Rod Underhill

This book was not what I was expecting, but was nonetheless enjoyable.

It is mostly a travelogue in a (largely) imaginary land, rather than a story with conflict, climax, etc. It does have a story, but it's a pretty weak story on its own; by far the bulk of the book is simply describing this interesting country.

The author knows a lot about the Hanseatic league of merchants in the middle ages, and draws heavily on that background. So this is *almost* a historical novel, except for all the place names have been changed, and magic has been injected into the world. (For all I know, the people of that era might have believed in magic as much as the people in this story.)

The author really makes that period come alive; the people do not feel at all like moderns somehow injected into that period, but living, breathing medieval people with medieval concerns. (Except that they are distinctly pagan, not even superficially Christian--that does make a difference.) So many "historical" novels, or even fantasy novels, feel anachronistic because the people have modern concerns and modern outlooks; these people feel genuinely foreign to us, and yet the author makes them understandable. That's what makes it interesting reading.

I kept waiting for the story to start as I read and read and read, and finally a few things started happening toward the end. But, as I said, this really is more of a travelogue, not a drama. The world is interesting, the way the people think is interesting; the characters are interesting (partly because they are foreign, and yet relatable); the action, such as there is, is moderately interesting. But if you're looking for a pulse-pounding thriller, you should try a different book.

I found it interesting enough to read the next couple of books (and I'll probably read more after that). They are basically the same style: travelogue into a (non-Christian) medieval land, with a little bit of action.… (altro)