Nine short stories in three sets of three describing some of the events leading up to the author's first Novel - Progeny. Each set takes three snapshots of a time from the character's life. Almost no world or character building is done so the novel very much ought to be read first, however the stories are somewhat superior in writing quality and provide a better indicator of the future potential of the series. Of the set, the last trilogy featuring the orcs and razorfiends is by far the most enjoyable.

The initial set features the halfling Nundle, and his rise from lowly merchant to reasonable mage through the abuse of his powers of Will. Unfortunately any interesting point about the ethics of the use of magic are completely lost in the somewhat predicable life event that lead the halfling to his final destination in the Academy. Even the chance for a slightly interesting diversion into the other Stands of magic is bypassed. Much is the same with 2nd set following the life of the novel's heroes parents. Some small descriptions of life in a village are the only interesting features, although the characters are more engagingly drawn than with the Halfling. Again this brings very little extra information about the world the novel is set in, and lacks the narrative hook that marks a short story as special.

The last set is much more entertaining and informative, as well as slightly longer. The Orcs and Razorfiends are little more than bullyboy thugs in the Novel. This set of stories shows a bit of their tribal structures and personal habits. We follow a two contrasting young potential leaders on their respective rises to chieftain-hood, and how they manage when they meet each other. Without a clear good and evil a lot more subtly was used in the plotting, and the consequences of actions explored in greater detail, without reliance on Fate. Although even here there was little personal accountability for the lives that were effected by their decisions.This made the tales more believable, and the characters more empathic. I don't know that I liked them as such, but I preferred to read about their fates, than those of the far too predictable "good" guys. Hopefully more such interactions will feature in the later novels of the series.

Although much much better than the opening portions of Progeny there were still a few lapses in sentence construction and grammar, that occasionally obscured the clear comprehension of the prose. This was not aided by some abysmal formatting in the .pdf file, with fonts changing at random all over the place. ( )