The Keys of Power Trilogy by Simon Brown
by Edwina Harvey
When is a hero not a hero? Judging from the write-up on the back cover,
and the opening
chapters of Inheritance, the first book of the Keys of Power
trilogy by Simon Brown, the reader draws the assumption that the trilogy
will centre on Prince Lynan, fourth born child of Queen Usharna, fathered
by a famous general of the Queen's army; her third and final consort
in a partnership forged on love rather than politics.
Lynan feels distanced from his mother the Queen, and is at an age
-- between boyhood and manhood -- where he needs to find out more about
his father in order to discover himself.
Within his mother's court, he is constantly reminded that his father
was not noble-born, and being the fourth in line to inherit the throne
he lacks power and popularity. Lynan has the odds stacked against him
from the start. Obviously the underdog, he draws the reader's sympathy.
My curiosity was piqued; how was Brown going to manipulate this story-line
to achieve his obvious intention of making Lynan king considering he
is preceeded by the current regent, her first born son, Prince Berayma,
his sister, Areava, and the second youngest son, Olio? The obvious answer,
once the Queen dies, is to kill off the older siblings as quickly as
possible, but that would make for a very short trilogy.
It transpires that after the death of Queen Usharna, Lynan becomes
a scapegoat, blamed for a death in the palace. But before the powers
behind the throne can bring their plot to fruition, Lynan flees the
castle with three friends; his tutor/father-figure, Kumul, one of Lynan's
few links with his father, and two acquaintances he has recently come
by: the battle-scarred ex-soldier, Ager, (who fought beside Kumul during
the Slaver War), and Jenrosa, a student magiker, who as a result of
being in the wrong place at the wrong time is forced to flee with Lynan
and the rest of his company.
I was sure I was reading a formula fantasy novel. In Lynan we had
a young "hero in making", while Kumul and Agar were two teacher/guide
figures, and obviously Jenrosa, was there as Lynan's love interest,
bound to be Lynan's consort as he ascended the throne by the end of
the trilogy.
Unfortunately for me as the reader, the author had other ideas
of how his story should pan out, including entwining a vampire in Lynan's
fate. Not your usual high-fantasy addition. I also failed to realise
that inheritances can come from both parents. Lynan could become a King,
though not necessarily of his mother's kingdom.
He
encounters the Chetts, a nomadic race who remember his father with respect.
It also helps pave Lynan's way that his arrival among the Chetts is
perceived as fulfilling one of their legends.
On one level it is as expected: the story of Lynan's journey from
boyhood to manhood, as he accepts the mantle of leadership, though there
are many unexpected twists and turns along the way.
And yet, even though Lynan has accomplished what he set out to do
by the end of the trilogy, instead of triumphant hero, it appears his
spirit is defeated. Brown argues that what ultimately makes Lynan a
hero is his ability "to square up to what life throws at him, and no
matter the personal cost -- no matter the damage to his psyche, his
heart and his body -- he sees it through to the end."
It's an honourable sentiment, but I was left wanting more for Lynan
after all he'd been through.
Having identified Lynan as "the hero" of the trilogy, then those who
opposed him -- his older siblings -- must be "the enemy", not usually
meant to draw the reader's sympathy.
But if that was the case, why was I having so much trouble hating
them as I felt I should?
Lynan's antithesis seems to be his sister Areava, who always despised
Lynan. Her dislike for him intensifies after he flees the castle, but
never seems to develop beyond sibling rage as I thought would be the
case. There was potential for a real battle of wills, and violent conflict
between these two, especially when both achieve power, but that never
came about. Neither was there reconciliation between them that I was
hoping for.
It would have been easy and predictable to write Areava as a vengeful
bitch, but she is sympathetically portrayed not only as a determined,
capable monarch, but as a young woman falling in love. Through her we
see that a Queen's love for her people takes precedent to a Queen's
love for her family, as she realises when she sends her husband off
to war. In Brown's words, "She is genuinely committed to devoting her
life to her people." And by the end of the trilogy, that is exactly
what she does. Brown describes her as his personal hero in the trilogy,
the role I presumed was Lynan's.
Areava is supported in her role as monarch by her younger brother
Olio, a prince with humanitarian leanings and obvious flaws, foremost
being a noticeable stammer. When the pressure of his calling becomes
unbearable, he succumbs first to alcohol, then to madness. Of all four
holders of the Keys of Power, Olio is the most affected by the mystical
capabilities the Keys seem to impart.
As with Areava, in Olio Brown had written a very likeable character,
who similarly didn't wear the title of anti-hero well. Simon Brown says
he combined the characters of Olio and Areava to counter Lynan and his
followers, yet there's no direct conflict between these opponents as
you'd expect in a more traditional fantasy. Olio becomes
the fulcrum between Lynan and Areava, sympathetic to Areava, but never
truly convinced of Lynon's guilt.
In Brown's writing the major characters are all heroes in their own
right, even if most become tragic heroes. Brown acknowledges that he
intended the trilogy to be a tragedy. But having become emotionally
attached to many of the characters through the trilogy I wanted them
to do more with their lives: to reach their full potential. There was
no sense of conquest or accomplishment at this trilogy's end. Lynan,
expected to be the hero of the piece, seems as if his spirit is defeated.
There are certain matters unresolved in the trilogy, and I was left
wondering if there was a second trilogy in the offing? Simon Brown states
that while there's no plan for another trilogy, there is one more instalment
in the series that he would eventually like to write.
Simon Brown started reading and writing science fiction before he
had reached his teenage years. He has had many short stories published
in magazines and anthologies in Australia and America. A collection
of his short stories, Cannibals in the Fine Light was published
by Ticonderoga Press. His first two science fiction novels, Winter
and Privateer were published by HarperCollins in the late
1990s. The first two books of his new fantasy trilogy, "Chronicles of
Kydan", were published by Tor earlier this year, and are available through
amazon.com,
as are the Keys of Power books.
Simon lives on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia, with
his wife, two children, and a very large dog.
availability
The Keys of Power trilogy:
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© Edwina Harvey 2005
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