Wisdom of the Fox

not a bad story if a little too talky with the use of similar and even identical comments by the characters. character developement is not all that great either, it is hard to really care about what happens to them. other than that, if you are a turtledove fan you will probably like these stories just fine, if not, read his World War series or his How Few Remain series.

Gerin The Fox is one of the thin line of border barons, holding back the Trokmoi from across the river as they continue to invade. Generations before, the Elabon army had marched north, conquered these lands, sent the Trokmoi reeling in fear--but now the empire is weak and inward-looking and the Trokmoi have a new wizard who claims to have rediscovered ancient knowledge and has the skills to make his claim convincing. Gerin knows the answer is to convince a powerful mage to come north from Elabon and help--but even a fox can have problems convincing the mages of anything. His life only gets more complicated when the daughter of one of his oldest allies decides she doesn't like the husband her father has picked for her and decides to run away from the marriage--with Gerin. Author Harry Turtledove combines bronze-age military technology (bronze weapons, chariots), late Roman-Empire invasion, and magic in some intriguing world-building. The real power of this story comes from the character of Gerin himself. Unlike those around him, Gerin questions himself and plans for the future--sometimes at the risk of losing the present. Secondary characters are mostly one-dimensional, but occasionally show deeper development. WISDOM OF THE FOX is a compilation of two previously published novels, WERENIGHT and PRINCE OF THE NORTH, and reflects an earlier stage of Turtledove's writing. The story-telling is taut, however, and Turtledove delivers plenty of battle, enjoyable scheming, and romance. (Spoiler alert: some readers (including this one) will be disappointed at the way romance plays between the two novels that make up the collection. I suspect Turtledove was thinking about the Arthur/Lancelot/Gueneviere legend when he wrote this and used three separate women to play the Gueneviere part). If you enjoy sword and sorcery-type adventure and you'd like something a bit more thoughtful than the smash and run style, WISDOM OF THE FOX may be just what you're looking for.

I love this book, as I do all of Doctor T's, early works. Rich in battle sceans, magic and sorcery if you like the "Kirpos" and the "Lost Legion" serise you will love this. I wish Mr. Turtledove would do more of these thing where he creates a new world. I love alternate histrory but sometimes it gets boring and it is good to know that Harry is not a "One theame only" author.

Wisdom of the Fox combines two of the previous Gerrin the Fox Novels (Werenight & Prince of the North) and doesn't add any new material however they are good stories and gives readers of the later books in the series to complete their collection. And the information that it is a re-print is clearly stated on the publishers web site.

This is not high-end Turtledove of the "Worldwar" or "Guns of the South" level. Really, the Fox books are more like Heinlein's celebrated junior novels in some ways (though they have sex). The Fox theme is an extended and entertaining study of the abundant benefits of clear thinking and the ability to be self-critical. Adults will enjoy these books -- they're not kiddie novels -- but they have the same Heinleinian themes of competence and moral responsibility. My only caveat: this is two previously published books under one cover. (Prince of the North and Werenight). That's a good deal if you haven't read them, but be sure. I've been burned so many times by repackaged SF stuff that I feel such a warning is in order!