Summer's signing off
Buy used
£219.00
£9.88 delivery 1 - 7 August. Details
Used: Good | Details
Condition: Used: Good
Comment: Dispatched from USA. In addition to Europe, we also ship to Asia, South America and the Middle East. 100% money-back guarantee. Delivery in 10 - 14 days
Only 1 left in stock.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Inheritance: And Other Stories Hardcover – 31 Oct. 2011

4.4 out of 5 stars 949 ratings

Save 15% on Baby Einstein

Product description

From the Inside Flap

Megan Lindholm (Wizard of the Pigeons) writes tightly constructed SF and fantasy with a distinctly contemporary feel. Robin Hobb (Assassin's Quest) writes sprawling, multi-volume fantasies set in imaginary realms. These two writers, apparently so different, are, of course, the same person, each reflecting an aspect of a single multifaceted imagination.Inheritance gathers the best of Hobb and Lindholm's shorter fiction into one irreplaceable volume containing ten stories and novellas (seven by Lindholm, three by Hobb), together with a revealing introduction and extensive, highly readable story notes. The Lindholm section leads off with the Hugo and Nebula-nominated novella A Touch of Lavender, a powerful account of love, music, poverty, and addiction set against an extended encounter between human and alien societies. Other memorable entries include Cut, a reflection on the complex consequences of freedom, and the newly published Drum Machine, an equally absorbing meditation on the chaotic nature of the creative impulse. Two of Robin Hobb's contributions revisit the world of her popular Live Traders series. Homecoming enlarges the earlier history of those novels through the journal entries of Lady Carillion Carrock, while The Inheritance concerns a disenfranchised young woman who comes to understand the true nature of her grandmother's legacy. And in Cat's Meat, a long and wonderful story written expressly for this collection, an embattled single mother reclaims her life with the help of a gifted and utterly ruthless cat.Inheritance offers the best of two separate but related fictional worlds. Whatever their differences, the Hobb and Lindholm stories have certain crucial elements in common: their intelligence, their attention to detail, and their instant, almost effortless accessibility. Together, these beautifully crafted tales constitute a unique and important collection that offers both offers both intellectual pleasure and pure narrative excitement on virtually every page.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Subterranean
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 31 Oct. 2011
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Limited, Signed
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 392 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1596064382
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1596064386
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 771 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.88 x 3.81 x 23.5 cm
  • Best Sellers Rank: 143 in Fantasy Anthologies (Books)
  • Customer reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 949 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Robin Hobb
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Robin Hobb is a New York Times best-selling fantasy author. She is published in English in the US, UK and Australia, and her works have been widely translated. Her short stories have been finalists for both the Hugo and the Nebula awards, as well as winning the Asimov's Readers Award. Her best known series is The Farseer Trilogy (Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin, and Assassin's Quest.)

Robin Hobb was born in Oakland California, but grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska. She has spent her life mostly in the Pacific Nortwest region of the US, and currently resides in Tacoma, Washington State, with her husband Fred. They have four grown offspring, and six grandchildren.

Robin Hobb is a pen name for Margaret Ogden. She has also written under the name Megan Lindholm.

She published her first short story for children when she was 18,and for some years wrote as a journalist and children's writer. Her stories for children were published in magazines such as Humpty Dumpty's Magazine for Little Children, Jack & Jill and Highlights for Children. She also created educational reading material for children for a programmed reading series by SRA (Science Research Associates.) She received a grant award from the Alaska State Council on the arts for her short story "The Poaching", published in Finding Our Boundaries in 1980.

Fantasy and Science Fiction had always been her two favorite genres, and in the late 70's she began to write in them. Her initial works were published in small press 'fanzines' such as Space and Time (editor Gordon Linzner). Her first professionally published story was "Bones for Dulath" that appeared in the Ace anthology AMAZONS!, edited by Jessica Amanda Salmonson in 1979. A short time later, a second Ki and Vandien story entitled The Small One was published in FANTASTIC in 1980.

During that time period, she and her family had moved from Alaska to Hawaii, and subsequently to Washington State, where they settled. She had various money making occupations (waitress, salesperson, etc.) while striving with her writing. Her husband Fred continued to fish Alaskan waters and was home only about 3 months out of every year. The family lived on a small farm in rural Roy where they raised lots of vegetables, chickens, ducks, geese and other small livestock.

In 1983, her first novel, Harpy's Flight, was published by Ace under the pen name Megan Lindholm. Her later titles under that name included Wizard of the Pigeons, Alien Earth, Luck of the Wheels, and Cloven Hooves.

In 1995, she launched her best selling series of books set in the Realm of the Elderlings. At that time, she began writing as Robin Hobb. Her first trilogy of books were about her popular characters, FitzChivalry Farseer and the Fool. The Farseer Trilogy is comprised of Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin and Assassin's Quest. These books were followed by The Liveship Traders trilogy, set in the same world. The Tawny Man trilogy returned to the tale of Fitz and the Fool. Most recently, the four volumes of the Rain Wilds Chronicles were published: Dragon Keeper, Dragon Haven, City of Dragons and Blood of Dragons.

In 2013, it was announced that she would return to her best-loved characters with a new trilogy, The Fitz and the Fool trilogy. The first volume, Fool's Assassin, will be published in August of 2014.

Other works as Robin Hobb include The Soldier Son trilogy and short stories published in various anthologies. A collection of her shorter works as both Lindholm and Hobb is available in The Inheritance.

She continues to reside in Tacoma, Washington, with frequent visits to the pocket farm in Roy.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
949 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers enjoy this collection of short stories, with one noting it's a perfect change from long novels. They appreciate Robin Hobb's writing style, and one customer mentions it provides an intimate insight into her work.

27 customers mention ‘Short stories’23 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the short stories in the book, finding them delightful, with one customer noting it's a perfect change from long novels.

"...series so this appealed to me as it appeared to be comprised of multiple shorter stories...." Read more

"...One of the best short story collections I've come across." Read more

"...others that I'd read by Robin Hobb simply because it was a selection of short stories...." Read more

"...broken only by the infuriating need to sleep and eat, delighting in every single story...." Read more

23 customers mention ‘Enjoyment’23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, with one mentioning it kept them entertained and another noting how it leads to further pleasures.

"...Megan Lindholm books as I am of the Robin Hobb works, but this was a good read none-the-less" Read more

"Signed copy. Enormously pleased." Read more

"...is quirky and original and I especially liked 'Strays' - moving and memorable, one of those that keeps coming back at you...." Read more

"...It was intriguing, lots of interesting subjects, leading you on to further pleasures. The one I had the most enjoyment from was 'The Homecoming'...." Read more

11 customers mention ‘Writing style’11 positive0 negative

Customers love Robin Hobb's writing style, with one customer particularly appreciating the intimate insight into her craft.

"...collection has given me new places to look for this wonderfully inventive writer's work." Read more

"Megan Lindholm is Robin Hobbs. Her writing is always beautiful, but her Hobbs 'persona' has captivated me... this collection of stories does offer..." Read more

"I love Robin Hobb's writing style...." Read more

"...although not so keen on the sci fi type stories, but as always verywell written and nice to have short stories occasionally so I am not tempted to..." Read more

A Delightful read for Robin Hobb fans, introducing them to Megan Lindholme and vice versa
5 out of 5 stars
A Delightful read for Robin Hobb fans, introducing them to Megan Lindholme and vice versa
I did not know these two authors were one person until I picked up this book. Despite over half the story titles being attributed to Megan Lindholm, Robin Hobb’s words take up half the book, so whoever is your favourite personality of this author, you’re getting a fair share! I bought the book as a Robin Hobb fan, but enjoyed all the Lindholm stories too, all of which have the kind of magic that can exist overlooked in the modern world. The Robin Hobb stories run parallel to the main legendarium in places that will be recognisable to those who have already read of the Trader folk, the Rain Wilds and the Witted, these being the background themes of the three Robin Hobb stories. I won’t say more as I don’t want to spoil the stories of her main works for those who have yet to experience that treat.
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry, we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 April 2016
    Didn't quite know what to expect when I purchased this. I had just finished both of Robin Hobb's "Farseer Trilogy" and the "Liveship Trilogy" when I bought The Inheritance.

    I thoroughly enjoyed both of these series' so decided to purchase another Robin Hobb book, but wasn't ready to invest my time into another lengthy series so this appealed to me as it appeared to be comprised of multiple shorter stories.

    Now I didn't read other reviews beforehand and was hoping for another serene magical adventure so was at first disappointed to see it was more of a book revolving around the author and her personas as Megan Lindholm VS Robin Hobb (same author 2X different writing styles). This book entails true insight into her creative process and connections to her actual life which inspired her to write these stories before each one. This said however they're only short snippets and last a few pages at most. I was initially hesitant about this new more personal connection to the author but by the third story found it gave a new perspective for reading her works in the way she wanted the reader to view them.

    This first half or so of the book consists of a multitude Lindholm stories varying in length while the latter half is original Hobb with 2X stories from the Cursed Shores (one linked to Bingtown and the other the Rain Wilds)

    The Hobbs stories aren't of major significance in her world however the Rain Wilds story gives insight into the lives of the first settlers generations before the events of the Liveship traders series.

    All in all a good mixture of short stories from Robin Hobb's masterpiece universe aswell as a variety of stories in the diction of Lindholm.

    Lindholm stories vary slightly from our real world with touches of magic and science fiction in comparison to her overhaul of the world like Hobb does.
    11 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 March 2013
    I enjoyed every one of these stories, but I must admit to enjoying the Robin Hobb ones just that bit more, probably because I'm a big fan of the Hobb books and was delighted to revisit the Rainwilds and Bingtown! Every single Lindholm story is quirky and original and I especially liked 'Strays' - moving and memorable, one of those that keeps coming back at you. One of the best short story collections I've come across.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 November 2011
    I've read a lot of Robin's books and I've never been disappointed. 'The Inheritance' was different from others that I'd read by Robin Hobb simply because it was a selection of short stories. It was intriguing, lots of interesting subjects, leading you on to further pleasures. The one I had the most enjoyment from was 'The Homecoming'. I'd read the Rain Wilds books and found that I wanted more. So I was very pleased to read the beginning of the Rain Wilds, once again, I was begging for more!!! I don't know if there is a book featuring the time between 'The Homecoming' and 'The Liveship Traders', but I would be interested in reading it. I love books to do with dragons and magic, and Robin Hobb always comes up trumps. I reccommend ALL her books and look forward to reading a lot more in the future.
    7 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 January 2020
    So pleased to find this anthology! I have long admired Robin Hobb above all the fantasy fiction writers I have read. Her characters live and breathe, in all their pain and joy, from every page in a way no other writer quite manages. Admittedly Tolkien is supreme but his works are finite and scholarly, whereas Hobb opens vistas of possibility in all her worlds and under every pseudonym, at every turn of every page. I read this in a single sitting, broken only by the infuriating need to sleep and eat, delighting in every single story. The Six Duchies and Bingtown stories cemented her reputation with me and this collection has given me new places to look for this wonderfully inventive writer's work.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 June 2011
    This book was recommended to me by Amazon ahead of time as a Robin Hobb book and had the tag line - "a collection of short stories from the Rain Wilds and beyond." I imagined that 'and beyond' meant Bingtown or perhaps some Farseer aspects and eagerly pre-ordered it. A second author wasn't mentioned. In fact even now, the hardback author is still shown only as RH - and it is only in the paperback version that it identifies that some of the stories were written as Megan Lindholm. It wasn't until I actually received the book that I realised that. I feel that this was very misleading on Amazon's part.

    Perhaps it's because of this that I was so disappointed with this book, but I really didn't like the style of her Megan Lindholm writing - a very different style from her RH approach. A previous reviewer has very thoroughly outlined all of the 10 stories - so any future purchaser should be warned that you are half way through the book before any Rain Wild stories actually appear.

    So - I enjoyed the second half of the RH stories, but the other half did not entice me to explore any of the Megan Lindholm books. However, all power to the author that she's able to change her style so much between genres.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • aymeric
    5.0 out of 5 stars tout simplement génial
    Reviewed in France on 8 April 2013
    Je connaissais Robin Hobb (aussi connue en tant que Megan Lindholm) par ses grandes épopée d'heroic fantasy (L'assassin royal, Les aventuriers de la mer, Ki et Vandian...) que j'ai adoré.
    Dans ce recueil de nouvelles on retrouve le talent de conteuse de l'auteure et des mondes imaginaires toujours très cohérents.
    Difficile de refermer le livre avant d'avoir lu toutes les histoires.
    Report
  • Jenna Johnson
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the very best reads, five stars!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on 13 March 2025
    The fifth squashed cat, made me cry! So so good. Every one of these short stories was excellent. A book I'll def be recommending to read.
  • Elena V.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A beatiful collection of stories.
    Reviewed in Italy on 29 December 2012
    An occasion to know better the word of Robin Hobb..I would suggest this book to all Robin Hobb's fans but also to other fantasy readers.
  • krautart
    5.0 out of 5 stars a great author, no matter which name she uses
    Reviewed in Germany on 29 September 2014
    This is a collection of short (and longet) stories written as Robin Hobb and as Megan Lindholm.
    Though I am an absolute fan of Hobb's Rainwild Chronicles and Fool's stories I also wasreally impressed by the depth and interesting topics of her writing as Megan Lindholm. Anyway there are also (the longet ones) stories from Bingtown and the Rainwilds, which give kind of an athmosperic and historical insight to the beginings og the Rainwild Traders and day to day life in Bingtown and the Buck duchy.
    Somthing unusal, which I liked very much in this collection is the introduction to each story in which Hobb/Lindholm tells a bit about the 'story behind the story'.

    All in all this collection makes a very satisfying read while looking forward to Hobb's next book.
  • Diane Glover
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Inheritance
    Reviewed in Australia on 19 July 2024
    I hadn't realised how differently she wrote as both authors. I enjoy both ways of writing.