I really liked this one. As much as I like science fiction and fantasy, sometimes it seems the authors have a chip on their shoulders, feeling like they have to prove they are "legitimate" writers creating "authentic" fiction, and we get high fantasy or multidimensional science fiction that tries too hard to make a point and ends up tripping over itself. Occasionally, we need a good old fashioned hack and slash to cleanse the palate, and this story did the trick. I felt like I'd just been dropped in the middle of an ongoing D&D campaign (as was mentioned earlier), and that was fine with me. The use of archetypes (fighter/cleric/thief) was refreshing, perhaps because literature HAS swung so far the other way to be intellectual (convoluted?), and I instantly wanted to know about their pasts, how they met, etc.
I was pleasantly caught off guard by the final act, and though others may complain how uncharacteristic it would be for Zok to drop his sword and become a dad, I'd argue that it made sense because of his obvious love for his wife; he made the promise for her sake, not his son's (he even says he's not sure this is what he wants, but it's what he needs to do). Also, who said he has to give up his lifestyle? I picture him teaching Sorgo how to be a man (something not done nearly enough these days), and in HIS world that would mean learning how to fight (and kill), wenching (a man has needs, as Zok was fond of saying), and forming lasting friendships (ANOTHER thing that seems rarer these days).
So yes, it was a bit cliché, and Hai Hai seemed to be thrown in as a clear reminder that this was a FANTASY story (she could have been replaced with a human and nothing would have been effected, unless the fact that she had around 45 offspring was a deliberate attempt at foreshadowing the discovery of Zok's own son from such dalliances), but the mixture of "the problems with men and society these days" and "you have a child you didn't know about, now man up and take responsibility" themes are rare in fantasy, and so worked well and seemed refreshing. In fact, I'd like to hear more from Zok and Sorgo, as well as Hai Hai and Malovic, in the future.