Who Is The Reeve, and What Is He Doing Here?

The narrow purpose of this Blog is to utilize fantasy literature to ignite the minds and souls of young men who are falling away from academic pursuits in record numbers. My academic and literary success can be traced directly to a passion for reading that came alive on December 27, 1974 at the age of twelve.

Yes, I remember the exact date.

After discarding several uninspiring Blog titles - Fantasy Book Review, the Book Fort, Books for Boys - I decided that the Blog should be as interesting and unconventional as the characters in the books I intend to promote. I am as boring as dry toast, so I turned to the most compelling character in my fantasy series: The Reeve.

Chapter 13, Serf:

Reeve Mephisto’s appearance was not what I expected. Surely someone with the reputation of the Reeve would launch slavering from his dwelling holding knives and whips and screaming for blood and death. Instead, Reeve Mephisto exited his rustic cabin holding what appeared to be a beverage in one hand and a newspaper in the other. He took a sip of his drink as he studied something on the paper—not a newspaper, but a sheaf of papers rolled up like one. He ambled over to the workbench, set his cup down, and stretched mightily with a groan of pleasure.

So, who is this Reeve?

The Reeve tortures people. Well, not people, but others like him, called Climbers. Yet, he is cerebral and courteous, a Climber who goes about the business of making others suffer with a commitment to excellence that inspires us all. Those that fall into his care have typically gone astray, and it is his job to bring them into line.

Here you see the parallel: the young men who distance themselves from reading and from academics also run the risk of going astray, and who better than The Reeve to provide the discipline?

So, I have recruited The Reeve to provide wisdom, advice, entertainment and the occasional session of discipline to the parents and young men who know that academic excellence and a love of reading are brothers of the same father. I will occasionally contribute material as The Reeve allows, but he has made it quite clear that book reviews and torture are his responsibility, not mine.

Ladies and gentlemen: The Reeve is in.