Fool’s Errand Book 1 cover art

Fool’s Errand Book 1

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About this listen

Return to the world of the Farseers…

Robin Hobb’s best loved characters, Fitz , The Fool and Nighteyes the wolf, face new adventures and trials in the first book of The Tawny Man trilogy.

When Assassin’s Quest closed, Fitz was living in self-imposed exile. Wracked with pain, he had chosen to discard the magical gifts that had seen him survive the wonders and torments of navigating the legendary city of the Elderlings, and of raising a dragon.

Now, in this the first of a new trilogy, we are returned to the world of the Six Duchies and the lives of those who managed to survive the events of the first Assassin trilogy.

Fifteen years have passed and events are about to sweep Fitz out of his quiet backwater life and into the main political current again. Persecution of the Witted has become rampant throughout the Six Duchies despite Queen Kettricken’s effort to damp it. The Witted themselves have begun to strike back. So when 15 year old Prince Dutiful disappears, is it only because he is nervous about his betrothal ceremony to an Outislander princess, or has he been taken hostage by the Witted? Worse, is he perhaps another ‘Piebald Prince’, a Farseer tainted by Wit magic? As the desperate situation worsens, Kettricken has no choice but to summon Fitz to Buckkeep, for who better to track the young prince down than another gifted with the Wit, together with his bonded companion, the wolf Nighteyes?

 Action & Adventure Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Historical Military Royalty Paranormal Magic

Critic reviews

'Hobb is one of the great modern fantasy writers… what makes her novels as addictive as morphine is not just their imaginative brilliance but the way her characters are compromised and manipulated by politics.'
The Times

Assassin's Apprentice:
'A gleaming debut'
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Assassin's Quest:
'Assassin's Quest achieves a bittersweet, powerful complexity rare in fantasy' LOCUS

'Robin Hobb writes achingly well'
SFX

Praise for The Liveship Traders series:
'Even better than the Assassin books. I didn't think that was possible'
George R R Martin

'Hobb is a remarkable storyteller.'
Guardian
All stars
Most relevant
the abruptness of a new chapter kept making me jump....leave a little time between, me thinks.

new chapters

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I adore this book and was very excited to listen to it told. The story is as excellent, as I recalled from reading the story myself, but this is slightly affected by very poor editing that includes repitition and errors. Still enjoyable to listen to, as it is read well (bar mispronuncitation of Kettricken's name) but frustrating that the presentation is so poor.

Excellent story poorly edited

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I have read all books by Robin H, and decided to listen. I loved the first 3 and enjoyed the telling. I was nearly put off by the critic, but I gave it ago. I can say apart from the chapters gap being to short, I soon forget the original teller and was once again enjoying the Fitz.

ignore criticism and listen

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I’m in love with Robin Hobb’s writing - after then end of The Farseer Trilogy it was necessary to skip over the Liveship books straight to the Tawny Man Trilogy!

I couldn’t stop listening - I’d recommend these books to any fantasy lover; just make sure to start from the beginning.

I find that Hobb’s books are relatable in many ways to life and feel connected with Fitz (Tom). This is not your generic fantasy series, this is a crafted world, full of beautiful places, thoughts, stories and people (not characters).

Incredible. Amazing. Beautiful.

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What made the experience of listening to Fool's Errand the most enjoyable?

The Story, being a continuation of characters that I love is what makes this book. Seeing how the characters have progress over the 15 year time span since the last book is of great interest to me.

What did you like best about this story?

Seeing how the characters have progress over the 15 year time span since the last book is of great interest to me. The progression of past events culminating in a number of new event in which the main characters get swept into kept me hooked.

What about Nick Taylor’s performance did you like?

Whilst Nick did not narrate the characters originally, in the previous trilogy he never the less brought them to life is a believable way. Although he does pronounce certain character names differently that the narrator in the previous trilogy. A small thing to get used to.

Unfortunately Nicks editor kind of let him down a little. There were several moments in the narration of this book where Nick had obviously received direction from his producer or had tried different pronunciations of the same sentence or paragraph which the editor did not catch. Leaving Nick sounding as if he repeat himself with different inflections. This also happens in Book 2 of this trilogy which Nick narrates.

At one stage Nick stopped talking altogether moved some papers around and tried the whole paragraph again. I do not blame Nick for this as its a necessary thing, but I feel he was let down by the editor.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No!! Its far too long to listen to or read in one sitting.

Great Store, Good Performance, Shoddy Editting

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