Amazon.com
Science fiction icon David Weber (the Honor Harrington series) teams up with Airborne-soldier-turned-author John Ringo (A Hymn Before Battle) in their third novel about Prince Roger Ramius Sergei Chiang Alexander MacClintock, Heir Tertiary to the Throne of Man. March to the Stars continues the adventures of Roger and the Bronze Barbarians that started in March Upcountry and continued in March to the Sea as they battle their way across the remote planet of Marduk in their bid to return home to Earth. Through the course of these first three novels, Roger has grown from a spoiled brat into a true leader of men and aliens alike. March to the Stars takes the Bronze Barbarians of the Imperial Guard across the Eastern Ocean of Marduk, facing giant sea monsters and pirates, and eventually to a spaceport held by humans of questionable loyalties. The naval battle with Mardukian pirates contains some swashbuckling heroics worthy of Errol Flynn himself, and Roger learns that not everything is as it seems on either Marduk or Earth. Fortunately, he's got the Bronze Barbarians and the Basik's Own at his back.
Collaboration is a tricky art form, and the resulting work can often feel rough and blocky, with the writers' differing styles at odds. Weber and Ringo deliver a work with a smooth blending of style, serving up a sum that is indeed greater than its parts. Readers should be warned, however, that by the end of the story they will likely be tempted to scoop up other works by these authors to satisfy their reading needs while waiting for the next novel in the series. --Ron Peterson
Customer Reviews:
For Those Who Wish They Could Buckle A Swash.......2007-04-27
This is actually a review of the entire four part series. Frankly if you read one you will want to read the rest even though they are a bit unequal in quality.
March Upcountry begins the series and introduces all of the characters. It is good action almost from the beginning. In many ways it is the best of the series. Prince Roger Ramius Sergei Alexander Chiang MacClintock, heir tertiary to the throne of the Empire of Man is stranded by villainous forces on the primitive planet of Marduk along with a company of his personal body guards; an elite force of Imperial Marines. Prince Rog is a right silly fop, but along the way with encounters with various beasties and murderous natives, he falls in love, acquires a `slave' or advisor, or something called an `Asi,' an aged native warrior/philosopher. And he begins to develop into the hero we all had hoped for. Lots of good battle scenes and advice about `being a man' even if you're a woman.
March to the Sea continues the saga as Prince Rog and his marines fight their way across the planet trying to reach the space port where they hope for the chance to steal a ship and return to the Empire. Roger's development continues as do the endless battles which Weber and Ringo manage to make distinct and always interesting.
March to the Stars is the third and, at 640 pages, the longest in the series; it is also the weakest. Those familiar with Weber will be acquainted with his tendency to lapse into long diatribes about politics and such. There is a really long section on cannibalism and `Baalism,' whatever the deuce that is, but you can easily skip them. The book ends with some really good battles, sea monsters, space battles and the death of a major character (won't say who, you can't make me; it would just spoil it for you).
We Few finishes off the series. Prince Roger is now a full blown hero, swordsman, military genius, faithful friend, expert lover, and a good cook to boot. The battles here are a bit down played, but the palace intrigue is very good; the bad guys are really bad, the good guys really good. By mistake I read this volume first and it hooked me on the series.
Like most of Weber's writings, and I assume Ringo's, it is the first thing of his I have read, this is politically to the far right and has some really strange ideas. I think neither Weber nor Ringo has much use for religion and I agree, but they confuse that with `environmentalism' (a common theme in some modern SciFi for unknown reasons) and, as a life long environmentalist and an atheist, I don't get that. Great literature it isn't; but it is great fun. You could do a lot worse than this series.
decent, enjoyable sequel to previous 2.......2006-11-08
This novel is a good follow-up to March to the Sea. It deals with the crossing of the sea, the contact on the opposite continent (ruled mainly by a rather brutal theocracy), the concerns about avoiding word of their arrival at Starport, and the eventual effort to take that port. I do not intend to collapse major plot threads on that topic.
Once again, though I do not know the writing breakdown of this book, it reads a LOT like John Ringo. Given the new business tactic of a better-named author outlining a series or novel which a lesser-known author writes, my general rule (except niven/pournelle) is that the author on top is to sell the book, and the one on bottom to write it. It is notable that in the life of this series Ringo has gone from relative unknown to (by last year) arguably more popular than weber.
If anything I think this was more interesting than the previous book. The 'reinventing the industrial age' of the previous novels is pretty much gone as the army sees the goal in reach. There is one major land battle of note, though what one expects to be a well-commanded enemy is replaced with a lesser one before this battle. As usual, it is quantity vs. quality.
There are a few plot surprises in the book, some of which set up the fourth novel.
very enjoyable book, and though it may not be clear from my review, this series has been impossible to put down.
More fun with the Prince.......2006-08-02
Another great effort. I am not sure why they call it space opera, its good ol sci-fi to me. If you've started the series you will want to read this too.
Weber and Ringo - Great Team.......2006-04-18
This is an excellent series. The 1st 3 books "March to the..." have a consistent look and feel They definitly deliver a very good read. I loaned a friend the 1st of the series and he wanted the next 2 books immediately!!!
I am looking forward the the next book because it will be in a completely different environment, and will require a different approach to the action.
I am also reading John Ringo's Polseen series, which is good, but not as good as this collaboration with David Weber.
This series is close but not quite up to the Honor Harrington series, my all time favorite SF series.
not quite Xenophon.......2005-10-12
series started as a loose adaptation of Anabasis and may even continue in that vein. If you liked this story, an English translation of the Anabasis is available from the Gutenberg Project online. There is also a good historical novel called the 'The Ten Thousand' that adds some fiction and historical research to the original.
While the writing style and characters are typical of the military sci-fi genre. These books are better page turners than most. 3 stars is best I give for highly entertaining and yet wholly consumable fiction.
Customer Reviews:
Twisting away.......2006-11-02
epic fantasy is a very dangerous market, and Kate Elliott is navigating a very different road. Taking the similar paths to other authors (Martin, Jordan), she begins to layer on the multiple character viewpoints as her story gets more complicated. Unlike the first novel, this one begs you to go on with the series and hopes that the author has an arc which can be completed (unlike a certain other author).
This novel begins to knit characters closer together (Liath & Alain, Liath & Sanglant) while pulling others apart (Liath & Hanna, Hanna & Ivan). The king appears to be the capable leader in one moment, while showing weakness and uncertainty the next. The few problems I had are the events that seem to have no importance at this time (the Seven Sleepers) while being given enough weight that you know it will be important later. You just can't tell how.
Captured by the Crown.......2006-03-25
I have two rules I try to follow in huge fantasy series.
1. When reading the first volume, don't put the book down in absolute bored disgust `til page 200.
2. Don't decide you're a fan of a series `til you've read the first two volumes.
I finished Prince of Dogs in 1.5 days. I can now say that I am a Kate Elliott fan because, as most of you know, Prince of Dogs is the second book in the Crown of Stars series, and I loved it.
Prince Sanglant is once again the influence for the book's title, though, some can argue that Alaine can also be a sort of "Prince of Dogs" as well. At any rate, Sanglant has been captured by the Eika king Bloodheart. Bloodheart keeps Sanglant chained with a pack of fearsome dogs to an altar close to his throne. Everyone thinks Sanglant is dead. No one save Sanglant seems to remember the magical aegis his mother set upon him. The Dogs torment and protect Sanglant, and, ultimately, change Sanglant forever.
Most of the kingdom morns Sanglant's loss, but none more despairingly than King Henry and Liath. Liath's sorrow makes her vulnerable, and, if it can be possible, more fearful than in King's Dragon. I do admit to getting a little frustrated with Liath, but, at the same time, I appreciated what the author did with her. Fear is a part of Liath's character, and, as much as we want our fantasy characters to grow, there are just some things people can't get passed. I've grown a lot in my life, but I'm still afraid of large crowds.
Hugh returns in this book. Both he and Liath spend most of their time in the King's progress. Liath's interactions with Hugh, while frustrating, have a ring of realism to them. I like how Kate Elliott obviously is all for women empowerment, but also isn't afraid to sometimes portray her female characters in a negative, and occasionally sexist, light.
And as for Hugh, Hugh is a wonderfully complicated and complex villain. In most fantasy books, the evil characters are irredeemably evil, crewel, and simple. Hugh is certainly irredeemably evil and crewel, but he definitely isn't simple. I think some authors forget that the devil has a honey tongue and a beautiful face; Kate Elliott makes no such mistake.
Alaine is tested by the Lady of Battles in this book. What exactly Alaine's purpose is and why he has strange visions remains a mystery, but we get more insight into why and how he can change the world around him. Alaine is an excellent character. He sees the harsh world around him and reacts to it in such an innocent way. I wouldn't call Alaine ignorant, though. He has an interesting strength and wisdom about him. Kate Elliott knows how to make faceted fascinating characters.
The number of characters and PoVs doesn't bother me. I'm a veteran of several huge and complicated series. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin has over 1,000 characters in four books, and The Wheel of Time has over 1,700 over eleven. And that's just to name the two most popular series out there. Crown of Stars probably has over 1,000 characters, but it also has an incredibly intricate story. I do think some of the threads are difficult to keep track of, but this is my first read through. I don't expect to pick up everything the first time around.
The religious aspect of Crown of Stars is unforgivingly relentless. I like how Kate Elliott's world mirrors our middle ages in nearly every way. Our own past was directed by religion and blind faith, Crown of Stars is no different. In our day, people don't like reading, learning, understanding, respecting religion, but it's a necessity if you ever want to understand literature and our past. Most readers put down this series because it, quite frankly, is about religion, but I think setting aside a good story because it goes against a modern paradigm is a serious mistake.
The prose can be repetitive and choppy, but it's worth ignoring for the story.
I give this book 4 out of five.
So So Sequel.......2006-03-24
Typical of all series, I hesitate to start one because quite often they fail to deliver the pizaz of the first.
This one did not disappoint. The characters that mesmerized us in the first book were overshadowed with new characters leaving unresolved scenarios unresolved.
For the life of me I do not understand a female writer continuing to cast a female lead in such a subserviant role. For goodness sakes, everyone in touch with Liath is impressed with her as a stand-up for yourself person, yet whenever she gets near Hugh she becomes a doormat. I know it's all in the hands of the writer but please continue to give Liath the tools she uses in her relationship with the rest of her life and allow her to nueter Hugh with a very dull blade soon. If not, I don,t know if I can wade my way through the remainder of this series.
The new characters of Anna and Mathiue are intriguing as long as Ms. Elliot allows Anna to remain and grow from there and not become the milqtoast she allowed Liath to become.
A good sequel.......2004-03-26
In this book, I was even more excited to read it since the first one left still so much much unfinished explanations, understandable in a series, but they still weren't answered! I was so disapointed with Liath. She's spent now almost a year with a bow and arrow and a sword, and still hasn't learned how to use them properly. For all you people who loved Hugh he comes back, but the way they acted was just too similar to the first one. I started thinking who cares anymore? Just destroy him. Especially since Liath always got in the type of posistion that you were just waiting for big strong man to come save her, she can't save herself. It's even more intruiging as she tries to master her own powers and figure out what killed her father. Again Alain did slightly more important role, but still didn't cut it for me. Rosvita was a boring character who I just didn't downlike like at all. Sanglant was cool, but what was he expected to all locked up? So, nothing was done really with him until the conlusion. New characters are introduced in Mathias and Anna, who don't do anything important in this book, but have a definite foreshadowing effect of them doing something important later. They had way too many characters in this book, too confusing, and would go through all the other characters before coming back to the person who was doing something exciting. When Hugh comes back and Liath sees him, it takes them more than seventy pages to get back to that. It was very exciting and still worth the read, but all these characters are not needed to make a good book!
epic story.......2004-01-09
Prince of dogs is a great epic story about four main characters that are struggling a through war stricken land that. In this book the author, Kate Elliott does a great job with keeping readers interested because they always wants to hear what will happen. Elliot also does a great job making it a readable book that could be really hard because of many different characters. The reader sees the world through the eyes of four main characters and one minor character. At some times Elliott has a tendency to stretch the book out and this makes it a little boring but it is important to learn about the characters and watch them meet and interact with each other.
This book the second book of the series, is the connection book of the series, Crown of Stars. With out the Prince of Dogs readers would not be able to have any other books of the series. Elliot readers have a view into a whole other would. She uses her knowledge of the medieval times to make this book so believable and realistic. Over all I enjoyed this book and I am still reading the book that continue the series.
Average customer rating:
- Different from the other Royal Diary books
- The princess of the moon, stars and the universe
- Sondok. Terrific!
- I have definitely read better
- What a wonder!
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Sondok: Princess of the Moon and Stars, Korea, A.D. 595 (The Royal Diaries)
Sheri Holman
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General | Fiction | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0439165865 |
Book Description
During the seventh-century, the land which is now Korea was fraught with political and religious intrigue. The country was split into Three Kingdoms, each fighting for supremacy: Silla, Koguryo, and Paekche. Besides the warring kingdoms, there are three religions in conflict: Shamanism, the ancient female-dominated faith wherein Shamanist priestesses wield great power at court, foretelling the future, performing important national rituals, and healing sickness; Buddhism, the contemplative State religion; and Confucianism, a recent import from powerful China.
Customer Reviews:
Different from the other Royal Diary books.......2005-12-18
This is definetly not your typical royal diary book. Instead of being set in England Or France, this story takes place in Ancient Korea (A.D. 595) with Sondok: Princess of the Moon and Stars. It's a unique idea but the story is indeed missing something. The cover is beautiful and the book is very durable and contains a breif history of Sondok and Korean Royalty at the back. All-n-all, i enjoyed it.
The princess of the moon, stars and the universe.......2005-06-22
Sondok, heir of the royal throne of Silla is more like a man than an elegant lady.She is misunderstood by many of the few people that finally earn her respect in her book.She is a strong and young woman who is interested in the moon and the stars and has a secret love on a servant boy who her father wants her to marry, yet she declines.Sondok is one of 4 daughters who are royal and the heart of Korea.In many parts in this book, Sondok's father is mingling under the influence of a Chinese astrologist.Due to this,Sondok loses a relative, a loved one who is sent far away to never be seen again.Even though the end of this tale is tragic, i must say this is definitely one of the best royal diaries that i have ever read,due to it's suspense and royalty, a pure elegance that has never been achieved in any other royal diary
PS: Has anyone heard of the new books to come
Catherine - The great journey
Anacona - golden flower of Bacal
Maria theresa - The Italian princess
Sondok. Terrific!.......2005-01-29
By putting notes in an ancestral jar of her grandmothers ,Sondok princess of Korea began a diary about the happenings in her life and around the palace.Having an interest in the planets and stars Sondok was quite excited when a chinese astronomer was coming to visit the Korean royal family.But after being rejected by the astronomer and her father and being told that astronomy isn't for ladies ,Sondok sees red.Sondok buried her astronomy case and took on weaving,sewing and studying vowing she would never study astronomy again.But after breaking her vow ,she looses one of the most precious people in her life.This is an excellent new addition to the Royal Diaries Series and should be read by all fans.
I have definitely read better.......2004-03-17
Sondok is a Korean princess who is heir to the throne, much to the dismay of the Chinese, who believe that a woman cannot properly rule.
Another thing that is special about Sondok is that she loves astronomy, and she want's an observatory of her own so she can learn to read the stars and their meaning.
But in Korea at that time it was not considered proper for a woman to study astronomy, but Sondok refused to give up hope that someday she will be an astronomer and rule Korea with wisdom.
This book is good, except I have read better. It certainly isn't boring, though. I thought the part about the New Year's festivals was very well done.
What a wonder!.......2003-11-24
This book was a pleasant surprise for me, a Korean female looking for books in English for little cousins. Queen Sondok has been the most famous & beloved queen to Korean children, especially to girls, like the amalgam of Joan of Arc and Queen Elisabeth the first.
She was the first princess who came to the throne in whole Korean history, and her succession was possible due to the special succession law of ancient Shilla dynasty which put a higher value on the pure royal birth than the genders of heirs. There was no male heir whose both parents were royal then, so Sondok was raised as the heir apparent with formidable duty to answer to love and hope of her own parents and her people in the time of endless wars and diplomatic intrigues. And she did more.
Until this book, I always imagined her as a grown-up, like Athena with full armors springing from Zeus's head, partly because of all stories in historical texts such as the famous her 3 prophecies and the anecdote of Mun-Hee(a lady saved by Sondok from burning at stake) showing her silent bravery, deep understanding of human nature, and somewhat supernatural, shman-like foresight, all three of them which were necessary for ancient rulers.
Holman portrayed her as a little princess rather than a queen who ruled successfully her kingdom for 15 years in a very turbulent time with love of arts and intelligence and deep Buddhistic faith. And it was an interesting move. Even young readers without any knowledge of Korea may enjoy it. Thank you Holman for saving the difficulties of finding an easy and good book.
Average customer rating:
- What is going on here?
- Another great fantasy by Elliott!
- Life Among the Ashes
- Kate, what are you doing to Alain?
- Series loses a bit of pace with this one
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In the Ruins (Crown of Stars, Vol. 6)
Kate Elliott
Manufacturer: DAW
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Elliott, Kate | ( E ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0756402689 |
Book Description
The long-awaited cataclysm has reshaped the very land and seas, and disrupted the war for the empire. Now all who have survived the return of the spell-exiled Aoi lands must find a way to mend their shattered territories and take a stand against their enemies in a power struggle that may forge new alliances-or doom them all.
Customer Reviews:
What is going on here?.......2007-02-17
Why oh why is DAW books releasing books printed on low quality paper - and at the same if not higher prices!
Hello?! DAW, stop this garbage right now. As consumers we kind of notice when an awesome author like Elliott has her books printed on pulp that will yellow with age in about 5 years.
Take a look at the first five books. If you have collected them because you liked this story and might want to reread it, you won't be happy when this book and #7 are yellowed with age while the first five are still practically new. As for me, I will not be buying this book, I will go to my local library and read it before it disintegrates in a few years.
Shame on DAW books!
Another great fantasy by Elliott!.......2006-11-02
The sixth of The Crown of Stars series is the best one yet. I couldn't read it fast enough.
Life Among the Ashes.......2006-09-13
In the Ruins (2005) is the sixth Fantasy novel of the Crown of Stars series, following The Gathering Storm. In the previous volume, the Seven Sleepers raised the enchantment to thrust away the land of the Aoi, but three crowns were disrupted; yet Anne compensated for the setback. Then Liath guided the molten streams of lava up through the central crown, killing Anne and her retinue and the enchantment failed.
Prince Sanglant and Zuangua killed the diamone within Henry and the freed Regnant named Sanglant as his heir. Both armies then acclaimed him as their ruler.
Dragonback Ridge shattered and released the dragon. Alain and the dragon faced each other momentarily, but then the dragon flew away. A wave washed over Alain and then carried him back toward the sea; but the cart caught on the rocks and his chains held him back. His foster father Henri and the dogs found Alain lying amidst the ruins, released him from the chains, and took him home.
In this novel, the land of the Ashioi rejoins the Earth at the same time as the current Feather Cloak, Secha, gives birth to twins. The restoral also has unforeseen consequences among those left on Earth. The violence of the unfolding spell raises volcanoes, generates tsunamis in the Middle Sea, causes rivers to run backward, and buries villages under mudslides. Great windstorms tear down trees and scatter the ever present ashes. Huge waves wash over the shore and sweep far inland. Then the widespread ashes and dust obscure the sun.
King Sanglant has inherited the remains of two armies; both are at half strength after the fighting and the effects of the Cataclysm. After the virtual destruction of Estriana by tidal waves, Sanglant refuses to look further for Queen Adelheid. Nor does he send a party to look for Liath. Taking his survivors, Sanglant marches north toward Wendar.
The hot windstorm blows down the tents of King Geza and Lady Eudokia. The Eagle Hanna wanders among the survivors, witnessing Geza's divorce of Princess Sapientia and his hurried departure to Ungria, but she is captured by Eudokia's soldiers and taken away in chains as they depart. Sister Rosvita waits for her return, but is forced to leave without her before the coming of twilight. Finding Sapientia as they exit the camp, Sister Rosvita takes her with them.
Liath struggles across the devastation that she has created, coming to a ruined watchtower. There she finds Eldest Uncle with a skin of water. He takes her to the river to wash away the grime and ashes. Then she falls sleep, waking once with the arrival of two masked warriors, but falls asleep again for many days.
Waking once more, she dresses herself in an ancient tunic and her mantle, then climbs the watchtower. From there she sees an army of refugees coming. When they arrive, Eldest Uncle and a younger version of himself embrace in joy; they are twins who have been separated in time. Unfortunately, Kansi is with the refugees and turns them against Liath. She flees, but Kansi sends sorcery after her. As she falls, a golden griffin catches her and flies away.
This novel recounts the destruction from the Cataclysm and the subsequent violence among the various human factions and between the Ashioi and the humans. The Ashioi who walked the shadows still remember the war with the humans and horse people; they outnumber the Lost Ones who traveled with their land through the aether and are eager to resume the conflict. The self-deluded humans, however, mostly consider the Ashioi as a sideshow to their own righteous killings. And the country folk and townspeople die mostly unregarded by the nobility.
Highly recommended for Elliott fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of high adventure, noble thinking and magical weapons.
-Arthur W. Jordin
Kate, what are you doing to Alain?.......2006-08-30
Not only could this book have been about 80% shorter (as a previous reviewer accurately stated), but I am beginning to get a little fed up with the stompfest directed toward my favorite character in this series. Poor Alain has been wrongly accused, imprisoned, beaten, almost killed, struck crazy, and stripped of everything he has ever had in the world, simply because a man thought he was his illegitimate son. If the sheer volume of abuse this man has suffered isn't unrealistic enough for you, then the reasons why should be. I understand that the author wants this character pushed down and trampled on so that his triumph at the end of the series will be that much sweeter, but sometimes the trampling is so outrageous that no amount of triumph can ever be sweet enough. I plan on feeling a bit empty when Alain finally comes into his own.
As for the rest of the characters, I honestly had trouble keeping everyone straight. Some characters I don't even like anymore. Liath is no longer fun to read about. Sanglant is suddenly insecure, and he was so much more appealing when he was strong. Hugh is icky. He gives me shivers. It's like reading about a wierd uncle who makes your skin crawl. We understand that John is scarred. No need to keep calling him "Scarred John". The whole Heribert situation has me dreadfully confused. Who possessed him? Is the real Heribert dead? The rest of the characters sort of merge together in a mish mash of people who have bit parts that don't really seem to add much to the story. Why is Hannah still around (for one example)?
Oh, and someone needs to spank Blessing. Hard.
Series loses a bit of pace with this one.......2006-08-01
Liath and Alains' world is breaking apart as King Henry's kingdom is savaged by earthly and supernatural forces. The Eika warriors thirst for the King's land and power, their enmity sealed by generations of blood. Bitter in-fighting within King Henry's court and the ceaseless attrition of raiders also weaken his reign. Those who remain true must stay strong as the shadow of the Cursed Ones falls, and the spell holding the exiled ones from the planet fails. Liath must force her wild sorcery to maturity and Alain, her husband and King Henry's heir, must struggle to hold the realm together. Their twin destinies may yet avert the destruction written in the stars.
It has been quite a while since I read a series and thought "damn, it's over!" at the end. The author has built a vast number of interesting characters but, despite the number, one is able to know and relate to each. Each of the characters has their own remarkable flaws and imperfections, and you actaully have opportunities to sympathize with each throughout the series (even the remarkably "evil" ones you think you would never agree with). Unlike the Robert Jordan WoT series which seems to go on and on and on without resolution, Elliot has squeezed a sweeping epic into a (mere) 7 books, and I found myself disappointed when I finished the last of the third book. Fortunately, there are enough open issues, unanswered questions and unresolved conflicts in the end that Elliot could forseeably write another series to "fill in the blanks". I, for one, sincerely hope to see more from this author in the very near future.
Average customer rating:
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Prince Star
Anne Dalton
Manufacturer: David & Charles
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 071822101X |
Amazon.com
Jack Vance excels at writing a series of shorter works that together comprise a grand, interstellar adventure. Such is the The Demon Princes, a series of five tales that chronicle Kirth Gersen's quest for vengeance against the five demon princes. The princes led the Mount Pleasant Massacre, a raid that destroyed Gersen's family and his world. But now Kirth is on their trail, and no matter how many galaxies there are to search, he will find them one by one and exact his revenge. This first volume collects three of the five Demon Prince stories, while the second volume will carry the remaining two.
Book Description
Kirth Gersen carries in his pocket a slip of paper with a list of five names written on it. Theses are the names of the five Demon Princes who led the historic Mount Pleasant Massacre, which destroyed not only Kirth's family but his entrire world as well. He roams the universe, searching the endless galaxies of space, hunting down the Demon Princes and exacting his revenge. Three princes will fall before Kirth's work is done, and two more await their doom....
Customer Reviews:
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03
The Demon Princes series is a very serious revenge story, or series
even. Think Red Sonja, or The Executioner, or The Punisher. Each of
these is basically novella length.
A boy's family gets killed by some very, very bad men. His
grandfather trains him to be a killer to gain revenge. His grandfather
dies, off he goes to kill some people that aren't that easy to kill.
Classic Vance.......2007-06-19
Classic Vance which is to say excellent.
I am over the age of 13.(but just barely)
Demon Princes by Jack Vance.......2006-11-05
Vance is my favorite fantasy author. The Demon Princes is a fine example of Vance's story telling ability, in the vein of classics such as The Faceless Man. Extraordinary imagination, fabulous imagery, and a smooth style are the standard Vance trademarks.
Classic Vance.......2006-02-06
Star King is the first and, I think, best of the Demon Princes novels. In essence they are well told detective stories with Keith Gersen seeking to find and eliminate those responsible for the slave raid on his village, with he and his grandfather among a handfull of survivors. What sets Vance's stories apart are the backgrounds. He paints the exotic flora, fauna, societies, planets and places so vividly that you could believe he actually spent a night at the inn on Smade's planet and is writing from first hand experience.
Another thing I like about Vance's writing is that he never talks down to the reader as Arthur Clark sometimes does. Space boats are powered by the Jarnell Intersplit, period! He assumes the reader is smart enough to understand that it operates on physics beyond the normal three dimensions plus time. No need to quote quantum theory so we appreciate how smart he is.
Some people find his stories hard to read. I believe this comes in large part from the unusual names he gives to people, places and things. Keith Gersen is the most normal name in the book. You'll find characters named Sivij Suthiro, Pallis Atwrode, Hildemar Dasce and the like, never a Joe Smith. Persevere and the names add to the exotic flavor of his books.
He does have some rather sub-par books in print but Star King/Demon Princes series are some of his best and at his best he is one of the most outstanding Sci-Fi writers to come along.
I am a monomaniac.......2005-09-11
'The Demon Princes' was once published as five separate books, but in 1997 was reissued into only two volumes, the first volume covering the first three princes and the second volume covering the forth and fifth.
Kirth Gerson is just a boy when his village and planet are ransacked in a joint venture by the five most evil, most powerful criminals ever. They called themselves The Demon Princes. Kirth survives, along with his grandfather, who then raises the boy to become the ultimate revenge maker on the ruthless princes. After the death of his grandfather, Kirth finishes his training and is ready to take on the first of the five demon princes.
The Star King, first of the five books, (or long chapters, if you will) is the story of Kirth's hunt for Malagate The Woe. In a neutral, off-world tavern called Smade's, Gersen meets Lugo Teehalt, who tells him a fantastical story about a beautiful planet he has discovered. Gersen learns that Attel Malagate is after Teehalt's monitor in order to find this world, so Gersen uses the monitor's filament as bait to lure Malagate out. Shaking off assassins and bargaining with influential Institutes, Gersen brings about his encounter with Malagate, culminating on Teehalt's fantastical world.
The second part, The Killing Machine, is about Gersen's hunt for Kokor Hekkus, better known as The Killing Machine. From filthy out-worlds to the renowned institution called Interchange, Gerson is off on another chase. Located far out on a desert planet, Interchange exists for the expedient and safe exchange of kidnaps, acting as liaison for hostage and monetary demands. Freeing two innocent children and a contractor for Hekkus, Gersen finds more than he was looking for when he himself is kidnapped and held for ransom at Interchange. Guessing at a connection between Hekkus and a beautiful woman held for a phenomenal amount of money, Gersen finds himself on the mystical planet of Tamber and smack in the middle of a confrontation with The Killing Machine.
In the third part, Gerson takes on demon prince Viole Falushe at Falushe's Palace Of Love. Getting to the Palace isn't easy. Gersen begins with a visit to the planet Sarkovy, a dismal place famous for its many poisons. Then he flies to earth, to take up with a crotchety old poet named Navarth and his young daughter Zan-Zu. When Navarth discovers that Gersen intends to exact revenge on Viole Falushe, the man who ruined Navarth's young lover, the old poet joins the assassin on a trip to Falushe's Palace Of Love, where Gersen must first identify Falushe before he can eliminate him.
While all three tales contain a bit of mystery over who the real identity of the villain is, the majority of their intrigue and charm come from Vance's imaginative worlds; worlds complete with custom, foods, dress, environment, law (or lack of), flora and fauna, even planetary statistics. There are twenty-six planets in the 'Concourse' around the sun Rigel, and many more in the 'Beyond'. Vance creates a galaxy of rich and interesting places, peoples, and things.
Truly a delight for the SciFi fan, with enough adventure for some tight situations and narrow escapes, plus a bit of detective intrigue (though our 'detective' is an assassin), 'The Demon Princes' is a science fiction romp that should satisfy most palates. Don't forget to pick up volume two at the same time, or you will be left adrift between Gersen's meticulous pursuit of the five men who destroyed his world long ago. Enjoy!
Amazon.com
A young squirrel determines his true destiny in this Redwall read-alike by British author M.I. McAllister. A foundling discovered on the rocky shore of Mistmantle Island, Urchin has been raised by the peaceful order of rodents and otters that live and work on the magical isle. Now almost grown, the young squirrel wants nothing more than to serve as page to one of the dashing Captains that make up King Brushen's personal guard. He gets his chance when Captain Crispin appoints Urchin his "right-paw squirrel." But on Urchin's very first morning in the Tower, the King's only son is found murdered and Crispin is accused of the crime! Urchin can only look on helplessly while his mentor is banished from court. Meanwhile, power hungry Captain Husk and Lady Aspen continue to fill the devastated royal couple's ears with treachery, and their cups with sleeping draughts. Urchin is desperate to prove Crispin's innocence, but who will believe an orphan of questionable origins? Born under a sky of shooting stars, Urchin is destined to do great deeds, perhaps even save all of Mistmantle. But first, he must believe... Entertaining but predictable, this simply told medieval fable brings nothing new to the growing body of children's animal fantasies. However, it will serve as a steppingstone for those young readers not quite ready for the detailed descriptions and hearty brogues of Brian Jacques's ever popular and endlessly replicating Redwall series.--Jennifer Hubert
Book Description
A young squirrel determines his true destiny in this Redwall read-alike by British author M.I. McAllister. A foundling discovered on the rocky shore of Mistmantle Island, Urchin has been raised by the peaceful order of rodents and otters that live and work on the magical isle. Now almost grown, the young squirrel wants nothing more than to serve as page to one of the dashing Captains that make up King Brushen's personal guard. He gets his chance when Captain Crispin appoints Urchin his "right-paw squirrel." But on Urchin's very first morning in the Tower, the King's only son is found murdered and Crispin is accused of the crime! Urchin can only look on helplessly while his mentor is banished from court. Meanwhile, power hungry Captain Husk and Lady Aspen continue to fill the devastated royal couple's ears with treachery, and their cups with sleeping draughts. Urchin is desperate to prove Crispin's innocence, but who will believe an orphan of questionable origins? Born under a sky of shooting stars, Urchin is destined to do great deeds, perhaps even save all of Mistmantle. But first, he must believe...Entertaining but predictable, this simply told medieval fable brings nothing new to the growing body of children's animal fantasies. However, it will serve as a steppingstone for those young readers not quite ready for the detailed descriptions and hearty brogues of Brian Jacques's ever popular and endlessly replicating Redwall series.--Jennifer Hubert
Customer Reviews:
Wonderfully written--great story and great to read aloud.......2007-04-15
Most nights I still read to my ten-year-old son, and we were both surprised and absoltuetly taken by Mistmantle. He's a big reader by himself, and this was the first time that he ended up so eager to Know What Would Happen that he read ahead of me, and finished it first (and then urged and urged me to catch up--). We both loved the story, the language, the characters--we could stop and predict things together, registering the ways McAllister was setting things up, or the ways she revealed why certain figures behaved as they did. A really smart, page-turning adventure investigating right and wrong and honor and friendship--
a great book.......2007-03-09
Mistmantle chronicles book one Urchin of the Riding Stars is a book about a kingdom on an island far away on an island surounded by mist. An adventourous book about a young squirrel found nearly dead by a kind captian. This squirrel has a great deal of task to complete in this book. I highly recomend it.
Swans with squirrels.......2006-11-22
Have you every read a book in which a hedgehog was murderd just to become king? Urchin Of the riding stars has all of it! This book caught me off guard! When a squirrel dies from falling off a window is so weird! But, when the end of the book has a ok from me the ending makes a lot of sence into what M.I McAllister wrote. I've only read book one and already want to read the rest. The one thing every one will learn is don't judge people. Or kill people to become king of queen! I also recommend this book to everyone. In this case, manly people who can handle animals dying, wars, and wedding that shouldn't take's place, then don't read this book! If you like all that stuff THAN READ IT!!!!!!!
Will urchin save the island?.......2006-11-22
This is an amazing book filled with the best storyline ever.It had me hooked the whole way through and I felt like I was one of the animals.The king's son is killed and the evil Husk and Lady Aspen are blaming Crispin, the kind gentle squirrel that has helped and guided Urchin, a litle orphan squirrel.Crispin is banished from the island and Urchin is the only one that can help. Will he rescue Crispin in time or will the island suffer under the rein of Husk?
Awesome.......2006-10-31
About squirrels and stuff. Great thibgs happen. A great adventure. As good as the Redwall books.
Book Description
As High Prince and Princess, Rohan and Sioned must keep both the peace and the secret of the dragons. But the legacy of their evil predecessor remains-and as their son Pol grows up, the kingdom splits in what may become a bloody battle for the crown.
To make things worse, a long-vanquished foe vows to destroy the Prince. The only hope of defeating their dark sorcery lies in reclaiming the knowledge so carefully concealed in the long-lost Star Scroll.
Customer Reviews:
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03
The nice prince in the previous book is now the boss type of princes himself, and is happily married to the witchy wife woman. They have a kid who is going to get the double whammy of rulership and witchiness when he grows up.
In the meantime they have to solve the problem of being nice to dragons and stopping evil sorcerer guys.
A good novel.......2006-08-22
I wanted to give it three stars because for a couple hundred pages in the middle it is extremely slow. However I've read it more than once and my cover is bent. That means I genuinely liked the novel.
Rohan and Sioned have to deal with the challenges of ruling together, and the intrigue and drama grips you and won't let you go.
For me this was the Dragon Prince's 'happily ever after' explored as being the continuing challenges of life. Rawn weaves a rich world with great characterization and political intrigue. If you liked volume one of the Dragon Prince, buy volume two. You won't go wrong.
Wonderful followup to Dragon Prince.......2005-10-20
High Prince Roelstra is dead, but Prince Rohan's world faces new threats from within and without as sorcerers, with powers identical and perhaps surpassing the Sunrunners, make their bid for power. A new generation rises to maturity as the children of Dragon Prince take their place in the world, and old characters meet their various fates.... A can't miss for fans of Dragon Prince and fantasy lovers.
This is fantasy.......2004-11-24
This book is a very good read, full of adventure, romance, intrigue, magic, and suspense. While first book in this series was a bit slow, this book takes you back to what got you hooked on fantasy novels.
The characters are developed down to the smallest detail. They almost become personal friends. You feel all the excitement, fear, anger, and happiness that they feel.
The story is a typical adventure story, but Ms. Rawn has developed a way of throwing you of the predictable path with many different twists and curves to her plot. Some of which are so far off you want to start over to see if you missed something that could have predicted this event.
The only real issue with this book is that it takes time to develop. Some may think this book is to long, but a strong story with good character development takes many things and time is one of them.
Overall, this is an excellent book. I loved it and have read it many times.
Decent book but too long.......2003-09-04
From what I have read of Melanie Rawn's books is that she is good at developing characters and provides good plots, but takes a little too much time describing how perfect and beautiful everyone is. Not everyone can be beautiful and perfect. The last 300 pages offer a really good story, but the first 400 is pretty annoying.
Customer Reviews:
Great series......................2004-07-19
This book by Susan is my second, after reading Contact and enjoying that one I quickly found this one and Star Princess. I really enjoyed this one, Ian and Tee'Dar were great for each other. I also greatly enjoyed the secondary characters like Muffin and Lara. The KettaCat was also great. I also hope that she contines this series,and hope that she finds a mate for Klark Che's brother. I'm still trying to get all the families down, but she's going to have to continue the series. I'm now reading Star Princess and enjoying that book as well. I highly recommend thses books they're great. Please Susan write more Star series books.
WOO-HOO!.......2003-12-10
Princess Tee'ah Dar was sick of enduring life in isolation as Vash Nadah tradition demanded. In a desperate bid for freedom, Tee'ah stole a starspeeder to begin a new life doing what she loved most, flying!
Ian Hamilton, an Earth dweller who was the heir to the Trade Federation and crown prince of the Vash empire, was deep undercover. He posed as Ian Stone, a trader of black market items. He was determined to bring the human people of Earth, the Vash people of Sienna, and all the people in the Federation together in peace! However, freak accidents and bad luck kept getting in the way. When his pilot died, Ian's crew was stranded on an awful world called Donavan's Blunder. Ian's critical mission would have failed right there, had a spunky pilot, Tee, not happened to appear. But neither Ian nor Tee told the other who they really were.
King Romlijhian, Tee's uncle, sent Gann Truelénne after the runaway princess. To do so, Gann had to hire Lara Ros, a master tracker. Gann and Lara clashed instantly, but are forced to work together if they were to succeed.
The galaxy would never be the same again!
***** In a word, "W-O-W!" And throw in a few "WOO-HOO's!" Why? Because Susan Grant has created an amazing universe with some very interesting characters to turn it upside-down! The story was well written and very believable. I could not help but cheer Tee's bravery. When the name "Susan Grant" is on the cover, readers best hold onto their seats because it's going to be one heck of a ride! *****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
A GREAT sequel in the 'Star' series..........2003-05-14
Ian Hamilton has been the picture of propriety since his stepfather, Rom B'kah, named Ian his heir as King to the galaxy. Now, seven years later, Ian is fighting to keep Earth on good terms with the Vash. Wanting to pull out of the treaty that Earth signed seven years ago, Ian has set out to prove that it is best for the galaxy all around if they all stick together. With the return of Muffin, we are also introduced to a crew that will go straight to your heart. When Ian finds himself not able to keep a pilot, he hired 'Tee' whom he knows is running, but he doesn't know from what she's running.
Tee'ah Dar has fled her life as a Vash Princess. Never having the freedom to make her own choices, not even choosing the man she marries, Tee'ah is sick to death of her life as a pampered princess. The only thing she has ever done behind her family's back is learn how to fly, the one thing that she can't live without doing. When her father finds out, Tee'ah knows that she can't stay and keep suffocating under her father's rule, or her heart will slowly die. When she meets Ian, he seems a gift from God, or so she thought. What she didn't know was that he was the prince of the galaxy and if he knew who she was, he would return her before she could say 'Earthdweller'.
Tee'ah and Ian's story is truly heartwarming. All her life Tee'ah has been taught to put the needs of others above the needs of few. This once she has denied her heritage and fallen in love in the process. Ian has done everything he can to please Rom, and not end up like his father, who treats women as bad as he ever treated his mother. Ian has a rolemodel in Rom who he wants to be proud of him, but he doesn't think he could give up the love of his life.
Don't miss it!
Wonderful!.......2002-09-18
I love the time travel aspect. I wish Susan Grant had written more books like this. I read it all the way through. It has everything you could want -- adventure, time travel, sensuality -- great dialogue -- even humor!
Good book.......2002-02-10
Very good story, very entertaining... although I'd prefer more on what happened between Gann and Lara.
hero and heroine of this books play outstanding roles, wonderfully portrayed...scenes are nicely illustrated.
Good read.
Product Description
This 2005 SFBC Edition contains all 5 of the stories previously printed in Vols 1 & 2 : 'The Star King' , 'The Killing Machine' , 'The Palace of Love' , 'The Face ' , 'The Book of Dreams'
Customer Reviews:
Superb Anthology.......2005-10-24
THE DEMON PRINCES is an anthology of five related science fiction novels written by the Grandmaster Jack Vance between the years 1964 and 1981, set about 1500 years in the future. The hero of the stories, Kirth Gersen, is a kind of "James Bond/Sherlock Holmes in Space"; who, as a young boy finds himself and his grandfather witnesses and sole survivors of a town massacre perpetrated by five "Demon Princes". Kirth's grandfather grooms him to seek revenge, and enrolls him in an elite Intergalactic Police Training Academy, where Kirth excels, and sets out to "The Beyond" to locate and extract revenge against the Demon Princes.
As is always the case with Jack Vance books, be sure to keep a dictionary handy and prepare to improve your vocabulary. I find myself looking up a new word on average of once every 4 or 5 pages... and I rarely have to look up a new word when reading books produced by most modern-day authors.
Following are brief reviews of each of the 5 stories contained in THE DEMON PRINCES:
THE STAR KING **** (1964, 170 pages) - A nicely interwoven tale of mystery, intrigue, action, courtship, and alien worlds. "They just don't write `em like this any more".
THE KILLING MACHINE **** (1964, 165 pages) - Somewhat similar to THE STAR KING in that Kirth ends up having a hard time telling what the "bad guy" Kokor Hekkus really looks like. The alien world that Kirth traces Hekkus to is something out of the Middle Ages, with castles, princes and princesses, but also includes huge dreadful centipede-like man-killing beasts. Kirth manages to come into quite a bit of money by the end of this story.
THE PALACE OF LOVE **** (1967, 185 pages) - After the princess from THE KILLING MACHINE ends up taking a walk because she can't live with Kirth Gersen's single-mindedness, Kirth tracks the oddball Demon Prince Viole Falushe to his secret "Palace of Love". Interesting subplot regarding the plight of typical slaves on the lawless planets "beyond".
THE FACE ***** (1979, 222 pages) - Fantastic story, it is my pleasure to say that this is one of the best stories I've ever read. It has it all; action, mystery, romance, believable situations, innovative alien worlds and cultures - all leading up to a superb ending. This particular story is so good that it single-handedly brings the entire anthology (which is otherwise made up mostly of 4-star offerings) up to a 5-star rating.
THE BOOK OF DREAMS ***** (1981, 222 pages) - Another top-notch story, which starts out with Kirth Gerson using a ruse somewhat similar to that described in A. Conan Doyle's THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE, in order to attract the interest of the last remaining Demon Prince, H.A. Treesong... he then chases him from one bizzare future human culture world to another - including one funny/wild scene where he buys his way into a high school reunion garden party band as a beginner flute player, to get a chance to kill Treesong.
I only have two negative comments regarding this anthology; 1) About every 100 pages or so, and especially in the first three stories, there would be missing or transformed letters, or even missing words... and at times you will find yourself playing "WHEEL OF FORTUNE" trying to piece a sentence back together, 2) In the first three stories, Kirth's character, while entirely believable and not unlikeable, is a bit wooden and most of the time is fairly unexciting around the women (this is explained away by the fact that he is "a man on a mission", and has to keep his life focused on tracking down the evil-doers). By the fourth story, Kirth's character evolves into a much more exciting, inventive, personable, and introspective person, who is much more at ease with the ladies.
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