Arrowhead

The Afterblight Chronicles #5

by Paul Kane

The world has been devastated by an epidemic. Although there are pockets of an attempted continuation of civilisation, the truth is that the world has gone to hell in a handcart. The reason for this is a disease that has wiped out most of the world's population. It kills almost all those who are not of the blood group 'O neg'. Those people who survive are untouched. Everyone else dies. Infrastructures have collapsed. Mobs run rampant. The only kind of law that exists is that imposed by the people with the biggest guns. In this devastated and chaotic world who can bring hope and order? Post-Apocalyptic Robin Hood. As crazed gangs and dangerous cults take charge of the UK, one man takes a stand - a man who is shrouded in the mystery of a very well-known myth.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2008

About the author

Paul Kane has been writing professionally for almost fifteen years. His genre journalism has appeared in such magazines as Fangoria, SFX and Rue Morgue, and his non-fiction books are the critically acclaimed The Hellraiser Films and Their Legacy and Voices in the Dark. His award-winning short fiction has appeared in magazines and anthologies on both sides of the Atlantic (as well as being broadcast on BBC Radio 2), and has been collected in Alone (In the Dark), Touching the Flame, FunnyBones, Peripheral Visions, Shadow Writer, The Butterfly Man and Other Stories, The Spaces Between and GHOSTS. His novella Signs of Life reached the shortlist of the British Fantasy Awards 2006, The Lazarus Condition was introduced by Mick Garris - creator of Masters of Horror - RED featured artwork from Dave (The Graveyard Book) McKean and Pain Cages was introduced by Stephen Volk (The Awakening).

As Special Publications Editor of the British Fantasy Society he worked with authors like Brian Aldiss, Ramsey Campbell, Muriel Gray and Robert Silverberg, he is the co-editor of Hellbound Hearts for Pocket Books (Simon and Schuster), an anthology of original stories inspired by Clive Barker's mythos - featuring contributions from the likes of Christopher Golden and Mike Mignola, Kelley Armstrong and Richard Christian Matheson - The Mammoth Book of Body Horror (Constable & Robinson) - featuring Stephen King, James Herbert and Robert Bloch - and the Poe-inspired Beyond Rue Morgue (for Titan).

In 2008 his zombie story 'Dead Time' was turned into an episode of the Lionsgate/NBC TV series Fear Itself, adapted by Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) and directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (SAW II-IV). He also scripted The Opportunity which premiered at Cannes in 2009, The Weeping Woman - starring Fright Night's Stephen Jeffreys - and Wind Chimes (directed by Brad '7th Dimension' Watson. He is the author of the novels Of Darkness and Light, The Gemini Factor and the bestselling Arrowhead trilogy (Arrowhead, Broken Arrow and Arrowland), a post-apocalyptic reworking of the Robin Hood mythology gathered together as the sell-out Hooded Man omnibus. His latest novels are Lunar (which is set to be turned into a feature film) and the short Y.A. book The Rainbow Man (as P.B. Kane). He currently lives in Derbyshire, UK, with his wife - the author Marie O'Regan - his family, and a black cat called Mina. You can find out more at his website www.shadow-writer.co.uk which has featured Guest Writers such as Neil Gaiman, Charlaine Harris, Dean Koontz, John Connolly and Guillermo del Toro.

Reviews

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

NB: These re-edited thoughts from 2012 apply not only to Arrowhead (Abaddon Books, 2008) but also Broken Arrow (2009) and Arrowland (2010).

This post-apocalyptic trilogy for/from ‘The Afterblight Chronicles’ franchise sounds a little cheesy - RH taking out tanks and helicopters with his trusty bow - but it is a damn good read.

I have to admit I wanted to dislike these books because Robin is an ex-copper and that just seems so wrong. Kane had me empathising and then cheering on this new Hood (and the Merries – a pro wrestler Jack, a preacher, a ginger-headed troublemaker Will, a ‘maid’ Mary and a muso Alan) in short order. The trilogy doesn't have much in the way of wealth redistribution but they do capture the slogan of “When injustice becomes law, Resistance becomes duty” perfectly.

Seriously, for me, these novels reproduce the spirit of RH and would definitely make it into my Top Ten versions of RH.

[Neil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Post-apocalyptic take on the legend of Robin Hood

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A recent convert to the Afterblight Chronicles, this is a top notch tale, set in and around Nottingham with unashamed Robin Hood parallels. Albeit with an initially reluctant 21st century Robin Hood type figure. Good guys and bad guys clashing with varying weaponry. No prizes for guessing who wins.

Ray Smillie

[Fantasticalbibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful post apocalyptic retelling of Robin Hood. A good mix of the original tale and pure originality. Can't wait to read the next in the microseries.

[Mr Greig Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robin Hood in the culled universe. To be honest, it's not been my favourite from the afterblight chronicles. I'm hoping the sequel is better.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was much better than I was expecting actually. I have never read one of the Afterblight books and wasn't quite sure what to expect and I didn't really have that high hopes for it. What actually appealed to me on the blurb was the archer element of it.

I was concerned that because I had not read the book explaining The Cull which is the background to the post apocalyptic world this is set in. However, I did actually got enough from the book in that it was a disease that has wiped out most of the world's population. It kills almost all those who are not of the blood group 'O neg'. Those people who survive are untouched. Everyone else dies. Infrastructures have collapsed. Mobs run rampant. People are left to start over again and learn to survive.

Overall I actually really enjoyed this, it was a modern take on the Robin Hood legend and it was really well done. I liked Robert Stokes (the Robin Hood of the story) and he was given good characterisation and background. Our new Sheriff of Nottingham (De Falaise) was also written well.
I got behind the characters and into the story and it was a fun book.

I have since realised after finishing it that there a couple of others in the Afterblight Series about Robert Stokes and will be happy to read them if I pick them up and continue the story.

4 stars. much more enjoyable than expected.

[Lennyriver · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually prefer my apocalyptic fiction to be a bit more believable (if that is a possible thing) but this was an easy to read, fun take on the Robin Hood myth.

[Daniel Beazley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was talked into buying this book by David Moore at Fantasy Con and I'm glad I listened. Kane writes an excellent post-apocalyptic version of the legendary Robin Hood and I think he's made a cracking job of it. Taking an old legend and writing it afresh into a new era is not as easy as it sounds and Kane has created an intriguing plot with plenty of action and with enough of the legend kept intact to keep Hood fans happy.
There's mention of too many cliches etc but I say what would a Robin Hood take be without cliche and the answer is disappointing. Of course it takes an element of surprise away from the reader but I wasn't reading it to be surprised at every turn, I know roughly what's going to happen - its Robin Hood. I know there's going to be a Little John, a Friar Tuck and a Sheriff - it's Robin Hood, that's why I'm reading it! Enjoy it for what it is, a great post-apocalyptic take on an old legend that refuses to die, mixed with some excellent writing and a plot guaranteed to satisfy.
Oh and if you thought a mighty tank could bring Hood to his knees then think again!

[Grw · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fifth (although listed at sixth) book in a series that is only related by the fact they are all set in a world where everyone who doesn't have the 'O' blood group has died and so far my second favorite after "School's Out".

Now the premise of this one is out there on it's sleeve. It's basically a retelling of the Robin Hood legend, with all the elements that go with that, but with some nice twists. What's more it doesn't try to hide what it is, or try to be overly clever, even if there is some avoidance of mention the actual name "Robin Hood", no doubt as a sort of in joke by the author.

Plot wise, it's pretty good, although a couple of points are stretched to fit the legend, nothing is as far fetched as some of the other books in the series.

The Characters are good, nicely drawn without it being overly obvious who they are in 'legend' terms, and updated in good ways.

All in all a good fun read, very nicely done.

[David Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed reading this book. A digital library loan. A retelling of the Robin Hood legend set in the future after an End Of The World As We Know It event killed off most the earth's population. Arrowhead features a great cast of characters from the legend of Robin Hood: a "Robin Hood" (Robert), Sherwood Forest, a "Friar Tuck (priest), a "Maid Merrian" (Mary), a "Little John" (Jack) and the evil "Sheriff of Nottingham" (De Falaise) to boot. Since I am an old Robin Hood fan (Errol Flyn & Men In Tights) I could not pass this one up. I am glad I did not. The first of 3 books in this series, and I can get the 2nd book via a digital library as well. Certainly a 4-star book, but I will give it 5-stars because the author did such a darn good job of bringing the legend to life. I loved it!

[Michael Knoll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a sucker for anything Robin Hood related or inspired I was really eager to read this book. I purchased the omnibus edition and have just completed this first book.

Over all the story was good. The parallels were a little heavy handed at times, but generally the story was tight. My main problem was with the writing. It read very amateurishly, several sentences with superfluous words that bogged down the reading and the dialogue did not read believably at times.

With that being said, I was eager to finish the story and plan on continuing to the next one.

A definite read from me, since my qualms are more taste than anything.

[Jeff · Rating 1 out of 5]

Of all the books in the Afterblight Chronicles, this trilogy seemed like it would be the most fun. A post apocalyptic Robin Hood? Sign me up! Unfortunately, the writing is so bad and cliche-ridden I had to give it up halfway through. Very disappointed.

[Sean C · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK, there series is slipping now. This one was a little on the weak side.

[Brad Theado · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book

[Relstuart · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this. But for some reason I just never clicked with it. It has all the ingredients for an interesting story. I guess I never clicked with the main character.

[Rachel Brune · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love re-interpretations of the Robin Hood, and I also love post-apocalyptic fiction, so I pretty much loved this book. Definite recommend.

[Stephen]

This is a post apocalypse retelling of Robin Hood. It's very good at keeping true to the original story lines while re-imagining the story. Truly an epic reworking worthy of reading.

[Keith B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good premise and yet another take on the Robin Hood legend.