This week, we’re back with another Christian fantasy trilogy, this time courtesy of Patrick W. Carr.
I recently read the first two books in the Staff and Sword Trilogy, which I reviewed here:
One slight wrinkle to this post is that I have yet to read the final book. But I couldn’t let that discount them. They’re that good.
Good enough for movie material, though?
When I think of the Staff and Sword books, they don’t jump out at me as others do, demanding my attention. Yet the series is like the ocean to locals—something you don’t always notice or appreciate, but once you dive in, you never want to leave.
Here are 3 reasons why the Staff and Sword Trilogy could be awesome movies.
Posted sign: beware of spoilers down this road
1. Errol Stone
He’s a drunken mess, willing to work only as far as it grants coin to drown himself in the ale barrel. Not a loveable guy, but one with a potent character arc.
A young man with real struggles and a humanness we can all relate to.
Redemption stories resonate strongly within us, and Errol’s situation puts him in prime position to undergo a transformation that would keep people enraptured until the final scene of the final movie ended.
Despite his flaws, he has some strong traits, making him a character audiences would follow through thick and thin:
- He’s stubborn and strong-willed
- He doesn’t want to be the hero, and continues his insistence instead of giving in—a welcome change on the fantasy landscape to say the least
- He’s resilient
- He has a sharp wit and isn’t afraid to stab people with it
- He’s braver than he admits
Plus he’s a virtuoso with the staff, and his lack of a traditional fantasy weapon would add another flavor to his already tasty character.
2. The Plot
The one chink in fantasy’s armor—to me at least—is the tendency to focus too much on the world and not enough on the cool things that happen there. Books and movies can get bogged down in the detail and drag us slowly from point to point as if we’re riding a lazy donkey.
Not so with Staff and Sword. From the opening chapters of book one right through to the closing scenes, the pace breezes forward, urgent to reach its destination. Book two continues the pace with nary a halt, spinning toward a conclusion that leaves you breathless and begging for book three.
It reads more like an action adventure or thriller, merely dressed in the clothes of fantasy.
Double win.
With the emphasis on action in modern movies, Staff and Sword’s plot would take to the movie scene like a hobbit to a hobbit hole. Once seated, people wouldn’t be able to tear themselves away from Errol’s complicated, dangerous, and even touching adventures, or Martin’s twisting journey of discovery and peril.
Besides the pace, it keeps you riveted with a labyrinth of political intrigue, a tangle of mysteries, juicy hints at impending danger, and echoes of future events that will rock the world of the characters and the world itself.
A winning recipe for today’s audience that demands constant tension and conflict.
3. The Support Group and Setting
Staff and Sword comes furnished with a cluster of characters of diverse backgrounds, intentions, and personalities.
- Namaan Ru, with his scheming ways and paper-thin loyalty
- Pater Martin, with his dry sense of humor and constant doubts
- Rhoka, with her sizzling attitude
- Duke Weir, with his snobbish arrogance
On top of that, you get a well-imagined fantasy world with distinct medieval shades and whispers of a fascinating history that would leap to life on the screen, and a magic system unlike anything you’ve seen.
And a power-hungry church.
And lands filled with mystery, wonder, danger, and surprise.
What more could a moviegoer ask for, except, “When does the sequel come out?”
Have you read the Staff and Sword Trilogy? What would you think of them as movies? I would love to hear your thoughts.
