Hawk & Fisher

[Mouseferatu]

Okay, I don't know how many of you are familiar with this series. It's about a husand and wife team of city guards in the city of Haven, written by Simon R. Green. It's a great deal of fun, especially if you don't mind your fantasy bloody.

I just found out, however, that many of the novels aren't entirely the same on both sides of the pond. At the very least, the titles on several of the books changed from the UK to the USA.

Does anyone know if the content is different as well? Or if there are Hawk & Fisher novels published in the UK that never made it over here? And in either case, is it worth trying to hunt down the Brittish versions?

 

[Cthulhudrew]

I just found out, however, that many of the novels aren't entirely the same on both sides of the pond. At the very least, the titles on several of the books changed from the UK to the USA.

Does anyone know if the content is different as well? Or if there are Hawk & Fisher novels published in the UK that never made it over here? And in either case, is it worth trying to hunt down the Brittish versions?

I don't think the content is any different, but I couldn't say for sure. As you note, the titles changed- the Hawk & Fisher novels released here in the States are actually compilations of several H&F novellas (two compilations), but I think that's the only key difference. Another of Green's books, Twilight of the Empire, was released the same way (it's a compilation of several novellas in the Deathstalker universe).

There are a couple of novels of Green's related to the H&F stories that I don't think have been released here, or are at least out of print- Blood and Honor and Down Among the Dead Men- I've seen them overseas, but not in the US. (Note: these don't feature Hawk & Fisher, but are set in the same kingdom that H&F originally come from, in the novels Blue Moon Rising and Beyond the Blue Moon).

I'd be curious to know if there are any differences, myself, but I suspect that there are just the aforementioned title changes and things.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Actually, the recent compilations aren't the first US printing. The Hawk & Fisher novels were actually released as individual novels--all six of them--some years back. Those are the copies I have.

And yep, Blood and Honor and Down Among the Dead Men were released here in the states. I've got those as well. Same with Blue Moon Rising and... Uh, the last one. Beyond the Blue Moon, or something like that.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Actually, the recent compilations aren't the first US printing. The Hawk & Fisher novels were actually released as individual novels--all six of them--some years back. Those are the copies I have.

And yep, Blood and Honor and Down Among the Dead Men were released here in the states. I've got those as well. Same with Blue Moon Rising and... Uh, the last one. Beyond the Blue Moon, or something like that.

Heh, I remember reading Beyond the Blue moon and saying

Spoiler

What the heck do you mean that these are Rupert and Julia?!!!

then when I went back and reread my old Hawk & Fisher books I discovered that Green did everything but come out and say it outright...

Spoiler

They even said where they had come from! I have no idea how I had missed it.

Doh!

The Auld Grump

 

[Master of the Game]

Heh, I remember reading Beyond the Blue moon and saying

Spoiler

What the heck do you mean that these are Rupert and Julia?!!!

then when I went back and reread my old Hawk & Fisher books I discovered that Green did everything but come out and say it outright...

Spoiler

They even said where they had come from! I have no idea how I had missed it.

Doh!

There are

Spoiler

origin books of Hawk and Fischer

? I love those books, but I haven't ever read any of Green's other works. Any suggestions where to start?

 

[Cthulhudrew]

There are

Spoiler

origin books of Hawk and Fischer

? I love those books, but I haven't ever read any of Green's other works. Any suggestions where to start?

Blue Moon Rising and Beyond the Blue Moon form, essentially, the introduction and coda to the Hawk & Fisher stories.

Green's Deathstalker series is interesting- he creates a really rich canvas of alien cultures, strange landscapes, and political intrigue, but IMO the main characters themselves tend to be a little too shallow and one-dimensional- which is weird, because he gives them really rich backgrounds, but their interactions and dialogue is too similar from one character to the next, such that if you didn't know their names, they'd all read the same. No voices.

On the other hand, his most recent series, the Nightside books, have some very compelling and interesting characters. He actually seems to invest them with differing voices, which is cool.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Heh. I'm rereading Hawk and Fisher right now, as it happens.

I still really, really hate the chapters set in the Hell Wing of Damnation Row. They just suck.

Apart from that, I really enjoy the books.

I haven't read any of the Deathstalker books, but I've read all the rest of the Green I've come across. I'd love to play in a game set in Haven.

-Hyp.

 

[Mouseferatu]

I haven't read any of the Deathstalker books, but I've read all the rest of the Green I've come across. I'd love to play in a game set in Haven.

I've had that exact same thought. If I believed for one moment that I could afford the license, I'd be trying to e-mail him and arrange an actual Haven supplement.

As it is, I fully intent to base a future campaign around his (brilliant) notion of a Special Wizardry and Tactics team.