Full Disclosure: This book was read as an e-ARC (Advance Reader Copy) obtained via Netgalley from the publisher in advance of the book's release on March 15, 2022 in exchange for a potential review. I give my word that this did not affect my review in any way - if I felt conflicted in any way, I would simply have declined to review the book.
Ogres by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Ogres is the latest novella by prolific British author Adrian Tchaikovsky, whose novellas I have really enjoyed (much more so than his novels) in the past. Tchaikovsky has a tendency in his novellas to do fun or interesting things with his writing and the plot concepts involved, from a story dealing with perspectives of people from very two different technological worlds who see the same story as a fantasy vs SciFi story (Elder Race) to a comedic story featuring a man living at the end of time who tries to destroy anyone else who builds a time machine to get to him (One Day All This Will Be Yours). The results have always been highly interesting and entertaining....and Ogres similarly tries to do something different as well.
In Ogres case, that something different is a story told in the second person (not that uncommon these days) featuring a man in a world ruled by Ogres - giant people - in what seems at first to be a feudalistic fantasy society and soon becomes apparent is something more. The story plays with the concept of what builds a hero, of horrors rich and powerful people inflict upon others, the power of knowledge and common interest to rise up, and more. And the result, especially its ending, is rather strong and very well done. Not sure this rises up to the level of some of his other (and more award worthy in my opinion) novella work, but it's definitely worth a read.
Quick Plot Summary: Young Torquell, son of the village headsman, can do nothing truly wrong in his village. Sure he's immature and gets into trouble, fools around with everyone, and gets along with the bandits who hide in the woods, but in the end, everyone can't help but be charmed by him and forgive his every wrong.
Until the Ogres who rule the world, and own the village, come to town. Wielding devices like magic and featuring incredible strength, even Torquell is supposed to bow down before them, even in his own home. Except one day the injustice of it all becomes too much, and Torquell raises his hand against the Ogre Landlord's son. And as Torquell runs for his life, he comes to realize there's far more to the world of Ogres than he ever realized and that the world isn't a place for ordinary humans for a reason.....right?
Thoughts: Ogres is a novella playing with a bunch of ideas and concepts. First off, it's told entirely from a second person perspective, with Torquell constantly referred by an unknown narrator (until the end) as if he's being talked to by someone, someone with foreknowledge of events to come. Secondly it's playing with the idea of what makes a hero - after all Torquell first strikes back against the Ogres just out of reckless instinct, and then his response is to hide in fear until his next act of recklessness; and in the climactic parts, Torquell is always deathly afraid of what the Ogres might wind up doing, more so than he is committed to a righteous fight. Torquell is built up into a hero by experiences, not by his personality or inclination, which leads to the very surprising ending. Finally this is, like Tchaikovsky's "Elder Race", a story playing with the idea of magic vs science, and how technology looks after a lack of understanding - except unlike in that novella, the use of technology here is a far more selfish and horrifying endeavor, one that foretells a dark future possibility for society.
The result is pretty interesting and well done, and is a fairly excellent use of the novella page length. Probably not award worthy, but well worth your time.
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