Rol Cortishane
Encyclopedia
The Sea Beggars is an incomplete book series by Paul Kearney
. It began with The Mark of Ran (2004) and tells the story of Rol Cortishane. It is based almost entirely around ocean-based adventure
s. A second volume, This Forsaken Earth (original working title The Stars We Sail By) was published in July 2006. The series was expected to be four books long and the third had nearly been completed when the series was unexpectedly dropped by Bantam in May 2007. After signing a new contract, the last book in the series is due to be published in April 2012. The complete series will be published in an omnibus in Autumn 2012.
race, a pre-human race with superhuman qualities, often referred to as Angels or Demons. The Weren
bred with humans when their numbers diminished thousands of years ago and so many humans thenceforth contained Weren
blood, sometimes merely making them beautiful and talented individuals, sometimes warping their bodies into monsters called the Fallen or Half-Trolls.
Amelie’s parents, Ardisan and Emilia, were of the former descendants. However it is later revealed that Amelie was actually an ancient, powerful, violent spirit cast into pure Weren
form and given a soul.
Rol’s father is actually the last of the original Weren
, Cambrius Orr, who fled to undiscovered lands because all his half-human children were Fallen and he wished to protect them from being slain to purify the Weren
blood. He set himself up as the Mage-King of Kull and has survived for thousands of years in order to sire Rol. How he met Amelie is as-of-yet unknown. Both his parents, therefore, have pure Weren
blood, so Rol is not at all human, but rather an “Angel
” of sorts.
Rol was brought up by his Grandfather, Ardisan, on the fishing island of Dennifrey, with two “foster parents”, Morin and Ayd. These too are actually Golems created by Ardisan’s magic to protect Rol as a child. He was taught nothing of his heritage, believing he was a human, but was socially isolated from other children because of his Weren blood, which usually forms a mental barrier between ordinary people and Rol. In one particularly stormy winter, whilst Rol (now 15) was caring for his family’s boat, the Eyrie, he was visited by a strange man, possibly an incarnation of the Secondary god (i.e. a divinity who was not the Supreme God, the Creator
) of storms, Ran. This man marked Rol’s hand after a confusing conversation. Then he vanished.
Rol returned to his home to find it threatened by a mob who felt that Ardisan had summoned the appalling weather with his magic. Such a mob had previously killed Rol’s grandmother, Emilia. They attacked the house, and eventually slew the Golems, but Ardisan and Rol fled, after the former was wounded by a crossbow bolt. He told Rol to flee to a man called Michael Psellos in the foreign city of Ascari before dying. Rol sailed there over several days on the Eyrie.
Rol quickly found Psellos’ abode in a Tower on the outskirts of the city. However, he was badly wounded by a young woman answering the door, who we later learn to be Rowen. When he recovered, Psellos made him a low servant in his household. However, one day Rowen, who is Psellos’ assassin and prostitute as well as apprentice, doesn’t return from an assignment. Psellos goes to check on her and Rol follows. He ends up rescuing Rowen, killing three criminals in the process. Thence Psellos tells him of his Weren
blood and has Rowen train him as a killer, at which he excels.
Rowen falls in love with Rol and, after having sex, they plot together to kill the evil Psellos with some aid. They succeed, but a remnant of Psellos, made by his magic, informs them that they share the same mother, Amelie, hence committing incest. This obviously drives the pair apart, although they still love each other.
Rol then becomes a seaman in despair. After 7 years, he encounters an old friend, Gallico the Half-Troll. They are forced to go to the pirate city of Ganesh Ka, which they come to protect from the Empire of Bionar.
Later another face from the past comes from Bionar to seek Rol’s aid. Rowen has become its Queen and needs help to secure her kingdom. He goes to help, but all is not as it seems…
Paul Kearney
Paul Kearney is a Northern Irish fantasy author. He is noted for his work in the epic fantasy subgenre and his work has been compared to that of David Gemmell.-Life:...
. It began with The Mark of Ran (2004) and tells the story of Rol Cortishane. It is based almost entirely around ocean-based adventure
Adventure
An adventure is defined as an exciting or unusual experience; it may also be a bold, usually risky undertaking, with an uncertain outcome. The term is often used to refer to activities with some potential for physical danger, such as skydiving, mountain climbing and or participating in extreme sports...
s. A second volume, This Forsaken Earth (original working title The Stars We Sail By) was published in July 2006. The series was expected to be four books long and the third had nearly been completed when the series was unexpectedly dropped by Bantam in May 2007. After signing a new contract, the last book in the series is due to be published in April 2012. The complete series will be published in an omnibus in Autumn 2012.
Plot
The lead character is Rol Cortishane. His mother was Amelie, supposedly a descendant of the WerenWeren
The Weren are a prehuman race with characteristics and capabilities beyond those of their human successors. They feature in Paul Kearney’s Sea Beggars series....
race, a pre-human race with superhuman qualities, often referred to as Angels or Demons. The Weren
Weren
The Weren are a prehuman race with characteristics and capabilities beyond those of their human successors. They feature in Paul Kearney’s Sea Beggars series....
bred with humans when their numbers diminished thousands of years ago and so many humans thenceforth contained Weren
Weren
The Weren are a prehuman race with characteristics and capabilities beyond those of their human successors. They feature in Paul Kearney’s Sea Beggars series....
blood, sometimes merely making them beautiful and talented individuals, sometimes warping their bodies into monsters called the Fallen or Half-Trolls.
Amelie’s parents, Ardisan and Emilia, were of the former descendants. However it is later revealed that Amelie was actually an ancient, powerful, violent spirit cast into pure Weren
Weren
The Weren are a prehuman race with characteristics and capabilities beyond those of their human successors. They feature in Paul Kearney’s Sea Beggars series....
form and given a soul.
Rol’s father is actually the last of the original Weren
Weren
The Weren are a prehuman race with characteristics and capabilities beyond those of their human successors. They feature in Paul Kearney’s Sea Beggars series....
, Cambrius Orr, who fled to undiscovered lands because all his half-human children were Fallen and he wished to protect them from being slain to purify the Weren
Weren
The Weren are a prehuman race with characteristics and capabilities beyond those of their human successors. They feature in Paul Kearney’s Sea Beggars series....
blood. He set himself up as the Mage-King of Kull and has survived for thousands of years in order to sire Rol. How he met Amelie is as-of-yet unknown. Both his parents, therefore, have pure Weren
Weren
The Weren are a prehuman race with characteristics and capabilities beyond those of their human successors. They feature in Paul Kearney’s Sea Beggars series....
blood, so Rol is not at all human, but rather an “Angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
” of sorts.
Rol was brought up by his Grandfather, Ardisan, on the fishing island of Dennifrey, with two “foster parents”, Morin and Ayd. These too are actually Golems created by Ardisan’s magic to protect Rol as a child. He was taught nothing of his heritage, believing he was a human, but was socially isolated from other children because of his Weren blood, which usually forms a mental barrier between ordinary people and Rol. In one particularly stormy winter, whilst Rol (now 15) was caring for his family’s boat, the Eyrie, he was visited by a strange man, possibly an incarnation of the Secondary god (i.e. a divinity who was not the Supreme God, the Creator
Creator deity
A creator deity is a deity responsible for the creation of the world . In monotheism, the single God is often also the creator deity, while polytheistic traditions may or may not have creator deities...
) of storms, Ran. This man marked Rol’s hand after a confusing conversation. Then he vanished.
Rol returned to his home to find it threatened by a mob who felt that Ardisan had summoned the appalling weather with his magic. Such a mob had previously killed Rol’s grandmother, Emilia. They attacked the house, and eventually slew the Golems, but Ardisan and Rol fled, after the former was wounded by a crossbow bolt. He told Rol to flee to a man called Michael Psellos in the foreign city of Ascari before dying. Rol sailed there over several days on the Eyrie.
Rol quickly found Psellos’ abode in a Tower on the outskirts of the city. However, he was badly wounded by a young woman answering the door, who we later learn to be Rowen. When he recovered, Psellos made him a low servant in his household. However, one day Rowen, who is Psellos’ assassin and prostitute as well as apprentice, doesn’t return from an assignment. Psellos goes to check on her and Rol follows. He ends up rescuing Rowen, killing three criminals in the process. Thence Psellos tells him of his Weren
Weren
The Weren are a prehuman race with characteristics and capabilities beyond those of their human successors. They feature in Paul Kearney’s Sea Beggars series....
blood and has Rowen train him as a killer, at which he excels.
Rowen falls in love with Rol and, after having sex, they plot together to kill the evil Psellos with some aid. They succeed, but a remnant of Psellos, made by his magic, informs them that they share the same mother, Amelie, hence committing incest. This obviously drives the pair apart, although they still love each other.
Rol then becomes a seaman in despair. After 7 years, he encounters an old friend, Gallico the Half-Troll. They are forced to go to the pirate city of Ganesh Ka, which they come to protect from the Empire of Bionar.
Later another face from the past comes from Bionar to seek Rol’s aid. Rowen has become its Queen and needs help to secure her kingdom. He goes to help, but all is not as it seems…
Further reading
- Cooke, Paul. (November 6, 2004) Birmingham PostBirmingham PostThe Birmingham Post newspaper was originally published under the name Daily Post in Birmingham, England, in 1857 by John Frederick Feeney. It was the largest selling broadsheet in the West Midlands, though it faced little if any competition in this category. It changed to tabloid size in 2008...
Books: Reviews: The mark of a good read. The Mark of Ran by Paul Kearney, Bantam Press. pounds 10.99. Reviewed by Paul Cooke. Section: Features; Page 53. - The Canberra TimesThe Canberra TimesThe Canberra Times newspaper was founded in 1926 in Canberra, Australia by Arthur Shakespeare.It was the second paper to be printed in the city, the first being The Federal Capital Pioneer. The paper was sold to the Fairfax group in the 1960s by Arthur Shakespeare on the condition that it continue...
(June 12, 2005) Take three: Firethorn By Sarah Micklem. HarperCollins. 387pp. $29.95. - Southland TimesFairfax New ZealandFairfax New Zealand Limited is the largest media company operating in New Zealand, and is part of Australia's Fairfax Media.Fairfax Media established its operation on the 1 July 2003 purchase of the publishing assets of Independent Newspapers Ltd...
(July 9, 2005) Action and intrigue. Section: Features Books; Page 7. - ThisisBradford.co.ukNewsquestNewsquest is the third largest publisher of regional and local newspapers in the United Kingdom with 300 titles in its portfolio. Newsquest is based in Weybridge, Surrey and employs a total of more than 5,500 people across the UK...
(January 6, 2006) Book Reviews: The Sea Beggars: The Mark of Ran -- Paul Kearney. Section: Features. - Kallam, Clay. (February 5, 2006) Contra Costa TimesContra Costa TimesThe Contra Costa Times is a daily newspaper based in Walnut Creek, California, U.S.. The paper serves Contra Costa and eastern Alameda counties, in the eastern part of the San Francisco Bay Area...
Worlds beyond: Slightly sketchy "Children" builds on series. Section: Features; Page F4. - Boisvert, Will. (December 8, 2006) Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
This Forsaken Earth. Section: The reviews: Books; Issue 910; Page 100.