanuckel is a natural storyteller and this book is just one of many intended to be set in the 3 ages of his world, I for one intend to be one of the first people lining up to read more!
Was there ever a time in your life that you went over and over again wondering if you made the right choice? A time when you could have been the one to stop everything from going wrong?
What if you got a second chance to make the wrong things right?
After almost 30 years protecting Hatis City High Guard Ezra Beckitt, one of the most respected officers of the law to have ever had the privilege, is about to retire, He should be happy, he's made a real difference in his years as High Guard, but it all feels empty and in some way he can't really put his finger on, his life feels unfinished. Going through the motions and thinking back he realizes there have been times when the strange finger of fate would have pointed him down different paths, paths which might have led to a far different outcome if he'd only taken the right step. Just when he thinks he'll have to put his past behind him and accept the fate he's chosen new clues and answers to long buried mysteries have come to light and Ezra Beckitt will be called on to be an Agent of the White.
Equal parts fast-paced noir and modern fantasy tale this was a quick and involving read. I'm sure that for Kanuckel fans the long wait will have been worth it! With Agent White we're introduced to Ezra Beckitt one the best High Guards (this world's answer to detectives) to have ever had the honor of protecting the corrupt and complacent Hatis City. Tired but far from ready for retirement, he's recently begun to reminisce about his past and the events that led him here. Surreal and unusual, the world in which he lives is not as it has always seemed. Over and over again he is shown the strange link between light and dark, truth and fiction, so that the hidden world just below the surface of his own will finally be revealed.
There's not a lot more I can say about Agent White that won't reveal the little nuances of the plot and the last thing I would want to do is spoil it for another reader. I really enjoyed reading about Ezra and following the trail that leads him to face parts of himself that he'd left behind. Ezra is a strong, witty and unusual guy, a man who has long felt like another cog in the machine, but who's starting to discover he has a lot more individuality left in him than he thought. There are so many great characters in this book I can't really tell you about and a bunch of great scenes guaranteed to stick with the reader long after they finish the book (that ending, a few different scenes that play out in a kitchen, one of Ez's first memories as a Guard, just tons of them!) because of their cinematic quality, Kanuckel is a natural storyteller and this book is just one of many intended to be set in the 3 ages of his world, I for one intend to be one of the first people lining up to read more!
March 13, 2014
Retiring High Guard Ezra Beckitt of Hatis City is an interesting old geezer, a fellow who has lived one hell of a life, and once cycled through an entire series of jobs from short-order cook to security guard in his first two years in the city with a whole bunch of others in between. It is an event which occurs during that security guard tenure which leads to him becoming part of the High Guard and consequently, a thirty year span of employment with them.
This is where we begin Michael Kanuckel’s ‘Agent White’, which upon this initial examination may seem to be a straight forward hardboiled detective story, possibly traversing the life Beckitt has lead up until this point of his retirement, as flashbacks to these days play a part. However, this is far from the case. Ezra Beckitt might be thinking he is closing one lengthy chapter of his life, but he is just about to be engulfed in another, far stranger and more phantasmagorical than he could have imagined.
As the time of retiring draws nigh, Beckitt mulls constantly over his life, his choices and the direction he took, occasionally questioning if indeed they were right, and if they were why doesn’t his life feel complete? There are unusual cases from his past, unexplained instances from his rookie years with a crooked partner Norman Wendt and things that continue to plague him as he ruminates over this all.
Soon enough, he discovers there is to be more of this life than a handshake and a thanks for the service, and his plans to sit around drinking and watching old television shows go right out the window, as he is called on to become an Agent of the White.
‘Agent White’ shifts seamlessly from its hardboiled introductory stages into a cracking fantasy tale with a rich cast of characters. There are both heroes and villains alike, from each world Beckitt finds himself involved in-psychopathic Simon Shelling, old man Owen, key figure Carolann Elwood and a plethora of others spring to mind, with a special mention of the cleverly named D’ran D’ran, Keeper of the Door-, but without revealing too much of how these folk come to be, I will just say this has to read to discover how much more Beckitt can learn about himself and what he is capable of after thirty years of High Guard service.
Michael Kanuckel is a wordsmith, make no mistake about that and he can create an entire world comprised of flowing story, fantastical individuals and landscapes with the ability to drag the reader right into it all, and that is exactly what happens here with ‘Agent White’.
If you are a fan of fantasy in any way, shape or form, adroitly blended with some hardened edges and splashes of violent action then look no further than this book right here.
This is where we begin Michael Kanuckel’s ‘Agent White’, which upon this initial examination may seem to be a straight forward hardboiled detective story, possibly traversing the life Beckitt has lead up until this point of his retirement, as flashbacks to these days play a part. However, this is far from the case. Ezra Beckitt might be thinking he is closing one lengthy chapter of his life, but he is just about to be engulfed in another, far stranger and more phantasmagorical than he could have imagined.
As the time of retiring draws nigh, Beckitt mulls constantly over his life, his choices and the direction he took, occasionally questioning if indeed they were right, and if they were why doesn’t his life feel complete? There are unusual cases from his past, unexplained instances from his rookie years with a crooked partner Norman Wendt and things that continue to plague him as he ruminates over this all.
Soon enough, he discovers there is to be more of this life than a handshake and a thanks for the service, and his plans to sit around drinking and watching old television shows go right out the window, as he is called on to become an Agent of the White.
‘Agent White’ shifts seamlessly from its hardboiled introductory stages into a cracking fantasy tale with a rich cast of characters. There are both heroes and villains alike, from each world Beckitt finds himself involved in-psychopathic Simon Shelling, old man Owen, key figure Carolann Elwood and a plethora of others spring to mind, with a special mention of the cleverly named D’ran D’ran, Keeper of the Door-, but without revealing too much of how these folk come to be, I will just say this has to read to discover how much more Beckitt can learn about himself and what he is capable of after thirty years of High Guard service.
Michael Kanuckel is a wordsmith, make no mistake about that and he can create an entire world comprised of flowing story, fantastical individuals and landscapes with the ability to drag the reader right into it all, and that is exactly what happens here with ‘Agent White’.
If you are a fan of fantasy in any way, shape or form, adroitly blended with some hardened edges and splashes of violent action then look no further than this book right here.
May 21, 2014
I was very excited to read this book. It delivered on something I had not expected to find here. A great mix of film noir meets fantasy. You are led down an interesting road following a reluctant hero with a big a heart.
There is a lot to the characters and a great back story that comes together and builds an intriguing world. As the story unfolded, I definitely wanted more. The ending was a great little twist that was very unexpected, but expertly done.
My thanks to the author for a enjoyable ride through the Lyme mountains!
There is a lot to the characters and a great back story that comes together and builds an intriguing world. As the story unfolded, I definitely wanted more. The ending was a great little twist that was very unexpected, but expertly done.
My thanks to the author for a enjoyable ride through the Lyme mountains!
June 29, 2014
Agent White by Michael Kanuckel is a prequel of sorts featuring Ezra Beckitt and his exploits in Hatis City, the place where the author’s fantasy epic Trollbreaker unfolds. In this futuristic fantasy novella, the High Guard is the illustrious Champion of Arcadia, retiring at the end of a twenty-seven-year career. We find ourselves in a parallel universe where Brutal Tom reappears in anticipation of Kilgor’s Ball looking to end the reign of the Champion of Arcadia. Unlike Jesse of Northeshire, Ezra is a cigarette-smoking, hard-drinking, pistol-packing government agent on a collision course with the denizens of the Last Chance roadhouse in the Lower City. The mysterious Owen tells him the tale of a mystical place called Vondellius, and suddenly Owen finds himself at a crossroads where urban reality gives way to the land of Northeshire.
What makes this work is the expository narrative that defines the backstory of the protagonist. We are taken back to Ezra’s adolescence as a precocious teen on a journey of self-discovery in the pool halls of his youth. Kanuckel deftly paints a portrait of a young man who becomes a product of his environment. He survives and thrives on the city streets, establishing his legend though entirely unaware of the magical journey ahead. He is more than capable of dealing with the conflict ahead, and the trapdoor drops as we plummet into the Second Age without missing a beat.
For sword and sorcery fans as well as those looking for a unusual and fast-paced adventure, Agent White by Michael Kanuckel is an excellent addition to your collection.
What makes this work is the expository narrative that defines the backstory of the protagonist. We are taken back to Ezra’s adolescence as a precocious teen on a journey of self-discovery in the pool halls of his youth. Kanuckel deftly paints a portrait of a young man who becomes a product of his environment. He survives and thrives on the city streets, establishing his legend though entirely unaware of the magical journey ahead. He is more than capable of dealing with the conflict ahead, and the trapdoor drops as we plummet into the Second Age without missing a beat.
For sword and sorcery fans as well as those looking for a unusual and fast-paced adventure, Agent White by Michael Kanuckel is an excellent addition to your collection.
August 6, 2014
For nearly thirty years, First Class Ezra Beckitt has guarded Hatis City. For a man who has achieved so much, you would have thought that he would happily slip quietly into the twilight of retirement.
But not so. Ezra is plagued by doubts of his last case, and the shadows from his past reach out across the years to reveal themselves in this unique fantasy-crime noir tale.
This book is a dream of a read with fast paced action and beautiful prose. However, what lifts this above the morass of other "alternate world" tales is this subtext; actions have consequences, and whilst we think that we a free to make our own decisions, there are dark forces which subtly influence our every choice, often forcing destiny upon us.
In many ways this is a superior, and better told, version of Philip K Dick's "The Adjustment Bureau", with its secret cabals and competing forces.
An absolute gem, that fans of dark fantasy will love. Recommended.
But not so. Ezra is plagued by doubts of his last case, and the shadows from his past reach out across the years to reveal themselves in this unique fantasy-crime noir tale.
This book is a dream of a read with fast paced action and beautiful prose. However, what lifts this above the morass of other "alternate world" tales is this subtext; actions have consequences, and whilst we think that we a free to make our own decisions, there are dark forces which subtly influence our every choice, often forcing destiny upon us.
In many ways this is a superior, and better told, version of Philip K Dick's "The Adjustment Bureau", with its secret cabals and competing forces.
An absolute gem, that fans of dark fantasy will love. Recommended.
February 27, 2016
This has been on my "to-read" list for quite some time and I finally got around to it. I had never read a Kanuckel book up to this point so I didn't really know what to expect. I have to say I was FAR from disappointed. Pulp crime and fantasy blends perfectly in this gritty tale of retired High Guard Ezra Beckitt awakening into a hidden world washed over by the cold hands of Man and time. The story is well told, well paced, and full of memorable characters. It did a thing few books seem to do nowadays, it held my attention the entire time. I can best describe it as Sin City meets Lord of the Rings. So if you like Miller or Tolkien, or better yet, both, pick up this book immediately.
August 21, 2014
This book is fun to read, with a clear voice and well-paced plot. The world building- especially the time frame and fantasy-reality ratio- felt a bit off to me, but I still enjoyed the characters. Kanuckel presents an idea of duality that I have not encountered before, taking the battle of good vs evil to another level. I am guessing there will be a sequel, as this concept was not fully realized by the conclusion of this novel.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews