History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

Great Book
A Storm of Swords
I love the books so far! I would give it 5 stars but I havnt finished reading it
Unbelievable
A great read, despite sluggish pacing

A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 3)
George R.R. Martin
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 055357342X
Release Date: 2003-03-04

Amazon.com

Is George R.R. Martin for real? Can a fantasy epic actually get better with each new installment? Fans of the genre have glumly come to expect go-nowhere sequels from other authors, so we're entitled to pinch ourselves over Martin's tightly crafted Song of Ice and Fire series. The reports are all true: this series is the real deal, and Martin deserves his crown as the rightful king of the epic. A Game of Thrones got things off to a rock-solid start, A Clash of Kings only exceeded expectations, but it's the Storm of Swords hat trick that cements Martin's rep as the most praiseworthy fantasy author to come along since that other R.R.

Like the first two books, A Storm of Swords could coast on the fundamentals: deftly detailed characters, convincing voices and dialogue, a robust back-story, and a satisfyingly unpredictable plot. But it's Martin's consistently bold choices that set the series apart. Every character is fair game for the headman's axe (sometimes literally), and not only do the good guys regularly lose out to the bad guys, you're never exactly sure who you should be cheering for in the first place.

Storm is full of admirable intricacies. Events that you thought Martin was setting up solidly for the first two books are exposed as complex feints; the field quickly narrows after the Battle of the Blackwater and once again, anything goes. Robb tries desperately to hold the North together, Jon returns from the wildling lands with a torn heart, Bran continues his quest for the three-eyed crow beyond the Wall, Catelyn struggles to save her fragile family, Arya becomes ever more wolflike in her wanderings, Daenerys comes into her own, and Joffrey's cruel rule from King's Landing continues, making even his fellow Lannisters uneasy. Martin tests all the major characters in A Storm of Swords: some fail the trial, while others--like Martin himself--seem to only get stronger. --Paul Hughes

Book Description

Here is the third volume in George R. R. Martin’s magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already hailed as a classic, George R. R. Martin’s stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.

A Storm of Swords

Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, the victim of the jealous sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. But young Robb, of House Stark, still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Robb plots against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage at King’s Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world....

But as opposing forces maneuver for the final titanic showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost line of civilization. In their vanguard is a horde of mythical Others--a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords. . .

Download Description

Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken.

Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, the victim of the jealous sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. But young Robb, of House Stark, still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Robb plots against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage at King's Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne.

Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world....

But as opposing forces maneuver for the final titanic showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost line of civilization. In their vanguard is a horde of mythical Others -- a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable.

As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords...

"A riveting continuation of a series whose brilliance continues to dazzle."
   THE PATRIOT NEWS

"I always expect the best from George R. R. Martin, and he always delivers."
    ROBERT JORDAN

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-10-11

Minimum Maturity Level - Adult
Strong violence. Strong language. Sexual situations.

Previous Reading Required - Major
Must read "A Game of Thrones" first, then "A Clash of Kings" next. Otherwise, you'll be lost on the plot.

Reading Level - Average
Easy to read, never a confusing paragraph.

Rate of Development - Extremely Fast
Picks up where "A Clash of Kings" left off.

The Story - More major battles, more death and mayhem, more intrigue and conspiracies. Some mysteries revealed.

My Suggestion - Highly Recommended
This is by far my favorite book of the series. This one will definately shock you and fill you with joy all at once. The ending is very climatic. I can only describe the series so far as a neverending joy to read. 1000 pages? I wished it was 2000 pages. It's just that good.

A Storm of Swords.......2007-09-24

This is the third book in the Song of Fire and Ice series. Many main characters are killed and new points of view are introduced.

What was best: The plot had interesting twists and there was interesting character developments. Jaime Lannister seemed to be a generic cad in the first book, somewhat more interesting in the 2nd book and full fledged in the 3rd. Melisandre, the Red Sorceress, you wonder if she might be a flawed ally against the Undead of the beyond the Wall. Jon Snow may have joined the Wildlings at the end of the second book and could be facing consequences from the likes of Alisdair Thorn and Janos Slint(sorry for the spelling I listened to the Audio book). It is realistic in that the good and well intentioned make huge life costing blunders and the conniving coast by on looks and presentation. There is no escapism in this. The new King's Hand, Tywin Lannister, always does what is easy instead of right, and is none the worse. Danyreus is gaining more followers and makes her initial conquests but is unable to consolidate her holdings. Again this is a twist from fantasies.

What wasn't good: Tyrion Lannister is one of my favorite characters. He shines when he is using his considerable intelligence and rolling the dice, in a figurative sense. However, in this book and in the others, he is given abilities with the crossbow, battle axe, and sword. Despite, having his aching legs and recent battle injuries, he wields these weapons with proficiency.

New points of view I'd like to see in future books: Sandor Clegain, Ser Jorra Mormont, Mira or Jojen Reed.

The book is a good long read and leaves enough unanswered questions to intrigue but not frustrate the reader.

I love the books so far! I would give it 5 stars but I havnt finished reading it.......2007-09-20

This series is AWESOME! I love the first two books. I havnt finished this book; however, I have already ordered the fourth book. This book and the others is not for the weak of heart! Lets just say- George R. R. Martin is not afraid to kill of characters. I start to fall in love with a character and before I know it, he or she is dead. It has many plot twists and paraphrasing an underlying theme , "Life is not a song." I'm hoping the series has a happy ending where the main characters are avenged. Anyone who read this book will agree with me- I hope the Freys burn in hell.

Unbelievable.......2007-09-03

It is incredibly difficult to put into words how you feel after reading George RR Martin's work. There are many before me who have written extensive reviews of the books in A Song of Ice and Fire and I feel there is little I could really add or detract from any of them. To put it simply, if you are a fan of fantasy, and I mean from a casual reader who picks up a novel every couple of years or a die-hard fanatic, Martin's books are worth their weight in gold. The story is incredibly rich with detail, history, action and most importantly, intrigue. It is not written in the epic nature of the Lord of the Rings but challenges Tolkien's great work by instead offering a reader a world of fantasy that is startling similar to our own. Martin's realism, proven by his extensive historical research and adept knowledge of human nature, is what raises these books toward becoming classics. Like any other fan of the books, I can't say enough how much you should read them. Do not feel intimidated by their size as you will quickly move through the books once you are entrapped in the stirring stories. Go buy this and the other books.

Hopefully Martin will finish the series within the next ten years...

A great read, despite sluggish pacing.......2007-08-19

All of the comments I made about book 2 apply here as well ... although in this case, even though the book seems more complex and fragmentary than ever, the pacing seems slightly faster, and the amount of gratuitous sex and gory violence is a bit less. Unlike book 2, books 1 & 3 doesn't go quite so far enough overboard on those elements to merit a "Mature Reader" warning.

I think the pacing seems faster because GRRM got busy resolving a lot of dangling plot lines in rather ... ahem ... forceful fashion. Yes, that's a backhanded reference to my comments in book 2 regarding his tendency towards excessively high mortality among his main characters. This book reads like a Greek Tragedy at times.

Anyway, despite the incredibly fragmented storytelling, I still found it to be a gripping and highly entertaining read ... due in large part to the growing sense of depth in some of the main villains**. It's not often I finish 3,000+ pages of books in such a short period of time.

[SPOILER ALERT]
---------------
I like how the author gave added depth to the characters of Jaime & Tyrion Lannister, by introducing nostalgia, regret, remorse, and a latent need for redemption and having a legacy. Tyrion got repeatedly screwed by his own family, no matter how hard he tried, and would up exacting some long overdue revenge. Ditto to a lesser degree for Jaime, who took a refreshingly introspective turn after his maiming.
---------------
[/SPOILER END]

Highly recommended ... albeit for patient readers with a longer than average attention span.

[EDIT] Ok, here's something else that bother's me about GRRM's writing style that I forgot to mention in my review of Book 2 - he seems to take undue pleasure in describing people going to the bathroom. Yes, it's a perfectly normal reality of daily life, and we all go to the bathroom .. but he describes it with such regularity that it's almost like he's doing it to make a statement - like he's flaunting his commitment to hyper realism.

I actually remember the very first time that the sound of a toilet flushing was allowed on American TV ... it was the infamous flush by Archie Bunker on "All In The Family". People at the time yelled and screamed and talked like the world was ending. Well, it didn't ... but it definitely paved the way for an ever deepening spiral into unnecessarily graphic (and base) entertainment - which brings us back to GRRM, who, in one scene, has someone get shot in the groin with a crossbow, while they're on the privy ... and he goes out of his way to describe how the person's bowels loosen and empty down the chute into the moat below.

I realize we'll never go back to 1950'ish sensibilities of Tolkien (in which the author created a vast body of perfect 10 fantasy work that didn't incluide even a single needlessly graphic reference to voiding one's bowels or raping corpses), nor should we ... but there comes a point when enough is enough. I think GRRM repeatedly crosses that line at times. Eddie Murphy demonstrated some time ago that although the word "f*@k" is funny, there comes a point when it's possible to overdo it, and it's just not funny anymore. GRRM does the same thing at times in his writing, with excessive references to bodily functions.

I'm still forced to give the book 5 stars however, despite my plethora of pet peeves.

Dungeon, Fire and Sword: The Knights Templar in the Crusades

Average customer rating:

WELL WRITEN WELL DONE. VERY INFORMATIVE
Very Impressive
Phenomenal - This is a must read
Good book, but there are better ones out there
Knights Templar 201

Dungeon, Fire and Sword: The Knights Templar in the Crusades
John J. Robinson
Manufacturer: M. Evans and Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0871316579

Book Description

One of the most magnificent books... putting it down is almost impossible. --Ocala Star-Banner

Customer Reviews:

WELL WRITEN WELL DONE. VERY INFORMATIVE.......2006-07-22

I enjoyed every page of this one. Not being an expert in this field, I certainly cannot vouch for each and every fact the author has given us, but the several facts I did take the time to further research proved the athor correct. The book is well written and in fact is quite a page turner. This is one of those I hated to stop reading and was rather sorry when I had finished it. It is important to understand this past era in order to understand where we are today. The consequences of the actions taken at that time are still being felt even to this day. Highly recommend this one.

Very Impressive.......2006-06-04

I am extremely impressed by the way Robinson conveyed the history of those tumultuous times in such a captivating manner. This work is rich in facts: both large and small, and all interesting. Aside from Templar history, I really appreciated Robinson's ability to clearly explain the major and minor players and the political machinery and machinations of all sides involved (Muslim factions, Hospitallers, Vanetians, the Popes, etc etc). Reading this work is a real learning experience, and Robinson's great writing is far from dry. After reading this book I will surely continue to read Robinson's other works.

Phenomenal - This is a must read .......2006-05-24

Where to start? This is a fantastic piece of work that takes you through the rise and fall of Templars. I would rate it better than Da-vinci code because this is no fiction. It is remarkable that a non-fiction work packs so much action and thrills. This is also the best account of Crusades that I have ever read. In addition, the author also touches upon the personal codes that governed the life of Templars (like the chastity belt, rules against bathing etc). All in all, I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested about Crusades or Templars

Good book, but there are better ones out there.......2006-03-05

John Robinson does a very good job in complining information about the Templar and presenting it in an interesting and readable fashion. I thoroughly enjoyed reading more about the Templar (and Robinson does include many details not found in the other Templar books I have read, contrary to those reviewers who claim it is all old material).

What I liked best about this book was its emphasis on context. Robinson does not just give an account of the Templar's doings; he provides an account of all the things which are happening around the Templars as well, which is essential for understanding the Templar.

I also liked Robinson's clear writing style. Some history book get you bogged down with dates and names, but Robinson does an excellent job of tying them together and helping you remember them so that events further into the book will make much more sense.

There are also two complaints I have about this book:

1. There are a number of small, careless mistakes which really should not have been there (i.e. slightly misquoting people, slightly incorrect dates, etc.) and which are rather annoying. As far as I can tell, none of his information is majorly wrong; he just does things like writing that events happened several weeks after another event when it was actually many months, so I guess it's not really a big deal.

2. He seemed rather biased against the Catholic Church. I myself am not Catholic, but even I do not think some of the things that they did were quite as bad as Robinson makes them out to be. For example, his comments to the effect that the charges of homosexuality against the Knights were very probably true because they had vows of chastity are simply underestimating the effect of religion upon people's lives and are just plain stupid. If the Templars couldn't take being chaste anymore, it is not very likely that they would choose to become homosexuals violating the ordinances of the Church rather than simply violating the laws of the Templar.

In conclusion, this was a very good book, but I think that there are better books on the subject out there. I would recommend Stephen Howarth's The Knights Templar. His book is slightly shorter (and thus has a little less detail), but it is also more accurate and is much more fun to read.

Overall grade: B+

Knights Templar 201 .......2005-04-28

Several readers have trashed this book, one saying 'Same old song in a new cover'. That reviewer then goes on to recommend two books written 10 years later.. That's probably why he thought that this was 'old'. While I can't compare this book to anything by Runciman or Tuchman, I will say that this is a pretty good book.

Before you buy this book, please pay attention to the title.. It is called 'Dungeon, Fire, & Sword The Knights Templar IN THE CRUSADES' In order to understand the impact of the KT in the crusades you have to understand the crusades themselves, and in order to understand the crusades, you need to understand the 'players', culture geography etc... The Crusades didn't revolve around the KT, they only played a part, albeit an integral one, in the crusades.

Yes this book is more than just the KT, and no it's not an in depth history of each of the crusades, but it's not supposed to be.. The reader should use this book as a building block about the KT, the crusades and even the Papal State.

What is interesting is that the more one reads about the KT the more you realize that there really is a lot of uncertainty and disagreement surrounding them. In his book, Howarth writes that the master of the Templars was never called the Grand Master, yet that is how Robinson refers to them. There were a few other descrepencies between the two books but nothing major.

The maps (all 3 of them) were ok. The tables of the 'players' in the back of the book were helpful.

I recommend this book.. Could you do better? Maybe, but with all of the junk that they are publishing about the KT these days you could do a heck of a lot worse.

Soul of the Fire (Sword of Truth, Book 5)

Average customer rating:

Book 5
An okay read.
The Series Takes a Side Road to Hell
Goodness.
Goodkind writes side characters better than the main ones

Soul of the Fire (Sword of Truth, Book 5)
Terry Goodkind
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: B0000A09DV

Amazon.com

Soul of the Fire is the fifth book in Terry Goodkind's wildly popular Sword of Truth saga. The previous books are: Wizard's First Rule, Stone of Tears, Blood of the Fold, and Temple of the Winds.

When last we saw our heroes--Richard Cypher (Lord Rahl) and Kahlan Amnell--they each had made enormous sacrifices to save one another from certain doom. To save her beloved, Khalan, Mother Confessor of the Midlands, had spoken the three chimes, summoning these chaotic beings from the world beyond and unwittingly releasing incredibly destructive power. Now the chimes are stealing souls, and malevolent forces are reshaping the world itself. To save everything from almost certain doom, Richard, Kahlan, and the wizard Zedd must hunt the elusive chimes and reharness them before it's too late.

Although comparisons to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series are inevitable, there's obviously enough room in the world for more than one blockbuster swords and sorcery series. With Soul of the Fire, fans of epic sagas will get their fill of adventure, magic, strange beings, and struggles for power as Goodkind delivers another thrilling episode of the Sword of Truth, with all the complexity and taut characterization we've come to expect from this master of fantasy. --Adam Fisher

Book Description

In the previous volume of this bestselling series of fantasy novels, our hero Richard Rahl, wielder of the Sword of Truth, and his lover Kahlan unwittingly released upon the New World a terror from the malign and wild magic of the Old World. The Chimes now run free in the Midlands and Richard and Kahlan, powerful in their own right, begin to see their own magic undermined, leaving the people of the New World vulnerable to the encroaching evil that Darken Rahl first unleashed in WIZARD'S FIRST RULE.

Customer Reviews:

Book 5.......2007-09-20

Soul of the fire was a slow starting book, but then it became much more interesting. It was a very compelling and emotional book in the series. I highly recommend this series.

An okay read........2007-08-22

This book was... needed. In the structure of story there are certain things that must always happen. For me, this book was a path I needed to go down to get from the 4th to the 6th (books). This book has good parts in it, but for me it was not a very enjoyable read. However, if you have read the previous four books and dislike this one... do not give up. Faith of the Fallen is really good and worth getting to. If you do read this book and greatly enjoy it - even better!

The Series Takes a Side Road to Hell.......2007-06-09

The Wizard's first and only rule should be that fantasy fiction series cannot be longer than 5 books. The leaders of the "Fantasy Fiction Writers Guild" should pass a resolution to this effect. If you have read Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time mess, or just about any other writer including Goodkind that has tried to take his/her series beyond 5 books you know that it is like a train going off the end of a broken bridge into a deep gorge.

Goodkind has obviously run out of story, so he takes this book down a side road to the psychotic world of Anderith. A whole bunch of self-serving useless characters are introduced, examined in depth, and then killed off to add absolutely nothing to the story line.

At least Goodkind keeps to his theme of rape and torture of innocent women. I was beginning to think he might be loosing his touch, but the good leaders of Anderith have redeemed him.

A hard read at best.

Goodness........2007-04-28

I am well versed in all things fantasy. You name it - rare or popular - I have probably read and/or watched it. I will let nothing get in the way of my search for the most entertaining, enlightening, life-complimenting reads... not even biased readers whose only goal in life seems to be nitpicking instead of enjoying the things they read. (You can find a few of their reviews here. Look for the reviews with 1-3 stars.)

An overwhelming number of readers criticize Goodkind's writing in the Sword of Truth series, using the phrases "cliche" and "cookie-cutter" all too often. How funny. "Cookie-cutter" is itself a painfully cliche phrase. This hypocrisy, to me, is grounds enough to mistrust the opinions of those naysayers...

As I said, I know a thing or two about fantasy. Few books have affected me as deeply as the Sword of Truth series. Heck, I haven't written an Amazon review in years; I'm only here now because I'm offended at the negative reviews. I took it personally. That's how much I love this series.

The Sword of Truth books are a celebration of life. Beauty. Progress. Emotions. Pessimistic readers seeking a cookie-cutter pattern will surely find one, because Goodkind DOES have a trademark approach to building tension that he uses often. But I know better than to call that "cliche." In each book, Goodkind explores different facets of the concepts of life, beauty, progress, and emotions. He NEVER explores the same facet; he always throws in a twist.

Reading each of these books is like cheese tasting. A cheese-lover with a refined sense of taste will delight in the worlds of difference between blue cheese and brie and baby swiss. They will compare; they will savor every bite.

But someone who is not accustomed to cheese... will, upon trying blue cheese, think "this smells like feet." Then they will try swiss cheese, hoping it doesn't smell like feet. Then feta. Alas, cheese usually smells like feet. The pessimists will then proceed to the donut and snack food aisles, looking for just the right junk food to ease their craving; nothing more, nothing fulfulling in the long run.

Fantasy connoisseurs adore Goodkind. Yet average readers find numerous things to complain about. Contemplate this for a bit.

I'm sorry for not going into detail about this book, but in one sentence I will help you decide if this series is right for you:

If you *adore* any of the concepts of life, beauty, progress, and emotions... you will love the Sword of Truth books. I promise you.

Goodkind writes side characters better than the main ones.......2007-04-25

I went into this book after the last two books in the series left me a little dry and tired of hearing about Richard and Kahlan, who were interesting enough in the first two books but have had little to no character development since then. The development that has been there, in Blood of the fold and Temple of the Winds, has basically been "will they or won't they ever get maried." Now that they finally have, this book is free to go in a slightly different and much more welcome direction. Not only that, but the author takes us away from the locations and people's that we have gotten used to by now, and we leave the majesty of Aydyndril for the new location of Anderith. I really enjoyed the description of the Anderith society, and all of the new characters introduced are especially well written, and quite three dimensional, unlike most of the series' main characters. Dalton is especially interesting to follow as he schemes and plots throughout the book, and what he does in the end was a somewhat sickening but clever surprise ending that fit.

My only gripe is that the book feels somewhat disconnected from the rest of the series, but in my opinion it's probably the best book in the series since the begining. From what I've read past, the books go somewhat downhill after this one, so if you want to read a good book to end the series before it gets bad, this wouldn't be a bad stopping place. Of course the best option for this series is to read the first book and stop there, I have enjoyed the series and Goodkind's unique writing style, but the first book in the series is undoubtedly his best work.

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Poland once ruled from Berlin to Moscow! Intrigued
Outstanding literature
Restored Classic
A great book, but the translation could be better
Beautiful Novel

With Fire and Sword
Henryk Sienkiewicz
Manufacturer: Collier Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0020820445

Customer Reviews:

Poland once ruled from Berlin to Moscow! Intrigued.......2006-01-21

The great Polish/Lithuanian empire ruled all of central europe at one point - from Berlin to Moscow. I'm betting most of you weren't even aware of that. I wasn't either until I started reading more of european history. In developing a friendship with some people of Polish descent they recommended this author and his nobel prize winning novels to me. I was daunted by its length and by the date of when it was originally written. However, I started reading and have been hooked on these books ever since. I have come to believe that Mr. Sienkiewicz is the father of the modern novel. This is not a stilted 18th century read!
It gives you history (from a polish perspective) with fictionalized characters and a compelling story behind the backdrop of the calamitous decline of a once proud and powerful empire. The characters are heroic, tragic, conflicted and wonderful to follow. You will love this book and the several sequels in this decades spanning story.
One doesn't win a Nobel prize in literature if they can't write and Mr. Sieniewicz earned his.

Outstanding literature.......2005-05-28

I have read "With Fire and Sword," "The Deluge," and "Pan Michael" ("Colonel Wolodyjowski") and I recommend all of them highly. The characters are memorable and well-developed, the heroes are likeable, and even the villains are understandable as people with very human motivations.

Restored Classic.......2005-05-23

Ask around a bit and you'll find no shortage of folks, men in particular, who became readers via their encounters in youth with class adventure tales: The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, Ivanhoe, the Lord of the Rings, etc. ask again and you'll find almost no one whose heard of half the Nobel Laureates in Literature, fewer who've read them, and none enjoyed many of them. All the more remarkable then that one of the great adventure authors of all time actually won a Nobel and somewhat tragic that so few have read him in recent decades. But Henryk Sienkiewicz has made something of a comeback and it could not be more welcome.

Sienkiewicz is the great author of Poland--indeed, to some extent his works are said to have created and helped to maintain the strong Polish identity that prevailed through the troubled 20th Century. When his books were first published -- mostly late in the 19th Century -- the English translations were done by Teddy Roosevelt's friend Jeremiah Curtin and, whether they were adequate for their time, they are are terribly dated now and have served to put off potential readers. Add in the fact that neither the Nazis nor the Communists had much interest in fostering Polish patriotism and you've the recipe for lost classics. But then, fittingly as the Iron Curtain was crumbling, Hippocrene Books commissioned a new translation of his greatest works, The Trilogy and Quo Vadis?, by the highly-regarded Polish novelist W. S. Kuniczak, and these eminently readable versions won Sienkiewicz a modern audience. New translations of other works followed, then a terrific film version of In Desert and Wilderness, and a massive Polish television adaptation of the Trilogy. Suddenly we've a surfeit of riches and some catching up to do.

If you're just starting out it might be wise to begin with Quo Vadis?, a stand alone tale of Christians in Rome that really deserves a fresh film treatment. But it's well worth your time to dive into the Trilogy, the first volume of which is the magnificent With Fire and Sword. Set in 1647, amidst a Cossack uprising against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, it tells the story of a young Polish patriot and hero, Yan Skshetuski, and his love for the beautiful Helen, who is also coveted the brutal Bohun, who fights with the rebels. Pan Yan's twin tales give us epic history and grand romance, while his compatriots offer comic relief. There's his wily servant, Zjendjan, whose semi-faithful service somehow keeps lining his own pocket. There's the mopey giant Pan Longinus, who has sworn a vow of chastity until he lives up to the example of his forebears and takes off the heads of three enemy soldiers with one swing of his massive battle sword. There's Pan Michal Wolodyjowski, whose bravery and feistiness belie his diminutive stature. And, best of all, there's the Falstaffian Pan Zagloba, who makes up in drinking capacity, gluttony, and biting wit what he lacks in zeal for battle, as he keeps his one good eye peeled for threats to his corpulent frame.

It'll take you a hundred to a hundred and fifty pages to orient yourself and get used to the odd names and nicknames, but the subsequent thousand pages go by far too fast. It's one of those stories you don't ever want to end.

A great book, but the translation could be better.......2003-12-23

I've read Kuniczak's translation of the Trilogy and greatly enjoyed it. It was my introduction to Seinkiewicz. However, while reading it, it seemed somehow incoherent, like something was missing. It also seemed impossible that the companions of Zagloba would be so credulous of his boasting.

I went and found a copy of the 1890 translation of the Trilogy by Jeremiah Curtin. What a difference! Though the language is somewhat archaic, the story flows so much better and the character of Zagloba is much more believeable. There is more context to his antics, and his companions are presented as far more skeptical of his boasting, making the story much more realistic.

Kuniczak seems to have omitted and simplified much that appears in the Curtin translation, to the detriment of the story. Many believe the Kuniczak version is superior, and maybe it is more accessible, but I recommend you find the old editon in the basement of the local library and read it first.

Beautiful Novel.......2003-11-19

This was one of the most sweeping epics I've ever read. It's over 1,000 pages, but it takes little effort to finish the book. I found myself white knuckled and breathless through many of the battle scenes. This was truly a good read for both men and women.

Best of Robert Jordan: The Shadow Rising; The Fires of Heaven; Lord of Chaos; A Crown of Swords (The Wheel of Time Series)

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shadow rising
Best of RJ Review

Best of Robert Jordan: The Shadow Rising; The Fires of Heaven; Lord of Chaos; A Crown of Swords (The Wheel of Time Series)
Robert Jordan
Manufacturer: Countertop Video
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: 1886089698

Book Description

4 Books on 10 Cassettes: • The Shadow Rising • The Fires of Heaven • Lord of Chaos • A Crown of Swords

Robert Jordan: The Wheel of Time Series compiles four books by this New York Times bestselling author into one magnificent box set. Follow the adventures and trials of Rand as he learns about his destiny to become the Dragon Reborn, the prophesized leader who will save the world, but at a heavy cost that drives him to reject his given fate. Dark forces surround the characters with an inevitable confrontation between good and evil that captivates every audience. Sparkled with continuous action, adventure, and fantasy, this box set is a sure winner for epic fantasy fans guaranteed!

Over 15 Hours of listening time!

The Shadow Rising The Dark One is inflicting evil on to the hero, Rand, who must enter the Aiel Waste and the forbidden city of RhuideanÛwhere he may perish. Perrin must confront the Whitecloaks who are sworn to assassinate him while Elayne and Nynaeve must battle the Black Ajah. Listen to find out what develops.

The Fires of Heaven Rand is at the forbidden city of Rhuidean where he must keep his current mission a secret. Simultaneously, the Forsaken Rahvin is plotting a victory over Rand. Morgase becomes captivated with the handsome Lord Gaebril, and in the White Tower, Amyrlin, Flaida do Avriny a ÎRoihan, is concocting new plans. There is no doubt why The Fires of Heaven became a New York Times bestseller!

Lord of Chaos Rand struggles as he attempts to unite the nations for the Last Battle while The White Tower, under the Amyrlin Elaida, decides that he must be controlled. In addition, a search for the fabled terÌangreal is conducted by Nynaeve alÌMeara and Elayne to restore the incongruous weather conditions. Book six of this series is sure to satisfy.

A Crown of Swords Listen as Rand faces the dead Forsaken Sammael in Shadae Logoth! The struggle with the worldÌs brutal and endless heat wave rages on, and Engeu calls together all women who are able to channel including Sea Folk Windfinders and Wise Ones. DonÌt miss this seventh book of non-stop epic adventure!

Customer Reviews:

shadow rising.......2002-02-27

this is one of the best series of books Ive read in a long time. the events happen at a pace that makes it hard to put down. I'm a commercial fisherman,Iread alot on my down time they are enchanting enough to take me away to a different world even 125 miles out in the ocean. I highly reccomend this series to all sci-fi readers. My one and only regret is that Mr.jordan cannot produce them fast enough.then again if he did they would not be as engrosing. My eyes and mind await the tenth installment of the series "the wheel of time"

Best of RJ Review.......2001-01-18

Having already read these four books and enjoyed them all, the tapes were also very good. The books were fantastic but, i could not read while i drove or did certain other tasks that required my eyes and hands now that is taken care of. I can now do just about anything and enjoy these great books. So, i do recommend reading the books but, if your a person on the go then this collection on tape is a fantastic substitute.

Battletech 39: Sword and Fire (Battletech)

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Worthy conclusion to the initial TotC series.
Bloody slaughter that leaves many questions unanswered.
This book rocks!!!!!!!!
Not his best work
Uneven Stuff

Battletech 39: Sword and Fire (Battletech)
Thomas S. Gressman
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451456769

Customer Reviews:

Worthy conclusion to the initial TotC series........2000-01-16

So far the best and most entertaining novel of the Twilight of the Clans series. The plot involving the investigations of Morgan's murder is excellent and the fights to conquer Diana by Task Force Serpent are decent battletech war tales. I would have wished a more effective defense by the remaining CSJ forces, but in view of the following book of the series, the Inner Sphere units needed to get out of the initial assault rather unscathed.

Bloody slaughter that leaves many questions unanswered........2000-01-16

Of all the books of the Twilight of Clans series, this is for sure the most martial one. Sure, some of the other books really lacked mech combat, but in this case, mass didn't mean style. Okay, a point was to be made: Warfare is brutal, bloody and no sports and in order to justify Victor S-Davion's campaign of annihilation of CSJ, his message had to be delivered with such a slaughter (on both sides) on CSJ's homeworld. And the timeline of the fierce battle and the dynamics of such brutal fights are a good base to get the reader's attention. But, the way Gressman describes mech combat seriously lacks the originality and depths of other btech authors (like i.e. the early Stackpole warrior trilogy). Here it's simply a chaotic string of oftenly unrelated scenes of mech combat. This woulda been accetable if Gressman had stuck with a few main characters, but alas he more than once introduces combatants in a passage and never mentions the same character again, leaving the reader wondering what happened to them. Even worse, he neglects the fate of main characters and of complete mech units. For example Russou Howell, who had been built up as main protagonist in 2-3 of the former novels just gets 2 short appearances. Or, what happened to saKhan Brandon Howell, who was skilled enough to be the only CSJ leader not to completely fail at Tukayid (does Gressman read Btech source books?)? What impact did the IS' reserve units have after they got summoned to reinforce the 2 main groups? Etc... Questions over questions - and not every one gets (satisfactorily) answered in the short final passages when Victor's forces arrive and the battle is decided rather abruptly. Contrary to other reader's comments I liked Gressman's detailed logistical descriptions in 'The Hunters' and he was good at that. But here, I just got the impression that Gressman either had to hurry to finish the assault on Diana or that he simply lacks the skill to span a coherent story line for large scale mech combat. And that's what Btech is about: Mech combat. And therefore just 2 stars.

This book rocks!!!!!!!!.......1999-03-25

this book is realy cool because it shows how clan smoke jaguire tries to deal with the invading inner sphere attackers.I am a huge fan of battle tech(I have ALL the books,games,and r.p.g.s)and I think this is one of the best works ever produced by FASA!!!

Not his best work.......1999-01-07

Sword and Fire was an adequet ending to Twilight of the clans. The battle scenes wern't the best, but the scenes with the M16 teams were great, as well as the hunt for Morgan Hasek-Davion's killer. Gressman didn't put his all into this book, though it was fairly good. I recommend this for anyone.

Uneven Stuff.......1998-11-08

Well, Gressman is certainly improving which is a blessing. He still makes mistakes in here but they appear to be the result of tight deadlines leaving little time for proofreading, rather than his earlier factual mistakes and improbable events. Still, after reading this novel I feel it would have done wonders to compress his three novels into two. That way the obvious filler spaces would disappear and more thought put into whether an event was probable and/or really needed or just included to impress the readers in some way. The battles were generally much closer run things than before and even going in the Jaguars favour at times. Still, the number of troops that came back from the IS is surprisingly low (doesn't mesh with other sources) and with artillery blasting so many omnimechs and elementals to pieces, before the mech to mech battles have begun, I'm really wondering how the Jags suddenly are doing so well with such small numbers. Looks like over compensation for earlier easy IS victories. Yet all the battles do make SoW much more enjoyable than The Hunters with its long drawn out buildup. One more thing I did get annoyed at is how IS troops are written as almost all heart (Only the Nekekami proved to be coldblooded killers) while the Jaguars are almost always painted as complete bastards. The only tenderness exhibited by a Jaguar happened when an Elemental carried IlKhan Osis to an ambulance. A less black and white view of the people involved would have been nice. I hope that Gressman can turn into a good solid all around author since he does have the potential. At the moments his books are marred by some serious flaws which occasional bursts of brilliance can barely make up for. But these are only his first three books after all. Even Stackpole made some serious mistakes in his first trilogy.

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EXCELLENT AND INFORMATIVE READ
Chivalry, barbarity, courage, cowardice, honor, & treachery.

Dungeon, Fire and Sword: The Knights Templar in the Crusades

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 156731645X

Product Description

From the Publisher With more colorful characters and startling plot twists than the most dramatic of novels, John J. Robinson's Dungeon, Fire, and Sword immerses the reader in an historical era where the blood flows freely, tribal antagonisms run deep, and betrayal lurks around every corner. The time is the Crusades and the place is the Middle East, where a fearless band of monk-warriors called the Knights Templar have vowed to protect Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. The story of their faith and courage - and the horrors of their ultimate betrayal - has resonated throughout history. A vivid and gripping account of that incredible time, Dungeon, Fire, and Sword is a brilliant work of narrative history. Here are some features of the book: Separates fact from the large amount of fiction that surrounds the Knights Templar. Offers valuable insights into the people and politics of the Middle East that are strikingly relevant today. Filled with famous figures such as Richard the Lionhearted, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thomas Aquinas, Marco Polo, and Genghis Khan. Explores the question of missing Templar treasure and whether a secret succession of underground grand masters exists to this day.

Customer Reviews:

EXCELLENT AND INFORMATIVE READ.......2006-07-22

Not being an expert in this area, I certainly cannot vouch for each and every fact and item the author has offered us. But I can state that this is quite a well written book and from what I can tell, well researched. I have taken the time to check of several of the facts the author has given us, and so far, have failed to find any fault. This is a fascinating story about a fascinating group of men during a rather important era in our history. We are still reaping the consequences from the actions taken in those days. To understand what is happening in the world today, I feel it is important to understand how we got here and this work sheds light on that subject. Like another reviewer here, I would also have appreciated more maps and certainly mor source references. Overall though, I found this work to be quite good, quite imformative and I feel very wothwhile. Highly recommend.

Chivalry, barbarity, courage, cowardice, honor, & treachery........2004-12-22

I have never read a more enlightening history than this one. In one medium sized book I have had a whole lot of conceptions and assumptions destroyed, and many questions and uncertainty have replaced them. This is simply the result of a very well written and informative book.

I had always heard clues and hints about the "Knights Templar" but never understood the import of this military order. I had also never understood the plight of the crusader states, nor the politics of the era or the region in question until reading this book. The author's entertaining and comprehensive yet not overly detailed history has changed that shortcoming in a profound and I hope.....lasting fashion.

Mistakes are documented as well as triumphs. Victories as well as defeats are recorded in detail. I have been in turn, inspired, disgusted, chagrined, and dismayed at events, tellingly portrayed by the author. I do fault the author in one area, poor (aka nonexistent) documentation of original sources. More maps would have been nice as well, however the history is still easy to follow along with a general knowledge of regional topography of the "Holy Lands". While there are maps included, none are regional, and they are only provided for a few battles.

In conclusion, I highly recommend this book as an introduction to the history of the Templars, the crusades in the Holy Land, and the Crusader states (and their downfall) as well.

Fire And Sword (Keys Of Power #2) (Keys of Power, 2)

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Fire and Sword
A powerful, surprisingly dark follow-up to Inheritance
The sceond book offers more tales of Lynan and his quest
Corruption in Grenda Lear
Exciting, enthralling and spell binding

Fire And Sword (Keys Of Power #2) (Keys of Power, 2)
Simon Brown
Manufacturer: DAW
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0756401755
Release Date: 2004-03-02

Book Description

In the second novel of this exciting trilogy, Lynan, the youngest prince, begins to gather an army, vowing to drive his homeland into civil war. In the meantime, his half-sister Areava has been crowned queen of Grenda Lear. The only thing they can both be certain of is that there will be a reckoning between them-one that will threaten all of Grenda Lear...

Customer Reviews:

Fire and Sword.......2005-06-27

Daw fantasy, I think, must have a whole division devoted to churning out lousy cover art and tedious jacket descriptions. "Fire and Sword" may be ugly on the outside, but it's subtlely catching on the inside. Anyone who writes a trilogy faces certain problems. The big conclusion to the series must wait until the final book, but the second volume must hold our interest so we can get there. The Keys of Power series may, at a surface level, look like a standard formula fantasy, but "Fire and Sword" proves to be full of surprises. Would you have guessed, for instance, that Jenrosa's relationship with Lynan would fall apart as she falls for Kumul instead? Or that a political power play would separate the royal couple in Kendra?

Not content to stay with the same scope as "Inheritance", Simon Brown continuously raises the stakes in "Fire and Sword". The armies get larger, the magic more mind-blowing, the battles bigger and bloodier, and Brown doesn't pull any punches. But most importantly, the characters are growing apace with the events in the story. Everyone in the cast, major or minor role, develops and changes as they go along.

Scouring the fantasy section of the bookstore can be a tedious chore, given how much crap the companies flood us with. But here is a story where the action is hot and the fighting is fierce, the humor is funny and the romance is romantic. It's what we've all been looking for, and now that it's here we shouldn't turn away.

A powerful, surprisingly dark follow-up to Inheritance.......2004-12-12

If there is one fantasy writer who, in my opinion, is not getting the attention he is due, it is Simon Brown. Fire and Sword, the second novel in the Keys of Power series, not only advances the storyline begun in Inheritance in impressive style, it transforms it into an heroic tragedy of epic proportions. In Inheritance, young Prince Lynan was basically a kid who slowly found himself divested of his innocence. Looked down upon by virtually everyone in the halls of power of Grenda Lear - especially his half-brothers and half-sister - because his father was a commoner (albeit the greatest general the realm has ever seen), Lynan was forced to flee the land entirely after a malevolent coup framed him for the death of his brother on the very night of his coronation. Escaping with Kumul, the ex-captain of the palace guard, Ager Crookback, an old soldier who had served his father during the Slaver War, and Jenrosa Alucar, a student of magic who found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time, Lynan made his way to the Sea of Grass, where he hoped to find safety - and possibly an army - among the Chetts, a people who once fought under the banner of his father.

As Fire and Sword opens, Lynan's transformation from a boy to a man reaches its completion - and more than that, for he now begins to act in the manner of a royal soldier-king. He also privately fights periodic urges of a bestial nature, a consequence of the life-saving blood of Silona, vampire of the woods, now coursing through his veins. The Chetts are nomadic tribes resistant to central rule, but they still revere the name of Lynan's father. With the help of Korigan, queen of the largest Chett tribe, and the compelling significance of the Key of Union he wears around his neck, Lynan does indeed find his army. Back in Grenda Lear, the new Queen Areava is enraged to learn that her murderous half-brother still lives, and she vows to see him dead, going so far as to hire mercenaries to undertake the deed. It is truly a time of great change in the land, for war is clearly coming to Grenda Lear. The neighboring kingdom is preparing an invasion force, and the preparations for her land's defense come amidst the time of Areava's marriage to the son of the King of Aman. Areava rules with an icy hand, never realizing that she is being manipulated every step of the way by the real killers of the king. Palace intrigue and a brewing drama surrounding Prince Olio give this story a subtly intriguing complexity few authors can handle in such a deft manner as that seen here.

Everything gets very complicated very quickly. Areava prepares her army to meet the army of neighboring Haxus, while both sides have sent forces into the Sea of Grass in hopes of either capturing or killing Lynan. Neither side's war plans allow for the possibility that Lynan has put together an army of his own, yet both must eventually face the Chett army of the young prince as he comes to reclaim Grenda Lear for himself.

Fire and Sword is a surprisingly dark novel, offering portentous revelations I for one had not anticipated. Lynan's band of friends begins to drift apart as this story progresses, although they remain loyal to one another and to Lynan's cause. A few moments of light comedy emerge here and there, but Lynan is now a very serious young man with a mission - one that will ultimately lead his friends into battle against their own people. The battle scenes are vividly described and pulse with excitement and danger. Having said all that, I must admit I was not prepared for the final two chapters of this novel, however. Not only do things take several dark, heartrending turns, events all over the different kingdoms are brought to a simultaneous crescendo of stunning tragedy and despair. You do not lay Fire and Sword aside lightly after you finish reading it. These lands and these people, especially the heroic band of Lynan's followers, are irrevocably changed by the course of events chronicled here, and I for one look upon the prospect of the third exhilarating book in this series with a real sense of trepidation as well as heartfelt excitement - peace and happiness in the fantasy world of Simon Brown's creation have never seemed farther away than they do right now. This is truly powerful stuff, and I only wish more readers would have the chance to experience the work of this master fantasist.

The sceond book offers more tales of Lynan and his quest.......2004-06-21

It has been nearly a year since the death of prince Berayma before taking the throne and becoming king. Areava has taken to the throne quite well and has become much like her mother once was except that her youngest brother the now outlaw prince Lynan has still not be captured and killed for his crimes. Lynan has done the one thing none of the other kingdoms would ever think of uniting the clans of the the Chetts in a vast army to take on his sister and clear his name. However Lynan is plauged by dreams after having the blood of the wood vampire Silona used to heal him and shows its effects with his skin almost becoming white and gaining great strenght as well. The chetts think its a sign that the white wolf has retutned and galdly march with Lynan. Back at the court of Areaya she is being courted by the young prince of the Aman Sendarous and can not help but fall for him. The nobles are at thier wits end knowing that if the queen marries outside of its noblilty they could lose any hold on her. Intruge also sets the rest of the court under Areaya as her new Constable Dejanuas is trying to get rid of the Chancelllor Orkid unlce to the Aman prince Sendarous and the head of the religoius order Primate Northman. Meanwhile the Primate Northman senior father Powl wants to become the next primate so that he will one day know the true name of there god. The kingdom is is greater peril theny anyone can see for the plans of mice and men come crahing togeather in this second book. On a personal note this second time out the book focuses on the many chacrters and the plots they lay and the plots against them in the future. A good read

Corruption in Grenda Lear.......2004-03-10

Fire and Sword is the second novel in the Keys of Power series, following Inheritance. In the previous volume, Lynan was pursued by a unit of mercenaries sent by Rendle and was grievously wounded before the Chetts arrived to drive off the attackers. Jenrosa dripped a concoction of haethu and wood vampire blood into his mouth and he regained consciousness with a scream. Areava was crowned as Queen of Grenda Lear and her betrothal to Prince Sendarus of Aman was announced. Jes Prado escaped from Rendle and headed toward Kendra to tell Areava that Lynan was still alive. Olio began to drink heavily to help him sleep after healing sessions with the Key of the Heart.

In this novel, Lynan has turned pale and is troubled by bright sunlight since drinking the vampire blood and he is also troubled by dreams of Silona. He has recovered from his wounds, but he has also gained an enormous strength when aroused, even killing a grass wolf with his bare hands. The Chetts see him as the White Wolf returned and worship him as an avatar of the god. After Ager demonstrates his proficiency with the sword before the chiefs, Lynan convinces most of the Chetts to let Kumul and Ager train them in new tactics.

One disgruntled chief, together with his wife and son, ambush Ager and Gudon and die for their efforts. Then that clan sends a delegation to tell Ager that, since he has defeated the previous chief, he is now the new clan chief. Of course, he also has to swear allegiance to Korigan as the Queen, but Korigan swears to ask nothing of him that violates his prior commitments to Lynan; when Lynan agrees to the arrangements, Ager accepts the offer and becomes chief of the Ocean clan.

King Salokan of Hakus sends Rendle with 2500 cavalrymen through little known passes into the Ocean of Grass to capture Lynan. Queen Areava send Prado with 4000 mercenaries through the Algonka Pass to kill Lynan. King Salokan takes 30,000 soldiers over his border with Hume and lays siege to Daavis. Queen Areava has already send several thousand cavalrymen to garrison Daavis and she now sends the heavy cavalry of Twenty Families with more light cavalry and thousands of heavy and light infantry to reinforce Daavis. Unknown to anyone in the east, Lynan is gathering his forces as well and they are headed east. These forces are facing a major confrontation.

Olio continues to heal the ill and wounded in the new hospice, but Magicker Prelate Edaytot and Primate Northam are greatly concerned with his exhaustion and drinking. Areava finds out about his drinking and chides him for it, but is not aware of his healings. Olio promises to quit drinking but he is troubled with dreams of being unable to heal a dying Lynan.

In this story, the looming war becomes a reality. Lynan and the Chetts confront the former slavers who have returned to capture or kill Lynan. Sendarus leads the reinforcements to Daavis, wearing the Key of the Sword. Olio finds the strength to heal on his own, but the Key starts to claim his will. The conspirators continue their machinations and even expand their treasonous activities to others who have no knowledge of the original plot.

Recommended for Brown fans and for anyone else who enjoys political intrigue and military conflict in a fantasy setting.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Exciting, enthralling and spell binding.......2004-03-03

Before she died Queen Usharna gave each of her children a Key of Power in the hope that they will work together to keep the kingdom of Grenda Lear prospering. She could not know that upon her death, conspirators would kill her successor King Berayma and make sure Prince Lynan would be wanted for the deed. The new Queen Areava declares her half-brother, who she dislikes because he has commoner blood, a traitor. Lynan escapes before he can be killed and the two masterminds behind the conspiracy hold very important posts in the Queen's government.

Lynan flees to the Chetts in the Sea of Grass and forms an alliance with Queen Korigan of the White Wolf Clan. Everyone knows for Lynan to return to Grenda Lear, he must come as a conqueror with an army at his back. He unites all the clans of the Chetts under his banner and he turns them into a fighting force second to none, but before he marches on Grenda Lear, he must defeat two mercenary armies. One wants him dead while the other wants to use him as a figurehead to conqueror his homeland.

Simon Brown's latest Sword and Sorcery novel is exciting, enthralling and spell binding. Both the queen and the prince believe they have very good motives for their actions but while the Prince freely makes his own choices the Queen is manipulated into making decisions others want her to make. Judging by the loose ends, there will be at least one more book in this epic series and anyone who tastes FIRE AND SWORD will anxiously wait for it to be published.

Book Description

Her quest for adventure is equaled only by her passion

With her sword for protection, Lady Kenna Lennox of Scotland defies social convention and reopens her family's ancient distillery. This feat of wit and daring captures the attention of the sadistic Lord Walter -- the Englishman who nearly destroyed her beloved older sister, a man who is determined to bring Lady Lennox to heel.

When Colin Montgomery, an American privateer, appears on the scene Kenna is instantly wary, yet highly attracted to this man among men. Filled with fear that she will be betrayed by her longing heart, Kenna struggles between the love she feels, the independence she craves and the danger she must face alone.

As vengeful, vicious plots unfold around her, Kenna must take up her sword to face her enemy, and fight for her life and her newfound love.

Customer Reviews:

The idea for this story was great, but the author ruined it. Too bad someone else didn't write it........2007-09-08

This was a romance????? How can that be when the hero was not in half of the book? He is introduced at the beginning, then he (Colin) and the heroine (Kenna) part ways. Colin is never even mentioned again for over 100 pages! Instead we read about Kenna taking a journey to France, living with people who bore her with their conversation (the readers get to be bored by it as well), she pushes an elderly man to give her fencing lessons (when he declines, she throws all kinds of guilt on his shoulders about how she is living in terror and cannot defend herself), then a full year of the story is spent on her fencing lessons. When Colin finally does reenter, Kenna is a complete witch towards him.

Colin is a great guy. When he meets her and discovers she is without an escort for her journey, he pays a sea caption a lot of money to make sure she is safely taken straight to her destination. Without even knowing her, he bent over backwards to help her. In return for his chivalry, Kenna spends the second half of the book screaming mean, nasty words at him. She gives him the cold shoulder every time he asks her to let him stand by her as she faces a villain who killed her family. I'm at a loss as to why he would want to be anywhere near her. For some reason, authors often make their heroines shrews who act as if they are plagued by the utter devotion of a good man. It never works for me.

The plot and core story are actually quite good. The author ruined her own book by filling the pages with an abundance of unnecessary characters, situations, and descriptions. The author would fill a whole page with flowery depictions of the scenery. Literally half of this book didn't need to exist for the story to be complete. A whole year of fencing lessons, shopping for clothes, and building friendships with several people who have no part in the plot! What was the author thinking?
This is the first and LAST book I have read by Elaine Coffman.

Very boring.......2006-07-09

I agree with those who call this one of the most boring romances ever written. The potential is good, but the story reads like an unfinished draft. The hero and heroine seem to have exchanged roles. He is a wimp who never saves the damsel, even if she is in distress, which she never seems to be. The enemy whom Kenna must face on her own (why on earth? she says because it is her battle and hers alone) is barely a shadow of a ghost and so not really frightening. We never face him until the end of the book and that gives us no time to develop any real apprehension about him. There is no drama, no passion, no tension, no conflict to speak of anywhere in the book to keep the reader's attention. For example, what was the purpose of Colin's trip to Paris to visit Kenna? Just to show us that he has not forgotten her? And what was the purpose of the three young French noblemen stopping her carriage and getting a ride to Paris? A reader would expect that one of them would later have a role in the plot, but no. They are just as amiable and as anyone except the poor evil Walter. Kenna's tatty excuses for putting off her suitor -- that he would be a "distraction" in her battle against the evil one -- are far too lame and unconvincing. Her feelings for Colin never seem to grow from lukewarm to passionate. To my mind, there was absolutely no good reason for these two to have more than a passing affair. The introductory note on the back cover that says "lady Kenna Lennox of Scotland defies social convention and reopens her family's ancient distillery" is completely misleading. There is no mention of the distillery that I recall until the end of the book and then only to serve as a background for Kenna's meeting with her nemesis. Coffman has never been my favorite romance writer, but she has written better stories. This one is a complete miss.

Beautiful historic love story.......2006-06-06

Lady Kenna Lennox is a strong heroine whose bravery is ahead of her time. She meets Colin and they have an instant attraction. Througout the story he appears unexpectedly, and I loved the element of suprise. Other reviewers viewed it in a negative light, but it gave the story suspense. The only reason I did not give the book 5 stars is because the villian, Lord Walter was a threat in the background, and we saw very little of him.

Blah....Blah....Blah.....Nothing happens!.......2006-05-22

This has to be the most boring book I've ever read! Is Colin, our hero, a main character or supporting character because he isn't in the book much. His character isn't developed enough for me to like him. I remember getting to page 257 and thinking 'is anything going to happen in this book?'. The only reason I kept reading was because Elaine Coffman is a favorite author of mine. Actually, I bought the book without reading the reviews because of the author but I don't think I'll make that mistake again - Ashley's review below is absolutely correct!

The character dialog is long winded and BORING - taking up entire paragraphs in many instances. Every time I turned a page I thought Blah...Blah....Blah....get on with it!

I don't usually write reviews..........2006-05-20

...but I couldn't keep quiet about this one. I am really not a picky reader, but I think this is the worst romance I've ever read. There is a lot of potential in the main character, Lady Kenna Lennox. She's smart, brave, and feisty. My problem is mainly with her underdeveloped "hero" Colin Montgomery. For the first half of the book he does no more than pop in and out of the story at weird times and in odd/unbelievable situations. Incredibly, they fall in love almost instantly (even though he's drunk and she's a popsicle). Also, the dialogue and some situations struck me as ridiculously modern. This story has so much potential; it's just a pity that it doesn't live up to it.

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