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An Orc on the Wild Side
An Orc on the Wild Side
is the latest comic masterpiece from one of the funniest writers in fantasy.
Winter is coming, so why not get away from it all?
Being the Dark Lord and Prince of Evil is not as much fun as it sounds, particularly if you are a basically decent person. King Mordak is just such a person. Technically he's more goblin than person, but the point is that he is really keen to be a lot less despicable than his predecessors.
Not that the other goblins appreciate Mordak's attempts to redefine the role. Why should they when his new healthcare program seems designed to actually extend life expectancy, and his efforts to end a perfectly reasonable war with the dwarves appear to have become an obsession? With confidence in his leadership crumbling, what Mordak desperately needs is a distraction. Perhaps some of these humans moving to the Realm in search of great homes at an affordable price will be able to help?
For more from Tom Holt, check
The Management Style of the Supreme BeingsThe Good, The Bad, and the SmugThe Outsorcerer's ApprenticeWhen It's a JarDoughnutLife, Liberty, and the Pursuit of SausagesBlonde Bombshell
Winter is coming, so why not get away from it all?
Being the Dark Lord and Prince of Evil is not as much fun as it sounds, particularly if you are a basically decent person. King Mordak is just such a person. Technically he's more goblin than person, but the point is that he is really keen to be a lot less despicable than his predecessors.
Not that the other goblins appreciate Mordak's attempts to redefine the role. Why should they when his new healthcare program seems designed to actually extend life expectancy, and his efforts to end a perfectly reasonable war with the dwarves appear to have become an obsession? With confidence in his leadership crumbling, what Mordak desperately needs is a distraction. Perhaps some of these humans moving to the Realm in search of great homes at an affordable price will be able to help?
For more from Tom Holt, check
The Management Style of the Supreme BeingsThe Good, The Bad, and the SmugThe Outsorcerer's ApprenticeWhen It's a JarDoughnutLife, Liberty, and the Pursuit of SausagesBlonde Bombshell
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2019
124 people are currently reading
1482 people want to read
About the author
Tom Holt
98 books1,173 followersTom Holt (Thomas Charles Louis Holt) is a British novelist.
He was born in London, the son of novelist Hazel Holt, and was educated at Westminster School, Wadham College, Oxford, and The College of Law, London.
Holt's works include mythopoeic novels which parody or take as their theme various aspects of mythology, history or literature and develop them in new and often humorous ways. He has also produced a number of "straight" historical novels writing as Thomas Holt and fantasy novels writing as K.J. Parker.
He was born in London, the son of novelist Hazel Holt, and was educated at Westminster School, Wadham College, Oxford, and The College of Law, London.
Holt's works include mythopoeic novels which parody or take as their theme various aspects of mythology, history or literature and develop them in new and often humorous ways. He has also produced a number of "straight" historical novels writing as Thomas Holt and fantasy novels writing as K.J. Parker.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
March 18, 2020
What do Brexit, Middle Earth, Snow White, mass produced Chinese trinkets, and inter-dimensional travel have in common?
They are all in this mind bending story!
What you don't usually hear from a real estate salesman
George shrugged. “I know,” he said. “Wouldn’t suit me. Uproot yourself and swan off lock, stock and barrel to some faraway place of which you know little, you can’t speak the language and the locals are a load of bloody savages who’d murder you for your earwax. But once you’ve made up your mind to it, Provence or the Hidden Realms, what difference does it make? Except your money goes ever so much further in the Realms. And the locals aren’t so snotty, either.”
“Talking of the locals,” said Ms. La Blanche, “what are they like?”
So George told her; about the proud, supercilious Elves, the industrious and warlike dwarves, the feather-duster-footed halflings, the primitive but noble humans; the trolls, the wraiths, the Dark Elves and, of course, the goblins. “Bloody lunatics, the lot of them,” he concluded, “but I don’t give a stuff, I don’t have to live there.”
The End is Near, we can tell because the bad guys look like they may win this time
“Yes,” said Tinituviel. “Think about it. Evil always loses, you said it yourself. But, just before it loses, it reaches a point where anyone would think it’s inevitably going to win. And then, from the quarter where you’d least expect it, the smelly stuff hits the fan or the ring hits the molten lava, and suddenly it’s all over bar the interminable singing. I think we’re building up to just such an event.”
How to get the attention of the King of the Dwarves, the High Elf, and the little chap with the tusks - Mordak, Dark Lord and king of the goblins
There’s one fail-safe, guaranteed way of getting people to listen to you in the Realms. John took a very deep breath, lifted his arms above his head and yelled, “The eagles are coming! The eagles are coming!” Then, blushing like mad, he stepped back into the shadow of the tower.
Everyone (except the fat man with the axe) stopped what they were doing and stared, first at the sky and then at John. Then there was a long silence.
Then someone said, “No, they aren’t.”
John nodded. “Just kidding,” he said.
The Dark Lord, the Nameless One and John the Liar/Lawyer turn the Realms upside down when they become involved with a property developer.
Enjoy!
They are all in this mind bending story!
What you don't usually hear from a real estate salesman
George shrugged. “I know,” he said. “Wouldn’t suit me. Uproot yourself and swan off lock, stock and barrel to some faraway place of which you know little, you can’t speak the language and the locals are a load of bloody savages who’d murder you for your earwax. But once you’ve made up your mind to it, Provence or the Hidden Realms, what difference does it make? Except your money goes ever so much further in the Realms. And the locals aren’t so snotty, either.”
“Talking of the locals,” said Ms. La Blanche, “what are they like?”
So George told her; about the proud, supercilious Elves, the industrious and warlike dwarves, the feather-duster-footed halflings, the primitive but noble humans; the trolls, the wraiths, the Dark Elves and, of course, the goblins. “Bloody lunatics, the lot of them,” he concluded, “but I don’t give a stuff, I don’t have to live there.”
The End is Near, we can tell because the bad guys look like they may win this time
“Yes,” said Tinituviel. “Think about it. Evil always loses, you said it yourself. But, just before it loses, it reaches a point where anyone would think it’s inevitably going to win. And then, from the quarter where you’d least expect it, the smelly stuff hits the fan or the ring hits the molten lava, and suddenly it’s all over bar the interminable singing. I think we’re building up to just such an event.”
How to get the attention of the King of the Dwarves, the High Elf, and the little chap with the tusks - Mordak, Dark Lord and king of the goblins
There’s one fail-safe, guaranteed way of getting people to listen to you in the Realms. John took a very deep breath, lifted his arms above his head and yelled, “The eagles are coming! The eagles are coming!” Then, blushing like mad, he stepped back into the shadow of the tower.
Everyone (except the fat man with the axe) stopped what they were doing and stared, first at the sky and then at John. Then there was a long silence.
Then someone said, “No, they aren’t.”
John nodded. “Just kidding,” he said.
The Dark Lord, the Nameless One and John the Liar/Lawyer turn the Realms upside down when they become involved with a property developer.
Enjoy!
January 3, 2022
I could say that this book is absurd as fish, nonsensical as shrimp, wacky as squid and hilarious as krill, but that wouldn't even begin to cover it. I could try and explain what this book is about but, this being Tom Holt, the process would probably take me a lifetime or two. Those of Impeccable Book Taste (IBT™) who are familiar with and appreciate Tom Holt's slightly demented shenanigans (SDS™) know what I'm talking about. And what about those Poor Souls of Despicable Book Taste (PSoDBT™) who have never experienced said SDS™, you ask? Well they should grab one of Mr Holt's somewhat zany books post-haste, obviously.
➽ Nefarious Last Words (NLW™): Hidden Realms plumbers (or the lack thereof)+ liberal goblin kings (universal healthcare FTW!) + pink goo + snarky elves+ New Evil + the little chaps with the tusks + low-cost housing forimmigrants puny humans + wannabe models wraiths + red eyes (Sauron says hi) + goblinettes (or the lack thereof) + Chinese manufactured products + orcward squads + the revisionist faction of the Undead + Brexit + cynical as fish dwarves + Snow White + candied toenails (yum!) =
➽ Nefarious Last Words (NLW™): Hidden Realms plumbers (or the lack thereof)+ liberal goblin kings (universal healthcare FTW!) + pink goo + snarky elves+ New Evil + the little chaps with the tusks + low-cost housing for
August 28, 2019
Rating: ★★★★☆
Synopsis
An Orc on the Wild Side is the latest comic masterpiece from one of the funniest writers in fantasy.
Winter is coming, so why not get away from it all?
Being the Dark Lord and Prince of Evil is not as much fun as it sounds, particularly if you are a basically decent person. King Mordak is just such a person. Technically he’s more goblin than person, but the point is that he is really keen to be a lot less despicable than his predecessors.
Not that the other goblins appreciate Mordak’s attempts to redefine the role. Why should they when his new healthcare program seems designed to actually extend life expectancy, and his efforts to end a perfectly reasonable war with the dwarves appear to have become an obsession?
With confidence in his leadership crumbling, what Mordak desperately needs is a distraction. Perhaps some of these humans moving to the Realm in search of great homes at an affordable price will be able to help?
Review
Thanks to the publisher and author for a finished copy of An Orc on the Wild Side in exchange for an honest review. Receiving a copy of the novel did not influence my thoughts or opinions.
Holt’s An Orc on the Wild Side is Douglas Adams taking on Tolkien’s Middle-earth with today’s modern conveniences, inconveniences, and overall ridiculousness. Highly enjoyable and oft times sidesplitting, Holt’s newest release is exactly what a reader of the genre needs to break up the seriousness of modern day high and low fantasy, and everything in between.
If neither the title nor the synopsis got the point across, I’ll go ahead and lay it here plain as day: An Orc on the Wild Side is not epic fantasy. It isn’t grimdark fantasy. It isn’t even low fantasy. There are no huge battles or wars, magic systems to learn, or redeemable heroes to root for. To be honest, there is barely a smattering of blood or gore on the ground, no swords being swung at shields in sight, and is as far away from a coming of age tale as you can get (which is probably a relief for most of us that read fantasy religiously).
This book is simply satire.
Fantasy tropes. Race relations between orcs, goblins, elves, dwarves, wraiths, humans, and the like. Modern day technology brought over to Holt’s Middle-earthish world via multi-verse jumping, ring-shaped objects like donuts and Cheerios. Brits buying up investment properties like towers and cavernous mines that have been vacated by their previous owners of wizard and dwarfish descent. As you can tell, this has all the makings to be a hilarious romp through and on top of the fantasy genre as a whole and Holt does a fantastic job of keeping the laughs going throughout the entire novel.
The first half of the book is a series of separate threads that eventually weave together and culminate into a cohesive storyline, giving the reader time to chuckle at each character’s current predicament and the overall hilarity that the author has infused into the world. This was a very enjoyable read throughout and I can’t remember a point in time where I wasn’t fully invested.
Fans of Terry Pratchett and Christopher Moore will find tons to love here, but I believe anyone who likes a side of humor with their fantasy needs to give this one a shot.
Synopsis
An Orc on the Wild Side is the latest comic masterpiece from one of the funniest writers in fantasy.
Winter is coming, so why not get away from it all?
Being the Dark Lord and Prince of Evil is not as much fun as it sounds, particularly if you are a basically decent person. King Mordak is just such a person. Technically he’s more goblin than person, but the point is that he is really keen to be a lot less despicable than his predecessors.
Not that the other goblins appreciate Mordak’s attempts to redefine the role. Why should they when his new healthcare program seems designed to actually extend life expectancy, and his efforts to end a perfectly reasonable war with the dwarves appear to have become an obsession?
With confidence in his leadership crumbling, what Mordak desperately needs is a distraction. Perhaps some of these humans moving to the Realm in search of great homes at an affordable price will be able to help?
Review
Thanks to the publisher and author for a finished copy of An Orc on the Wild Side in exchange for an honest review. Receiving a copy of the novel did not influence my thoughts or opinions.
Holt’s An Orc on the Wild Side is Douglas Adams taking on Tolkien’s Middle-earth with today’s modern conveniences, inconveniences, and overall ridiculousness. Highly enjoyable and oft times sidesplitting, Holt’s newest release is exactly what a reader of the genre needs to break up the seriousness of modern day high and low fantasy, and everything in between.
If neither the title nor the synopsis got the point across, I’ll go ahead and lay it here plain as day: An Orc on the Wild Side is not epic fantasy. It isn’t grimdark fantasy. It isn’t even low fantasy. There are no huge battles or wars, magic systems to learn, or redeemable heroes to root for. To be honest, there is barely a smattering of blood or gore on the ground, no swords being swung at shields in sight, and is as far away from a coming of age tale as you can get (which is probably a relief for most of us that read fantasy religiously).
This book is simply satire.
Fantasy tropes. Race relations between orcs, goblins, elves, dwarves, wraiths, humans, and the like. Modern day technology brought over to Holt’s Middle-earthish world via multi-verse jumping, ring-shaped objects like donuts and Cheerios. Brits buying up investment properties like towers and cavernous mines that have been vacated by their previous owners of wizard and dwarfish descent. As you can tell, this has all the makings to be a hilarious romp through and on top of the fantasy genre as a whole and Holt does a fantastic job of keeping the laughs going throughout the entire novel.
The first half of the book is a series of separate threads that eventually weave together and culminate into a cohesive storyline, giving the reader time to chuckle at each character’s current predicament and the overall hilarity that the author has infused into the world. This was a very enjoyable read throughout and I can’t remember a point in time where I wasn’t fully invested.
Fans of Terry Pratchett and Christopher Moore will find tons to love here, but I believe anyone who likes a side of humor with their fantasy needs to give this one a shot.
December 20, 2022
Disappointing. Some of it I sort of liked but the problem was, I just didn't find it in any way funny. I think I'll just stick to his straight Fantasy novels in future.
February 11, 2020
Nope, nope, nope, nope .... nope.
Lord of the Rings was a masterpiece and because of that, I spent the time, effort and energy mentally pronouncing all the bloody stupid names and place-names.
This is awful and the bloody stupid names make it worse. Oh that and the fact nothing in the first quarter of the book even raised a smile.
Abandoned.
So it goes.
Lord of the Rings was a masterpiece and because of that, I spent the time, effort and energy mentally pronouncing all the bloody stupid names and place-names.
This is awful and the bloody stupid names make it worse. Oh that and the fact nothing in the first quarter of the book even raised a smile.
Abandoned.
So it goes.
February 26, 2020
Review to come!
October 1, 2019
An Orc on The Wild Side by Tom Holt is a satirical romp through fantasy land with tons of energy and an original voice. Mordak is a decent goblin doing a tough job in a traditionally evil land. He is the Dark Lord but it involves much more settling of petty disputes than actually taking over and ruling the land with an iron fist and on top of that he must interact with humans who have begun moving to the dark realm and bringing their strange technological wonders with them.
This book is light and fun. It's full of jokes for people who have been through and done a few things but at the same time it feels written for a younger audience. This may be why for me it was just good and not one that blew me away.
I would highly recommend this one to readers who enjoyed Orconomics by J. Zachery Pike, the winner of the highly competitive SPFBO. It has a very similar feel although it is a little more based in the D&D world.
This book is light and fun. It's full of jokes for people who have been through and done a few things but at the same time it feels written for a younger audience. This may be why for me it was just good and not one that blew me away.
I would highly recommend this one to readers who enjoyed Orconomics by J. Zachery Pike, the winner of the highly competitive SPFBO. It has a very similar feel although it is a little more based in the D&D world.
November 10, 2019
A hilarious romp through the caricature of an overly-familiar fantasy world, AOotWS is Tom Holt's satirical tongue jutting out of a Tolkienesque cheek.
Set in the YouSpace universe, the plot centers around a group of British housewives and advertising account executives expatriating to a (cost-effective) place called the Realms after gaining the ability to manipulate the multiverse. They suddenly find themselves neighbors with cynical dwarves, austere elves, and a liberally-minded goblin king who's trying to convince his people to sign on board with New Evil and the concept of free health care for the forces of Darkness.
It's about the closest thing we'll ever get to a traditional fantasy novel from Tom Holt. It's equal-opportunity mockery: nothing is safe, neither Game of Thrones nor Tolkien nor D&D. It's excellent stuff for die-hard fantasy fans who don't always need their genre taken seriously.
Set in the YouSpace universe, the plot centers around a group of British housewives and advertising account executives expatriating to a (cost-effective) place called the Realms after gaining the ability to manipulate the multiverse. They suddenly find themselves neighbors with cynical dwarves, austere elves, and a liberally-minded goblin king who's trying to convince his people to sign on board with New Evil and the concept of free health care for the forces of Darkness.
It's about the closest thing we'll ever get to a traditional fantasy novel from Tom Holt. It's equal-opportunity mockery: nothing is safe, neither Game of Thrones nor Tolkien nor D&D. It's excellent stuff for die-hard fantasy fans who don't always need their genre taken seriously.
December 16, 2019
Credit where credit is due. Holt/Parker is an amazing writer. I believe that has already been established. I found I was not the targeted audience for this -my first- Holt book. Parker is definitely more my jam.
July 24, 2019
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway (ahhh!!), and I'm pleased to report that this is every bit as funny as the other Tom Holt books I've read!
Set in the same fantasy world as the rest of the YouSpace series, An Orc on the Wild Side actually has very little to do with the blurb - while Mordak's struggles with his clan are part of the story, of course, they're fairly ancillary, window dressing which set the stage for the introduction of one character in particular. The main story is actually the culmination of the overarching plot of the series; it's a neat little bit of satire which nicely wraps the whole thing up and ties a bow on it.
But the ending is what I have the most issue with. Warning: This is all behind a spoiler because it is a serious spoiler. End-of-the-book spoiler. End of the entire series spoiler.
Now, maybe that was intended; and I enjoyed the rest of the book enough, found the characters endearing enough, and found the ending neat enough to not mind seriously enough to drag the rating down. Holt's writing is sharp and funny as ever, which makes this a smart book despite my problems with the last few pages.
So definitely read it, especially if you've already read the rest of the YouSpace series; it's good! But if you're new to the series, start with another one. You'll have more fun.
Set in the same fantasy world as the rest of the YouSpace series, An Orc on the Wild Side actually has very little to do with the blurb - while Mordak's struggles with his clan are part of the story, of course, they're fairly ancillary, window dressing which set the stage for the introduction of one character in particular. The main story is actually the culmination of the overarching plot of the series; it's a neat little bit of satire which nicely wraps the whole thing up and ties a bow on it.
But the ending is what I have the most issue with. Warning: This is all behind a spoiler because it is a serious spoiler. End-of-the-book spoiler. End of the entire series spoiler.
Now, maybe that was intended; and I enjoyed the rest of the book enough, found the characters endearing enough, and found the ending neat enough to not mind seriously enough to drag the rating down. Holt's writing is sharp and funny as ever, which makes this a smart book despite my problems with the last few pages.
So definitely read it, especially if you've already read the rest of the YouSpace series; it's good! But if you're new to the series, start with another one. You'll have more fun.
July 25, 2019
hold outdoes himself!
holt fans will relish it. those who haven’t read holt will be wonderfully and joyfully bewildered!
holt fans will relish it. those who haven’t read holt will be wonderfully and joyfully bewildered!
October 6, 2019
Ive only recently started reading novels by this author as I miss my Douglas Adams fix. Has elements where i consider him the heir apparent but then plateaus in the plot dont help. Very funny with a few laugh out loud spots. I found the start tough as it just felt like individual stories. However eventually the dots all connect. I guess the political landacape and issues in the UK were pivotal for this novel.
October 15, 2020
that was just... no.. NO.
This was a gift and I really didn't need another fantasy comedy in my life, and certainly not a parody sequel to LotR's with a real world crossover satire. Didn't need any of that... HOWEVER! I was still going to give this one 4 stars, just on a nuts and bolts level, based on the first third.
But as it went on it got less funny to the point it was genuinely unpleasant to read during the middle section. Then the author realised he was using too many pages and just crammed the story into whatever non-sensical shape he could to make it fit. The last third is interesting at times but mostly, so random, so quick, so messy and so utterly lacking in effort.
Look it isn't awful, but i'm genuinely confused as to whether it supposed to be a comedy, satire or something else entirely. In any case i found it to be unpleasant, messy and rushed.
This was a gift and I really didn't need another fantasy comedy in my life, and certainly not a parody sequel to LotR's with a real world crossover satire. Didn't need any of that... HOWEVER! I was still going to give this one 4 stars, just on a nuts and bolts level, based on the first third.
But as it went on it got less funny to the point it was genuinely unpleasant to read during the middle section. Then the author realised he was using too many pages and just crammed the story into whatever non-sensical shape he could to make it fit. The last third is interesting at times but mostly, so random, so quick, so messy and so utterly lacking in effort.
Look it isn't awful, but i'm genuinely confused as to whether it supposed to be a comedy, satire or something else entirely. In any case i found it to be unpleasant, messy and rushed.
June 25, 2023
2.5 stars
Urgh this is not the review I wanted to be making because I really really wanted to like this book and I did for the beginning of the book. But I think that highlights my biggest problem with it: I only liked it towards the beginning . Tom holt is clearly an author who is creates the most wonderfully imaginative concepts for books and are initially incredibly exciting to read but for me the exciting part of the book remain it’s initial concept. Because throughout that’s all that the plot felt like it was, a concept that was just being expanded into a novel and there’s was nothing that drew me to it beyond the initial “selling point” so to say. I think this book would have been better as a short story because the longer it went on for the more it felt drawn out and dull. I also thought that the resolution of the conflict at the end was just a little bit too quick and easy that it made the length of the book seem a little pointless.
But that said it was fun, clever idea that initially was enjoyable and I think could have been really good if it had been structured differently and had a faster pace.
It was just a book that didn’t have a lot happen and was more general vibes, which maybe didn’t match the plot concept of the book.
Urgh this is not the review I wanted to be making because I really really wanted to like this book and I did for the beginning of the book. But I think that highlights my biggest problem with it: I only liked it towards the beginning . Tom holt is clearly an author who is creates the most wonderfully imaginative concepts for books and are initially incredibly exciting to read but for me the exciting part of the book remain it’s initial concept. Because throughout that’s all that the plot felt like it was, a concept that was just being expanded into a novel and there’s was nothing that drew me to it beyond the initial “selling point” so to say. I think this book would have been better as a short story because the longer it went on for the more it felt drawn out and dull. I also thought that the resolution of the conflict at the end was just a little bit too quick and easy that it made the length of the book seem a little pointless.
But that said it was fun, clever idea that initially was enjoyable and I think could have been really good if it had been structured differently and had a faster pace.
It was just a book that didn’t have a lot happen and was more general vibes, which maybe didn’t match the plot concept of the book.
August 28, 2019
The separate threads move forward fairly separately and it isn’t until about half way through that they start to connect. Holt gives the characters time to stand on their own and for the readers to really get to know them. The plot is low key, no bashing about or large scale sieges… the focus is the two-way mirror between the fantasy realm and the humanity. The result is a series of hilarious and telling scenes that hit hard on our contemporary trials of life.
If you are a fan of comic fantasy, this is one you need to get on your radar.
For my full review: https://paulspicks.blog/2019/08/28/an...
For all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
If you are a fan of comic fantasy, this is one you need to get on your radar.
For my full review: https://paulspicks.blog/2019/08/28/an...
For all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
November 17, 2021
A very clever, well written book that felt like it had cohesive and varied characters.
However, I'm not sure I'm the target audience for this book. At times, it felt a bit flat whilst trying to make what I'm sure was a very clever joke or reference I maybe missed. I didn't really enjoy the Lord of the Rings books (love the movies) so I'm not sure if I missed out on some layers to the book because of that.
Overall, pretty middlin' for me.
However, I'm not sure I'm the target audience for this book. At times, it felt a bit flat whilst trying to make what I'm sure was a very clever joke or reference I maybe missed. I didn't really enjoy the Lord of the Rings books (love the movies) so I'm not sure if I missed out on some layers to the book because of that.
Overall, pretty middlin' for me.
October 18, 2019
Middle Earth faces its most dangerous crisis ever, an invasion of Commonwealth expats! A funny as hell riff on Lord of the Rings, including such tidbits as "the New Evil", brexit jokes and other follies. ROTFL. A fun read once sort of thing.
February 22, 2020
A must read for Tolkien fans.
As usual Tom has placed his quirky twist on things.
They are all here, goblins, dwarfs, elves, Balrog, Sauron, even hobbits get a mention. But the only Orc is in the title.
Oh, and Humans to screw things up.
Oh, as well, oblique reference to Brexit for added confustication.
As usual Tom has placed his quirky twist on things.
They are all here, goblins, dwarfs, elves, Balrog, Sauron, even hobbits get a mention. But the only Orc is in the title.
Oh, and Humans to screw things up.
Oh, as well, oblique reference to Brexit for added confustication.
March 13, 2020
Fun and good book, first half I had issues with no real story but caracter jumping. But that righten itself out and became a fun and okey story.
March 4, 2020
More tomfoolery
Sorcery or science? The Realm is in trouble as immigrants from another part of the multiverse bring strange ideas and devices. Hilarity ensues, asever. Great fun!
Sorcery or science? The Realm is in trouble as immigrants from another part of the multiverse bring strange ideas and devices. Hilarity ensues, asever. Great fun!
January 11, 2022
An Orc on the Wild Side this book is not. The Orc is the focus of about a 5th of this and the rest of the book is full of endless characters, jumping back and forth every few pages between perspectives. The worst part is there's no chapter differentiation, other than a gap in the text so you spend the first few paragraphs working out whose perspective you're reading from. The book has a bit of a Douglas Adams vibe where it brings in the ridiculous to the clever. I'm not against this but it seems like every character has such extreme intellect that it becomes a bit dull. I wish it had focused on one or two characters only and I wish it had more of an ending.
September 29, 2019
A strong Lord Of The Rings parody with a lot of relevant links to current events. Some nice Pratchett-esque humour when exploring what the Balrog does in its spare time, how the Dark Lord's kingdom would work if they introduced universal healthcare and a livable wage, etc. A really enjoyable romp and one I'd recommend in a flash.
October 6, 2019
Classic Tom Holt. Paragraphs I read aloud to my wife - I love to share fun writing. Clever mishmash of fantasy and real world. Silly at times, but I'm fine with that. This is the latest in the Doughnut series - if you haven't read the others, it won't make as much sense. If you HAVE read the others, I found this to be one of the best of that series.
December 1, 2021
Plot was a bit meandering. Had some funny moments, but few and far between. A lot of deus ex machina. A lot of the humor was very surface-level, as opposed to sophisticated satire. The gender based jokes were lifted out of the 1960s. ‘A goblin who wears nail polish? How hilarious!’
September 23, 2019
I've only just read the first few pages, but looks like it's set in middle earth and our earth. Looking forward to reading more of it. Characters buying "homes" in Middle Earth.
October 14, 2019
Well damn, I loved the first Book in this book. After that, I was done :( It just wasn't for me, but I wish it was.
December 29, 2019
Not the greatest Tom Holt especially since his last was one of his best. Came together in the end, but seemed broken throughout.
July 9, 2020
This is a story about how the English can ruin any place at all just by moving there, which is true. The main character is the Dark Lord Mordak (unfortunately a goblin rather than an orc proper, but see if that stops me). He is clever, wry, frightening, and doing his very best. I love him.
This book is hundreds of pages of taking the piss out of Tolkien, and it's all hilarious. Dwarves, snotty elves, humans (represented by a single lawyer named John), and an all-male society of goblins struggling with the idea of worker's rights. It also makes fun of lawyers, real estate agents, administrators of all kinds, and spiteful travel bloggers. I was laughing the whole time, but about halfway through, the plot really hits, and the book turns amazing. Absolutely would read again.
The only reason it doesn't have five stars is that Tom Holt doesn't qualify for the list of male authors I trust to write women characters. Nothing was so bad it ruined the book for me, but occasionally I would stall at lines like, "Females can multi-task; don't try to understand it," and look directly at the camera.
This book is hundreds of pages of taking the piss out of Tolkien, and it's all hilarious. Dwarves, snotty elves, humans (represented by a single lawyer named John), and an all-male society of goblins struggling with the idea of worker's rights. It also makes fun of lawyers, real estate agents, administrators of all kinds, and spiteful travel bloggers. I was laughing the whole time, but about halfway through, the plot really hits, and the book turns amazing. Absolutely would read again.
The only reason it doesn't have five stars is that Tom Holt doesn't qualify for the list of male authors I trust to write women characters. Nothing was so bad it ruined the book for me, but occasionally I would stall at lines like, "Females can multi-task; don't try to understand it," and look directly at the camera.
May 31, 2022
This is actually a fun book, combining without shame a LotR world with an invasion by annoying middle-class retired English expats. However, while funny in the particular, the story did not make it to five stars for me. The ending seemed overly contrived, some plot elements obviously placed only for comic effect, while others could be more developed.
Overall a pleasant, but not great, funny, but not hilarious book.
Overall a pleasant, but not great, funny, but not hilarious book.
March 22, 2023
An Orc on the Wild Side by Tom Holt - So, take Douglass Adams but have him write a Tolkien parody instead of Sci fi. It's a bit of a slog at first and has some ham fisted references but comes together decently well in the end.
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