The Dragonbone Chair

The first book of Williams's epic fantasy series, first published in 1988, is simply that: an epic. Set in the realm of Osten Ard, a land slipping into poverty and ruin after the death of its beloved king Prestor John, it tells the story of young Simon, a kitchen scullion. Simon is an orphan, raised by the kitchen staff of the castle, who gets caught up in a dangerous and unexpected adventure when the king dies and his spiteful, undisciplined son, Elias, takes the throne while driving his older brother (and rightful heir) Josua out of the country. A mysterious and dangerous wizard named Pyrates is named head councillor to the young king, and Osten Ard begins to fall into disarray as the wizard gains influence. It is up to unlikely hero Simon, along with a small band of resistors, to rise to the occasion to save his kingdom—and discover that he is much more than a servant. Andrew Wincott brings this story to life with his gritty but cultured narration. If the plot sounds familiar, that's because it is. One will find most fantasy tropes in this book, but that doesn't detract from how involved with the characters listeners become.