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The Tale began when young Prince Amatus secretly sipped the forbidden Wine of the Gods, leaving him half the lad he'd once been--literally--for his left side suddenly vanished without a trace! But, as is often the case in Tales of this sort, the young Prince's misfortune was also a sort of blessing in disguise. For a year and a day later, four Mysterious Strangers appeared, and, as Amatus grew to manhood, they guided him on a perilous quest to discover his true identity--not to mention adventure, danger, tragedy, triumph, and true love. John Barnes has been heralded as "one of the most able and impressive of SF's rising stars" (Publishers Weekly) for his widely praised novels including Orbital Resonance and A Million Open Doors. Now, in One for the Morning Glory, John Barnes has crafted an artful and immensely entertaining fable that takes its place as a modern fantasy classic beside such enduring works as William Goldman's The Princess Bride and T.H. White's The Once and Future King.… (more)
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The story is one of a young boy who drinks the Wine of the Gods, which is never supposed to be tasted until one is an adult, and loses his left side. Barnes describes the work that goes into making the Wine as part of setting the stage for the events of that day and the role of the Companions that come into the young Prince's life shortly afterwards. For Amatus learns from them and from his friends what a Young Prince must do, especially since he is destined to rule the Throne. He learns good lessons and hard ones, and they are described with an appreciation for fantasy as a genre as well as a bit of tongue in cheek humor.
Add in four friends to the four Companions who are with Prince Amatus through nearly every adventure, and the sad reality of what the Companions are there to do in the Prince's life that provides the balance of not just happy endings. The friends and Companions find this out when they undertake the first Quest, while Amatus later learns humility and the value of friendship afterwards.
The mysterious Waldo, who is the nemesis to the orderly Kingdom, becomes less a mention and more and more of a threat, until he invades the Kingdom with an army of Undead and Living and Goblins. And as in any good fantasy battle, there are lessons to be learned, swashes to be buckled, and heroics to be performed. Which they are, and characters come into their own place in the story in the most unexpected of ways.