Blurb:
A disgraced Dwarven hero. A band of deadbeat adventurers. His last shot at redemption could get him killed.
If Gorm Ingerson really wanted to drink himself to death, he never should have helped the Goblin. When his good deed lands him in a bad contract, Gorm finds himself entangled in a quest that will pit him against business magnates, the king of the Freedlands, and a mad goddess trying to fulfill a suicidal prophecy.
But Gorm’s tarnished circumstances may be hiding a golden opportunity. If he and his half-baked party can overcome deep conspiracies and dark magics, he just might redeem himself and his career enough to be a professional hero once more.
Review:
Orconomics has a definite MMORPG vibe to it – with the ranks bestowed on heroes and the tasks that accompany said ranks (i.e., rank 1’s get to exterminate rats.) There are a number of other clever references to the classic games (like NPCs). I’ve played my share of MMOs, and if you enjoy those, you’ll probably also enjoy this book. The main group of heroes is also reminiscent of the “classic” MMO parties; a ranger, a bard, a couple of mages, a warrior…The only thing they’re missing is a tank, and it is mentioned at one point. It was a lot of fun to read.
The economy featured in the book was amusing too. There’s a stock market-like system in place to fund adventures, with brokers and buyers, “plunder funds”, and even business interest in the heroes’ quests. The loot sharing aspect was fascinating, a combination of profit-sharing and auctions.
There is also a healthy dose of humor throughout the book, and I can’t tell you how many times it had me laughing. On top of that, there’s a pretty interesting quest story line with a few twists and turns I wasn’t expecting. I really enjoyed this book.
If you’re looking for an entertaining fantasy that will make you laugh, check out Orconomics.
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