- Covenant, alive? Jeremiah, talkative and energetic? Surely this is impossible.
The book opens with Linden facing a corporeal Covenant, and a responsive Jeremiah. Please: Read the first few chapters carefully. Don't speed through them in a mad desperate dash to start the marathon run to the finish, because if you do, several events leading up to the ending, and the ending itself (Donaldson has become, I daresay, the master of the cliffhanger) might not make a bit of sense to you. For that matter, the entire book should be read carefully. After finishing this book I see more and more why Donaldson thought that he needed to take time away and work on other projects before coming back to this. Most fantasies - his First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant included - are fairly straightforward in their presentation. That's why The First Chronicles had such a broad appeal. They most certainly were not simple - when you scratched the surface, there was surprising depth - but you could, at thirteen years of age, read the books and fully enjoy them without looking into the vast abyss of nuance Donaldson wrote with. While I don't want to say that young readers should be wary of these books, they have layers and layers of subtlety and subtext. I expected Donaldson to write a book that made me think, but I wasn't expecting to be addled and befuddled, and I just want to say THANK YOU to SRD for writing a book that that caused so much cerebration.
Linden needs answers. The Demondim are at Revelstone's gate. The Mahdoubt is nowhere to be found. Covenant and Jeremiah are too foreign for her to trust completely, and so Esmer is her only resource. His duality often prohibits him from speaking clearly, and his aid often creates more problems than it solves. The book starts out with a simple (yeah, right) quest, and her companions are two who should bring more delight to her than any: Covenant and Jeremiah. But they do not, because she cannot physically touch them, something she longs to do, for reasons I'll let Donaldson dramatize. But imagine Linden's grief. After ten years in the "real world", and several audacious days in the Land (ROTE), Covenant and Jeremiah stand before her, restored. The only man she ever loved, and her son.
Essentially, this book is about the choices she makes. Perhaps she was dubbed "The Chosen" for more reasons than we know.
SELECTED VERBOSITY
I feel the need to address some reviewers concerns regarding ROTE, if only because I wouldn't want those reviews to dissuade someone from reading it and, thus, this book. Addressing those here is germane to the topic at hand, I believe, for reasons that should become obvious. Some reviews have said that The Last Chronicles suffer from original, inventive characters like Pitchwife or Saltheart Foamfollower, and they have said that this is a detriment to the series. I would argue with that. First, we know that this is a time travel story. To think that we won't go back in time and meet some folks we've been aching to meet for the past seven books wouldn't be logical. I'm not saying that we will, mind you, I'm just saying that the likelihood (and I thought the same before reading ROTE) is pretty darn good. Second, remember that Donaldson's mind is fertile (the Amnion, anyone?). Do we really think that the only characters that we will encounter are the ones we've met in ROTE? After satisfying first books in his first and second Covenant series, Lord Foul's Bane and The Wounded Land, respectively, he introduced us to people, races and creatures that left us in awe of his creative muscle. In the Illearth War, he gave us Hile Troy, Elena, and Amok. In The One Tree we had the Elohim, Kasreyn, and the Sandgorgons. Think back to how brilliantly Donaldson's world opened up to us.
Have faith. You will be well rewarded.
The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant began with Donaldson setting the pieces on the board with great care. Since the First Chronicles, Donaldson's writing has at times reminded me of a chess master. While he is not plodding, as one reviewer here wrote of ROTE, he is meticulous in the placement of his pieces. When I finished reading The Real Story: The Gap Into Conflict, the first book of his five-book space opera, The Gap Series, I couldn't see how he was going to get five books out of it and frankly really didn't care about reading the next book, Forbidden Knowledge: The Gap Into Vision. Yet he did get five books out of that, and the universe that he unveiled to his grateful readers was breathtaking in its conceptual amplitude. It was like being inside the tiniest Russian doll, and escaping, to find that there's a larger doll, then a larger doll, etc., and finally you escape and you're in, well, Russia. Maybe not as exciting as warm and inviting as Hawaii, but you get the idea.
I don't want to say much more about the plot or happenings of the book, other than this: When I first read it, I was frustrated through several parts. Donaldson, who seemed to have laid off the ten dollar words more than usual in ROTE, found some new ones to introduce here, and I found myself scrambling for a dictionary more than I cared to. There was one sentence in particular that made me scream, because I had to use *two* dictionaries to get through it. I didn't mark the sentence, and can't find it now, but I remember one of the words: chrysoprase. That was one of four similarly "difficult" words in that sentence. A sentence that I did make note of is this: "Its {...} had become a blackness as deep as ebony or fuligin." Fuligin wasn't in an Oxford dictionary I consulted, but I found it in Encarta's dictionary, and it's defined thus: 1. sooty: having the color or consistency of soot or smoke, 2. obscure: like soot in cloudiness or obscurity.
I suppose that an argument could be made that #2 adds some dimension to the definition, but I'm not sure - especially as fuligin isn't a common ten dollar word.
The title itself contains such a word. Revenant isn't in Encarta's dictionary, but was in the Oxford dictionary I consulted. "Revenant, noun, a person who has returned, especially supposedly from the dead." Know anyone that fits the bill?
Although Donaldson is often criticized for his use of language, and I'm somewhat criticizing him now, I want you to remember this: he picks and chooses his words carefully. Even the "small" words. Read carefully what he writes in this book, and pay close attention to what he has already written.
I've read everything Donaldson has ever written (and he may have used the words I mentioned above, but they're not words I would be likely to remember), and have come to love his work despite what I consider to be some of his flaws. Namely, the overuse of ten dollar words, and his main characters (not side characters) experiencing their emotions to the greatest degree possible. It's never just pain, it's searing, blinding, knee-buckling, stomach-wrenching, teeth-pulling torture - and sometimes rape. However those are, to me, small prices to pay for the greater reward: his vision. I've learned to trust Donaldson over the years, and if he believes in his work, I believe in him. He is loyal to his vision, has never been a sellout (or he would have written these books twenty years ago and have long since retired on the royalties), and he holds himself to a higher standard than any of his critics. For that I admire him.
Regarding the "sameness" of everything. Why are the Haruchai still the Haruchai? Why is Foul still around? The Ramen? The Ranyhyn? Shouldn't things have changed in the Land? Why hasn't technology replaced "magic"? After all, it's been about seven (?) thousand years since Thomas Covenant first appeared. And what about this Linden character? Isn't she annoying?
Foul is still around because he can't be killed. We know this. The power required to kill him - even were it possible - would break the Arch of Time, and that would fulfill Foul's plans nicely. As to the races - well, realize that the Land itself is a very small area, and it's fairly well secluded. It shouldn't be terribly surprising that things are still so similar. I'd agree with someone if they argued that things don't need to be so exact. For example, Mithil Stonedown is still Mithil Stonedown. In seven thousand years (granted, different world, different rules) what's Chicago going to look like? What did Chicago, for that matter, look like seven thousand years ago.
With regard to technology, that's really the easiest issue to deal with. Necessity breeds invention. If you have magic, and it provides everything you need, then hasn't necessity been taken out of the picture? Without need, there is no desire to explore any further than with what you have already. How many thousands of years did people live on this, our Earth, with the only answers available to them, and the only answers required by them, provided by their religion/mythology?
About Linden. There's a "group" who call themselves THOOLAH, The Holy Order of Linden Avery Haters. It's a bit extreme for me. I understand that Donaldson's characters aren't always likeable (Covenant's first act in the land in Lord Foul's Bane was to rape a girl), but that's kind of the point. Would you rather be reading about morally altruistic characters like Richard and Kahlan from Goodkind's universe? If so, that's great, no harm done. But I prefer my characters to not only have grey spots on their morality gauge, I like them to be *real*. Whine all you want about *Linden's* whining (regarding her son), but find me a mother that wouldn't be doing and thinking and struggling *exactly* as she is. Good luck. (I mean no offense to THOOLAH members, or anyone who simply doesn't like Linden, and while I don't care for Goodkind's work at all, I mean no offense to his fans either.)
If you'll indulge me in a final burst of verbosity:
When I saw the cover art for Fatal Revenant - the main image, a figure of a wizardly-looking chap bearded and robed in snowy white - I cringed. It was bad enough that Del Rey tried to cash in on the success of The Lord of the Rings movies by releasing mass market paperback editions of The First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant with pastel covers displaying a *yellow* gold wedding ring. (They hoped that the new readers of fantasy that the LOTR movies gave birth to would see a gold ring while perusing the shelves at their local bookstore, and think, Hey! I need to read this Tolkien knock-off - which it most certainly is not.) The problem there is that our buddy Tom wore a *white* gold wedding ring, and it is the nature of the alloy of white gold that formed the paradox of "white wild magic gold" in the Land. Now we are treated to what looks to me, and probably every fan of fantasy extant, Gandalf the White or, as depicted in the films, perhaps the figure more closely resembles Saruman. Let me reassure you that neither Gandalf nor Saruman appear in this or any other Covenant book. Who is it then? I'm not saying, but even a casual reader of the Covenant series should be able to make a good guess.
Happy Reading. Donaldson himself said that we would be going on a ride. I am more anxious, now, given how high he has raised the stakes, to see the third book than I was this one. The next three years will go very slowly.
Average customer rating:
- Act I draws to a close
- Fourth of the Ten (currently) in the Series
- Not terrible, but Kerr can do way better...
- as good as the previous volumes`
- A good all around fantasy
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The Dragon Revenant (Deverry Series, Book Four)
Katharine Kerr
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ASIN: 0553289098
Release Date: 1991-03-01 |
Book Description
For years the provinces of Deverry have been in turmoil; now the conflict escalates with the kidnapping of Rhodry Maelwaedd, heir to the throne of Aberwyn. Intent on rescuing him, his beloved Jill and the elven wizard Salamander infiltrate the distant land of Bardex, where Rhodry is held captive. Tied to Deverry by obligation and circumstance, the immortal wizard Nevyn begins to see that all the kingdom's problems can be traced to a single source: a master of dark magics, backed by a network of evil that stretches across the sea. Now Nevyn understands that he too is being lured away to Bardek--and into a subtle, deadly trap designed especially for him.
Katharine Kerr's novels of the Kingdom of Deverry unfold in a world of stunning richness and depth. Her vivid portrayal of characters caught in a complex web of fate and magic captures the imagination with a realism that few can match. Now she retums to this enchanted kingdom, where the wheels of destiny are tuming anew.
Customer Reviews:
Act I draws to a close.......2007-09-25
This book is odd enough in the Deverry series in that in contains no "flashbacks". The entire story is told in linear fashion, following Jill and Salamander as they try to find and rescue Rhodry in the southern Bardekian archipelago. I admit this is somewhat of a disappointment for me, particularly since "Bristling Wood" introduced one of my favorite flashback storylines, and then left me hanging until Book 5 to pick it up again. Ah, well.
The story in the present picks up with a poor, confused, kidnapped Rhodry being sold into slavery in Bardek. (Kerr has indicated that the Bardekians are Hellenized Moors, but I don't quite buy it.) His kidnapper, a peon of the dark dweomermaster known as the Old One, has destroyed his memory, so he can't even get all Paris Hilton and yell "Do you know who I am?!?" because he doesn't know, either. Meanwhile, his lover Jill and his half-brother Salamander march resolutely down to Bardek to rescue him single-handedly. But even once they do (come on, you knew they would) there's still the Old One to worry about. Will Nevyn arrive in time to save them? Will Rhodry get his memory, and his inheritance, back? Will Jill kill Salamander before he starts to teach her dweomer? Stay tuned!
Again, this book is not my favorite in the series. Part of it is that the last third, when the forces of good track down the Old One, is disappointingly reminiscent of the showdown with Alastyr in Book 2. Part of it is the lack of storylines set in the past, as I mentioned above. And part of it is the way this section of the series wraps up. See, although the whole series stretches to (so far) 15 planned books, Kerr has divided it into several "acts," and "Dragon Revenant" is the final book in Act I. So by the end, she resolves quite a few characters' destinies and wraps up some storylines. And believe me, I completely understand and agree with the way she does it - but that doesn't mean I don't still want a happy ending! So intellectually, I appreciate the way this book ends, but emotionally, I'm sulking in the corner.
But you can't have everything. And never fear, (almost) all of our beloved characters will return again in "A Time of Exile," although perhaps not in the way we imagined. This book, while not the best in the series, is still a fantastic piece of work and one I highly recommend to serious fantasy fans everywhere.
Fourth of the Ten (currently) in the Series.......2006-08-01
For years the provinces of Deverry have been in turmoil; now the conflict escalates with the kidnapping of Rhodry Maelwaedd, heir to the throne of Aberwyn. Intent on rescuing him, his beloved Jill and the elven wizard Salamander infiltrate the distant land of Bardek, where Rhodry is held captive. Tied to Deverry by obligation and circumstance, the immortal wizard Nevyn begins to see that all the kingdom's problems can be traced to a single source: a master of dark magics, backed by a network of evil that stretches across the sea. Now Nevyn understands that he too is being lured to Bardek--and into a subtle, deadly trap designed especially for him.
Katherine Kerr's writing takes a bit of getting used to, but it's worth the effort. She approaches her stories with a Celtic storytelling mindset, which means she conveys events according to their significance to the story, as opposed to chronologically. Consequently, while the stories begin in the "present" (which is an elastic concept, anyway, in a fantasy setting), the events unfold, chapter wise, both in the "present" and in the distant past. This can be frustrating, at first, but Kerr's writing is heavily steeped in Pagan and Western Mystery tradition, and the Celtic setting (and mindset) of her characters means that time, or chronological time, is not essentially relevant. To be honest, I found the first book infuriating, as I spent a lot of time trying to adjust to the writing style. However, I found the story engrossing enough that I persevered, and by the second book was so hooked I've read all ten in her three series.
Kerr's story evolves around the concept of reincarnation, and unfinished business, and "karma", and fate. The same souls recur again and again, just in new bodies, over the course of the centuries over which the story unfolds.
Kerr's world is one of High Fantasy, populated by Elves, Men, and Dwarves, as well as faeries/elementals, which she terms the "Wildfolk". However, hers is a slightly more dark, dangerous and less clear cut world than the works of other High Fantasy authors, not the least due to the fact that someone who was your friend in a former life can re-emerge in the story centuries later as a foe, and vice versa. There is a tremendous amount of magic, but it's the magic of the Western Mystery tradition (quite a bit of Golden Dawn and even Enochiana), and that of R.J. Stewarts Faery tradition. There are dragons, and giant beast men.
The Elves are a fallen race, driven out of their magnificent and palatial cities centuries before by invaders, and who now roam the plains as primitives. They possess the potential to be superlative magicians, but the knowledge was lost in the fall of their civilization. Humans, though warlike and shorter lived, have preserved this knowledge, but guard it jealously. The Wildfolk, basically magic incarnate, are unhinged from the effects of "karma", but lack permanence of personality, and cannot grow or develop, cursed to stagnation. The Dwarves are a secretive mystery, entrenched within the earth. Each has something to offer the other, and the story that unfolds is the story of this "technology" exchange, of sorts, between them.
Fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley, who clearly influenced Kerr, will be enraptured by this series, as will fans of Kate Eliott, who Kerr, herself, clearly influenced. It's phenomenal! Devotees of the New Age, Esoteric or Occult will find themselves nodding and smiling as they read, and sincerely hoping Kerr's writing will do for the Western Mystery and Faery traditions what Bradley's has done for Wicca.
Not terrible, but Kerr can do way better..........2000-03-15
Fans of Deverry might want to give me a beating here, but in my opinion- Kerr is definitely capable of better stuff. Until I got to this book, everything she put out amazed me. I even gave Bristling Wood 5 stars. Through out Dragon Revenant there were some traces of the Katherine Kerr I know and love- especially in the beginning and the end, but the middle (the entire portion that involved Rhodry as a slave) bored me and dragged out for way too long. I kept waiting for Kerr to erupt into one of her trademark flashback sequences- but was left hanging. I respect the possibility that maybe she was bored of doing this, but I still want to know how the Silver Dagger group's origin story turns out- a tale left unfinished from the middle of the last book.
I have a confession to make... Halfway through, I quite frankly gave up on this book and went on to read twelve other books. But for the first time in my life I resumed reading a book I had given up on- This was solely because of how much I enjoyed her first three books, and my hope that the next few would be up to her usual par.
A few things did impress me here though. Salamander- a very interesting character is fleshed out for the first time. Kerr's dialogue and Deverry's culture give her works a wonderful feel. I would have enjoyed a grander resolution between Rhodry and his brother/enemy Rhys, but the ending made the book worth while with several surprises and a very neat closure to the whole series. Or was this just a bridge? On to Omens and Exile for the answers I go. And I can't wait to get to Dragon Mage since I previewed the first chapter- looks exciting!
as good as the previous volumes`.......2000-02-11
Kerr has a good series going here. While I always seem to compare stories to my two personal favorite authors, Terry Goodkind and Robert Jordan, this series has definitely landed a close third on my list behind Goodkind. I enjoy Celtic storylines and her characters do come to life well. It can slow down at times, but I am half way through and enjoy it. A book that I look forward to reading when I get home is a rare thing for me to find now days, and this series has supplied me with several.
A good all around fantasy.......1998-08-21
I read this book over the summer and enjoyed it very much. The three main characters; Jill, Rhodry, and the wizard, are very well developed. I was moved to the point of being disgusted with Rhodry's self centeredness and self absorbed behavior typical of a spoiled monarch's son. He is the only survivor of his older siblings and becomes only heir to the throne, but there is a plot afoot to get rid of him and start a war that will devistate the people of Deverry. Then there is the wizard who is responsible for the deaths of Rhodry and Jill in their previous lives and wants to correct it. Reincarnation and other beliefs are expressed in this book and make it more interesting. Half of the book describes Rhodry's exile and captivity arranged by his captors until Jill and the wizard come to rescue him and the book then goes into describing their escape. It is slow moving at times, but has a very good ending. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in fantasy.
Book Description
Within these pages exists a world of sensuality and horror, a realm where the aberrant and the erotic combine to form frightening tales that will chill your blood and send tremors down your spine.
A young man makes a gruesomeâand seductiveâdiscovery after moving into his new home. A hustler is thrust into the darkened lair of a beautiful creature older than time itself. A middle-aged office worker receives a sexy phone call from an unlikely secret admirer with sinister intentions. And a young virgin, on her way to visit her sick grandmother, must enter a shadowy forest filled with terror . . . and temptation. All this and more await you in a story collection written especially for those who aren't afraid of the dark.
Customer Reviews:
May I have some more please.......2006-09-21
Each of these short stories is a page turner. The writing style was like Charlee Jacob meets Anne Rice. I can't wait for a full length novel from this author.
Unique short story collection.......2006-09-19
I just recently finished "revenant". Wow, what an amazing collection. I highly recommend this collection to anyone who is a fan of erotic horror. The stories were so amazing, what an incredible mind this writer has. I have not read a short story collection that intrigued me soo much. I very much look forward to any future releases Gaines may have on the way.
"Revenant" ROCKS!! Look out Stephen King!.......2006-09-19
Being a huge fan of the horror genre, I am always on the look-out for new authors. I found Gaines Galloway on myspace and decided to take a chance with Revenant. WHAT AN AWESOME COLLECTION! Every story has a different feel and theme. It isn't like one of those collections where every story is the same. I couldn't put the book down because I kept wanting to read story after story after story. And get this...some of the stories actually gave me goosebumps. That doesn't happen very often. This is a great book and I recommend it to all fans of horror. If you like Stephen King, Galloway is right up your alley.
Reverence for Revenant.......2006-09-11
This collection of short stories showcases erotic horror in its full glory. From the first line, which ensnares the reader with promises of ghastly aberrance ...to the last line, which encompasses the entire book's presence in one word... 'Darker.'; Gaines Galloway introduces us to a new dimension of the licentious, which lies hidden within tales of abject psychological and physiological terror. With stories like Severed and Coming, Gaines Galloway proves that even the grotesque has a sweet, sensuous side. Young Maiden Red, offers up an erotically exciting twist to an old favorite; while Prey serves up science fiction at its best, with a side order of...man. When I was finished reading the collection, I promptly reread it again. Sweet, erotic horror at its best which left me begging the author for more...
Revenant: A Short Story Collection.......2006-09-09
Fans of Horror Rejoice! All lovers of greats like Stephen King and Poppy Z. Brite will love Gaines Galloway's Revenant! Challenge your mind to absorb the horrors of these delightfully disturbing tales. I love Galloway's unique writing style, it will draw you in and have you screaming for more! Galloway delivers shivers with every word, horror fans will not be disappointed. I haven't been this impressed by an author new to me, since I picked up Pet Semetary by Stephen King 14 years ago!
Customer Reviews:
A fun read.......2000-02-18
In Revenent the sixth demon Indigo faces is the most abstract she has faced up until this point. This makes the palpable evil that pervaded the previous books nearly nonexistent in this, despite the haunting cover art, and the grim title. This is still a wonderful book, and quite original. She creates an atmosphere of a society so driven to efficiency and the procuring of wealth, that even their language has been effected. Their society is tightly regimented, and politeness is used only as far as it serves their own ulterior motives. What I found to be one of the most interesting facets, was her ability to make fun and singing and dancing seem to be evil. I have seen other authors attempt this kind of situation. It probably has not been done as well since Aldus Huxley in "A Brave New World". Louise Cooper again shows her tremedous ablilty to get you involved in the story. Sadly some of the plot twists I did see coming, but "Revenant" is still a great book. Sadly, this is one of the more difficult to find of the Indigo Saga, but it is well worth the effort.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2007-03-07
A good buddy of mine and I are both big Stackpole fans, and have most of his works. This was one that I didn't have, and my buddy suggested I find this book, and I am very glad I did. It is an interesting tale, and I love the way the chapters are set up, with one explaining the present, then the next going into the past to help further clear things up. I also love the first person perspective...I feel that it makes a the character easier to identify with. This was a excellent read!!
GOOD JOB MAP.......2007-01-28
this was my favorite book along time ago, recently Ive tracked it down and reread it. Enjoyed it way more the seoond time, this is still one of my favorite books of all time
Excellent.......2006-03-13
Nearly of the same caliber as The Dark Glory War or Once a Hero
A must read for any fantasy fan.......2006-02-24
This book was amazing-I was familiar with Stackpoles work from his DragonCrown War Cycle series, so I expected good things from this, and my expectations were exceeded. The book tells an awesome tale in the present, about a man struggling to help achieve justice in the world and shatter the image of fear people have of people like him-but at the same time in alternate chapters it tells in extensive depth the tale of how he came to become a "Justice"-and its a wonderful tale. I feel I even LEARNED a lot from this book too ^_^
You really get connected to the main character, and want him to succeed, and look foward to seeing HOW he succeeds. Give this book a try, you WONT regret it.
Revenant Risen.......2004-11-26
Michael Stackpole's first novel, Talion: Revenant is a fine addition to his bestselling fiction. Though written in 1986, it was only published a decade later, but is a fine fantasy offering nonetheless. While superficially, the plot appears to be rather stereotyped (A boy, who witnesses the brutal killing of his family by Hamisian raiders vows to exact vengeance on the lands of Hamis), interest rarely, if ever wanes. This is created primarily through the intriguing web of politics weaved through the plot and the creation of multi-dimensional characters, particularly the main character, Nolan ra Sinjaria. Rather original ideas involving magic enhance the effiacy of Stackpole's writing.
A "Talion" refers to one in service to the Shattered Empire, which in Revenant is comprised loosely of several states. Talions take on a diverse range of roles, from riding mythical hawks to the feared Talion Justices, whose duty is to uphold the law, empowered with the ability to draw the souls from a body. Written from the first person perspective, "Talion: Revenant" details the experiences both of the main character Nolan as a Novice Justice in training and a Justice pursuing bandits throughout the Shattered Empire. Without revealing too much of the plot, a conspiricy is soon revealed, and as a Justice Nolan seeks to uphold the law in a divided nation. While Talion: Revenant is not a short read, spanning 175,000 words and in parts slows in pace, Michael Stackpole masterfully weaves politics, adventure and magic into an absorbing read.
Book Description
The third of a five volume set collecting all of Hodgson's published fiction. Each volume contains one of Hodgson's novels, along with a selection of thematically-linked short fiction. Introduction by Jeremy Lassen The Ghost Pirates The Silent Ship: (aka The Phantom Ship, aka The Silent Ship Tells How Jessop Was Picked Up) Stories of the Sea: * A Tropical Horror * The Voice in the Night * The Shamraken' Homeward-Bounder (aka Homeward Bound) * Out of the Storm * Albatross, The * In the Wailing Gully * 'Prentices Mutiny * Real Thing: On the Bridge, The * Derelict, The * Island of the Crossbones, The * How the Honourable Billy Darrell Raided the Wind * The Stone Ship (aka the Mystery of the Ship in the Night) * The Trimming of Captain Dunkan * Regeneration of Captain Bully Keller, (aka The Waterloo of a Hard-Case Skipper) * The Mystery of Missing Ships * We Two and Bully Dunkan * The Haunted 'Pampero' * Real Thing; 'S.O.S.', The * Second Mate of the Buster (aka Jack Grey, Second Mate) * A Fight With a Submarine Revenants, or Posthumously Published Stories of the Sea : * Demons of the Sea * In The Danger Zone * Old Golly * The Storm * Ships That Go Missing * The Wild Man of the Sea * The Habitants of Middle Islet * The Riven Night * The Heaving of the Log * The Sharks of the St. Elmo (aka Fifty Dead Chinamen All in a Row) * By The Lee * Sailormen A Note On The Texts
Customer Reviews:
Classic.......2007-01-15
This series of books from Night Shade are outstanding for their depth and the quality of the final product. If you are a keen collector these books will become prized additions to your library.
One of treasury volumes.......2006-03-13
Why a man in the Far East like me has been impatiently waiting for the publishing of these volumes. It was 1963 when I learned the name of William H. Hodgeson in the advertisement of a film, 'Matango'(directed by Ishiro HONDA famous for Godzilla in 1954/"Attack of Mushroom People" in English title later exported to overseas). At that time, SF in Japan was still at dawn and some Sci-Fi writers were eager to introduce variety of SF especially to adults. 'Matango' is today a classic horror film with some but highly enthusiastic fans. The original story of 'Matango' is 'The Voice in the Night' which is contained in this volume. The story is terrifying but sadly romantic, which is common in many stories by Hodgeson.
Those who like sea adventure stories by E. A. Poe, will surely find the similar but more exciting tastes in this volume. Hodgeson loved Poe's works while H.P. Lovecraft worshiped Hodgeson. Supernatural and very physical (not psychological) terror is here.
I am collecting all 5 volumes this time, but sea adventures are concentrated in this 3rd volume. Others are also recommendable for those who expect both cosmic horror and spiritual one (ghost). They are treasury volumes.
Customer Reviews:
The Story Stays With You.......2005-05-18
I bought this book at a UBS in the 80's. I don't know what made me do it, it wasn't the cover nor the write up at the back.
Since then I must have read that book 5 times and I still have it. The story was original, unlike many Fantasy books today. Somehow authors in the 80's managed to get alot done plot and character wise in half the number of pages of today's fantasy books.
The main character Jaer is an original. Switching gender throughtout the book both physically and mentally.
The other characters are equally interesting. The book's ending is open to interperation. It haunts you.
Sadly this book is out of print, but well worth the trouble of tracking down. It is one of those books that dig beneath the surface.
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Back cover..
They seek to answer riddles that have no answer:
They are bound on a quest that has no end.
Thewson of the Lion Courts. Leona, Queen of the Beasts. Medlo, outlawed Prince. Jasmine the Dancer. Terascouros the Singer. And young Jaer, whose like has never been seen: Jaer, the greatest riddle of all...
They are the Revenants. This is their story.
One of my favorite Tepper novels.......1998-11-04
Out of all of Sheri S. Tepper's books that I've read, this and _The Gate to Women's Country_ remain my favorites. While the writing in _The Revenants_ may not be as confident nor as polished as in her later works (e.g. _The Gate to Women's Country_, _Grass_, _Sideshow_, _A Plague of Angels_, _Six Moon Dance_, etc.) I find it friendlier, less bitter, and warmer. I *liked* most of the characters in this book. I enjoyed hearing them talk, watching their struggles, and empathized with their pain. In some of Tepper's other books, I found the characters boring or annoying.
The world of _The Revenants_ hurtles towards the ultimate in Separation: myth from reality, race from race, nation from nation, village from village, everyone forced into vanishingly smaller pigeonholes, until they are altogether Separated into extinction. Black-robed Keepers speed the process by exacting a harvest of young men and women.
A few individuals struggle to remain free. Jaer is at the heart of this struggle: Jaer embraces male and female, myth and reality, and by the end, all of humanity, the living opposite of Separation. Jaer is on a Quest, and so are Jaer's companions. Tepper gives us an interesting "behind the scenes" look at Quests, fairy tales, and prophecies.
Jaer's Quest is a garbled mish-mash partially made up in jest by the two old men who were Jaer's foster parents. They die before explaining it to Jaer. Prince Medlo's Quest is a politically motivated, veiled assassination attempt. Jasmine's Quest was also engineered to get her out of the way. Thewson's Quest is fueled by a young man's ambition to be King. Leona's Quest is a mission to save the life of an ailing friend. All the quests are rendered meaningless by Separation and the murderous, destructive Keepers; yet they are also fulfilled, though the nature of the Quest changes as the protagonists become wiser and more knowledgable.
It's all a fairy tale, as one of the characters observes, but fairy tales do not reach happy endings on their own, as this book shows us. Someone has to make them work. The prophecies were made to come true --- doesn't that impy some sort of time travel? The characters must answer this question in the end.
As usual, Tepper throws in more ideas than she has time to fully develop, but this time, I didn't mind. The book worked as a whole, and the hinted-at ideas gave me the sense of a big, wide world with a real past. This book foreshadows some of the ideas Tepper works with in _Beauty_ and _A Plague of Angels_ (for example, being set in the far future after much of humankind has left the earth for the stars), but I liked _The Revenants_ better.
Like many books in the fantasy genre, there is an Evil with an Army of Darkness threatening to take over the world, but in this case the Evil is unusual, and we pity the Army of Darkness after we see who they are, and how they suffer. I liked the twisted way the Keepers fit their philosophy of Separation: faceless, sexless, and blind to the mythical.
All that, and there's even a sweet little love story in there, too. I love this book. Too bad it's out of print, but I'm not selling my copy. :-)
Average customer rating:
- Super Reader
- The Buffy Palooza!
- Slam-Bang Buffy
- A Chinese/Demon gang tries to take over Sunnydale
- Reads like a great Anime ...
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Revenant (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Mel Odom
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0743400356 |
Book Description
When a Chinese gang hits Sunnydale, racial tensions in the community are sparked. Buffy has seen the baddies shake down Willy the Snitch, so naturally her Slayer senses are up. But to Willow, the situation poses a more personal threat. Her new friend Jia Li has been feeling the backlash from this cross-cultural hostility -- and it's tearing her family apart. Jia remains true to her ancient cultural heritage, but her brother, the angry, outspoken Lok, is ready to toss out old Chinese customs for the modern American lifestyle. And he's willing to use the occult for just that purpose.
Suddenly, a beautiful martial-arts warrior arrives on the scene. It's impossible to tell where her allegiance lies, but Xander -- whose romances are becoming habitually complicated -- is smitten, Giles is in full research mode, and before long, Buffy is wondering who's behind the gang warfare. Is supernatural evil brewing?
Download Description
Buffy the Vampire Slayer When a Chinese gang hits Sunnydale, racial tensions in the community are sparked. Buffy has seen the baddies shake down Willy the Snitch, so naturally her Slayer senses are up. But to Willow, the situation poses a more personal threat: her new friend Jia Li is feeling the backlash from this cross-cultural hostility, and it's tearing her family apart. Jia remains true to her ancient cultural heritage, but her brother Lok is about to renounce the old ways for a modern American lifestyle...and he's willing to use the occult for just that purpose.
Customer Reviews:
Super Reader.......2007-08-06
In Revenant, Willow has a Chinese friend, which sets the scene for lots
of conflict with Chinese gangs, Chinese mythology, and allows for plenty of beatdowns by the Buffster.
Gang types, as opposed to demon types, don't mind spraying the lead
around, though, which can be a it of a problem when you don't run around packing heat yourself as a high school girl.
The Buffy Palooza!.......2003-12-10
I think Revenant is a top rate Buffy book. the mixture of Gang warfare and chinese magic clash spectacularly. But, what with me being a big Angel fan and all, I mostly like the way Angel gets to come out of Buffy's shadow in this "Buffy" season 3 based novel, & gets to shine on his own, with detailed accounts of his own encounters & search for clues.
Also, Xander's obssession with the mysterious swordswoman adds for light entertainment, just as Willow's encounters with Lok Rong at the Rong residence are frightening. Even Buffy's Mum gets in on the act, Planning the interception of a dragon statue.
With its Graphic action sequences & killer climax, no regular 'Buffy' reader should bypass this novel, no matter how big or small fan you are of the series.
Slam-Bang Buffy.......2002-03-20
The most action-oriented of all the Buffy books, though the fights are excellently written. The book is more slam-and-tussle than plot - the reviewer who equated it to anime was dead on the money - but, hey, nothing wrong with that. As with several of the Buffy books, this one has too many irons in the fire to satisfactorily resolve them all, but overall it is quite satisfying.
In a plot almost ripped out of the day's suppressed headlines, a Chinese power broker is shipping heavy arms to California street gangs. The ensuing chaos provides excellent cover for occult behind-the-scenes activities, keeping Buffy and Company distracted. Several out-of-town players get involved in the act, including a likeable Chinese warrior-woman who nearly fills the void in poor luckless-in-love Xander's sex-life.
Welcome additions in this entry are Mayor Wilkins and his faithful hench-vamp, Mr. Trick, but they are relegated to incidental roles when they should have been much bigger players in this plot. And where is Faith, for God's sake? One of the worst failings in the entire book series is the all but complete negation of one of Sunnydale's most notorious personages, Faith the Fallen.
A strong entry in the series, well-written. Most recommended for lovers of action and anime.
A Chinese/Demon gang tries to take over Sunnydale.......2001-10-19
At first in "Revenant," it seems that the real world is suddenly intruding into the quiet little town of Sunnydale. As if being on the Hellmouth was not fun enough, a Chinese gang has hit town and is clearly trying to take over. But this is a Chinese gang that employs not only automatic weapons but also demons and a bit of good old fashioned Chinese magic. Mel Odom does a nice job of incorporating some elements of Chinese mysticism into the Buffy mythos and his characterization of the Slayer and her cohorts is certainly above average. The most interesting sub-plot involves the arrival of a beautiful martial-arts warrior, with whom Xander becomes hopelessly smitten. This is carried off well until the very end of the novel, at which point, following a hysterical exchange of apologies between Buffy and Xander, we suddenly jump ahead to the post mortem and are denied the actual farewell between the couple we have been rooting on throughout the story.
By the time I finished reading this Buffy the Vampire Slayer novel I kept thinking there was too much of one thing and not nearly enough of another. With all the weaponry the Chinese gang brings to town, you would have to think that somebody else besides Angel was going to be hit by all those hail of bullets (nice touch by Odom having Angel's face get messed up for a while in the story). Guns are a touchy item in the Buffy universe, where only the occasional vampire (Darla in "Angel" comes to mind) bothers to try and shoot it out with the Slayer. This is because it is awfully hard to get close enough to kick somebody in the chest when they are shooting an Uzi at you. That being said, I have to admit I was surprised that Mayor Wilkins was not more of a presence in the story. After all, Sunnydale is his town and has been for well over a century. Consequently, it very hard to believe he and the Dark Forces he serves would not do something about these invaders. Of course, this would open up the opportunity for some sort of temporary alliance, but at the very least the Mayor should be doing a lot more to defend his turf. Despite these caveats, "Revenant" is an above average Buffy novel and I will be interested to see what Odom comes up with the next time around.
Reads like a great Anime ..........2001-02-25
A wonderful Buffy novel! The only fault I have found with it is that it begins very slowly. If you can make it to the middle of the book, be prepared to reap wonderful rewards. The plot is a bit confusing at times, but the action sequences are astoundingly good. Odom writes very discriptively and litterally paints pictures with words; at times they are very grusome pictures, which makes it even better. Many of the characters are well trained in martial arts and wear costumes reminiscent of the Anime genre, a real treat to read.
Continuing in the Buffy tradition, the author of this book adds things we've *never* seen in Sunnydale before to make the plot work. This happens all the time on the show, to the point where the characters even make fun of the fact ("I've lived in Sunnydale for a few years now, you know what I've never noticed? A big honkin' Castle" ~Buffy vs Dracula). In this book we get a large Asian community stuck smack dab in the middle of what until now has been what seems to be a mostly white community. If you can get past that, though, this is a great book!
Book Description
Mark Nowak encounters the whispers of creation and cultural remembrance in his eminent, visionary poetry. Revenants is an original return to a splendid ethos of ancestral word patterns, and the images bear the solemn pleasures of time, place, and singular landscapes.-Gerald Vizenor
This first book length collection of poetry by the editor of the journal XCP: Cross-Cultural Poetics explores the Polish American neighborhoods in and around Buffalo, New York, finding collective truths in the particularity of a unique culture.
Mark Nowak is the editor of Theodore Enslin's selected poems, Then, and Now, and an associate professor at the College of St. Catherine in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His poems have been anthologized in An Anthology of New (American) Poets and Children of the Cold War: A Scrapbook.
Book Description
Narcoleptic Adam Buckley is sleeping through his life. He sees people at parties he doesn't remember meeting, but who know him. Deep in London's sprawling Underground, he sees shadows figures beckoning him into tunnels not on any map. As Adam tries to find the secret to his own memories beneath the city, he realizes he is not alone. A madman has taken to pushing people onto the tracks, and it may be someone Adam knows. If only he can remember, before it is too late... Suggestions of half remembered life, and the encroaching threat of violence begins to engulf him, and everyone he knows.
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