1 The Idol

Grim the berserker, a sandy fellow named Hakim and five long ships full of barbarian pirates are under the command of Captain Aerin “Black” Vane. Like Robert E. Howard so long ago, the author is not shy about giving a way the object of a chapter at the outset. Yet, even as we know the story winds out towards an Idol, the quickly broken action compels a minor interest in each the next passages. Vane is something of a composite of Cormac MacArt, and the historic pirates Charles Vane and Black Bart. Just as Cormac had the best sidekick in fiction, Wulfere the Skull Splitter and an entire Viking crew, Vane’s dark ambitions are served by the Sea Wolves, pirates of no nation and various races who make no excuses for their fleecing of civilization’s human sheep.

I have saved these first three serials until the fourth arrived for a nice read, and find myself pleased enough to take off the day of writing and recall my youth reading.

2 A Chance Meeting

It is clear in chapter 2 that Anderson is building, or has built, a fantasy world, where Vikings and broadsides coexist. One pirate mentions delicate city girls and Hakim bursts out, that civilized men refer boys, to rough laughter. The fact that the sailors on the Galleon taken in the first chapter were taken to be sold as slaves or cast adrift as their ship burned is an indictment of civil society and how it ruins men. A civilized rival, the Viscount General of the Armada of Vernilon, is introduced as a proper foil for the Sea Wolves. A beautiful seductress, a realistic “wizard” and the rapacious character of Vane are brought out in their various contrasts in this ramble through a renaissance city. The long chapter, dialing in at over 4,000 words, ends with a sharp hint of malice.

Chapters 3 and 4 are in the reviewer’s possession as manuscripts. The length of the chapters promises a novel, at least, perhaps a series of short novels. The author is in the maritime military and has spent much time in some of America’s port Cities, such as Portland, where we met. He manages to infuse that whiff of quayside moral decay into his yarn.

3 Knives in the Dark

2,923 words

Two of my favorite passage in Reavers of the Coast come from this chapter:

“The men in the boats looked like ghouls sent from hell. Gaunt grim faces starkly shadowed in the dark, piercing eyes scanning like ravenous beasts. Knives glinted from between their teeth; their hands wrapped around cruel weapons.

“The first boat thudded softly into the muddy bottom and without a word its crew slid out, knee-deep in the black water, and stalked slowly forward. Each boat joined them in turn until they had all unloaded their fiendish occupants.”

The feeling of endless class warfare, of working class pirates rising and slaughtering their leisure class civil pilots rips through Knives in the Dark. I am sick to my guts of noble slaves fighting back the tide of barbaric rage, and so enjoy reading about justice from the muck rising to strike down the occupants of mansion and tower.

The action moves smoothly, its rapidity enhanced by wel chosen perspective changes. The length of the chapter is perfect for such an action packed march of ruthless scenes. No author I have read has written about housebreaking with such cool clarity. A bitter soul, trod on by this world can read Knives in the Dark, and momentarily feel as though the boot heel of The State did not press upon his pale neck.

4 Obstacles

6,674 words

The length of this chapter of Reavers of the Coast gives the author room to depict the flight and pursuit of pirates from both perspectives, a double hunt that takes plenty of small asides to illuminate the self worship of the cults of science and civic propriety. The “wizard” or

“scientist” Collerites is a likable character, as over calibrated as the government goons he serves are blunt objects of The Mercantile State.

“A new dread swelled in Colerites’ breast and he gripped the rail realizing the devastating weight of his situation…the court…the Armada…the Viscount-Governor!”

I suspect James is too young to recall. But his scientist character much reminds me of the Doctor in Lost in Space who was such fun as a boy and taught the lesson of bravery through his opposite behavior.

And Black Vane is a nice counterpoint to this brilliant, dithering ninny, “Why Colley, you’re white as a ghost!” Vane smiled, “How rude of me! You must be starving! See that he is fed at once! Would you join me for a glass of wine on the mizzen deck? The weather is fine.”

A third into this the roaringest jaunt, the reader, discovers an effigy of himself, as a terrible little pirate named, “LaFond!”

Young James, I have just received what should be regarded in the Court of Knucklehead Pulp Writers, as Arrian might say, “Honors regarded as the most esteemed.”

Thank you.

Historical piracy has been so overworked and the lesser known reaving activity of the corsairs and northern Europeans and ancients so overlooked, I think James has worked out a truly genius world building strategy, a fantasy world with elements of traditional Nordic piracy, ancient Odyssian adventure, and the heavy heel of early modern mercantile states such as Britain, Holland and Venice.

I shall now enjoy reading the balance of Obstacles like a boy wishing in his heart for a world to burn.

PS: The second half of Obstacles is some of the most brutal, action-packed fiction I have read.

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