Fortune’s Pawn ~Rachel Bach
–Orbit Books, November 2013
–341 pages, Ebook and Trade Paperback
Fantasy author Rachel Aaron, writing as Rachel Bach, turns her hand to science fiction to create the first of a trilogy of novels featuring an ambitious, no-nonsense female mercenary, Deviana (Devi) Morris.
Morris is a goal-driven warrior with a plan of one day serving under her planet’s King as one of his elite guards–a Devastator. When she reaches the pinnacle of her career path with the Blackbird company, Devi begins looking for something more challenging, which translates to more dangerous. A tip from a friend puts her on a small ship, the Glorious Fool, as one of two hired merc guards.
A small ship may seem an unlikely stepping stone to Devi’s ultimate goal, but the Fool‘s reputation for attracting trouble has also earned it a reputation as a fast track to Devastator status. With the end goal of her career so close at hand, Devi Morris need only do two things to position herself for success: obey orders…and survive.
The prime descriptor for Rachel Aaron’s first foray into science fiction is FUN, with good reason– Fortune’s Pawn is one truly fun ride. The novel builds in both action as suspense as it gathers speed to a climactic finish that will have you anxious for the next book, which fortunately arrives on February 25th, 2014, with the concluding volume of the trilogy to be released on April 22nd, 2014.
If you are looking for an entertaining novel with a female protagonist who is not afraid to step into the fray, fast-paced action coupled with imaginative science fiction elements, Fortune’s Pawn is the book for you.
Though I was interested the first time I saw mention of the novel, descriptions that emphasized the sexual attitude of protagonist Devi Morris made me take a step back. I was concerned that Fortune’s Pawn might be the kind of book that if, written by a male, would be decried as the sort juvenile male fantasy that demonstrates how the portrayal of women in genre fiction remains well behind the curve. While I certainly would champion any female author’s right to pen that sort of novel, it was not what I wanted to read. Several positive reviews and a convincing argument for the fun factor of the novel caused me to take a chance when the book was sold recently as an Amazon Kindle Daily Day book for $1.99. How could I pass that up?
Kudos to Orbit for giving readers the opportunity to take a chance on Fortune’s Pawn so inexpensively. While the book had its moments of showcasing the healthy desires of Devi Morris, it was not the tawdry romance I was initially judging it to be. It is a romance, make no mistake, but having read through the book in whirlwind fashion it is understandable why some readers are comparing it to the romance found in Lois McMaster Bujold’s works. There is a quality of devotion present here which echoes those novels I’ve read from Bujold’s series.
Many of the tropes that could be used to demonstrate why Fortune’s Pawn can be described as “space opera” are present and accounted for, and if critics want to use those as a checklist for what is wrong with the book, they are missing the point. Those elements make the story both fun and familiar and are used as a backdrop against which readers not only get to know Devi Morris but also against which Rachel Bach throws in all manner of unexpected plot twists.
Bach plays with reader expectations by presenting Devi Morris in the opening scenes in such a way that it would be easy to pigeonhole her into a character “type”, and from there Bach inserts her into a small but tightly-knit community aboard the Glorious Fool, and begins to slowly unveil aspects of who Devi Morris is. While so doing the reader is introduced to the science fictional elements of Rachel Bach’s creation in a manner that drives the story forward. Rachel Bach does not get bogged down in explanations. However, with a novel that relies on first-person narrative, the readers are given a kick-butt-and-take-no-prisoners heroine whose internal dialogue reveals much, including ongoing character growth. There was enough detail to make the setting interesting but not so much as to alienate readers who do not normally lean towards science fiction.
Woven within the entirety of this first of three novels is a growing thread of mystery that builds suspense. I have read and watched a lot of space opera/space adventure novels/films/television over the years and it is natural for my mind to begin to formulate ideas about what is going to happen next. My enjoyment of Fortune’s Pawn stems from not only an interesting protagonist but from the ways in which Rachel Bach repeatedly surprised me with story direction and various plot threads. By the end of Fortune’s Pawn I couldn’t wait to get to the next novel, Honor’s Knight.
Readers unused to an emphasis on physical relationships in science fiction may be surprised by one descriptive, but not graphic, sexual encounter. At times it appears that Rachel Bach is inserting and then leaving behind plot elements without proper examination, however many of these reappear as the story unfolds, giving the reader hope that all threads of the story will be tied together in the course of the trilogy. Fortune’s Pawn is in no way a stand alone novel, it ends with mysteries unsolved. I prefer novels to have some pretense of being a complete story in and of themselves, at least first novels in a trilogy/series. The fact that Orbit is releasing these novels in quick succession lessens the impact of that criticism.
Fortune’s Pawn has garnered praise from a variety of sources including geek guru Felicia Day, Romantic Times Book Review, Library Journal and a number of authors and readers. It has a wide appeal because of its engaging protagonist but also because it is written in a style that makes it accessible to readers who may not count science fiction as their preferred genre. Author Rachel Bach makes a defense of fun, escapist fiction in a brief article on the Orbit Books site, entitled “Why Fun Matters“. She is right, fun really does matter.
Fortune’s Pawn exhibits the combination of a protagonist with swagger, outer space travel, interesting aliens, swift action and potential camaraderie that describes the novels that held my interest when I was a young man first experiencing science fiction. I cherish that style of storytelling not only because of the feelings of nostalgia that it generates but also because, if done right, it never fails to entertain. Fortune’s Pawn was a book that had me saying “just one more chapter” often enough that it did not take long to read. I enjoyed the first part of Deviana Morris’ journey and look forward to seeing where Rachel Bach takes her come February.
My Rating: 8/10 stars –Fun Matters!
Rachel Bach is the author of a fantasy trilogy, penned under the name of Rachel Aaron, that is now complete and available in a single omnibus edition entitled The Legend of Eli Monpress. She blogs at Pretentious Title and has recently had a nonfiction book on writing published: 2k to 10k: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love. Fortune’s Pawn is the first of the Paradox Trilogy which will be followed by Honor’s Knight in February and Heaven’s Queen in April.
The cover for Fortune’s Pawn was designed by Kirk Benshoff. In a Cover Story article Benshoff states, “I wanted a snapshot moment of a badass female with an unamused expression to set the tone of the series, then have the cover of each volume expand on that moment. As if each cover was a visual interstitial for the series.”.
Included in the article is a visual slideshow showcasing the evolution of the cover images as it went through various stages of design. It is interesting to see the stages and the way that various elements of the cover were built to reach the final design.
“Fun” is the adjective I see the most in describing Rachel’s books, particularly this one.
Me too and I was interested to see her pick up on that theme and address it in the article on the Orbit blog. The fun factor in science fiction and fantasy is something that I think is looked down on by some and I enjoy reading and discussing books that remind us that one thing reading should be is fun.
I have never read her before. I really need to branch out in science-fiction a bit more.
I couldn’t help but think about the Expanse series while reading this. It is unfair to compare it to that series given that the length and breadth of what the writers are doing with the Expanse books would make this pale by comparison, but there is a similar vibe going on here and some similarities that are to be expected given that they are both in the space opera vein. I do think you would enjoy it.
To be fair I think the Eli Monpress series started out as ‘fun’ and ‘light,’ and while it never really stopped being fun it got more serious as it went. I could see this series going the same path, there is room for some depth here.
But this one was fun, and I loved it. Can’t wait for the next.
I agree. And I certainly wasn’t in any way trying to imply myself that the fun or light nature made this a shallow book. They way this ended makes me feel that this series of books is going to function rather like one large book and in that sense it makes it somewhat unfair to judge the story merely on a third of the overall story.
I’m ready to go on with Honor’s Knight RIGHT NOW!
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I thought it was a good, solid read. I’m not averse to romance in my science fiction and I think the relationship added a good element to this story while not detracting from the science fiction feel. I liked Devi a lot. I’m looking forward to the next book.
I’ve read Eli Monpress, too. I liked it, but not as much as this. This novel seemed tighter. More polished.
Nice review and glad to read a tidbit about the cover art!
It was indeed a good, solid read. I too am not averse to romance in genre fiction. Truth be told the stories that I hold on to and cherish are those with at least some romantic element, even if it is as uncomplicated as that between Han and Leia, for example.
Reading and then thinking over this review I was surprised to realize how much of my reading last year contained what would perhaps more accurately be described as fiction with Romantic elements, meaning that like this book there is more than just a simple acknowledgement of characters liking each other but that some of the forms of romance fiction are actually being merged in with science fiction or fantasy. And I’m enjoying that. I am thinking of books I read last year like The Mad Scientist’s Daughter, Love Minus Eighty, Barrayar, the recent Liaden short stories, The Best of All Possible Worlds, and of course now Fortune’s Pawn. Even Leviathan Wakes and Caliban’s War have romantic relationship elements in them.
And I enjoy that, I really do. More and more I get a smile on my face when I see Romantic Times give a positive review to a SF or F book because I’m glad that romance readers are enjoying the genre fiction I love so.
I’m interested in reading her nonfiction book about writing, and at 99 cents I think buying it is a no-brainer.
This sounds like a possibility. I will keep it in mind for future sci fi reading. Great review.
Thanks Tracy. It is a novel with broad appeal, in my opinion. I think you would find it enjoyable.
Carl, I read this book right after finishing Ancillary Justice (there was an excerpt for it at the end). And, it was SUCH a fun space rump. Deviana reminds me of Linnea Sinclair’s kick-ass heroines, with her swagger, ambition, and open sensuality. But, as you say in your review, the point of this story is fun and there’s plenty of that in this space adventure. I went running to look for “Honor’s Knight” as soon as I finished too! I can’t wait to get my hands on it. 🙂
Not sure it is safe for me to comment on whether or not Devi has a fun space rump. 😉
I need to get back to actually reading Ancillary Justice. I keep getting distracted by other books, the current distraction being Adam Christopher’s un-put-downable Hang Wire.
Just a few more weeks and we’ll be able to read Honor’s Knight!
Oh boy! Definitely not safe! R.O.M.P. Space romp! I’ve already preordered Honor’s Knight!
I can’t wait to read your thoughts about Ancillary Justice! And, I’m seriously looking at Hang Wire.
Ha, wondered if you would get back over here to see that. Cracked me up. I can’t wait to read Honor’s Knight.