The Vagrant

By Peter Newman

The Vagrant is his name. He has no other.

Years have passed since humanity’s destruction emerged from the Breach.

Friendless and alone he walks across a desolate, war-torn landscape.

As each day passes the world tumbles further into depravity, bent and twisted by the new order, corrupted by the Usurper, the enemy, and his infernal horde.

His purpose is to reach the Shining City, last bastion of the human race, and deliver the only weapon that may make a difference in the ongoing war.

What little hope remains is dying. Abandoned by its leader, The Seven, and its heroes, The Seraph Knights, the last defences of a once great civilisation are crumbling into dust.

But the Shining City is far away and the world is a very dangerous place.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK
• Release date: Apr 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9780007593101

Peter Newman

Peter Newman is the Vice President for Research and Associate Director of the BloodCenter’s 125 person Blood Research Institute. Dr. Newman’s major research accomplishments include elucidation of the molecular basis of the major human platelet alloantigen systems, including the PlA1/PlA2 polymorphism, the discovery of PECAM-1, and numerous contributions to the understanding of the role of activating and inhibitory receptors that control platelet activation. Dr. Newman has published more than 175 original research articles, book chapters and reviews on the subject of platelet and endothelial cell biology, cell adhesion, and signal transduction. Current research activities include the structural biology of PECAM-1, the role of PECAM-1 in endothelial cell junctional integrity, and novel applications of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology to modify platelet- and megakaryocyte-specific alloantigens in induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Professionally, Dr. Newman served on the Executive Committee of the Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology (ATVB) Council of the American Heart Association (AHA) from 1999-2004, chaired its Annual Meeting in 2004 and served on its Council from 2010-2012. He chaired the Hemostasis Gordon Conference in 2008, served from 2006-2014 as a member of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Government Affairs Committee that meets annually with members of Congress, and is a current member of the ASH Audit and Investment Committee. Dr. Newman has been on the editorial board of Blood, has reviewed dozens of grants for both the NIH and the AHA, and currently serves the AHA as Associate Editor of the platelet and thrombosis section of the journal ATVB. He was an Established Investigator of the AHA from 1992-1997, and received a Special Recognition Award from their ATVB Council in 2001. Dr. Newman received an Investigator Recognition Medal from the International Society of Thrombosis (ISTH) in 1997, the Emil von Behring Award from the German Society for Transfusion Medicine in 2007, the E.T.S. Walton Award from Science Foundation of Ireland for his studies on the Molecular Mechanisms of Platelet Activation and Adhesion in 2008, and a Distinguished Career Award from the ISTH in 2013. He recently received a seven-year Outstanding Investigator award from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health that supports the majority of his current research program.

Reviews for The Vagrant

[jrg1316 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I would say this book is good but not great. There is an extremely interesting premise here with a silent protagonist traveling through a demon-infested world with a baby, a goat, and a mysterious sword. It reminded me of a mix between the Demon Cycle and Mad Max, but it didn't quite live up to that potential.

The best part of the book for me, by far, is the relationship between the Vagrant, the baby, Harm, and the Hammer. It felt very real and organic, which is something that's lacking in a lot of fantasy books.

The main thing I didn't like about the story was when it would shift to the POV of the demons (the Uncivil, Knights, First, and Usurper) and the Seven. For me, those characters weren't fleshed out enough for me to separate what each of their goals were. They just felt jumbled into a single group.

Still, the story is interesting enough for me to continue on.

[fhudnell-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book was too much work for me. There may be an interesting story in there somewhere, but it was just too weird. About a third of the time I had absolutely no idea what was going on. Really, what am I to make of: "It opens its mouth, tasting the air as the flies scrabble from its gullet, each sucking a droplet of the master's wishes before swarming into the darkening sky." Or "...those that were too big or too unfortunate to find a host body, who lost integrity and blended with other unfortunates into a single unconscious, a soup of blood and failure." I liked the book pretty much when it stuck to the story of the mute Knight, the infant girl he was protecting, his magic sword and the goat. Ultimately, however, I abandoned this book at the 38% point. I don't want to have to struggle this much to figure out a book.I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

[Azrif · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book. Different from usual fantasy book - unusual premise, interesting characters, redemption, satisfying ending.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This reminded me of China Mieville in the weird bodies and dropping you to flounder in the middle of a story way. I don't mean this disparagingly but I had to re-read the last few chapters to really get what had happened, and I don't do that often.When the demons came the armies led by the Seraph Knights tried to hold them back, but they failed. Now the entities from the breach use human bodies like components in a strange jigsaw, sometimes taking over bodies wholesale, and infecting others with their taint. Into this walks a man with a sword, a baby and a mission, he wants to reach the Shining City the last bastion of the human race and to deliver a weapon.Oh man, this was pretty powerful stuff, full of twists and turns and slightly red-herrings but at the core a character who is determined to do the right thing and works well against his inability to speak. A man who wants to do the right thing in a world where bodies are parts and possible profit and survival is very tough.There were times when it was too gritty for my taste but overall I found it a compelling read.

[lostinalibrary · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A man, mute and known only as the Vagrant, travels across an apocalyptic landscape carrying a baby and a sword. The sword may be the last hope for humanity in a world being destroyed by demons and he is determined, against all odds, to deliver it to those he believes can best use it. The enemy is just as determined to stop him and he encounters opposition and danger every step of the way. But he also finds allies including Harm, a member of a rebel group, as well as a very smart, very stubborn goat.I have to say that it took me a while to get into The Vagrant by author Peter Newman. The beginning drops you somewhere in the middle of the story several years after the cataclysmic events that changed this world. We are introduced to characters, culture, events, and a world already fully realized and in motion and it took me a while to catch up. Still I hung in and I am so glad I did. The story jumps back and forth in time between the Vagrant’s mission and the events leading up to it. As a result, the story at first felt fragmented to me, the cause of my initial confusion. But, as the story progressed, I began to appreciate this style of story-telling. It required commitment on my part to continue but it rewarded me for that commitment with a beautifully written tale, almost lyrical in its prose, both thoughtful and full of action.The world-building weds modern technology with more typical fantasy culture in a way I have never seen before and that it works so well says much about Newman’s writing abilities. But it is the characters that made this one of my favourite reads so far this year. The Vagrant is a complex hero, preferring to settle disputes with money if possible, run away if he can, willing to stand and fight if that is the only option left. Despite the fact that he cannot speak, he has the ability to attract and retain loyal followers and his interaction with them and with the baby makes a sharp and fascinating contrast to the brutal world that exists around him. Harm is also a very interesting character, a man who worked as enforcer for the rebel group, committed to violence, but who sees in the Vagrant the possibility of redemption. And, of course, the baby who may be the most adorable heroine in fantasy and the goat who adds humour to this otherwise dark tale. But perhaps my favourite character was the one called the Hammer that Walks as well as the Usurper’s daughter. She was one of the first humans tainted by the demons and one of the most terrifying. She is sent to destroy the Vagrant and the sword but something changes and her story is one of hope and heartbreak in almost equal measure.The Vagrant is Newman’s debut novel and the first in a series. It is a tale full of adventure, complex characters and world-building, and beautiful prose. It is well-written and compelling, combining dark fantasy with post-apocalyptic. It is smart and violent and requires much from the reader but, for those who are willing to invest in the story, the result is well worth it. With thanks to Edelweiss and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

[darkfaerietales_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: A silent knight, with a sword that is alive, on a very dangerous mission, will he make it?Opening Sentence: “Starlight gives way to bolder neon.”The Review:The Vagrant, a baby and a goat are trying to get to the Shining City. That actually sounds like a joke, but seriously, the Vagrant is traveling with a baby and a goat. He is the last Seraph Knight on this side of the world, and he carries with him a deadly sword. The Shining City is the last place fully human, and the Vagrant hopes the sword will help them turn the tide. In a world losing it’s hope the Vagrant is slowly rekindling that fire.Along the way he ends up with some traveling companions, Harm, a man who sees the Vagrant for what he is and decides to help him as a way to redeem himself. The Hammer also joins them, and her change is nothing less than miraculous. As they continue to stay ahead of the Knights of Jade and Ash and all that hunt the sword, will the Vagrant be able to make it to the Shining City or will he fall on his quest?Okay, first off I really enjoyed this book. I slightly edge away from love because it is a little confusing. Some of that gets cleared up near the end of the book, but some due to the nature of the story is just a mystery. I am glad to see that this is a series, because I really still need some answers. Now that I have said what bothered me I have to get to the point, I mean this book is soo different than anything I have ever read. The main character, The Vagrant, goes by no other name. I mean that literally, even in the chapters that fill in the back story at no point does the author let loose the name of the Vagrant. Oh, and to top it all off he doesn’t speak very much throughout out the entire book, and I am not joking, this book carries it though and is really good despite the lack of dialogue or even inner thought of the main character.He is a giant enigma through the whole book, you do learn why he doesn’t talk, because in the back story you only figure who he is when the story comes to that conclusion and you understand why he doesn’t speak at all. All of that being said, this is definitely towards the science fiction side of fantasy. There are plenty of high fantasy elements, but an edge of futuristic thrown in. Honestly, when I started this I was sure I would hate it, and when I saw that the he didn’t talk, I really thought this is going to suck, but I just kept reading. Out of fascination, curiosity, heck, I am not sure what drove me. I couldn’t put the book down.I am hoping the other books will answer more questions, but I have to say that for a non speaking swordsman, a goat and one baby girl to be the stars of this book, it just blows me away. The level of talent that requires those types of characters to drive a book and make it successful. It’s like Tom Hanks in Castaway level of good. Seriously, if you are into fantasy you must read this book!Notable Scenes:“One canine, black in the poor light, unreadable, but the other human one: it flickers in recognition.”“In New Horizon nothing is wasted.”“To him the Seraph Knights are heroes from a time when childhood was more than the few moments between consciousness and disappointment.”“He closes his eyes, covering his face with quick hands to hide the trembling.’“The Hammer that walks and the Malice?”“You must be strong in yourself, pure of intent, if you are truly to master being a knight.”“At his side, the sword twitches, wings parted, metal feathers unashamedly tipped in red.”FTC Advisory: Harper Voyager provided me with a copy of The Vagrant. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.