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4.5
This is the second volume of the second of three FitzChivalry Farseer trilogies. The first covers Fitz’ life from about 6 to 20 and should be read before embarking on this second trilogy. As Golden Fool opens, Fitz is about 35, foster father to an adolescent, Hap, and newly returned to Buckkeep, after rescuing Prince Dutiful from a plot of the Piebalds in time for his bethrothal to a Narcheska of the Out Islands, as recounted in Fool’s Errand.This volume is packed with worries and activity for Fitz. His son Hap appears to be making many of the typical but foolish errors that Fitz himself made at a similar age; Fitz duties as Skillmaster are made difficult more by two unusual students (Chade and Thick) he takes on than by Prince Dutiful, who is mostly an apt and eager student; Fitz struggles with his role with Dutiful, who looks to him for advice on the Skill and Wit but also to fill his need for a friend, if not as a father figure ; the Out Islanders behave oddly indeed, making Fitz question their intent; issues with both the Piebalds and Old Blood gain importance; Fitz’ relations with both Jinna and Starling are stressful; Fitz and the Fool confront questions about their relationship, which leads to difficult discussions and revelations between them; Bingtown Traders arrive and with them discussion of a dragon, Tintaglia, while the Narcheska mentions Icefyre, another dragon; and Fitz nearly dies.In addition to nearly dying, Fitz puzzles out a good deal of the mystery regarding the Out Islanders, but Chade does not find his reasoning credible and Fitz as usual assumes Chade must be correct. I find reviews throughout this series that take issue with Fitz for not making better decisions or for being dim, including for not puzzling out what is going on with the OutIslanders. My own reading and rereading of this book and, really, the entire series, is that the issue is instead that Fitz continually takes to heart the notion that Chade, Burrich, Kettricken etc. are more wise than he, especially Chade. Because this is a first person narrative, we have Fitz’ view and assessment always of what is being said to him. And we see that Fitz typically takes these criticisms from Chade and others as just, because well, he has been taught from at least the age of 6 that he is always wrong and not worthy. And let’s not forget Galen’s Skill command. While Fitz managed not to kill himself under that command (thanks to the Wit and Smithy) he definitely internalized Galen’s Skilled assessment of him as worthless, a failure, and a shame to the Farseers. Just as Galen damaged his confidence in his Skill ability, Galen permanently damaged Fitz’ overall confidence and sense of self worth, not that it was all that strong to begin with because of his abandonment, etc. Still, there is a discernible and lasting difference in Fitz pre- and post- Galen.I believe the author uses this first person narrative technique in part so we can see why Fitz allows himself to be so used and makes the decisions he does, especially when his decision is to defer to the opinion of others. While Fitz makes his own occasional bad decision, it’s his deference to the opinions of others that so often is the problem. For example, Fitz is actually correct in his reading of the situation with both the Piebalds in Buckkeep and in the motives of the OutIslanders; Chade is not. Recall that Chade told him when he first took him as an apprentice that he, Fitz, wasn’t especially bright. (Fitz knew that Burrich also thought he was a little slow because he was so quiet. ) Chade seemed so wise to Fitz and so respected by King Shrewd that Fitz has never really questioned Chade’s assessment of him. Yet, it is Fitz who saw the threat from Regal early on, Chade who insisted he ignore not only Regal’s attempts on Fitz’ and Burrich’s lives, but also the threat to Verity. One reviewer mentioned that Fitz is frequently gaslighted and I think this is the more accurate reading of what is going on. While I like the character of Chade, he is nearly constant in telling Fitz that he is wrong, failing to live up to his expectations and disappointing him by not doing what Chade wants him to do (e.g. return to Buckkeep immediately after events in Assassins Quest and assume his old role as assassin) etc. But Fitz still remains at heart that nameless little abandoned child so eager for love that he cannot allow himself to even acknowledge that Chade is often wrong, and that he, Fitz, actually is just as often correct.In fact, despite some doubts that Chade is as sharp as he once was, Fitz increasingly takes on more of his old apprentice/mentor relationship to Chade as this book continues, and he begins spending more of his time residing in Chade’s workroom. Kettricken, on the other hand, begins to take more independent action that is not approved by Chade. One wishes that Fitz also would break free from his former mentor’s dominance.Fitz returned to Buckkeep as Tom Badgerlock in guise as Lord Golden’s servant. That role really limits Fitz’ flexibility. He is supposed to be Skillmaster, but is the only one who must hide his role and sneak into training sessions. He has to contrive awkward methods to meet with Dutiful and to support him at public functions. Kettricken laments the subterfuge and her inability to consult or speak with Fitz. But this role was set for him by Chade. It seemed to me even in the first book that a better, more flexible identity could and should have been established for Fitz if Chade and Kettricken had truly wanted him to become involved at Buckkeep. It’s a frequent theme for this second Farseer series that Fitz is chided for not taking a more active and OPEN role in Farseer affairs, yet those with the power to facilitate him doing so have done little to clear his way over the past 15 years and do little now.However, It’s the way that Fitz nearly dies that disturbs me. I think that Hobbs wanted to accomplish certain things by handling this crisis as she did, but the reason she gave for allowing matters to unfold as they did simply was not plausible. I don’t want to provide any spoilers, but think it is safe to say that the reason given for why those who love him did so very little to try to rescue him simply doesn’t hold up. Supposedly, Kettricken and Chade were stymied because they did not wish the Old Blood to be aware Tom Badgerlock did work for the Crown. Both Old Blood and Piebald leadership met Tom Badgerlock as he rescued Prince Dutiful from the Piebalds, and Tom told them he was sworn to the Farseers. So the Old Blood and Piebalds already knew of his work for the Crown. And Chade, Kettricken, Dutiful and Lord Golden all know this. The only reason I could see why Hobbs used such a poor excuse for Chade and Kettricken’s inaction would be if she wanted to underscore just how badly Fitz continues to be used by those he loves.
