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Omar #1
The Reaver Road
Omar is the finest storyteller the world has ever known, captivating audiences everywhere, from the campfires of soldier camps to the plush residences of nobility. In times of turmoil, people can still appreciate a good tale that offers respite from their troubles. But as hordes of barbarian soldiers surround the unvanquished city of Zanadon after ravaging the surrounding countryside, few things are certain any longer. Omar has been guided to the city by prophetic dreams, yet finds himself in an increasingly dangerous situation as the people grow more desperate and the gift of a glib tongue turns into a curse.
236 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
About the author
Dave Duncan
141 books596 followersOriginally from Scotland, Dave Duncan lived all his adult life in Western Canada, having enjoyed a long career as a petroleum geologist before taking up writing. Since discovering that imaginary worlds were more satisfying than the real one, he published more than 60 novels, mostly in the fantasy genre, but also young adult, science fiction, and historical.
He wrote at times under the pseudonym Sarah B. Franklin (but only for literary purposes) and Ken Hood (which is short for "D'ye Ken Whodunit?")
His most successful works were fantasy series: The Seventh Sword, A Man of His Word and its sequel, A Handful of Men, and seven books about The King’s Blades. His books have been translated into 15 languages, and of late have been appearing in audiobook format as well.
He and Janet were married in 1959. He is survived by her, one son and two daughters, as well as four grandchildren.
He was both a founding and honorary lifetime member of SFCanada, and a member of the CSFFA Hall of Fame.
He wrote at times under the pseudonym Sarah B. Franklin (but only for literary purposes) and Ken Hood (which is short for "D'ye Ken Whodunit?")
His most successful works were fantasy series: The Seventh Sword, A Man of His Word and its sequel, A Handful of Men, and seven books about The King’s Blades. His books have been translated into 15 languages, and of late have been appearing in audiobook format as well.
He and Janet were married in 1959. He is survived by her, one son and two daughters, as well as four grandchildren.
He was both a founding and honorary lifetime member of SFCanada, and a member of the CSFFA Hall of Fame.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 10, 2026
"“Can you c-control your friend?”
“No, he can’t,” I snapped, “but I also give my word. Do you think a trader of tales would run away from this one?”"
"The gods had brought me to Zanadon to be a witness; they had never promised I would grow fat on the job. Nor had they ever promised that I would see Balor appear in glory. Thorian’s deadly logic was becoming more and more convincing, because my divine masters were backing him up—obviously I had been led to the chapel of the high priestess to overhear the conspiracy. I had been prevented from rescuing the lovely Shalial because she was a necessary part of the plan. Whatever she might be going to suffer from the odious Gramian Fotius, and however much I might deplore her suffering, that also was decreed. The tale I would carry from Zanadon was not the tale I had expected."
I am a devote of storytellers and storytelling. From Homer through Neil Gaiman. THIS BOOK BY DAVE DUNCAN IS AS GOOD AS THE BEST.
His character, Omar, seeks out stories and survives by retelling them. He has experience in many things but he denies that his work is religious or magical.
"“I am neither seer nor mage,” I insisted. “I have faith in the gods, is all.”
“Yet you spurn to pray, you said.”
“Pray? Prayer is whining or complaint or boasting. I do not bore the gods by telling them what they already know, nor do I presume to advise them. I accept whatever they care to send, pain or pleasure.” I continued scraping uninterrupted for a while, occasionally striking sparks like shooting stars in the darkness. Evidently the big man was considering my words carefully. I could guess at the skeptical expression on his rough-hewn face.
“You do not give thanks for their blessings?”
“If I am to thank the gods when my life is sweet, then to be consistent I should curse them when I am sick or hungry or injured or hankering for a woman. Or mourning a lost friend,” I added, thinking of dark-eyed Illina mostly.
“You never seek their aid in distress? I fear they may test your resolve some day.”
“They have done so, a time or two,” I said. “I endure without reproach. They know they made me mortal, and breakable. One day they will kill me. No man can refuse death. I accept life, also, as it comes.”
“Then you ignore the gods and deem them irrelevant?”
“Far from it! I seek always to amuse them.” I chuckled. “Friend Thorian—and I am proud to address you so—you gifted me with the tale of Susian of Thereby, and I am richer for it. If you wish, I shall repay my debt with a tale of my own, the tale of my origins.”
“I promise not to go away.”"
Omar is no stranger to irony and here, he and Thorian are chained together, so Thorian isn’t going anywhere.
This is first person adventure interspersed with many side tales (such as are referenced above).
There is both sly and bawdy humor offered along this journey…a journey that begins with Omar starving in the wastelands and shortly after being added to Thorian’s coffle gang. No surprise that they escape and then try to pass unnoticed in the dark. "We had no hats or shoes. Discreetly not mentioning such petty details, I swung round a corner and hastened along another narrow way. The air stank of camels, and the footing was unpleasantly soft in places."
What’s the product of Omar’s experience versus the product of his imagination? Will we ever know? "“When a man lies to me I kill him,” Thorian said softly.
“I suppose I shall learn that eventually."(Omar)
These two, Omar and Thorian, are doomed to adventure together. Is either man what he says he is? How do they get involved with the beautiful Shalial, and can they save her from the machinations of both priests and family?
"Tell me what we are doing here?” “I have to go into the temple and find the woman, I think.” He stared hard at me, as if trying to measure sanity by looks. “You stretch friendship hard already! The girl is very lovely and was snared tonight by dire deceit. I think my courage will stand with any man’s, but you must tell me what can we do to aid her that is worth the risk, for if the priests catch us, we shall certainly be no use to her or any other woman in future.”"
But is the lady willing?
"“You comprehend what I am risking for your sake.”
“You expect me to go with you now? You and your taciturn henchman?”
“You must, or you will be buried in this mausoleum for the rest of your life. This night is the turning point. Now you must decide.”
“Go where?” “To the arms of the man you truly love, and who truly loves you.”
She said, “Mmm?” thoughtfully. And then, “Indeed?” And finally, “I think I have one other question.”
“Ask.” “Why are you clad in one of the wall hangings from my father’s scriptorium?”
“You are deceived by a chance resemblance.”
“I wove that myself.”
“I wish you had mentioned the fact sooner,” I said sadly. “It might have altered things?”
“It might.”
“Your parentage, even?”
Shalial Tharpit impaled me with a glare that her father could not have bettered, cold as a midwinter midnight, dangerous as snakes.
I sighed. “Perhaps even that.”
“I think I feel that scream coming on again.”
“Then perhaps the time has come for me to leave.
How long have I got?”
“About five seconds.”
“I fear that may not be long enough.”
Fortunately, at that moment Thorian stepped around from behind the statue of Balor."
Immensely entertaining, so I had to try the Audible version as well and I give Derek Perkins top marks for his reading.
5*!
“No, he can’t,” I snapped, “but I also give my word. Do you think a trader of tales would run away from this one?”"
"The gods had brought me to Zanadon to be a witness; they had never promised I would grow fat on the job. Nor had they ever promised that I would see Balor appear in glory. Thorian’s deadly logic was becoming more and more convincing, because my divine masters were backing him up—obviously I had been led to the chapel of the high priestess to overhear the conspiracy. I had been prevented from rescuing the lovely Shalial because she was a necessary part of the plan. Whatever she might be going to suffer from the odious Gramian Fotius, and however much I might deplore her suffering, that also was decreed. The tale I would carry from Zanadon was not the tale I had expected."
I am a devote of storytellers and storytelling. From Homer through Neil Gaiman. THIS BOOK BY DAVE DUNCAN IS AS GOOD AS THE BEST.
His character, Omar, seeks out stories and survives by retelling them. He has experience in many things but he denies that his work is religious or magical.
"“I am neither seer nor mage,” I insisted. “I have faith in the gods, is all.”
“Yet you spurn to pray, you said.”
“Pray? Prayer is whining or complaint or boasting. I do not bore the gods by telling them what they already know, nor do I presume to advise them. I accept whatever they care to send, pain or pleasure.” I continued scraping uninterrupted for a while, occasionally striking sparks like shooting stars in the darkness. Evidently the big man was considering my words carefully. I could guess at the skeptical expression on his rough-hewn face.
“You do not give thanks for their blessings?”
“If I am to thank the gods when my life is sweet, then to be consistent I should curse them when I am sick or hungry or injured or hankering for a woman. Or mourning a lost friend,” I added, thinking of dark-eyed Illina mostly.
“You never seek their aid in distress? I fear they may test your resolve some day.”
“They have done so, a time or two,” I said. “I endure without reproach. They know they made me mortal, and breakable. One day they will kill me. No man can refuse death. I accept life, also, as it comes.”
“Then you ignore the gods and deem them irrelevant?”
“Far from it! I seek always to amuse them.” I chuckled. “Friend Thorian—and I am proud to address you so—you gifted me with the tale of Susian of Thereby, and I am richer for it. If you wish, I shall repay my debt with a tale of my own, the tale of my origins.”
“I promise not to go away.”"
Omar is no stranger to irony and here, he and Thorian are chained together, so Thorian isn’t going anywhere.
This is first person adventure interspersed with many side tales (such as are referenced above).
There is both sly and bawdy humor offered along this journey…a journey that begins with Omar starving in the wastelands and shortly after being added to Thorian’s coffle gang. No surprise that they escape and then try to pass unnoticed in the dark. "We had no hats or shoes. Discreetly not mentioning such petty details, I swung round a corner and hastened along another narrow way. The air stank of camels, and the footing was unpleasantly soft in places."
What’s the product of Omar’s experience versus the product of his imagination? Will we ever know? "“When a man lies to me I kill him,” Thorian said softly.
“I suppose I shall learn that eventually."(Omar)
These two, Omar and Thorian, are doomed to adventure together. Is either man what he says he is? How do they get involved with the beautiful Shalial, and can they save her from the machinations of both priests and family?
"Tell me what we are doing here?” “I have to go into the temple and find the woman, I think.” He stared hard at me, as if trying to measure sanity by looks. “You stretch friendship hard already! The girl is very lovely and was snared tonight by dire deceit. I think my courage will stand with any man’s, but you must tell me what can we do to aid her that is worth the risk, for if the priests catch us, we shall certainly be no use to her or any other woman in future.”"
But is the lady willing?
"“You comprehend what I am risking for your sake.”
“You expect me to go with you now? You and your taciturn henchman?”
“You must, or you will be buried in this mausoleum for the rest of your life. This night is the turning point. Now you must decide.”
“Go where?” “To the arms of the man you truly love, and who truly loves you.”
She said, “Mmm?” thoughtfully. And then, “Indeed?” And finally, “I think I have one other question.”
“Ask.” “Why are you clad in one of the wall hangings from my father’s scriptorium?”
“You are deceived by a chance resemblance.”
“I wove that myself.”
“I wish you had mentioned the fact sooner,” I said sadly. “It might have altered things?”
“It might.”
“Your parentage, even?”
Shalial Tharpit impaled me with a glare that her father could not have bettered, cold as a midwinter midnight, dangerous as snakes.
I sighed. “Perhaps even that.”
“I think I feel that scream coming on again.”
“Then perhaps the time has come for me to leave.
How long have I got?”
“About five seconds.”
“I fear that may not be long enough.”
Fortunately, at that moment Thorian stepped around from behind the statue of Balor."
Immensely entertaining, so I had to try the Audible version as well and I give Derek Perkins top marks for his reading.
5*!
November 30, 2008
I loved this fantasy set in what seems to be Duncan's version of ancient Sumeria or Babylon. A really intriguing main character - is he a god or isn't he? - lots of action, lots of great storytelling.
January 3, 2025
One of my favourite books. I love the story telling style, so reminiscent of the oral tradition. Funny and dramatic, Dave Duncan is a very underrated author, particularly in the UK.
May 9, 2017
This book was so much fun. The plot is nothing special, and the writing is sometimes over the top, but the book delivers through unbelievable creativity on constant display. The book follows a storyteller as he witnesses an attempt of a city to summon a deity to save them from a ravaging army. In the process, he tells stories... lots of stories. Some that go on for chapters, others that last only two or three sentences. And they are so clever. Many of them could themselves be the premise of a book. But the author dances from story to story, tantalizing us with creative and fun ideas, and in the process keeping the reader thoroughly entertained. I really enjoyed this one.
December 28, 2019
I had to get used to the style before I really started liking it, his grandiose style of speaking and using big words. Plus the fact that the first-person narrator is a tale teller means that he's a probable "unreliable narrator", which I love. By the end I really got it and loved where it went.
A good read, but compared to some Duncan gems it falls a little shy. But he can't produce gems every time, can he!
A good read, but compared to some Duncan gems it falls a little shy. But he can't produce gems every time, can he!
July 10, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyable.
An unusual format for Dave Duncan but one that created a wonderfully unreliable narrator. I did however find myself skipping some of the intrinsic detail in the fantasy world so I wouldn't put it right up there with his very best.
An unusual format for Dave Duncan but one that created a wonderfully unreliable narrator. I did however find myself skipping some of the intrinsic detail in the fantasy world so I wouldn't put it right up there with his very best.
November 5, 2012
Narratively speaking, this one is quite unusual for a Duncan - and his choice of performer, if he must write first person, from the outset seemed to leave a lot to be desired. Yet I warmed to Omar through the course of the story and always, even if I didn't quite click with him, enjoyed his wit and verbal dexterity.
A Duncan hallmark makes a book well worth the read of course; in this case it was a great divine convergence and a masterful climax to the story, with ample room for a sequel hinted at the end. Loved it, not overawed, but the next one will be on the to read shortly list for sure.
A Duncan hallmark makes a book well worth the read of course; in this case it was a great divine convergence and a masterful climax to the story, with ample room for a sequel hinted at the end. Loved it, not overawed, but the next one will be on the to read shortly list for sure.
July 27, 2015
Standard Dave Duncan in that this is a fun, very readable fantasy with agreeable, intelligent characters. The Reaver Road is one of two books featuring Omar the Storyteller (also see The Hunter's Haunt). In this case, the story is about Omar and his chance companion Thorian being caught up in an intrigue of war, gods, treachery, and lust. The players act (sort of) as real people might, and are characteristically upbeat and optimistic. All in all, a lighthearted bit of fun in much the same enjoyable vein as most other Duncan books.
August 5, 2015
Summary: A nice fantasy, well written, good plot interesting world, great story telling. This book is a little bit different to the normal faire, and I really enjoyed it.
Plotline: Well thought out plot, although actually quite simple, the devil is in the detail and how the fundamental plot components are achieved. God like.
Premise: It worked well. Normally in fantasy books there are varying degrees of magic, in this only Gods or ....
Writing: Well written, great style, simple, descriptive
Ending: Great stuff, unexpected.
Pace: Never a dull moment!
Plotline: Well thought out plot, although actually quite simple, the devil is in the detail and how the fundamental plot components are achieved. God like.
Premise: It worked well. Normally in fantasy books there are varying degrees of magic, in this only Gods or ....
Writing: Well written, great style, simple, descriptive
Ending: Great stuff, unexpected.
Pace: Never a dull moment!
November 12, 2007
Omar, a trader of tales, is always in the thick of things. He has been everyone, been everywhere and is much more and much less than he seems. Translated into modern vernacular, he wanders through the story of an invincible city.
December 20, 2012
I think the reason this book is a three and not a four or five is because Omar babbles a bit too much. I don't usuallly mind that but this book isn't long to begin with and with him babbling...
Not a bad read though.
Not a bad read though.
October 21, 2008
I didn't finish it.
Read
May 29, 2009The Reaver Road by Dave Duncan (2004)
July 17, 2021
Just as awesome in Audible form.
May 31, 2011
Quirky tale. Rather too disjointed to be entirely engrossing, but quite original. Great prose and banter.
October 6, 2012
This was such a fun and funny series: I wish it had been longer than three books.
October 30, 2013
Surprisingly entertaining (literally lol-worthy at points), although definitely pulp literature. Great plane reading.
May 30, 2021
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
February 21, 2014
typical good fantasy fair from Duncan, unfortunately Omar interrupts and babels for far too long. Take Omar the storyteller of the story and you'll have a killer novella.
Read
March 1, 2016to-read
June 16, 2016
fantastic. The only book I have seen that is even remotely similar to the philosopher Strangler. I like this one even more than that one
Read
April 30, 2019Dave Duncan's novels have always been like comfort food for me; if I don't have the time to do the research to find a good book or if I can't face the effort, I could turn to this author for something satisfying, if not brilliant. This book dabbles with something I know a lot of people like but that I find tricky to deal with ... an unreliable narrator. What do you do when the narration contradicts itself ... is it sloppy writing or is it the narrator being inconsistent or unreliable? The doubt this stirs in me pulls me out of the narrative because I'm thinking of something other than the story. I dislike it.
Of more serious concern to me, the author has chosen to have the narrator use modern expressions. For me this ruptures the suspension of disbelief necessary to make a fantasy novel work ... good world-building shouldn't pull me back into this world. For example ... an extract from the next book in the series states: "It was neither her physical charms nor her rabbit Wellington that endeared her to me, truly!" The use of the word "Welllington" ripped me out of the world Duncan was building for these novels (not to mention that the sexist view of a woman's charms being linked to her cooking also disappointed me).
I found the story was too incredible.
Apart from these caveats above, I burned through the novel and more-or-less enjoyed it.
Of more serious concern to me, the author has chosen to have the narrator use modern expressions. For me this ruptures the suspension of disbelief necessary to make a fantasy novel work ... good world-building shouldn't pull me back into this world. For example ... an extract from the next book in the series states: "It was neither her physical charms nor her rabbit Wellington that endeared her to me, truly!" The use of the word "Welllington" ripped me out of the world Duncan was building for these novels (not to mention that the sexist view of a woman's charms being linked to her cooking also disappointed me).
I found the story was too incredible.
Apart from these caveats above, I burned through the novel and more-or-less enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews