Effectively, this one goes to indicate that (once more) I shouldn’t let my preconceptions figuring out my studying.
From that title, I used to be anticipating some form of time-travelling Medieval/Tolkienesque fantasy, one thing akin to say, Connie Willis’s Doomsday Guide, however maybe a bit extra light-hearted.
It isn’t. (Effectively – besides maybe the light-hearted bit.)
The creator himself says in his Postscript that “it’s extra science fiction than fantasy”, which isn’t clear from the title. Sanderson additionally says that the inspiration for the title was first considered within the 2010s, as “The Frugal Wizard’s Information to London”, however was “a tad too Harry Potter”. (Personally, I believed that the title was a bit too Douglas Adams myself.)
Nonetheless, this preliminary concept over the subsequent decade or so turned one thing extra critical, regardless that because the creator admits “It’s not within the Cosmere, it’s in first individual and it’s extra science fiction than fantasy.” The consequence was this ebook, one of many so-called ‘secret initiatives’ crowdfunded between 2020 – 2021.
With all of this in thoughts, then, the story’s fairly straight-forward. Runian is a person who wakes up with no reminiscence of his previous or how he obtained to the place it’s. (Sanderson calls this ‘a white-room story’) The consequence? He has to determine all of this out himself concurrently the reader – one thing Sanderson has needed to jot down ever since he learn The Bourne Identification by Robert Ludlum.
Over the course of the ebook, we uncover that he’s from our future however has been transported again to the previous, to the medieval Midlands of England, a spot stuffed with gods, gods-fearing peoples and Vikings. We uncover over the course of the story that Runian has one other title and a life he has left behind, however which has come to comply with him right here, and which makes up the majority of the plot. His sole hope for survival lies in regaining his lacking recollections, making allies among the many locals, and even perhaps trusting of their superstitious boasts.
His solely assist from the “actual world” ought to have been a guidebook entitled The Frugal Wizard”s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, elements of that are interleafed between the plot chapters. Right here we discover that this can be a place the place, due to quantum universes, persons are provided their very own world – for a worth, in fact! – the place they will personal their very own alternate dimension – a spot near, however not our personal previous. Therefore no points with unknown creatures, uncommon aliens and the like, to not point out these pesky time paradoxes. Individuals can really personal their very own kingdom, though these residents already there may have persuading that they do personal it.
The problem is that Runian’s guidebook has been destroyed on his journey right here, so though the few fragments he managed to save lots of present clues to his state of affairs, he not solely has to work out who he’s, the place he’s and why he’s there, but in addition do it fast sufficient to outlive.
I learn this one for a ebook group. It was an attention-grabbing alternative from a gaggle who had heard of Brandon Sanderson however didn’t know a lot of his writing. As such, I believe that it was a sensible choice for these desirous to attempt his writing.
It’s much less pages than a few of his Cosmere books (and due to this fact much less intimidating), much less advanced, much less weighty, much less burdened by context, even much less repetitive, and as such permits the reader simply to learn and luxuriate in. It’s clearly one written for enjoyable, with out an excessive amount of element required, and some handy coincidences alongside the best way.
The sections from Runian’s guidebook – or what’s left of it – is a lighter factor of the ebook, typically being the publicity materials for Frugal Wizard Inc©, the corporate in command of sending folks to those worlds. They’re each informative and considerably ironic, stuffed with vivid and breezy language to clarify the way it all works, while on the similar time being lined with copyrights and disclaimers. The copious and infrequently humorous illustrations by Steve Argyle additionally add to this lighter brisk really feel.
Having mentioned that, the plot isn’t too demanding, being extra action-driven than contemplative. The quick tempo signifies that the characters have little depth, and consequently a lot of the characterisation will really feel pretty customary – we now have a good looking priestess who the principle character falls in love with (in fact!) though there’s the complication that he’s in mourning after the dying of his earlier girlfriend.
This simplicity did make me really feel at instances that there was a Younger Grownup really feel to the ebook. The chapters are brief, and there’s not an excessive amount of considering wanted, no advanced character themes to unravel (though there are some themes!), not an excessive amount of historic element to decelerate the tempo of the story – that is one simply to learn and benefit from the trip. Offering, in fact, that your preconceptions don’t get in the best way.
In abstract then, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook to Surviving Medieval England is an uncommon Sanderson learn, and never one I’d have usually picked up myself. While I did really feel that it was a lesser ebook that Sanderson, given his prodigious output, might presumably write in a few weeks (I do know it didn’t!), I did suppose that it might be a approach for brand spanking new readers to get into Sanderson’s books earlier than tackling the heavier, meatier stuff.
Regardless of not matching my preconceptions, I discovered it readable, humorous and thrilling -a lot of enjoyable, though I doubt it should stay memorable. File underneath “Value a attempt”.
© 2025 Mark Yon
Hardback | Gollancz
THE FRUGAL WIZARD’S HANDBOOK FOR SURVIVING MEDIEVAL ENGLAND by Brandon Sanderson
April 2023 | 395 pages
ISBN: 978 1938 570 384
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