Expecting Someone Taller

Infobox Book |
name = Expecting Someone Taller
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = Orbit (1988) paperback edition cover
author = Tom Holt
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = UK
language = English
series =
genre = Satirical Fantasy novel
publisher = Macmillan Publishers
St. Martin's Press
release_date = 1987
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages =
isbn = ISBN 0-333-44002-1
preceded_by = Lucia Triumphant
followed_by = Who's Afraid of Beowulf?

"Expecting Someone Taller" is the first humorous fantasy novel by popular British author Tom Holt. It was first published in hardcover in 1987, by Macmillan Publishers in the UK, and by St. Martin's Press in the US. A UK paperback edition was released in 1988 by Futura Orbit in 1988, and a US paperback edition was released in 1990 by Ace Books. The book was released in the 5th omnibus of Holt's books entitled "Tall Stories".

The book is intended as a humorous sequel of sorts to Wagner's epic opera cycle, "Der Ring des Nibelungen" (or "The Ring of the Nibelung"), but is primarily set in contemporary England.

Plot summary

The story involves Malcolm Fisher, a hapless auction clerk in modern-day England, who runs over a badger one night. The badger turns out to be the giant Ingolf, brother of Fafnir, and Fisher becomes the new owner of the Ring of the Nibelung and the Tarnhelm, and, thereby, ruler of the world. He also drinks some of the Ingolf's blood, which gives him the ability to understand the language of the birds. He finds that he cannot feel any negative emotions such as anger or frustration, as doing so causes various catastrophies worldwide. Thus Malcolm tries to be as positive as possible in his day-to-day life. He uses the ring to gain enough gold to buy a mansion and tries to live a quiet life.

However, Wotan, king of the gods, still wants the ring, as do others, and Fisher finds himself pursued by numerous characters from Wagner's opera. He also becomes romantically entangled, first with the Rhinemaiden Flosshilde, and later with one of the Valkyries, Ortlinde. Malcolm is unaware of the Valkyrie's true identity and does intend to give the ring to her, but a bird reveals to him who she truly is. It is then revealed that his housekeeper is actually Ortlinde's mother, Mother Earth. Yet he believes himself in love with her and still intends to give her the ring, but she leaves. Wotan thus resorts to sending an army but Malcolm faces it and is able to destroy it, and all the high gods, merely by his resolve. Malcolm fears that he has also destroyed Flosshilde whom he now knows he loves, but it turns out she was just visiting her cousins. When she returns he gives her the ring, believing she will do a better job, but keeps the tarnhelm which gives him immortality.

Recognition

The novel was nominated for a Crawford Award by the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts in 1991 [http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Crawford1991.html] .

Editions

* McMillan, London, 1987 — ISBN 0-333-44002-1
* St. Martin's, NY, 1987 — ISBN 0-312-01426-0
* Futura Orbit, London 1988 — ISBN 0-708-88264-1
* Ace Books, NY, 1990 — ISBN 0-441-22332-X
* ISBN 1-857-23181-3

External links

* [http://www.booklore.co.uk/PastReviews/HoltTom/ExpectingSomeoneTaller/ExpectingSomeoneTallerReview.htm Review at Booklore.co.uk]
* [http://www.nesfa.org/reviews/Olson/ExpectingSomeoneTaller.html Review by the New England Science Fiction Association]