“Orphan’s Quest”– a fantastic adventure

Childs, Pat Nelson, “Orphan’s Quest: The Chronicles of Firma, Book One”, XLibris, 2006.

A Fantastic Adventure

Amos Lassen

I have never been much of a science-fiction reader but it looks like I found a book that could easily sway me to open myself to start reading more. “Orphan’s Quest” had me so involved that I surprised myself. From the moment I began to read Pat Nelson Childs’s book, I was hooked—so hooked in fact that I cancelled my classes and with a week to go before exams, I should feel guilty but I don’t. I was not going anywhere until I finished the book. But be that as it may, it was not just the plot that got me engrossed; it was Childs’s command of the English language. He wrote simply but beautifully and because of his style the book just moved along quite quickly. Details were plentiful but not over abundant and the character development intrigued me. Even though some of the happenings were predictable, Child’s way of telling the story kept me riveted.

Rokey, an orphan, has been raised in a monastery in a country known as Firma and has no idea of what happened to him before he got there, When tragic events lead to the death of the Abbot of Firma, Rokey is exiled and begins a journey throughout the country looking for a place to live and for work. He eventually meets up with a group of people who belong nowhere—an elf, Flashkamper, a giant, a young woman and a mercenary. He joins up with them ad when they are attacked, the others realize that someone is after Rokey. This brings about a quest for the group to find out who is after their latest addition.

Each of the characters has had something tragic in their life that has caused them to be an outcast and as you get to know them, you can’t help but love each and every one. There is a gay element here but I do not want to spoil your fun by telling what it is. There is no sex per se but there is a great deal of demonstrative feelings i.e. hugs and kisses.

Are the questions that the members of the band have ever answered? I will say that they are but you will have to read the book to find out for yourself just what the answers are.

“Orphan’s Quest” is a wonderful first novel and I have already been told by the author that another book is on its way. I heartily recommend that you read this one so that you will be ready for the next one. I have a strong feeling that I am quickly becoming one of Pat Nelson Childs’s biggest fans and I am quite proud of that.