The Griffin or the Agate

When I read the backstory about the writing of Swords for Hire I couldn't help but want to really like the book. In 1979 the author, terminally ill with melanoma, surprised his loved ones with the manuscript for the book. Some twenty-two years later his brother, after some minor editing, entered it in the Writer's Digest National Book Contest, where it won an award. That's a cool story. The book's success can't bring the author back to life but can, in essence, allow his words to live on, to allow nieces and newphews who never met him to understand what he was like. Heartwarming, no?
So like I said before, I had a certain predisposition to enjoy this children's/young adult book. Was I right in doing so? For the most part I'd say yes. Swords for Hire weaves together the lives of the main characters - the wrongly imprisoned king and his evil, worm-wearing brother; the farmboy searching for adventure and the oddball guard with a knack for finding it; the woman facing a husband she wants nothing to do with. The writing shows the marks of a novice writer - some of the characters, notably the evil ones, feature quirks rather than fully realized personalities (the evil king likes to put worms on his head - no reason why, no hints as to a cause, just an affectation for affectation's sake), and Allen tends to hit silly much more often than he does funny - all of which is fine for a children's book. Still, those are minor quibbles. The book is friendly and very readable. It's silly, yes, but it's also fast-paced and at times both witty and charming. Swords for Hire is the kind of book I can see myself reading to my kids - once I have a few of them. §

Purchase this title through:
Amazon.com

Visit the publisher at:
centerpunchpress.com