By Gary Russell

Spiteful Puppet, out now

Robin is troubled by oddly idyllic nightmares. His childhood friends find Sherwood changed and warped. Something is dreadfully wrong with Herne the Hunter and as the clouds of future tragedy begin to gather, an old crime is about to be avenged.

The art of the novella is the art of saying a lot with a little and Russell excels at that. We get backstory for Robin galore, including a welcome pair of new scenes that go a long way towards explaining Locksley’s man of the people approach. We also get some nice back filling on just why the Sheriff could never catch him and on his childhood. Better still, we get some quiet moments with several of his troop, including some excellent John and Tuck scenes which go a long way towards explaining why the world’s finest quarterstaff pragmatist and a friar get on so well.

Best of all though, Russell ties the past to the future in a way which makes the present feel vital, new and huge. Robin’s childhood, and how one character remembers it, proves vital to the plot as does a colossal civilization that pre-dates humanity. There’s a sense of vast forces moving just under the surface here and Russell excels at showing us that the rules aren’t just different, but if Robin can learn them fast enough, will save his life. At least, for now.

Because that’s what really scores here and is said overtly several times: Locksley’s time is coming to an end. It’s going to end bloodily, and soon and when it does everything will change. But that’s for tomorrow. Today, the dragon stirs and today, the Hooded Man is real.

Verdict: Another excellent addition to the quiet Robin of Sherwood renaissance underway at the moment and well worth your time. 8/10

Alasdair Stuart