Matt reviewed The Keys to Paradise by Robert E. Vardeman
A favourite as a teen - didn't hold up
A pulpy fantasy adventure, similar in feel to early Michael Moorcock maybe? But not as good. I mean, it's OK, and when I read it as a teen I thought it was really great! But 35 years later it didn't land the same. A bit problematic with female characters and their agency, but it was the 80s... But I did love how it felt like a messy D&D campaign. I liked the world building. A nice solid quest, some evil baddies, plans that get thwarted and changed on the fly. Character motivations/behaviour seemed inconsistent at times, but overall... fine?
I remember buying this book from a sale bin during the Australian Summer holidays of 1988 I think. I associate the book with the song "Run to Paradise" by The Choir Boys, which ran through my head every-time I picked it up. It was a great holiday, and this book got …
A pulpy fantasy adventure, similar in feel to early Michael Moorcock maybe? But not as good. I mean, it's OK, and when I read it as a teen I thought it was really great! But 35 years later it didn't land the same. A bit problematic with female characters and their agency, but it was the 80s... But I did love how it felt like a messy D&D campaign. I liked the world building. A nice solid quest, some evil baddies, plans that get thwarted and changed on the fly. Character motivations/behaviour seemed inconsistent at times, but overall... fine?
I remember buying this book from a sale bin during the Australian Summer holidays of 1988 I think. I associate the book with the song "Run to Paradise" by The Choir Boys, which ran through my head every-time I picked it up. It was a great holiday, and this book got wrapped up in those feelings - I think I even dreamed about the characters, I was that invested. When I finished it, I missed all them all terribly, and tried to continue the story in my head.
So it's sad that it wasn't that magical this time around.