![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kalinara posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
i_read_whatSo, you all know how annoyed I was by Cast of Corbies, right? That was a bad book. Obviously not the worst thing I've read, but it was disappointing. Especially considering that it's part of a series that's generally decent, and by decent authors.
It'd be easy to blame Ms. Lackey's co-writer, but the thing is, I remember reading books by this collaboration of authors before and enjoying them. So I decided that I was annoyed enough by that book to want to prove to myself and any readers who care that this collaboration of authors is capable of better.
And I remembered that, when I was about twelve years old, I really enjoyed this book. It's not particularly complicated or deep. It is, in fact, a tie-in novel to a 1985 Computer Game: The Bard's Tale. It's also NOT representative of that game's plot. It's merely, apparently, set in the universe.
At the time, I knew nothing about that universe. And to be honest, I STILL know nothing about that universe. So yeah.
I do vaguely remember that this book has a renegade dark elf in it, sorry for the spoiler, but one that's a different style than Drizzt. It'll be interesting to see how he compares.
I also remember a crossdressing scene at one point. I know there's a lot of discussion about crossdressing and transphobia and while I guess, as someone who identifies as a "female-adjacent non-binary person", I theoretically could have an opinion about that, I really don't.
I remember finding it entertaining when I was twelve. And at the time, transgender issues and transphobia wasn't really part of everyday discussion. So we'll see how it looks with adult eyes. I'll try to remember to warn.
So without further nonsense, let's get started:
So we're introduced immediately to our lead character, Kevin. Kevin seems to be a fairly standard Lackey-esque protagonist. He's teenaged and a little whiny, but not unrealistically so, I suppose.
We can see our first look at him here:
The lute string snapped, whipping across Kevin’s hand. He yelped, just barely managing not to drop the lute. Instead, he placed the instrument gently down on his cot, then brought his stinging hand to his mouth. Blast it all, that had hurt! Of course it had. He knew better by now than to try tightening a string too far. After all, he’d been a bardling, an apprentice Bard, for what seemed like all his nearly sixteen years.
The welt finally stopped smarting. Kevin got to his feet with an impatient sigh. He didn’t really mind practicing; it was something every musician had to do every day, even his Master. He didn’t even mind being stuck in his cramped little room. Or at least he wouldn’t mind practicing and being cooped up in this stupid room in this stupid inn if only he knew this was all leading somewhere!
If something doesn’t happen soon, something exciting…
So this book, in the "Bard's Tale" series, is actually about a bard. Good to know. Or at least a "bardling".
He's an interesting contrast to Rune, I think. Both characters start out around the same age, but Kevin's had a considerable head start on his career compared to Rune. And he comes off as quite a bit more privileged as well.
That's not a bad thing. It's good when characters start with annoying traits that they'll hopefully overcome.
So anyway, Kevin's doing the bored teenager thing of staring out the window. He sees a merchant, accompanied by two men and a woman in leather armor. Kevin's jealous. He knows they're probably just "common mercenaries" but they're going somewhere and doing something, while Kevin is not.
You'll miss this boredom when you're older, kid. Maybe.
We learn a bit more about the place where Kevin's hanging out: it's a town called Bracklin. I like this description:
Bracklin was little more than a collection of a dozen small, thatched-roof houses clustered behind the inn. A neat, pretty, orderly place, one where nothing different had ever happened and nothing ever would.
Apparently, the people of Bracklin like it that way.
On the plus side, Ms. Lackey and Ms. Sherman have learned the lesson of the Harpers of Pern and have decided to tell us, right away, what Bards actually do in this setting.
Kevin leaned back against the inn’s half-timbered side, the wall chilly on his back, the sun warm on his face. There had never been a day he could remember when he hadn’t dreamed of being a Bard, of singing wonderful songs and traveling to wonderful places, maybe even working the rare, powerful Bardic Magic, healing people with his music or even banishing demons. How could those dreams have turned into something so unbearably dull?
Through whining. But, and I do think this is one of Ms. Lackey's strengths as a writer in particular, I do remember that feeling. Ugh.
He ends up running into a washer-woman named Ada. Ada assumes he's there to pick up "Master Aidan's clothes". Hah, two Aidans in as many books. This Aidan presumably doesn't have a raven though. Alas.
Apparently the clothes will be late, because Ada had to spend the previous day washing the travel dust off of the robes of "His Nibs". But, she admits, that the fellow did pay her down to the last coin and added some extra too.
So in the resulting dialogue, we learn that Kevin's been in Bracklin since he was a small child. He'd come with his music teacher, Mistress Malen. He remembers her being very kind.
Anyway, baby Kevin had apparently revealed himself to have the "true gift of music" and had basically been plucking at his family's old lute since he was old enough to hold it. Aw.
Apparently she was a really good teacher and realized that his talent was beyond hers, and thus he got past to "Master Aidan".
Master Aidan, we learn, is a Bard and a hero. He apparently helped "King Amber" keep his throne some thirty years ago when an usurper, "Princess Carlotta" attempted to steal it. Carlotta was apparently a sorceress, and Aidan defeated her.
This part's a little exposition heavy, and has a bit of an "as you know, Bob" quality to it. That said, Kevin's very bored and thus it makes some sense that he's trying for some vicarious thrill through his mentor's old adventures.
Unfortunately for Kevin, Aidan's pretty much settled down into peace and quiet and the excitement of learning from a hero Bard has kind of worn off. Kevin, himself, really wants to go off and meet new people and see new things.
Ada basically thinks the kid's crazy. She's got a nice house, steady work and is happy with her life. And the other townsfolk that Kevin end up passing on his way back to the Blue Swan inn are basically the same way.
Poor Kevin is restringing his lute and sulking about how Mr. Aidan could have been named the royal bard, and they could be living in a palace right now, but nope. I mean, I kind of get that complaint. A palace sounds nice.
Kevin might be whiny about his master's prospects, but he's pretty effusive in describing the man's talent. Apparently even now, when Aidan plays his lute, Kevin gets "a shiver of wonder". He dreams of playing that way someday. He's learning though.
And this universe ALSO has some kind of "Bardic Magic":
I don’t understand it! If I had such a gift, I’d be using it, not not hiding it away in the middle of nowhere!
Oh yes, “if,” Kevin thought darkly. It wasn’t as though every Bard had the innate gift for Bardic Magic, after all. Master Aidan seemed to believe he possessed it, had assured Kevin over and over that in some bardlings the gift blossomed fairly late. But surely if he was going to show any sign of magic, it would have surfaced by now. After all, he was nearly a man! Yet so far he hadn’t felt the slightest angle of Power no matter how hard he’d tried. To him, the potentially magical songs his Master had taught him remained just that: songs.
Well, I'm genre savvy enough to realize that Kevin will absolutely discover he has "Bardic Magic" in the most climactically appropriate time.
We finally get a break from teenaged angst when Mr. Aidan summons him. We get our first look at the dude:
But when the bardling saw the old Bard’s pale face, his impatience slipped away, replaced by a pang of worry. He had never known the Master as anything but a white-bearded old man, but surely he’d never seen him look quite this tired. Quite this… fragile.
Aw. I guess he would be old, if he'd saved the kingdom thirty years ago.
Anyway, as it turns out, he has an assignment for Kevin. And...this is pretty funny:
“Then… what is it? Are we going somewhere?” Oh please, oh please, say yes!
“We? No. boy. You.”
Kevin felt his heart thunder in his chest. Yes! At last something new was going to happen! “You w-won’t regret this!” he stammered. “Just tell me what the quest is, and I ”
The old Bard chuckled faintly. “I’m afraid it isn’t a quest, my fine young hero. More of an errand. A longer one than usual, and further away than most, but an errand never the less.”
“Oh.” Kevin struggled to keep the disappointment from his face. I should have known better. Just another stupid errand.
“What I want you to do,” the Bard continued, “is go to the castle of Count Volmar ”
“And deliver a message from the King?” At least that would be something halfway dramatic!
“And copy a manuscript for me,” his Master corrected, looking down his long nose at the bardling. “You’re to copy it copy it exactly, understand and bring the copy back to me.”
So the poor kid has a chore. It's probably going to be a very long, very dull manuscript.
Kevin asks the logical question: why not ask the folks at the castle to send the manuscript to him?
Apparently it's too valuable.
He then asks, if it's supposed to be copied exactly, why not hire a trained scribe? And that's actually a pretty good question. Kevin's presumably got a lot of the required skills, or Aidan wouldn't send him, but that's not the same as an expert. And if this thing is so valuable, maybe an expert would be best.
But nope, and we get an explanation, kinda:
“No!” For a startling moment, the Bard’s face was so fierce Kevin could almost believe the heroic tales But then the fierceness faded, leaving only a weary old man behind. “I have given you your orders. The manuscript you are to copy is known as The Study of Ancient Song. It is approximately three hands high and one and a half hands wide, and is bound in plain, dark brown leather that, I imagine, must be fairly well worn by now. The title may or may not be embossed on the spine, but it should be printed clearly enough on the cover.” He paused “In brief: the manuscript cannot be moved from the count’s library. And only you are to copy it. Each day’s work must be hidden. It must not be shown to anyone. Is that understood?”
Translation, this is something really magical and someone is going to try to trick you or kill you for it.
Kevin, not being as genre savvy as I am, doesn't realize that this is absolutely going to end up being exciting after all.
Aidan gives him a letter of introduction, with clear instructions to keep it in his belt pouch. He warns that nobles are suspicious and unless he can prove that he's sent by Aidan, he won't get in.
...I'm guessing he loses that thing in one chapter. Also, what if he gets robbed or something?
But anyway, Kevin's starting to look on the bright side. It's going to be a boring task, but he'll get out of the inn for a few days - yeesh, I'd think copying would take longer than THAT - and stay in a castle to boot. He might even get to meet some nobles!
That's the spirit, kid.
Anyway, Aidan is concerned about Kevin's safety, on account of Kevin being an idiot fifteen year old musician. Kevin points out that he can handle a sword. Aidan says he won't because that could risk an injury to his hands. Fair point.
And that's when Kevin's ride shows up:
He moved slowly to the window. Kevin followed, looking over the man’s shoulder at a laughing group of folks on horseback clattering into the courtyard, surrounding two gaudy red and blue wagons. The riders’ cloaks and tunics fluttered in the wind, their many colors so bright he could have sworn they were cut from scraps of rainbows. The man who seemed to be the leader, driving the first wagon, wore a robe that glittered like the sun itself.
So Kevin will be joining a troop of musicians! Yay!
Kevin's a bit shocked by the casual way that the leader talks to Master Aidan, but they're clearly old friends. So Aidan explains the situation. One of the minstrels immediately endears herself to Kevin by noting that it's a far way for "such a child". (That's sarcasm, Kevin is immediately indignant in the way that children are.)
So Kevin will be leaving with them at sunrise.
He gets to hear a minstrel performance, and this is interesting:
That night, the troop of minstrels sang for their supper, standing to one side of the open fireplace, the gaudy colors of their clothing turned muted and glowing by the flickering firelight. Kevin listened to their music for a long time, trying to figure out exactly what they were doing. No two singers seemed to be following the same tune, and the two harpers, three fiddlers and one flutist all seemed to be playing their own melodies as well. And yet somehow all that wild sound managed to blend into one whole, intricate song. He couldn’t say whether or not it was a beautiful song, he couldn’t even say whether or not he liked it, but the bardling had to admit it certainly was interesting.
Apparently the innkeeper doesn't know what to make of it either. Aidan asks what Kevin thinks. Kevin is hesitant, then compares it to "something the forest would sing". It's wild.
Aidan seems to like the observation, and then urges him to sleep since he'll need to be up very early.
And we then skip to morning. Kevin is annoyed to see that he'll be riding a mule rather than a horse. (Adventurers, of course, would be riding some kind of stallion!) He's pretty embarrassed. The minstrels don't really help:
“That’s a wise old mule, bardling. He’ll carry you safe and sound to Count Volmar’s castle. If he doesn’t decide to dump you in the mud instead!”
The minstrels all burst into laughter. His cheeks flaming, Kevin made sure the saddle pack with his spare clothes was secure, then climbed into the saddle. As he did, the lute whacked him painfully across the back. The mule wiggled a long ear back at him as though it too was laughing at him.
Aw, come on guys, Kevin's a snot, sure. But he's also fifteen. Everyone's obnoxious at fifteen.
And the chapter ends with Kevin starting off on a less then auspicious start of his journey.
--
So, at first glance, I already feel like this is better than Cast of Corbies. Kevin's irritating, but he's irritating in a way that fits his role. He's a clueless, bored teenager.
We don't know yet what kind of challenges he'll encounter, but we've got a pretty clear task and direction, so it'll be interesting to see what comes of it.
It'd be easy to blame Ms. Lackey's co-writer, but the thing is, I remember reading books by this collaboration of authors before and enjoying them. So I decided that I was annoyed enough by that book to want to prove to myself and any readers who care that this collaboration of authors is capable of better.
And I remembered that, when I was about twelve years old, I really enjoyed this book. It's not particularly complicated or deep. It is, in fact, a tie-in novel to a 1985 Computer Game: The Bard's Tale. It's also NOT representative of that game's plot. It's merely, apparently, set in the universe.
At the time, I knew nothing about that universe. And to be honest, I STILL know nothing about that universe. So yeah.
I do vaguely remember that this book has a renegade dark elf in it, sorry for the spoiler, but one that's a different style than Drizzt. It'll be interesting to see how he compares.
I also remember a crossdressing scene at one point. I know there's a lot of discussion about crossdressing and transphobia and while I guess, as someone who identifies as a "female-adjacent non-binary person", I theoretically could have an opinion about that, I really don't.
I remember finding it entertaining when I was twelve. And at the time, transgender issues and transphobia wasn't really part of everyday discussion. So we'll see how it looks with adult eyes. I'll try to remember to warn.
So without further nonsense, let's get started:
So we're introduced immediately to our lead character, Kevin. Kevin seems to be a fairly standard Lackey-esque protagonist. He's teenaged and a little whiny, but not unrealistically so, I suppose.
We can see our first look at him here:
The lute string snapped, whipping across Kevin’s hand. He yelped, just barely managing not to drop the lute. Instead, he placed the instrument gently down on his cot, then brought his stinging hand to his mouth. Blast it all, that had hurt! Of course it had. He knew better by now than to try tightening a string too far. After all, he’d been a bardling, an apprentice Bard, for what seemed like all his nearly sixteen years.
The welt finally stopped smarting. Kevin got to his feet with an impatient sigh. He didn’t really mind practicing; it was something every musician had to do every day, even his Master. He didn’t even mind being stuck in his cramped little room. Or at least he wouldn’t mind practicing and being cooped up in this stupid room in this stupid inn if only he knew this was all leading somewhere!
If something doesn’t happen soon, something exciting…
So this book, in the "Bard's Tale" series, is actually about a bard. Good to know. Or at least a "bardling".
He's an interesting contrast to Rune, I think. Both characters start out around the same age, but Kevin's had a considerable head start on his career compared to Rune. And he comes off as quite a bit more privileged as well.
That's not a bad thing. It's good when characters start with annoying traits that they'll hopefully overcome.
So anyway, Kevin's doing the bored teenager thing of staring out the window. He sees a merchant, accompanied by two men and a woman in leather armor. Kevin's jealous. He knows they're probably just "common mercenaries" but they're going somewhere and doing something, while Kevin is not.
You'll miss this boredom when you're older, kid. Maybe.
We learn a bit more about the place where Kevin's hanging out: it's a town called Bracklin. I like this description:
Bracklin was little more than a collection of a dozen small, thatched-roof houses clustered behind the inn. A neat, pretty, orderly place, one where nothing different had ever happened and nothing ever would.
Apparently, the people of Bracklin like it that way.
On the plus side, Ms. Lackey and Ms. Sherman have learned the lesson of the Harpers of Pern and have decided to tell us, right away, what Bards actually do in this setting.
Kevin leaned back against the inn’s half-timbered side, the wall chilly on his back, the sun warm on his face. There had never been a day he could remember when he hadn’t dreamed of being a Bard, of singing wonderful songs and traveling to wonderful places, maybe even working the rare, powerful Bardic Magic, healing people with his music or even banishing demons. How could those dreams have turned into something so unbearably dull?
Through whining. But, and I do think this is one of Ms. Lackey's strengths as a writer in particular, I do remember that feeling. Ugh.
He ends up running into a washer-woman named Ada. Ada assumes he's there to pick up "Master Aidan's clothes". Hah, two Aidans in as many books. This Aidan presumably doesn't have a raven though. Alas.
Apparently the clothes will be late, because Ada had to spend the previous day washing the travel dust off of the robes of "His Nibs". But, she admits, that the fellow did pay her down to the last coin and added some extra too.
So in the resulting dialogue, we learn that Kevin's been in Bracklin since he was a small child. He'd come with his music teacher, Mistress Malen. He remembers her being very kind.
Anyway, baby Kevin had apparently revealed himself to have the "true gift of music" and had basically been plucking at his family's old lute since he was old enough to hold it. Aw.
Apparently she was a really good teacher and realized that his talent was beyond hers, and thus he got past to "Master Aidan".
Master Aidan, we learn, is a Bard and a hero. He apparently helped "King Amber" keep his throne some thirty years ago when an usurper, "Princess Carlotta" attempted to steal it. Carlotta was apparently a sorceress, and Aidan defeated her.
This part's a little exposition heavy, and has a bit of an "as you know, Bob" quality to it. That said, Kevin's very bored and thus it makes some sense that he's trying for some vicarious thrill through his mentor's old adventures.
Unfortunately for Kevin, Aidan's pretty much settled down into peace and quiet and the excitement of learning from a hero Bard has kind of worn off. Kevin, himself, really wants to go off and meet new people and see new things.
Ada basically thinks the kid's crazy. She's got a nice house, steady work and is happy with her life. And the other townsfolk that Kevin end up passing on his way back to the Blue Swan inn are basically the same way.
Poor Kevin is restringing his lute and sulking about how Mr. Aidan could have been named the royal bard, and they could be living in a palace right now, but nope. I mean, I kind of get that complaint. A palace sounds nice.
Kevin might be whiny about his master's prospects, but he's pretty effusive in describing the man's talent. Apparently even now, when Aidan plays his lute, Kevin gets "a shiver of wonder". He dreams of playing that way someday. He's learning though.
And this universe ALSO has some kind of "Bardic Magic":
I don’t understand it! If I had such a gift, I’d be using it, not not hiding it away in the middle of nowhere!
Oh yes, “if,” Kevin thought darkly. It wasn’t as though every Bard had the innate gift for Bardic Magic, after all. Master Aidan seemed to believe he possessed it, had assured Kevin over and over that in some bardlings the gift blossomed fairly late. But surely if he was going to show any sign of magic, it would have surfaced by now. After all, he was nearly a man! Yet so far he hadn’t felt the slightest angle of Power no matter how hard he’d tried. To him, the potentially magical songs his Master had taught him remained just that: songs.
Well, I'm genre savvy enough to realize that Kevin will absolutely discover he has "Bardic Magic" in the most climactically appropriate time.
We finally get a break from teenaged angst when Mr. Aidan summons him. We get our first look at the dude:
But when the bardling saw the old Bard’s pale face, his impatience slipped away, replaced by a pang of worry. He had never known the Master as anything but a white-bearded old man, but surely he’d never seen him look quite this tired. Quite this… fragile.
Aw. I guess he would be old, if he'd saved the kingdom thirty years ago.
Anyway, as it turns out, he has an assignment for Kevin. And...this is pretty funny:
“Then… what is it? Are we going somewhere?” Oh please, oh please, say yes!
“We? No. boy. You.”
Kevin felt his heart thunder in his chest. Yes! At last something new was going to happen! “You w-won’t regret this!” he stammered. “Just tell me what the quest is, and I ”
The old Bard chuckled faintly. “I’m afraid it isn’t a quest, my fine young hero. More of an errand. A longer one than usual, and further away than most, but an errand never the less.”
“Oh.” Kevin struggled to keep the disappointment from his face. I should have known better. Just another stupid errand.
“What I want you to do,” the Bard continued, “is go to the castle of Count Volmar ”
“And deliver a message from the King?” At least that would be something halfway dramatic!
“And copy a manuscript for me,” his Master corrected, looking down his long nose at the bardling. “You’re to copy it copy it exactly, understand and bring the copy back to me.”
So the poor kid has a chore. It's probably going to be a very long, very dull manuscript.
Kevin asks the logical question: why not ask the folks at the castle to send the manuscript to him?
Apparently it's too valuable.
He then asks, if it's supposed to be copied exactly, why not hire a trained scribe? And that's actually a pretty good question. Kevin's presumably got a lot of the required skills, or Aidan wouldn't send him, but that's not the same as an expert. And if this thing is so valuable, maybe an expert would be best.
But nope, and we get an explanation, kinda:
“No!” For a startling moment, the Bard’s face was so fierce Kevin could almost believe the heroic tales But then the fierceness faded, leaving only a weary old man behind. “I have given you your orders. The manuscript you are to copy is known as The Study of Ancient Song. It is approximately three hands high and one and a half hands wide, and is bound in plain, dark brown leather that, I imagine, must be fairly well worn by now. The title may or may not be embossed on the spine, but it should be printed clearly enough on the cover.” He paused “In brief: the manuscript cannot be moved from the count’s library. And only you are to copy it. Each day’s work must be hidden. It must not be shown to anyone. Is that understood?”
Translation, this is something really magical and someone is going to try to trick you or kill you for it.
Kevin, not being as genre savvy as I am, doesn't realize that this is absolutely going to end up being exciting after all.
Aidan gives him a letter of introduction, with clear instructions to keep it in his belt pouch. He warns that nobles are suspicious and unless he can prove that he's sent by Aidan, he won't get in.
...I'm guessing he loses that thing in one chapter. Also, what if he gets robbed or something?
But anyway, Kevin's starting to look on the bright side. It's going to be a boring task, but he'll get out of the inn for a few days - yeesh, I'd think copying would take longer than THAT - and stay in a castle to boot. He might even get to meet some nobles!
That's the spirit, kid.
Anyway, Aidan is concerned about Kevin's safety, on account of Kevin being an idiot fifteen year old musician. Kevin points out that he can handle a sword. Aidan says he won't because that could risk an injury to his hands. Fair point.
And that's when Kevin's ride shows up:
He moved slowly to the window. Kevin followed, looking over the man’s shoulder at a laughing group of folks on horseback clattering into the courtyard, surrounding two gaudy red and blue wagons. The riders’ cloaks and tunics fluttered in the wind, their many colors so bright he could have sworn they were cut from scraps of rainbows. The man who seemed to be the leader, driving the first wagon, wore a robe that glittered like the sun itself.
So Kevin will be joining a troop of musicians! Yay!
Kevin's a bit shocked by the casual way that the leader talks to Master Aidan, but they're clearly old friends. So Aidan explains the situation. One of the minstrels immediately endears herself to Kevin by noting that it's a far way for "such a child". (That's sarcasm, Kevin is immediately indignant in the way that children are.)
So Kevin will be leaving with them at sunrise.
He gets to hear a minstrel performance, and this is interesting:
That night, the troop of minstrels sang for their supper, standing to one side of the open fireplace, the gaudy colors of their clothing turned muted and glowing by the flickering firelight. Kevin listened to their music for a long time, trying to figure out exactly what they were doing. No two singers seemed to be following the same tune, and the two harpers, three fiddlers and one flutist all seemed to be playing their own melodies as well. And yet somehow all that wild sound managed to blend into one whole, intricate song. He couldn’t say whether or not it was a beautiful song, he couldn’t even say whether or not he liked it, but the bardling had to admit it certainly was interesting.
Apparently the innkeeper doesn't know what to make of it either. Aidan asks what Kevin thinks. Kevin is hesitant, then compares it to "something the forest would sing". It's wild.
Aidan seems to like the observation, and then urges him to sleep since he'll need to be up very early.
And we then skip to morning. Kevin is annoyed to see that he'll be riding a mule rather than a horse. (Adventurers, of course, would be riding some kind of stallion!) He's pretty embarrassed. The minstrels don't really help:
“That’s a wise old mule, bardling. He’ll carry you safe and sound to Count Volmar’s castle. If he doesn’t decide to dump you in the mud instead!”
The minstrels all burst into laughter. His cheeks flaming, Kevin made sure the saddle pack with his spare clothes was secure, then climbed into the saddle. As he did, the lute whacked him painfully across the back. The mule wiggled a long ear back at him as though it too was laughing at him.
Aw, come on guys, Kevin's a snot, sure. But he's also fifteen. Everyone's obnoxious at fifteen.
And the chapter ends with Kevin starting off on a less then auspicious start of his journey.
--
So, at first glance, I already feel like this is better than Cast of Corbies. Kevin's irritating, but he's irritating in a way that fits his role. He's a clueless, bored teenager.
We don't know yet what kind of challenges he'll encounter, but we've got a pretty clear task and direction, so it'll be interesting to see what comes of it.