The Prodigal Troll | ||||||||
Charles Coleman Finlay | ||||||||
Pyr, 374 pages | ||||||||
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A review by Victoria Strauss
Derisively called Maggot because of his smooth white skin, the boy grows up among beings who regard him as little better
than an animal, relying on his cleverness and ingenuity to survive in an environment to which trolls are perfectly adapted,
but which for humans is harsh and full of danger. Though he has never known any other kind of life, Maggot understands
that he can never truly be part of the trolls' world; if he is ever to find acceptance, not to mention a mate, he must
seek out his own kind, and try to find a place among them. The quest that follows leads him into love and
suffering -- and ultimately, in discovery of his true identity, to a moment of fateful choice.
Don't be fooled by the similarities to Tarzan of the Apes. The Prodigal Troll is certainly a hommage
to that classic adventure tale, with many echoes of Burroughs in Maggot's rescue and upbringing, and in the
primate-like behavior of the trolls (not that Burroughs would win any prizes for accuracy in his depiction of the great
apes). But it's also a carefully wrought and original novel that turns a thoughtful eye on just what it means to be
human, in part by illuminating what it means to be not-human. Trolls are not without their flaws (one of which is an
inability to plan ahead), but their straightforward and egalitarian ways stand in sharp contrast to the devious,
hierarchical human cultures Maggot encounters once he sets out on his quest. His travels bring him face to face with a
wide range of human behavior -- the cruelty and futility of war, the labyrinthine machinations of politics, the inflexible
tyranny of class and gender roles; he learns that humans can be courageous and loving and loyal, but also cowardly,
deceitful, and treacherous. In these experiences, he's twice an outsider -- for not only is he unfamiliar with the world
he enters, he really is, as the title suggests, a troll at heart, and sees everything from a troll's perspective. This
double distancing allows the author to alienize not just the landscapes and societies Maggot explores, but the basic
qualities of human nature, and thus to cast them into sharper relief.
Charles Coleman Finlay's lucid prose is a pleasure to read; he's one of those writers who is able to insert quite a lot of humor into
what's basically a rather dark narrative without ever seeming crass or forced. He's not afraid to make a fool of his
hero, either; Maggot's largely unsuccessful efforts to adapt troll behavior to human situations are often very
funny. Characterization is skillful, with even minor characters sharply drawn. And the world building is a
standout. There's a primeval feel to the setting, with its sabretooths and dyrewolves and mammuts and much stranger
creatures, like the glowing "demons" that inhabit the waterways, and of course the trolls. The various human
societies are equally fascinating, from the repressive matriarchal Empire with its complicated customs and jealous
gods and ambiguous magics, to the American Indian-style culture of the indigenous peoples who are slowly being
annihilated by the Empire's expansion (just as the ancient race of trolls is slowly being annihilated by the upstart
human race). Finlay presents all of this not through the lavish layering of detail that's so familiar in fantasy,
but sparingly, allowing his world to reveal itself piecemeal through the experience and interactions of the
characters -- and unapologetically leaving much unexplained.
The book brings resolution to Maggot's quest, but many questions are left open by the rather abrupt ending, and this,
together with some interesting hints about the trolls' relationship to certain human legends, suggests the possibility
of at least one sequel. If it's as entertaining and thought-provoking as this excellent debut, it should be
something to look forward to.
Victoria Strauss is a novelist, and a lifelong reader of fantasy and science fiction. Her most recent fantasy novel, The Burning Land, is available from HarperCollins Eos. For more information, visit her website. |
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