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Her Father's Sword
This is a short story that takes place in the Six Duchies during the time of the Red Ship Wars.
It was published in The Book of Swords edited by Gardner Dozois.
It was published in The Book of Swords edited by Gardner Dozois.
36 pages, ebook
First published October 10, 2017
331 people want to read
About the author
Robin Hobb
320 books113k followers** I am shocked to find that some people think a 2 star 'I liked it' rating is a bad rating. What? I liked it. I LIKED it! That means I read the whole thing, to the last page, in spite of my life raining comets on me. It's a good book that survives the reading process with me. If a book is so-so, it ends up under the bed somewhere, or maybe under a stinky judo bag in the back of the van. So a 2 star from me means,yes, I liked the book, and I'd loan it to a friend and it went everywhere in my jacket pocket or purse until I finished it. A 3 star means that I've ignored friends to finish it and my sink is full of dirty dishes. A 4 star means I'm probably in trouble with my editor for missing a deadline because I was reading this book. But I want you to know . . . I don't finish books I don't like. There's too many good ones out there waiting to be found.
Robin Hobb is the author of three well-received fantasy trilogies: The Farseer Trilogy (Assassin’s Apprentice, Royal Assassin, and Assassin’s Quest), The Liveship Traders Trilogy (Ship of Magic, Mad Ship and Ship of Destiny) and the Tawny Man Trilogy (Fool’s Errand, Golden Fool, and Fool’s Fate) Her current work in progress is entitled Shaman’s Crossing. Robin Hobb lives and works in Tacoma, Washington, and has been a professional writer for over 30 years.
In addition to writing, her interests include gardening, mushrooming, and beachcombing. She and her husband Fred have three grown children and one teenager, and three grand-children.
She also writes as Megan Lindholm, and works under that name have been finalists for the Hugo award, the Nebula Award, and the Endeavor award. She has twice won an Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Readers’ Award.
Robin Hobb is the author of three well-received fantasy trilogies: The Farseer Trilogy (Assassin’s Apprentice, Royal Assassin, and Assassin’s Quest), The Liveship Traders Trilogy (Ship of Magic, Mad Ship and Ship of Destiny) and the Tawny Man Trilogy (Fool’s Errand, Golden Fool, and Fool’s Fate) Her current work in progress is entitled Shaman’s Crossing. Robin Hobb lives and works in Tacoma, Washington, and has been a professional writer for over 30 years.
In addition to writing, her interests include gardening, mushrooming, and beachcombing. She and her husband Fred have three grown children and one teenager, and three grand-children.
She also writes as Megan Lindholm, and works under that name have been finalists for the Hugo award, the Nebula Award, and the Endeavor award. She has twice won an Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Readers’ Award.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 20, 2023
It was so interesting to see Fitz from another character’s perspective. I actually adored this and my only complaint is that I wish it were much longer.
October 7, 2021
In italiano si trova nella raccolta di racconti "Il libro delle spade" edito Mondadori. Da leggere dopo l'assassino di Corte!
Un ritorno al tempo di Re Sagace, dove finalmente possiamo vedere con chiarezza l'impatto che la Forgiatura ha nei confronti di chi vi è sopravvissuto. La gioia, la speranza di chi è rimasto e vede tornare i propri cari, per poi rimanerne sconvolti, terrorizzati. Un racconto dal forte impatto emotivo, e la Hobb rimane una maestra del racconto. Non è eccezionale e non aggiunge niente alla trama principale, ma è stata una bella e rapida lettura.
Un ritorno al tempo di Re Sagace, dove finalmente possiamo vedere con chiarezza l'impatto che la Forgiatura ha nei confronti di chi vi è sopravvissuto. La gioia, la speranza di chi è rimasto e vede tornare i propri cari, per poi rimanerne sconvolti, terrorizzati. Un racconto dal forte impatto emotivo, e la Hobb rimane una maestra del racconto. Non è eccezionale e non aggiunge niente alla trama principale, ma è stata una bella e rapida lettura.
May 2, 2021
Hér fáum við gamlan vin í gestahlutverki. Ágæt saga.
August 9, 2024
2.5/5
Common folk deal with the forged ones. Short story.
Common folk deal with the forged ones. Short story.
January 29, 2023
Adds a bit more flavour to the Farseer trilogy- would recommend reading this book between books 1 & 2
March 1, 2022
"Her Father's Sword" (Realm of the Elderlings #1.3) by Robin Hobb.
Rating: 2.0/5.
Review:
This story is set in the early days of the attack of the Red Ship Raiders on the Six Duchies. Chronologically, the events of this book might occur sometime during the second book of the Farseer trilogy. It dwells on the reactions of the commonfolk due to the raids and their disbelief about the actual consequences of Forging. We also get a cameo of FitzChivalry Farseer, and it is interesting to see it from someone else's perspective for once.
Taura's attitude towards Jelin and his family and the initial reactions of the commonfolk towards Forging let us know Taura is going to do something stupid and get people killed. And yes, despite being an eyewitness to the brutality of the Forged ones, Taura just continues with her stupidity. The story doesn't even have a proper conclusion. Even when she witnesses her emotionless Forged father kill her family's guardian and act violently towards her mother, she simply decides to follow him because "he is a strong man". We can conclude she eventually gets killed by her forged father.
Rating: 2.0/5.
Review:
This story is set in the early days of the attack of the Red Ship Raiders on the Six Duchies. Chronologically, the events of this book might occur sometime during the second book of the Farseer trilogy. It dwells on the reactions of the commonfolk due to the raids and their disbelief about the actual consequences of Forging. We also get a cameo of FitzChivalry Farseer, and it is interesting to see it from someone else's perspective for once.
Taura's attitude towards Jelin and his family and the initial reactions of the commonfolk towards Forging let us know Taura is going to do something stupid and get people killed. And yes, despite being an eyewitness to the brutality of the Forged ones, Taura just continues with her stupidity. The story doesn't even have a proper conclusion. Even when she witnesses her emotionless Forged father kill her family's guardian and act violently towards her mother, she simply decides to follow him because "he is a strong man". We can conclude she eventually gets killed by her forged father.
January 17, 2026
This story was originally published in a story collection edited by George R.R. Martin at the height of Game of Thrones-mania, so it is probably one of the most widely read Robin Hobb short stories. It's not her best work, but it is fairly interesting.
I think it was a good decision to tell a story from the perspective of someone within one of the Forged towns, and to see how such tragedy would actually impact the people living there. As a little bonus, Fitz actually appears in this story! This is the only one of Hobb's short stories that actually features one of her main characters. This story is contemporary to Royal Assassin and I did enjoy seeing Fitz from an outsider POV.
It's a brief story, though, and I didn't really like or connect with any of the characters. The emotion would have been more impactful in a longer story with a lead character I liked more. It also ends quite abruptly, letting the reader decide what happens next. This is (for me) a bit of a cliche of short stories. I prefer a less ambiguous ending.
I think it was a good decision to tell a story from the perspective of someone within one of the Forged towns, and to see how such tragedy would actually impact the people living there. As a little bonus, Fitz actually appears in this story! This is the only one of Hobb's short stories that actually features one of her main characters. This story is contemporary to Royal Assassin and I did enjoy seeing Fitz from an outsider POV.
It's a brief story, though, and I didn't really like or connect with any of the characters. The emotion would have been more impactful in a longer story with a lead character I liked more. It also ends quite abruptly, letting the reader decide what happens next. This is (for me) a bit of a cliche of short stories. I prefer a less ambiguous ending.
January 21, 2022
Абсолютно ненужен разказ. Предполагам, че целта на съществуването му е просто Робин Хоб да има разказ в сборника с разкази, който Дж. Мартин е съставил. Този разказ макар за кратко на показва Фиц (главният герой от трилогията "Придворният убиец"), то с абсолютно нищо не обогатява света. Дори не става да се чете, ей така за да се убие времето, защото просто ще вви развали настроението. Главната героиня тук е най-плиткоумното и дразнещо същество. Видя какви неща правят Претопените, разбра че в селото й един Претопен е изнасилил сестра си и какво направи, завлече Претопения си баща в къщата на съседа, където се криеха майка й и брат й, Претопеният й баща уби съседа с голи ръце, със собствените си очи видя, че за него семейните връзки вече нищо не означават и какво направи накрая - тръгна си с него. Не зная тая иска ли да бъде изнасилена от баща си или какво!?
July 17, 2021
Alla Hobb meno di 4 stelle mi rifiuto di dare.
Premesso questo, è un bel racconto che non aggiunge né toglie nulla alla saga principale, ma è un approfondimento per chi ha già letto l'Assassino di Corte (mi raccomando, non leggetelo prima!).
Forse c'è un leggero problema di continuità, ma nulla di che, troviamo anche una piccola chicca che fa scendere la lacrimuccia.
Consigliato a chi vuole aggiungere un ulteriore tassello al mondo creato dalla Hobb!
Premesso questo, è un bel racconto che non aggiunge né toglie nulla alla saga principale, ma è un approfondimento per chi ha già letto l'Assassino di Corte (mi raccomando, non leggetelo prima!).
Forse c'è un leggero problema di continuità, ma nulla di che, troviamo anche una piccola chicca che fa scendere la lacrimuccia.
Consigliato a chi vuole aggiungere un ulteriore tassello al mondo creato dalla Hobb!
March 12, 2022
4.5/5
Loved this look into a village where some of their family members and residents come back as Forged.
Small cameo from Fitz attempting to warn them (to no avail). It's a snapshot of the disturbing zombies people turned into and the hesitation families had about killing their seemingly normal loved ones.
Loved this look into a village where some of their family members and residents come back as Forged.
Small cameo from Fitz attempting to warn them (to no avail). It's a snapshot of the disturbing zombies people turned into and the hesitation families had about killing their seemingly normal loved ones.
December 3, 2025
This is another short story by Robin Hobb. This one actually has an appearance from the main character from the main series so that's cool. Still not much here outside of what it's like dealing with living zombies with memories and no signs they are zombies. I like the cat short story a bit more.
February 4, 2021
Didn't care for the protagonist making obviously terrible decisions but it was nice to experience Fitz again :).
May 24, 2025
Seeing fitz from another POV was so cool. I also liked how we got to feel the emotions that villagers felt during the events of the farseer trilogy
October 14, 2025
A sad story of what happened to the villages that got Forged during the Red Ship Wars. The best part was the few minutes of Fitz, the rest was just quite depressing.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews