Library Classics: ‘Slaine – The Horned God’ – Pat Mills and Simon Bisley (Rebellion)

I first came across Celtic barbarian hero Slaine at a newsagents in the nicer end of Ipswich. And that would have been amazing if it had happened the way I (deliberately) wrote it but he was in a comic of course, one of those American editions that repackage old British stories. Ukko the Dwarf lost himself in a bet and Slaine had to win him back, which he did. It was a little hint, even then, that comics could do a lot more than retell old war stories (I'm looking at you 'Victor' comic) which is fine in its place but I was after something different and 'Slaine' gave me that.

That first meeting was back in the mid to late eighties and it wasn't until 1992 that I met up with Slaine again. This time round, a good mate of mine lent me 'The Horned God' to read while I waited for my GCSE results to turn up. It was a good summer, both for the GCSE results and because I got to read 'The Horned God' for the first time. We pick up little influences on our reading, as we go along in life, that pretty much decide what we will read next. If I hadn't read 'The Horned God' back then, my reading habits would be a hell of a lot different (as would this blog). Lets have a little chat about why 'The Horned God' is a Library Classic...

For too long the people of Tír na nÓg have suffered under the dominion of the drunes; strange druids who have poisoned the land with their magic.
Sláine has had enough of their tyranny and, through the Earth Goddess, he learns some shocking truths about the priesthood and his own future.
Now Sláine must unite the four kings of Tir-Nan-Og and use their mystical weapons as he and the Sessair tribe prepare for all-out war!

For me, 'The Horned God' is just this heady mix of Pat Mills and Simon Bisley nailing it on every single page and just being amazing at what they are doing. The end result is a book that I can happily get lost in for hours, even now. It's safe to say that if you're a fan of fantasy then you need to make 'The Horned God' a priority read. Seriously, it's that good.

Pat Mills had already done the groundwork, in the 'Slaine' books leading up to this one, but 'The Horned God' shows Slaine as far more than just another tired 'barbarian knock off'. Slaine leaps off the page as very much his own man (which ironically, shows him as having more than a little in common with Conan, albeit in all the right ways) and while he's as fond of wine and women as the next barbarian, there's much more to him than questing for treasure. 'The Horned God' is all about the 'quest' but Slaine really gets that it will take far more if his people are to survive and be one with the earth. Slaine has no qualms at all about turning everything on it's head, the whole culture of his tribe and every other tribe as well. It's about far more than just having all the tribes under one ruler (which does help) and getting some magic treasures, it's about his people reconnecting with the Goddess Danu and a readjustment of well, everything as a result. After all, what's the point of Slaine winning if he becomes another Slough Feg down the line...?

From where I'm sat, Mills not only gives us a tale of adventure and awesome fights with monsters (all carefully steeped in rich Celtic mythology as well as comic relief in Ukko the Dwarf); he's also redefining a good couple of decades worth of what it meant to be a hero in fantasy literature. That's a tough task for anyone but Mills not only manages it but makes it all look easy. By encouraging his people to embrace all of their culture, not just the patriarchal bits, Slaine becomes a more rounded hero as a result; embracing all that comes with it. So while the plot may seem a little too straightforward, there is so much more happening in this book that gives you plenty to think about while the heads (and other assorted body parts) are flying. The body count is impressive, and Slaine didn't think it too many ;o)

All of this is accompanied by Simon Bisley's stunning artwork which is just ideal for this story. It's vibrant and right in your face, just like the story that it's detailing. What I'm also a fan of is how Bisley really turns the landscape into the 'Land of the Young'. It's fresh and filled with potential and this makes Feg's plans for it all the more abhorrent (although Mills does well to make Feg's thinking understandable at the very least). It's just the perfect art for this story, that's all there is to it.

'The Horned God' blew me away as a sixteen year old and reading it continues to do that, even now. If you haven't read it then you really should, it's a brilliant example of what fantasy can be when it's done right.