Average customer rating:
- many lazy reviewers
- Not stolen...Intended as a sequel
- All fantasy is derived
- tolkein
- Its still fun
|
The Silver Call
Dennis L. McKiernan
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 McKiernan, Dennis | ( M ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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( M ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books | McCaffrey, Anne
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ASIN: 0451458613
Release Date: 2001-11-05 |
Book Description
Bestselling author Dennis L. McKiernan's mythical novels of Mithgar are among the most cherished stories in the pantheon of fantasy fiction. The Silver Call collects two of the earlier novels-Trek to Kraggen-Cor and The Brega Path-in one volume for the very first time.
Customer Reviews:
many lazy reviewers.......2007-06-10
Is what I see here. If anyone bothered to read Denni's bio, they would know that he was writing a Tolkien sequel and couldn't get permission from Christopher (my preciousess)Tolkien. So his editor suggested he re-write the Iron Tower and Silver Call and change a few things.
There is no originality in 98% of the fantasy novels out there. Most of you are just to young to know it. I can't even read much of it anymore. Dennis comitted no crime that (without naming names) a plethora of other authors haven't. EVERYBODY copies Tolkien. Those who don't copy Robert E; Howard. It's just a matter of degrees. Everyone jumped all over Terry Brooks when he set about imitating LOTR, mainly because he was the first to do it. No one says anything to the authors of bland, endless fantasy series with elves and dwarves and goblins anymore. It's an entire genre now. And about all those Lovecraft mimics out there....yawn!
Mckiernan is a good writer, whether you like his stories or not. I am not related to, nor a die-hard fan, but I have read the first two series and they are well written. They keep you engaged. As does, by the way, J.K. Rowling, especially the later novels. This isn't classic literature here, folks, it's pulp fantasy and entertainment.
Personally, I thought the second series was great. The retaking of Moria by the Dwarves, basically. I had a blast reading it.
Not stolen...Intended as a sequel.......2007-01-07
I first posted this as a reply to comment, but realized people had to click on the comment of the review to see what I wrote, and then I found too many more reviews that were bashing this series saying it was stolen from Tolkien.
When I first started reading this, I was very struck by the so-many, obvious Tolkien-isms that, at first, I thought were "stolen". So I did what I *thought* most educated readers would do, which was research the author and publisher.
Come to find out that this was originally intended to be a sequel to Lord of the Rings, but keepers of LOTR's copyrights did not want to allow McKiernan's publisher (Doubleday) the permission to publish an actual sequel to LOTR. So Doubleday asked him to restate his story in a similar-yet-different-enough fantasy realm as to not infringe on copyrights. They then asked him to write a prequel to support his would-be LOTR sequel.
I found the story much more fun to read after I knew this, drawing the parallels from LOTR and realizing that the author was doing what many fans had wished for...more LOTR! Unfortunately Tolkien won't be writing anyhow as being dead tends to preclude things like that, and the current holders of the LOTR copyrights were more interested in money rather than the interests of the fan-base.
Good series, good read...have fun!
All fantasy is derived.......2006-05-31
Hmmm, not sure how many people know this, but Tolkien did not invent Elves, Dwarves, Wizards, Trolls, Giants, or even little people (Hobbits) for that matter. He simply copied others' ideas of what they thought of these creatures. Mckiernan does the same. If you are unsure, consider this, he was born in 1932, Lord of the Rings was first published in 1955. How many other influences could Mckiernan have had in his first 23 years of life. I would say many and although he did not begin writing fantasy until the mid 1980's, if he wanted to copy Tolkien so much, why did it take him thirty years to do so.
Overall, these books are a good read. Yes, they are basically couch-reads, but they can very-well stand on their own and I am sure many would enjoy these books who have never read Tolkien.
Finally, consider this: if the idea of elves, dwarves, trolls, wizards, giants, and little-people did not exist before Tolkien, do you think he could have created them from thin-air?
tolkein.......2004-09-17
if you read the forward toone of the series, i cant remember which one though, he says straight out that these are deeply derivitave of middle earth, and he fully admits that. from what i recall he referred to it as an homage to the stories that affected him so.
Its still fun.......2004-07-08
After reading all of the other reviews, I had to chime in. I have read both the LOTR and these books. Clearly, these books use the now classic "Tolkien" recipe for fantasy. But when all was said and done, these books were still fun reading. Are these books as complex as LOTR? No! But they were fun reading. Certainly, any person that reads Fantasy must read Tolkien. And once you read Tolkien you will find that NO other books compare... but that does not mean all other books suck.
At the end, I say if you are a "Tolkien Snob" and have read LOTR dozens of times, then don't read this.. it will only make you angry. On the other hand, if you read for fun and enjoy fantasy, I would say give it a whirl... you will most likely enjoy it.
Book Description
Is Call To Arms destined to be a movie? It was 1860, that year before the war, when Johnny, a thirty-year-old eligible bachelor from Ohio, traveled to South Carolina to help his uncle run a small plantation and fell in love with Molly, a Southern belle from Charleston. Their plans to marry are abruptly interrupted by her jealous former fiance at the outbreak of the Civil War. Their struggle to return to each other´s arms is filled with action, adventure, terror, charm, compassion, intrigue, suspense, and unceasing desire. The story has all of the elements one would expect in a movie produced by Mel Gibson, including the plot, character, humor, history, patriotism, passion, romance, and spirituality for which the highly successful actor-producer-director has come to be admired.
Customer Reviews:
A book that takes you back in time.......2006-05-05
Call to Arms is one of those books that literally takes you on a journey back in time. The civil war error is brilliantly portrayed on many levels, including the emotions, challenges, romance, and spiritual relevance of a time in history that changed the destiny of individuals as well as our nation. The colorful characters and plots capture your interest and allows you to live the story with them. It would be wonderful to see this story of love and faith come to life on a movie screen!
A Texas friend and fan.
A Spellbinding Book with Everything.......2005-09-16
"Call to Arms" is a must read and spellbinding novel. It has all the elements needed for fascinating reading - a book you will not want to put down until it is finished. It is a haunting, true life depiction of Civil War times. There is something for everyone; charming true love, hilarious comedy, hope, beauty, sadness, joy, and historical accuracy of the mid 1800's. This is the perfect book for giftgiving for those who read for pure pleasure. It would make a wonderful movie with a musical score to create that "Old World Charm."
A Spellbinding Book with Everything.......2005-09-16
"Call to Arms" is a must read spellbinding novel. It has all the elements needed for fascinating reading - a book you will not want to put down until it is finished. It is a haunting, true life depiction of Civil War times. There is something for everyone; charming true love, hilarious comedy, hope, beauty, sadness, joy, and historical accuracy of the mid 1800's. This is the perfect book for giftgiving for those who read for pure pleasure. It would make a wonderful movie with a great musical score to create that "Old World Charm."
A great book.......2005-09-14
As you can see I gave this book a 5 star rating wishing That I could give it a 10 star rating. This is the most exciting book that I have read in a long time. Loved the colorful carictures
Holds your interest, coulden't put it down, brought tears to my eyes Is a wonderful book!
Wonderful Civil War Story.......2005-09-08
This is a wonderful story set amid the dramatic mid 1800's backdrop of our nation's Civil War. I appreciate how Mr. Wayne has weaved a realistic drama into the pages of this historic time period, while incorporating both the tragedy of the many battles and the trials, tribulations and indomitable spirit of those who were both on the front lines and on the home front. While set predominantly in the South, it offers a comprehensive look at both the North and the South, and the issues that were of concern to the people who lived during that time - all the while remaining true to historical facts. It is primarily a love story, with bits of humor and strong spiritual faith blended in, while being an uplifting educational read - and at the same time offering a profound perspective on life itself.
Customer Reviews:
Another good job!.......2005-07-27
I do find it interesting how somebody that clearly hates McKeirnans writings seems to have purchased a ton book buy him. Makes you wonder about this guys objectivity.
*hint* E. A Solinas "ea_solinas"
As seemingly always, McKiernan delivers a great read! Ignore the haters, they seem to be lacking in the reading department.
Follow the "Path".......2004-09-17
Dennis McKiernan continues his wannabe-sequel-to-Lord-of-the-Rings, the Silver Call, with "The Brega Path." It's a bit faster and much more amusing than the first book of the duology, but it's still bogged down by too much repetitive action and a supremely dorky lead character.
At the end of "Trek to Kraggen-Cor," Cotton and his dwarf band had managed to kill the evil, monstrous kraken. Now Cotton helps the dwarves make their way into their ancestral home, hoping to meet Perry and the others in a battle that will decide the fate of Kraggen-Cor.
Inside Kraggen-Cor, Perry, Kian, Silverleaf and many others are trying to figure out how to defeat the evil creatures inside. To find their way through, they follow the path through the hundreds of tunnels, which Perry has memorized. But they find themselves first trapped in the hideous Ghath's abandoned cage -- and then enmeshed in a battle they can't possibly win. Unless, of course, Perry unravels the riddle of Narok, a silver horn that the dwarves fear...
Readers who have respect for J.R.R. Tolkien and the unparalleled integrity of his work will cringe at reading McKiernan's early works. Where the Iron Tower Trilogy was blatantly derivative, this is a blatant attempt at a sequel -- everything from the cave-kingdom of the dwarves to the little silver horn is done in "Lord of the Rings." Most people who write this sort of stuff are called fanfiction writers.
What makes "Brega Path" better than "Trek to Kraggen-Cor"? Frankly, it's the ending. McKiernan's endings are either very happy or very depressing, and it's hard not to be charmed by the finale. And surprisingly, McKiernan's writing smooths out quite a bit. But he does get carried away by the idea of a prophecy (enough with the prophecies! Does he write a single book without one?), and too much repetitive action (enough casting of hoods over faces!). The literally earthshattering climax is spoiled by Perry singing in the background.
Perry is still a colossal idiot -- until he actually gets stuck in a bloody, nasty battle, he still doesn't fully clue in that he isn't up to being a warrior. Cotton is pleasant, if you can ignore his ridiculous faux-country-Brit accent. The supporting characters tend to be thin and dull, and the dwarves are completely flat. Expect to get them all mixed up, because they are all the same.
"The Brega Path" has more charm than its predecessor, but it's still deeply flawed, with an unengaging cast and a plot that's drawn out way too long.
One of the Best!.......1999-12-30
This is the second book in the Silver Call duology, and it's the second book that I ever read of McKiernan's. It and the first book in the duology hooked me on his books! The characters are real, vivid, and human. Read it, and all of his books!
Not On Par With The Iron Tower (But Still A Good Book).......1999-07-05
This second half of the Silver Call Duology tends to hit the reader over the head with it's anti-war message, but the sense of grand adventure, and the presence of wholesome values, makes it a memorable read.
Great Book!!!!!.......1999-06-08
This is a great book. One that I think every one shouold read
Customer Reviews:
Return to Middle Earth's clone.......2003-10-29
While the "Iron Tower" trilogy was published prior to publication of the "Silver Call" duology, the duology was actually written first. Was McKiernan's first-written book, "Trek to Kraggen-Cor," better than the ones published before it? In a word, no. It's still a poor clone of J.R.R. Tolkien's masterful works.
Perry is the descendent of the great Tuckerby Underbank, living in the Boskydells. As a rather nerdy scholar, he dreams of battles and adventures -- and his fantasies come true when Lord Kian and two Dwarves show up on his doorstep. They need help reclaiming the ancient Dwarf citadel of Kraggen-Cor from the evil Spawn that have invaded, and Perry has memorized the old maps and directions.
Perry's thrilled, but his handyman Cotton Buckleburr isn't that thrilled. They travel with Kian and the Dwarves, training and learning to fight as they go, and soon meet up with their allies, the Dwarf army and the Vanadurim. But Perry is about to find out that what's ahead is not a glorious battle, but a horrific slaughter...
"Trek to Kraggen-Cor" is the sort of writing generally classified as "fanfic": stories written by fans of a TV show, movie, or book. McKiernan is clearly a huge fan of "Lord of the Rings"; how else could he have taken so many details from Tolkien's masterful epic and transplanted them into a similar backdrop? Look at the Dwarves, the "Watcher" kraken, the death Ghath, every single thing about Warrows, the evil villains, the Elves, the Vanadurim. The whole thing stinks of Middle-Earth. Even small details -- such as the little silver horn or the mushrooms -- were written by Tolkien first and best.
Very little actually happens in this book; most of it is talking, travelling, or both at once. The travelling is excruciating; McKiernan gives us every dull detail. The dialogue is a little better, but there's too much melodrama (and, in Cotton's case, poorly-written country-Brit dialect). The preoccupation with clothing details, hysterical laughter, and to-be-continued sign on the end make it even more frustrating.
Perry is apparently supposed to be a naive yet plucky hero; he merely comes across as a drip who has no contact with reality. Cotton's folksy attitude wears thin, but he's an acceptable character; Kian really isn't very interesting. The Dwarves are all utterly interchangeable, including Borin and Anval.
The first is not always best, and such is true with "Trek To Kraggen-Cor." Only if you liked his excruciating "Iron Tower" trilogy will you like the travesty of Dennis McKiernan's first duology.
If you liked Moria in Lord of the Rings..........2000-01-13
If you liked the chase through Moria in The Fellowship of the Ring, then these two books are for you. While the Silver Call duology is not as much of a rip-off of Lord of the Rings as the Iron Call trilogy was, all of McKiernan's books have been a good read and enjoyable.
In the authors defense, he did say in the beginning of one of the books that he could not find anything else as epic as Tolkien and set out to create something similar, albiet a little too similar.
Tolkien.......1999-08-16
A sequel to Tolkien. Not much happens in this one. They head off for some caverns. Lots of travel. Get delayed by floods and storms. At the end they have a battle with a monster. Nothing real creative here.
Simply the best!.......1999-08-13
I got this Book as a gift from a friend and didn't touch it for a month. Then one day while i was bored I picked it up. I only put it done once and that was to pick up The Brega Path(Book 2). Im now Reading both for the second time, and looking forward to reading his others.
A fine work of fantasy.......1998-11-10
Great book. Read it
Average customer rating:
- Return to Middle-Earth's clone
|
Trek to Kraggen-cor (Silver Call Duology)
Dennis L. McKiernan
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
McKiernan, Dennis | ( M ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0451167554 |
Customer Reviews:
Return to Middle-Earth's clone.......2004-09-07
While the "Iron Tower" trilogy was published prior to publication of the "Silver Call" duology, the duology was actually written first and published second. Was McKiernan's first-written book, "Trek to Kraggen-Cor," better than the ones published before it? Not that much. It's still a poor clone of J.R.R. Tolkien's masterful works.
Perry is the descendent of the great Tuckerby Underbank, living in the Boskydells. As a rather nerdy scholar, he dreams of legendary battles and adventures -- and his fantasies come true when Lord Kian and two Dwarves show up on his doorstep. They need help reclaiming the ancient Dwarf citadel of Kraggen-Cor from the evil Spawn that have invaded, and Perry has memorized the old maps and directions.
Perry's thrilled, but his handyman Cotton Buckleburr isn't that thrilled (since he wisely recognizes that war is messy, bloody, and deadly). They travel with Kian and the Dwarves, training and learning to fight as they go, and soon meet up with their allies, the Dwarf army and the Vanadurim. But Perry is about to find out that what's ahead is not a glorious battle, but a horrific slaughter...
"Trek to Kraggen-Cor" is the sort of writing generally classified as "fanfic": stories written by fans of a TV show, movie, or book. McKiernan is clearly a huge fan of "Lord of the Rings" -- how else could he have taken so many details from Tolkien's masterful epic and transplanted them into a similar backdrop? Among things copied are the Dwarves, every single thing about Warrows, the evil villains, the Elves, and the Vanadurim. The whole thing stinks of Middle-Earth. Even small details smack of Tolkien's life's work.
Very little actually happens in this book; most of it is talking, travelling, or both at once. It's even worse when they TALK about travelling. The trek to Kraggen-cor is excruciating, since McKiernan details every dull step of the way. The dialogue is a bit more relaxed, but there's too much melodrama (and, in Cotton's case, poorly-written country-Brit dialect). And McKiernan keeps fixating on hysterical laughter, clothing, and food -- at least one of these shows up regularly.
Perry is apparently supposed to be a naive yet plucky hero. But he merely comes across as a massive drip who has no contact with reality. Cotton's folksy attitude wears thin, but he's an acceptable character. Kian really isn't very interesting; he's a pretty typical benevolent warrior-prince. The Dwarves are all utterly interchangeable, including Borin and Anval.
The first is not always best, and such is true with "Trek To Kraggen-Cor." Only if you liked his excruciating "Iron Tower" trilogy will you like the travesty of Dennis McKiernan's first duology.
Book Description
Tor Classics are affordably-priced editions designed to attract the young reader. Original dynamic cover art enthusiastically represents the excitement of each story. Appropriate "reader friendly" type sizes have been chosen for each title-offering clear, accurate, and readable text. All editions are complete and unabridged, and feature Introductions and Afterwords.This edition of The Call of the Wild includes a Foreword, Biographical Note, and Afterword by Dwight Swain.Kidnapped form his safe California home. Thrown into a life-and-death struggle on the frozen Artic wilderness. Half St. Bernard, half shepard, Buck learns many hard lessons as a sled dog: the lesson of the leash, of the cold, of near-starvation and cruelty. And the greatest lesson he learns from his last owner, John Thornton: the power of love and loyalty.Yet always, even at the side of the human he loves, Buck feels the pull in his bones, an urge to answer his wolf ancestors as they howl to him.
Customer Reviews:
Well read, abridged version........2007-05-09
This is not a good version for a classroom setting. The cover doesn't reveal this.
Jack London - Part Prolific Novelist, Part Wolf.......2007-04-15
After reading "The Call of the Wild" or more precisely, after being transferred to another place and time, or even more to the point after being totally submerged into the being of this animal, I'm left completely awe-struck by London's work.
To see what Buck saw, to feel the forces and the instincts that he felt... that is the power of this book. Here's a passage from the third chaper to illustrate what I mean:
"At the mouth of the Tahkeena, one night after super, Dub (a member of the sled-dog team) turned up a snowshoe rabbit, blundered it, and missed. A hundred yards away was a camp of the Northwest Police, with fifty dogs, huskies all, who joined the chase. The rabbit sped down the river, turned off into a small creek, up the frozen bed of which it held steadily. It ran lightly on the surface of the snow, while the dogs plowed through by main strength. Buck led the pack, sixty strong, around bend after bend, but he could not gain. He lay down low to the race, whining eagerly, his splendid body flashing forward, leap by leap, in the wan white moonlight. And leap by leap, like some pale frost wraith, the snowshoe rabbit flashed on ahead.
All the stirring of old instincts which at stated periods drives men out from the sounding cities to forest and plain to kill things by chemically propelled leaden pellets, the blood lust, the joy to kill--all this was Buck's, only it was infinitely more intimate. He was ranging at the head of the pack, running the wild thing down, the living meat, to kill with his own teeth and wash his muzzle to the eyes in warm blood.
There is an ecstasy that marks the summit of life, and beyond which life cannot rise. And such is the paradox of living, this ecstasy comes when one is most alive, and it comes as a complete forgetfulness that one is alive. This ecstasy, this forgetfulness of living, comes to the artist, caught up and out of himself in a sheet of flame; it comes to the soldier, war-mad on a stricken field and refusing quarter; it came to Buck, leading the pack, sounding the old wolf-cry, straining after the food that was alive and that fled swiftly before him through the moonlight. He was sounding the deeps of his nature, and of the parts of his nature that were deeper than he, going back into the womb of Time. He as mastered by the sheer surging of life, the tidal wave of being, the perfect joy of each separate muscle, joint, and sinew in that it was everything that was not death, that it was aglow and rampant, expressing itself in movement, flying exultantly under the stars and over the face of dead matter that did not move."
The call of the wild .......2007-01-18
The call of the wild, by Jack London is a great book for all ages. Buck (the main character) is a tame dog in Santa Clara California living with Judge Miller, a man that everyone new and enjoyed. This changed when a rush for gold in Yukon made men need strong dogs to pull their sleds. Buck was a very strong dog and as a result, was kidnapped. He was then taken to Yukon where there was harsh snow and was very cold. He was treated poorly until he met John Thorton. John Thorton was very kind to Buck but then one day he died. Buck was left in the wild and became friends with a wild animal. I personally like it because it is always telling you what is happining in great detail. Jack London also got right to the point making it easy to understand.
the call of the wild .......2007-01-18
The call of the wild by Jack London is a great book for all ages. Buck (the main character) is a tame dog in Santa Clara California living with Judge Miller a man that evryone new and enjoyed. All this changed when a rush for gold in Yukon. These men needed strong dogs and because of the fact Buck was strong he was kidnapped. He was then tuck to Yukon where there was harsh snow and was very cold. he was treated poorly intill he met John Thorton. John Thorton was very kind to Buck but then one day he died. Buck was left in the wild and became friends with a wild animal and learned to live in the wild.
Call of the Wild.......2006-11-13
The book The Call of the Wild is an excellent book. It is about a dog named Buck, who had to struggle while turning from a tame dog to a wild dog. He ran into cruel people, but a man named John Thorton saved his life. Buck and Thorton were devoted to each other until Thorton was killed. Buck then had to live by himself in the wild. I enjoyed this book because of the interesting plot and descriptive phrases. I would recommend this book to other fourth and fifth graders because it is marvelous.
Product Description
System Grads get their questions answered by Ken McCarthy and other successful Internet entrepreneurs
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