Book links: Amazon, Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: J. Zachary Pike was once a basement-dwelling fantasy gamer, but over time he metamorphosed into a basement-dwelling fantasy writer. By day Zack is a web professional and creative-for-hire, but at night he returns to his lair to create books, films, and illustrations that meld fantasy elements with offbeat humor. A New Englander by birth and by temperament, Zack writes strangely funny fiction on the seacoast of New Hampshire.


Published: November 28, 2012 by Michael McClung Length: 362 pages Formats: audiobook, ebook, paperback Literary awards: SPFBO Award for Best Fantasy Book  Series The Dark Profit Saga

ŁUKASZ

Some reviewers have compares Orconomics to Pratchett novels. A bold statement if you ask me. As a fan of satires, I needed to experience and verify it myself. And I liked it.

It’s funny and uplifting but also serious and sad in some places, as every good satire should be.

On the world of Arth, adventuring is the industry that drives the economy. Groups of battle-hardened warriors hunt and kill Monsters and Shadowkin (Orcs, Goblins, Kobolds) and claim their hoards. These loots are bought and sold by corporate interests to plunder funds long before the hero’s guild attacks. You’ll easily see similarities to Goldman Sachs in Goldson Baggs operations.

The story follows Gorm Ingerson - a fallen dwarven hero whose hero’s license has been revoked. His clan disowned him, and he lives as a rogue. One of funds forcibly recruits Gorm to undertake an impossible quest with a team of similar fallen heroes. If he succeeds, he may win back the fame and fortune he lost so long ago.

His new team includes colourful and fun cast of characters– a goblin squire (who brings a lot of comic relief), clumsy and naïve prophet of a mad goddess, an elf warrior addicted to alcohol and drugs (healing potions in the book), two mages who are at each other's throats, a thief who claims to be a bard (even though he can’t really sing) and a warrior seeking his own death. They start the quest to find Elven Marbles. As we follow the story, the plot gets a little more complicated and nuanced.

I always appreciate a well-plotted and solid high fantasy tale with humour woven into the plot and the world. The world building mixed seamlessly into the story impressed me. The characterization doesn’t disappoint - even characters that seem very archetypical get significant development by the book’s end. The pacing is just right. It speeds up and slows down in all the right places.

The humour made me laugh. Obviously, no author should be compared to Sir Terry Pratchett - simply because no one stands a chance. In no way is this book on par with Pratchett’s novels. It is, though, a superb fantasy satire.

Thanks to mostly uplifting tone, Orconomics works as a well-deserved rest from dark books in which characters you love die, become evil or destroyed. On the other hand, it’s not all sunshine and roses. After finishing the book I’m impressed by Pike’s skilful blend of humour and tragedy. I mourn one of characters. Every good satire needs to contain a level of tragedy and Orconomics delivers both.

The ending of the book set ups for the sequel I will definitely read once I sort out my reading schedule.

MIHIR

Orconomics by J. Zachary Pike is one of my favourite books to have come out of SPFBO. Zack Pike’s debut was just a fascinating mix of epic fantasy tropes, satire & some brilliant but biting commentary on the foibles of unbridled capitalism.

“Gorm was a veteran of waking up in a strange place with a surplus of questions and a shortfall of memories.”

The main plot begins with Gorm Ingerson, a disgraced dwarven ex-hero who has long tried to run from his shameful past. Things have been rough for him for a few years but he’s finally been given a chance to redeem himself.  Soon a motley band is formed with Gorm, a goblin, an elf named Kaita and a scribe named Niln.  The team is later joined by a couple of mages who are semi-mortal enemies and hilarious with their bickering. The plot follows up it’s the normal fantasy trope of an epic journey and it’s herein where the author plays his first trick.

J. Zachary Pike lulls the reader while giving us a very characteristic and trope-filled story but the worldbuilding and story details are what make the story so unique. Firstly this is a world wherein adventuring and all the other details have been presented in a very financially-oriented way. The author does a brilliant job in setting up the reader with all the details of how this fantasy world operates. From quests wherein villages pay to have their surroundings cleared up to adventurers having to pay for their own upgrades. Imagine a fantasy world run by Mckinsey consultants & Disney’s accountants, this in a nutshell is a such a world. While there is a fun vibe to the story, but as a reader you can see the veneer of avarice beneath the trappings of it all. 

Even though this book is more than a decade old, its message about greed, corporate avarice and the dangers facing humans are just as true now as they when it was published. This book’s message is quite grim and kudos to the author for writing such a darkly brilliant story within a fun, satire mold. The story while following all the known Tolkienistic tropes, quite cleverly subverts them. I enjoyed this aspect and the humour within is of the sly kind which had me chuckling all throughout. 

The book has some truly dark aspects to it from character backgrounds to the rigid societal structure to the financial burden that’s yoked to most of the creatures. The author has however folded humour as much as possible so the dark aspects while significant don’t overpower the story. This way the main plot stays funny & satirical all the way till the end. 

I wouldn’t be lying if I say Orconomics is one of the most brilliant written stories to come out of the indie fantasy genre, however it wouldn’t be entirely accurate. The truth is Orconomics is one of the most brilliant stories to ever come out of the SFF genre. Give it a read and then read the sequels too (as the trilogy is complete). This way you can truly appreciate one of the best fantasy trilogies to have been gifted to us readers. 

SPFBO CHAMPIONS' LEAGUE RATING FOR NOW

Official Author Website

As avid fantasy readers, we love discovering new voices and hidden gems. SPFBO contest gives us such a possibility and we’re thrilled to participate in it for the seventh time. The first stage of the contest has just ended.

ABOUT M.L.: Hi! I’m M. L. Wang, author, martial artist, and weird recluse currently hiding somewhere in Wisconsin with my maroon-bellied parakeet, Sulu. I enjoy gruesome nature documentaries and long walks in circles around my room.

My published books include The Sword of Kaigen, Theonite: Planet Adyn, and Theonite: Orbit (series discontinued) and my ongoing serials include Gunpowder Magnolia, Seven Forsaken, and Sazuma.

Find M.L. online: Website, Patreon, Amazon, Goodreads, Newsletter