Book Description
Prince Dar of the Westlands calls the new fortress of Zakh Gral "a dagger laid against our throat." It was built by the Horsekin, ancient enemies of his people. To destroy the threat, the elven prince has called upon his dwarven and human allies. Their leaders know that if the Westlands fall, their own throats will feel the dagger next. Joining them are two powerful dragons, who have their own bitter reasons to hate the Horsekin.
But the fanatical Horsekin have a powerful ally as well, a new goddess. Alshandra's priestesses have announced that She has given Prince Dar's lands to the Horsekin-and that his people must be utterly destroyed.
Customer Reviews:
superb epic high fantasy .......2007-06-02
Some of the Horsekin have civilized themselves and settled in cities but that hasn't abated their thirst for war. They need more lands for their heavy horses to have more pastures and they believe their goddess wants them to have it. The dwarves, the elves and the humans of Deverry are planning to attack Zakh Grel, the fortress they built to stage their battles from. As the men make ready to go to battle, people from 983, over one hundred years ago who have been reincarnated in the present all have a role to play.
Nevyn the herbmaster was a powerful wielder of Dweomer (magic) found the woman he and then her lost to a magic wielder's poor judgment. In the present he is known as Neb a scribe married to the Lady Bronna once known as Morwen. Both possess Dweomer and are ready to defend the borders. Friends and enemies from 983 are all alive in the present and have a role to play in the upcoming war. In the past Gwairyc was a lord who looked down on commoners but in the present he had to earn his lordship and is a great leader of men. Lez Maj, an outlaw in the present was a pedophile in another past incarnation while Mella, now Sidro, an ex-priestess who is Laz's lover. Maj's lover is fascinated by the black and obsidian pyramid made with magic in 983. As the forces of good and evil begin to march, nobody knows what the outcome will be, not even the seers.
The latest Deverry novel contains an epic high fantasy plot that is absolutely spellbinding. The tale is divided into two parts, 983 and the present and the various players who have reincarnated in the present are believable characters taking their personalities from one era and transforming them into something else in this incarnation. Filled with wondrous creatures like talking dragons who are allied against the Horsekin speaking animals and heroes who will fight and die for a cause they believe is just, THE SPIRIT STONES is a wonderful and exciting tale.
Harriet Klausner
This won't disappoint.......2007-06-01
Although I enjoyed Gold Falcon, I was disappointed at its lack of a past life section. Spirit Stone suffers no such lack, and indeed fills in a missing section most satisfactorily. Without wishing to give anything away, this book also expands the action to include the perspective of two unanticipated characters, and arrives at its planned destination with many engrossing detours. Some may gripe at the relative lack of Neb and Branna in this book, but I found it heartening that they don't simply suddenly turn into super magicians over night and solve all the problems, and their story is charmingly told. Can't wait for the final volume in this saga.
Customer Reviews:
Talk about a Big Yawn!.......2007-09-09
This book was very boring after the first few chapters. There is nothing specail about the plot, characters, or writing. It sounds like every other dragon novel out there. It has very poor writing and keeps your intrest for only a few minutes. I would not reccomend this book to anyone.
White Wyrm not a great read.......2007-05-14
This book is a slow, difficult to maintain read that "builds" to a non-climactic unfulfilling ending. Save this one until you are scrounging for the very last Drangonlance or Forgotten Realms books that you still haven't read.
A look into a not-often-explored corner of Krynn.......2007-05-07
The bulk of this book dealt with a group of dragonhunters - Dragonbane. This group has been featured in a few of the anthologies published in the past few years but for the first time ever, they get the chance to shine in the spotlight. The writing itself is brisk and moves the plot along nicely. Hats off the author who manages to imbue his tale with a great sense of continuity by referencing events that are simultaneously occurring in the world of Krynn. A good example of this was the reference to events happening in "Price of Courage." While almost all the characters are affiliated with Dragonbane, it would have been nice if the author would expanded more on the mythology of the group. Several hints were dropped to tease the readers about the inner workings of the group but were not followed up in the story. Plotwise, I have to say that this was one of the recent Dragonlance novels that kept me interested from beginning to the end. I was quite invested in knowing what would become of the protagonist and the group. Furthermore, the introduction of a new subtype of dragon was interesting to say the least. There are many allusions to Moby Dick; however, such symbolisms and meditations do not work as effectively in the Dragonlance universe when magic is more involved than obsession. Of the three books in the Champions series so far, this might not be the best (Lucien Soulban's The Alien Sea remains firmly in that spot) but it is definitely a worthwhile entry into the world and mythology of Dragonlance.
borrowed plot line...bleh.......2007-04-09
The plot line of the Great White Wyrm might be decent...if it wasn't almost the exact same plot as Moby Dick with the exact same themes. Turn a the dragon into a whale and it's almost the same story with a few fantasy twists.
The characters aren't very developed either. Most of the elves on the crew are just names thrown at you, and have just as much depth as Aeneas' dead friends in the Aeneid; which isn't very much.
Another thing that annoys me are the cheesy plot twists that pop out of nowhere. Characters and information pop out in just the right time to help the main characters in a sticky situation,characters who know exactly everything that's going on and why, then are never mentioned again.
And don't even get me started on the romance. The forbidden elf-human love that appears screams Tolkien, and he did it a lot better. Problem with it in this book is, the love doesn't develop. It's just there as a side detail, it's just thrown in so the author can check 'forbidden romance' off his list of story elements and move on, not to mention the dialogue is completely cheese.
There's also a lot of overplayed destiny. Don't hold your breath for the role Ayshe ends up playing, it's really not that thrilling. It's only toward the end where the important prophecies turn up, and by then they're as lame as the helper characters that keep randomly appearing. In other words, the foreshadowing is in all the wrong places.
So if you want a story with a borrowed plotline, underdeveloped characters, has plot twists and cheese that are so lame they make you want to burn the friggin' thing, and great cover art, this is the book for you.
Solid Dragonlance novel.......2007-04-07
The Great White Wyrm by Peter Archer is the third book in a series of stand alone novels titled The Champions. The first book is Saving Solace by Douglas W. Clark and the second is Alien Sea by Lucien Soulban. Each novel in this series can be read in any order and no previous knowledge of the Dragonlance setting is needed. Of course, if you have previous knowledge then there are some things in this book that will be little nuggets for you. If you are looking to see if the Dragonlance universe is of any interest to you, this Champions series may be a good test run.
The plot of this book, at last on the surface, is rather linear and fairly one dimensional. It's a story of a group of adventurers who have been hunting a White Dragon for years and the story of how their determination pays off and the consequences of that hunt. However, after finishing the novel I have come to realize that this book is not as simplistic as it is first made out to be, in fact I think Mr. Archer put a great deal of thought into what he wanted to accomplish. The story is also about determination, revenge, and how having a single eye on something and thinking of little else can, in the end, be a detriment and hinder other choices. With all things considered, this book has a different `feel' than most Dragonlance books. There are still elves, dwarfs, dragons etc., but rarely do you read about this level of revenge and other things within the pages. I would go into more detail, but I fear that would create spoilers - and I would hate to do that. Suffice to say, this is a very solid plot and much deeper than I expected.
The characters in this book are a little different than traditional Dragonlance characters. There is a dwarf, Ayshe, who is not the cliché ridden dwarf. Meaning, he is not a crass, ale drinking character who hates the world. There are also elves that do not follow the traditional clichés either. In fact, the entire boat is run mostly by elves. To my knowledge, there are not many sea faring elves. There are a couple elves that are developed in this book, as well as the dwarf and a human. All members of the boat and the quest to hunt the White Wyrm. The character development in this book does not seem to be the most pressing issue for the author. While there is some, the amount of it doesn't seem to do the characters justice. In fact, the development in this book is really just revealing of motives and reasons not real progression of the characters. However, that fits with the feel of this book and seems right. Yet, if you are looking for a character driven book - this may not be the right one for you.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It had an easy flow to it and had a good solid plot. If I had to say one thing I would have changed it would be adding a little more depth to the characters. Developing them just a little more. While this book is set in the Dragonlance universe, it could easily be set in any number of fantasy settings and be equally as good. I think fans of Dragonlance and fantasy in general will enjoy this book. It's one I would not hesitate to recommend.
Book Description
The next exciting adventure in "The Door Within" Trilogy.
Separated from his friend by a thousand miles and unable to return to The Realm of Glimpses himself, Aidan Thomas needs a way to reach Robby with the message of King Eliam, the one true King.
Enter Antoinette Lynn Reed, a bright but headstrong young lady who believes in the Scrolls of Alleble and has a passion for full-contact Kendo.
When Aidan discovers that Antoinette has been called to enter The Realm, he solicits her help to find Robby's Glimpse before it is too late.
When she arrives in Alleble, however, Antoinette finds the kingdom is in turmoil. Alleble's allies are inexplicably beginning to turn away, renouncing former ties with King Eliam. And there are rumors that the dark Prince of Paragory is seeking an ancient evil to crush Alleble once and for all.
Can Antoinette and a team of Alleble's finest knights learn the secret of Paragory's growing power? And will they be able to stop the rise of the Wyrm Lord?
Customer Reviews:
incredible sequel.......2007-09-20
Definitely a smooth follow-up from the first book. Mr. B pulls you along, then leaves you hanging off a cliff at the end. Definitely do not read this before you have read the first book, but then it is a must-read. Also completely fine for kids but plenty thrilling for those of all ages. Good work, Mr. B!
Exciting Adventure.......2007-02-04
In book two of The Door Within trilogy, Aidan is now a knight in the service of King Eliam of Alleble. Robby, his best friend, is now serving the Prince of Darkness. Aidan is barred from returning to The Realm, but the first day of school he meeds Antoinette Reed, who, like Aidan, is a believer. When King Eliam calls Antoinette to the Realm, Aidan gives her a task; find Robby's Glimpse who serves the Prince of Darkness and win him over to King Eliam.
Paragor, the Prince of Darkness, is waging war against King Eliam, and Antoinette finds herself in the thick of battle. Will she follow the commands of King Eliam, or will she keep her promise to Aidan?
The Rise of the Wyrm Lord is just as good as The Door Within, book one of this trilogy. As the Wrym Lord is unleashed on the Realm, we find a true picture of the battle between good and evil for the hearts of men. This is fantasy fiction at it's best. If you've never read fantasy, The Door Within trilogy is a great place to start.
Awesome!.......2007-01-19
This is a great book!!! Filled with adventure and suspense. The characters really come to life. I would definately recommend it!
The Rise of the Wyrm Lord, by Wayne Thomas Baston.......2006-12-18
When Aidan Thomas learned he was moving away from home and his best friend to live with his eighty-year old ailing grandfather halfway across the country, life turned inside-out. Without Robby, it was back to being un-athletic, unpopular, bullied and pushed around. It was the end of life as he knew it, a new beginning he wanted no part of.
However, Aidan finds the sacred scrolls of Alleble in his grandfather's basement and embarks upon a journey to The Realm, changing his life forever. A place of ancient magic embroiled in war; on one side stands King Eliam - loving, eternal ruler of Alleble, and Paragor - once trusted herald of King Eliam, now evil ruler of the hellish lands of Paragory. In The Realm, Aidan surmounts challenges revealing his true measure, and when he finally returns home, he burns with the desire to impart King Eliam's love to everyone.
Things aren't turning out as great as he'd hoped. While leaving The Realm, he received a disturbing vision, one showing Robby's mirror-self serving Paragor. Worried about Robby's eternal destiny, Aidan emails repeatedly for weeks with no answer, and when he finally does get ahold of Robby, he's distant, guarded, and acting very strange.
Aidan is convinced Robby's in eternal danger, but what can he do? The rules are clear; King Eliam calls a person to The Realm once a lifetime - there's no way he can reach Robby's mirror-self with King Eliam's love.
Enter Antoinette Reed, Aidan's art classmate at his new school. When he sees her artwork - a rendition of Paragory's outer gates, and she sees his, The Seven Fountains of Alleble, they realize the amazing truth: they're both believers of King Eliam, true citizens of Alleble.
Even more astounding; Antoinette receives a ghostly vision of Aidan in warrior dress, and on the back blank pages of her Book of Alleble, the same poem that brought Aidan to The Realm appears. Antoinette has been called to serve King Eliam, but before she goes, Aidan tasks her with a desperate plea - find Robby's Glimpse, and somehow convince him of the truth of King Eliam's love, to save Robby's soul!
When Antoinette arrives in The Realm, she discovers another shocking truth: she is the mirror-self of Lady Gwenne, Aidan's close comrade and friend! Though heartened by this, as well as warmed by her quick friendship with Aidan's Glimpse, Aelic, Antoinette encounters a world in turmoil: imposters have spread everywhere, speaking falsehoods and lies, attempting to destroy alliances with Alleble. Even worse, rumors abound that Paragor seeks to unleash an ancient evil power locked away for centuries. The fearful question lingers: is the rumored Wyrm Lord a myth, a fable - or Paragory's new weapon against Alleble?
The Rise of the Wyrm Lord, the second installment in Wayne Thomas Baston's The Door Within Trilogy, jacks up the action a notch, successfully following up The Door Within. Baston continues to weave classic Bible stories into an intriguing tale, and makes this novel even better than the first - which is not easy to do - by going "off the Biblical" map with the Wyrm Lord and the Seven Sleepers' mythology. The second novel is an excellent tale, building on and improving The Realm mythos.
At first I was disappointed Aidan wasn't returning to The Realm¸ but this offers a fresh new story from Antoinette's perspective. In The Door Within, the characterization was solid, believable, but in this novel they grow and acquire depth in ways most Christian fantasies don't today.
The pace picks up, the threat of the Wyrm Lord and the Seven Sleepers looming over every page. One thing to admire: many writers make the mistake of showing off their hidden bad guys too early, and in this novel, we only get tantalizing, shadowy, menacing glimpses of the Wyrm Lord and his minions. This adds suspense; Baston is now playing the "cruel author", (which we all love so much), by making us wait for the last novel for the pieces to fall into place.
The Rise of the Wyrm Lord ends in a cliffhanger: we are left suspended, in true Empire Strikes Back fashion, without a clue as to what's going to happen next, as we learn that not only is Antoinette in mortal danger, but so is Aidan - even in the "safer, real world". All we can do is trust in King Eliam and his grace, and wait until the series concludes in the final novel, The Final Storm.
"Adventures are funny things...".......2006-12-14
In my review for "The Door Within", the first book in the trilogy, I said that the beginning-->middle of the book is bad and that the middle-->end of the book is excellent. "The Rise of the Wyrm Lord" is much like that, except it is more divided.
The beginning of the book far surpasses the beginning of book one. Aidan has evolved into a likable character, and his daily non-Realm life is interesting, especially when he meets Antoinette.
The middle of the book, in which Antoinette enters the Realm, becomes problematic. "The Door Within" is plot-driven as opposed to character-driven, and that isn't a problem. However, the plot here requires heavy, heavy suspension of disbelief. Antoinette doesn't come off shocked or amazed that she was able to enter a different dimension, nor does she seem out of place or foreign to the setting, as Aidan initially did in book one. It is also strange that she was able to be deemed equal to the warriors of Alleble, who have spent their entire lives training for war. Antoinette has learned martial arts and fencing. They should be in entirely different leagues, but they are not.
The end of the book picks the pace up, and it is exciting. Almost every chapter has a different protagonist, and that is risky as the majority of the book featured Antoinette as the protagonist up to this point. However, Batson's risk paid off. The end of the book is highly entertaining and suspenseful, even more so than the climax of book one.
Let's dissect a bit...
The Bad...
+ The dialogue is stiff, and not on account of the medieval-esque language. It's on account of the dialogue itself. It's forced. Mallik is more than three times called a "hammer-wielding friend" instead of just his name. Stiff. This shows traces that the characters in this series are characterized by their skills, not their motivations or their... well, characters.
+ As mentioned above, the characters are flat and undeveloped. They seem to be pawns in the story. The story moves them, they rarely move it.
The Good...
+ Antoinette's entering the Realm gives a different perspective than that which we read in book one, and it was interesting to see the world through her eyes.
+ Plenty of suspense.
+ The world is richly described, particularly the scene where the lava veins down the volcanoes.
+ Batson's switch from Aidan as protagonist in the beginning to Antoinette was daring, and paid off well. However, I feel that the story should have traded off between Aidan and Antoinette as the story developed. All Aidan has after Antoinette enters the Realm is two pages at the end of the book. I feel as if his character should have had a few chapters through the course of the novel.
+ The book is paced well, and was consistently enjoyable. The allegory was never overly cheesy, and I found myself hoping that Kearn would except King Eliam.
+ The book cover and pages are beautiful.
+ The Robby/Kearn situation is handled well. Since the first book, I've wondered why "cool guy" Robby befriended Aidan. Prior to his adventure in Book One, Aidan was not only a "nerd", he was also an unpleasant person. In this book, it is revealed that Kearn (Robby's twin in the Realm) finds meaning in life only when he feels superior to other people. This makes sense when Robby/Kearn and Aidan's friendship is analyzed. Robby befriended Aidan because he felt superior to him, not because he wanted to help him. That was definitely a good tidbit of info.
"The Rise of the Wyrm Lord" is flawed, but always entertaining. The writing is good, with moments of excellence. I only wish that Mr. Batson restricted the use of exclamation points to his characters' dialogue(!). For example, from page 298:
They all turned and looked to the sky above the ruin of Clarion. And there, just as the sun broke through the clouds, the sky filled with dragons! (Batson).
Not only does the exclamation point here (used liberally throughout the novel) ruin the mood, it also seems childish and unnecessary to add.
However, this novel withstands its flaws and Batson proves himself to be a formidable writer. I hope to hear a lot more from him, and my copy of "The Final Storm" is on its way to my house right now!
<-- ;)
And I must add: Not only is Wayne Thomas Batson a good writer, he is also a good man. Whenever I e-mail him, he always returns with a personally addressed e-mail with nothing but kindness and good advice, as I too am an aspiring writer. I'll always buy Batson's stuff. God bless!
7/10
Product Description
Still staggering under Paragor's relentless attacks, Alleble's remaining allies flee from the four corners of The Realm to safety within the Kingdom's walls. Once there they find chaos, the forces of Alleble grieving a fallen hero, and the Kingdom's citizens clinging to an ancient legend about Three Witnesses who can bring victory. But who are they? Where are they?
There is little time for Alleble to mourn before Paragor, the Wyrm Lord, and the deadly Seven Sleepers unite against the followers of King Eliam.
As Alleble begins to lose hope, Paragor unleashes The Final Storm. Will anyone survive to see the dawn?
Customer Reviews:
This book is......AMAZING!!!!.......2007-10-02
This is the last book in the Door Within series. It is just....wow!!! You will have to read it to find out what I mean. It is superb!!! I love this book and it is one of my favorites!!!! You have to read this book!
Lindsay W.
A Book series at the top of its genre!.......2007-08-29
Have you ever been into the Christian bookstore recently? All you see is piles of the next Left Behind, some series about Amish women, a great amount of Dekker/Peretti wannabes, and a great amount of Christian romance. For some that suits their taste buds. But for the fantasy/scifi person I am, that stuff does not at all interest me. With the resurgence of fantasy thanks to Jk Rowling's awesome series about a boy wizard, fantasy books in the reign of Tolkien/Lewis; the master of yesteryears are here to stay. I picked up the series quite randomly, after reading Legends of the Guardian Kings (an amazing series I highly reccomend for mature christian fantasy readers), what I found was a series that was a bit similar to Narnia but much different in its presentation of the awesome Glimpse concept and such great creatures as the mortiwraiths. There are awesome characters such as Mallik influenced by Tolkien lore. Plus there are heroines for the female readers that even male readers like me absolutely love named Antionette, because who does not love a girl who can kick serious butt. The fight scenes are exciting and there are many surprises within the plot, nothing is as predictable as it sometimes may seem to be. Interwoven with all these great characters, locales, and battle sequences; are great spiritual messages that all Christians can relate to! I highly recommend this series to all ages; especially to those who are suffering from Post Potter Depression (like me) and who ever faced the dilemma of finding a fantasy book within a Christian bookstore. Any age can read them, as everyone who has read Harry Potter and Narnia learned, that any good story can be enjoyed by those of all ages.
Also reccomended:Dragons in Our Midst By:Bryan Davis, Dragonspell by:Donita K. Paul
For more mature readers:Legends of the Guardian King By:Karen Hancock,Restorer by:Sharon Hinck and The White Lion Chronicles by: Christopher Hopper,
Not as good as the first book, worse than the second.......2007-08-18
I have just fininshed reading all three of the Door Within Trilogy books with my son. The first book was engaging, and the Christian message was delivered smoothly and without a heavy hand. The second book was ok, with the message becoming more heavy handed, which does much to destroy the quality of the writing - it becomes less intelligent as the book moves along. The third book is simply DREADFUL. The book still has some of the adventure characteristics that a 10 - 12 year old boy would like, but the quality of the writing is so poor that I would expect more from my 10th grade literature students. The Christian message is very heavy handed, so much so that it became a turn off and distracted from the flow of the story. This book is so poorly written that I actually looked to see who the publisher was, because I couldn't believe a mainstream publisher would have published the book.
I love that Mr. Batson wants to communicate a Christian message to youngsters and applaud his courage for writing the series; probably a fine book for homeschoolers, but not for public school or for any one who wants to model good writing.
A great 'ending' to this amazing trilogy.......2007-06-28
An amazing 'ending' to the trilogy!! The story is very character/plot driven, and I had a hard time putting the book down to take care of other responsibilities(like feeding my family! hehe). Although this was the last book of the trilogy, Mr. Batson certainly does leave room for the possibility of future adventures....Adventures are funny things, after all!
Great read for everyone.......2007-03-14
I read the entire series in three nights. I could not stop reading and when it came to this book it not only stood for it's self but completed the series in a way the made you think...is this really over? I look back on this series all the time and I feel it has changed the way I look at everyday events. I recommend this book and the others to all people. I am in college and loved every minute of it. Thank you
Customer Reviews:
Great Description...true to their word........2003-12-16
I was alittle sceptical but am very pleased. The description was right on the mark..in fact the package was in PERFECT shape.
Thank you very much!
it could use a little help.......1999-09-18
the idea is great, you get to play a dragon, I'm sure every Dragon lover nearly wet themselves over the whole ordeal, But look at it closly, the boxed set really isn't all that special, the only thing it had that was not included or hinted at in another TSR product was the listings of Dragon proficiancies, I dont think that was to much to get excited over , I actually feel that I got ripped of by buying it.
Good idea, but extremely under developed........1998-06-10
This campaign setting allows player characters to create PC dragons! A very interesting concept, and it fills out dragon society very well. However the problem comes when you actually want to run a campaign without dragons, with the bonded Elf, Gnome, or Dwarven PCs. The lands of the campaign setting are barely even talked about. Like why do the elves, dwarves, and gnomes just sit by and let dragons rule. Do demi-humans worship the gods in "Monster Mythology" or do they worship dragons gods. How does the society work with Dragons in command. You know REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF LIKE THAT, this campaign setting leaves out. So if you want to REALLY flesh out a skeleton of a campaign, this is the setting for you. If not, get something like "Forgotten Realms" or "Dark Sun World."
If you love dragons than this is the book for you........1998-05-01
This has to be one of the best campain settings out there. It allows you to play a dragon without upsetting the game play! It provides detailed information on dragon psyiology and the different types of dragons. Best of all it leaves alot of information for you to define and shape to your own liking. This is definently a must for any role-player!
Book Description
The cholera epidemic that ravaged the city of TrevHael has left many orphans in its wake, including Neb, the scribe's son, and his brother. Sent to the desolate farm of their last living relative, they soon learn that a worse plague lurks beyond the western border of Deverry. The savage Horsekin tribes, spurred on by their new goddess, Alshandra, are raiding the villages and taking slaves as the first step in their plans to destroy the nomadic Westfolk and the Deverrian farmers both. Drawn into a war for the survival of the kingdom, Neb and his soulmate Branna will face enemies they have fought before in past lives they no longer remember.
Customer Reviews:
Deverrey continues, but without lots of intrigue-ful baggage.......2007-07-15
This book made my fingers hover over the rating... it's probably 4.5 stars.
I read the original novel in this series when it first came out in, what, the 80s? early 90s? I must have re-read it a dozen times in the years since then, because Kerr did such a wonderful job of world building. Her main characters span multiple lifetimes, and usually they do not remember what they did in an earlier incarnation. I was absolutely charmed, because the system of magic was consistent; the characters were well drawn (in an Arthurian "honor matters!" way); and it was not a predictable "oh you know how it'll end" tale.
The first several books were great, and I highly recommend that you start with Daggerspell. But the later series somehow tired me for reasons I never did figure out.
I'm happy to report that this new trilogy (one presumes?) has brought back the original magic from the first books. Nevyn and Jill do get together (yay!, after only what, 600 years) and it's fun to see the two dweomer-masters as teenagers dealing with the "but who was I? am I still that person?" identity crisis. There is humor, compassion, honor... and none of it gets in the way of telling a good story.
Book was good, but publisher is trying to cheat . . ........2007-02-17
I thought this book was great. In fact, all of Kerr's books are just phenomenal. So, has anyone else noticed that DAW along with other publishers have switched to low quality materials for their hardcover books? Take a look at the paper for instance. Just compare this book and older DAW hardcovers from a few years ago. You won't be thrilled in about 5 years, when the books in this series have begun to yellow with age.
I hate this new trend with book publishers just to save a buck. None of us get a deal on the price, but they can sell inferior goods to us because they know we want to read the books anyway. Please watch out and if possible, complain to the company. If enough of us do, they will return to the quality we have come to expect. Just take a look at the Otherland books, to see what I mean, or the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn. Look at the differences between those and this book. There is no comparison.
After a long silence...........2006-11-10
Ms. Kerr finally drops this in our lap. I must say it was an enjoyable read, if a bit callow at times. Think of how Tolkien started "The Hobbit" as a child's book. "The Fellowship of the Ring" was light and airy, and each subsequent book gets more and more "dark" and "adult". Katharine Kerr writes backwards. Her books started out "dark" and "adult" and now seem airy and breezy.
One big annoyance is she has a terrible habit of turning a phrase and sticking with it continuously. All her characters "tossed his head like an angry horse" SO often that I wonder just what kind of world she's from where people actually do this. It happens - literally - on almost every page. The characters that have depth and strengths in other books in this one seem shallow and weak.
I did enjoy reading, but I felt she was just throwing us a bone.
Great start to the end of a great series!.......2006-11-10
I absolutely adore this series and am sad to see it coming to an end. It was horrible to wait this entire time for this book (if you followed it and saw all the pushbacks like I did), but it was well worth it. It doesn't really answer questions but it definitely sets up the next two books to tie everything together. This book, unlike the others, only stays in one timeline choosing to tell the past by using small character flashbacks that are actually told to other characters instead of that character being in that time. A definite must for any follower of the series.
truly ineffable..........2006-08-28
Let's hope we don't have to wait a very long time for the continuation of this series! As with every time I pick up a Katharine Kerr book, I can't put it down. I stay up late at night fighting the sleep dweomer and end up late for work! It's well worth it!
If I had dweomer powers I would hurry up Katharine to finish the next book!
In the meantime, maybe I will re-read the whole saga since it's been years since I read the first book.
Average customer rating:
- Wyrms
- Heavy-handed
- just 'coz this is about a kid doesn't mean it's written for kids!
- not at his best, but not bad
- The Immaculate Conception of the Spotless Mind
|
Wyrms
Orson Scott Card
Manufacturer: Orb Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| 18th Century
| 19th Century
| 20th Century
| African American
| Asian American
| Classics
| Collections & Readers
| Drama
| General
| Hispanic
| History & Criticism
| Humor
| Jewish American
| Letters & Correspondence
| Native American
| Poetry
| Short Stories
| Women Writers
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Card, Orson Scott
| ( C )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Paperback
| Card, Orson Scott
| ( C )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Treason
-
Hart's Hope
-
Songmaster
-
Homebody: A Novel
-
Empire
ASIN: 0765305607 |
Book Description
The sphere is alien in origin, but has been controlled by Man for millennia. A legend as old as the stars rules this constructed world: when the seventh seventh seventh human Heptarch is crowned, he will be the Kristos and will bring eternal salvation . . . or the destruction of the cosmos. Patience is the only daughter of the rightful Heptarch, but she, like her father before her, serves the usurper who has destroyed her family. For she has learned the true ruler's honor: that duty to one's race is more important than duty to one's self. But the time for prudence has passed, and that which has slept for ages has awakened. Patience must journey to the heartsoul of this planet to confront her destiny . . . and her world's. Wyrms is an Orson Scott Card classic, one of the novels that helped forge his young career.
Customer Reviews:
Wyrms.......2007-09-03
Loved it. It is an remarkable journey about self-control, saving the world, and the price it takes from all to triumph over evil for the greater good.
Heavy-handed.......2005-11-11
This would be a much better read if you ignored all the heavy-handed allegory about mastering your passions with your will and controlling your desires so that they can be sublimated into the fabric of community and the act of marriage, blah, typical Card stuff, and just read it as a story about a girl who wants to have sex with a giant bug. I'm serious--it would be much better.
just 'coz this is about a kid doesn't mean it's written for kids! .......2005-10-20
Without recounting the plot which has been summed up by other reviewers, this book is interesting because for a change the hero is a girl. On the whole Card's heroes have two main characteristics: 1)possess some rare talent which has been honed to perfection though training 2)they are thrust into circumstances that require the wisdom of Solomon. Most times they are male- for examples see Ender series, Songbord etc, so its interesting to see what how Card developes Patience, the heroine in this case.
True to form Patience is raised and trained to deal with larger than life circumstances in austere circumstances, but the difference between Patience and Card's other female lead characters is her awareness of her sexuality.
Patience's destiny is that she is to be the saviour or destroyer of of the world by being the mother of Kristos. The looming prospect of motherhood obviously means that she is forced to confront physical desire and sex. Patience's calling is to mate with the all powerful Unwyrm.
From a mythological perpective there are shades of Persephone in the Underworld and Beauty and the Beast as Patience is summoned by Unwyrm to the caverns of ice for the mating. Unwyrm's call takes the form of the need for physical release and sexual arousal.
Most readers will agree it's a thorny subject when applied to adolescent girls. Many writers err between denying desire to girl-women and indulging in fantasy. Card however negotiates these fine lines are better than most and creates a character who remains centrered to the last.
When all is said and done, this is not an adventure story for children, though it will speak well to older teens who are themselves grappling with issue of self, life direction and most importantly sex. Yes, there are wild adventures here, and Card's favourite theme of acceptance, but there is a quieter voice running though the book that speaks about choice, temptation, and self-control. In a world of instant gratification and over consumpton maybe its time we started listening.
not at his best, but not bad.......2005-06-28
Ignoring the scene at the end...
Card is still the premier sci-fi writer today. The story itself is engrossing and gross at the same time, but thoroughly believable within its context.
A big bonus of Card's work is his prose. Not only is the story well written, but it brings up philosophic ideas such as 'tabla blanca' and many others.
That being said, Card is not at his best here, I was able to put this book down once in a while like I was unable to do with Ender's Game. Still, its a satisfying read and anyone that is a fan of the genre and doesn't care about an R rated storyline should get this book. I recommend the library...
The Immaculate Conception of the Spotless Mind.......2005-05-16
This book is not the ussual Card book. It is a simple and interesting interpretation of the immaculate conception and the building blocks of christianity as projected by Card on the Age of Space Travel.
Card, who likes to touch major ethical questions in Theology (Ender's role in the universe as destroyer and builder of worlds, The battle between Justice and Mercy in the worthing Saga, Etc...) chooses to confront the whole issue of the immaculate conception in the form of a parable about planet Imakulata.
Most of the characters' names are symbolic and the novel is full with alegories to the bible.
Card uses this fertile ground to discuss the universal role of religion and christianity in perticular, the importance of immortality in religion as a deep desire of humanity, and the concept of the intergrated mind and consciousness.
This novel is well worth a read, but it is not the best of Orson's work.
Book Description
Orphaned by a cholera epidemic, Neb and his young brother are sent to the desolate farm of their last living relative. But when the savage Horsekin tribes begin raiding the villages along Deverry's western border, the brothers must flee for their lives. A chance encounter with Salamander-a bard and master of dweomer magic-proves their salvation, as he brings them to the shelter of Tieryn Cadryc's dun. Here Neb finds love with his soulmate Branna only to be dragged into a war for the very survival of the kingdom. And though both Neb and Branna are gifted with dweomer magic, they are also facing powerful enemies they have fought before in past lives they no longer remember.
Book Description
The Battle of the Run is over, but for Barreth Forlo victory is bitter.
With only a dragon’s scale to aid them, Barreth and his friends must find his missing wife before it’s too late. A strange evil is stirring and a foul ritual has begun.
And Forlo’s unborn child lies at the heart of it.
Explore the legendary continent of Taladas, where barbarian chiefs struggle for survival against power-mad sorcerers in the uneasy aftermath of the War of Souls
Customer Reviews:
What a GREAT series!.......2007-03-08
In all due honesty, this series is long over due! I have been reading a lot of the same pilot, same characters, same world type stuff for a while, and while most of it is good there is always something missing. Well I found it here! The author is very very good at keeping the readers attention, the characters have real personalities, and the environment it takes place in is different. I highly recommended this book to anyone who is a Dragonlance fan or not. Excellent!!!!
Amazing from Start to Finish.......2006-08-15
This series is quite possibly the most engaging and exciting collection of DL books since the inception of the Chronicles and Legends years ago. Unlike so many current DL books full of fluff, dismal plots, and annoying characters the Taladas Trilogy is full of grit and strife. The characters are well developed and even after reading the first book I had begun to care about what happened next to them.
With the second installment in the series, the story becomes even greater. The main plot consists of Forlo and his companions searching for the black dragon that has kidnapped Forlo's wife and unborn son. Wherever they go destruction and mystery follow. Meanwhile Essana is trapped deep within one of the Bretherns jungle temples. Eventually Forlo tracks the wyrm deep into the jungle. Teaming up with the local clan of elves, Forlo storms the temples. By that time Essena's son, Azar as she names him is born, and through the use of evil magic ages very quickly. In the final confrontation there is a final twist that I definitley did not see coming.
The group of characters in this book I feel are the next generation of companions. They are complex and deep in every aspect. The plot is quick, and the pace never falters below break neck. Taking the advice of a fellow reviewer I read this on a flight from Chicago to England. Trust me when I tell you, I never once put this book down, it is just that good.
Hopefully the third book is as good or even better then this one. I will be excitedly waiting for it to come out. Until then I guess I'll have to preoccupy myself with lesser books in the DL world, i.e. everything other then the Taladas trilogy.
Great second installment.......2006-05-24
Trail of the Black Wyrm is the second book in the new Dragaonlance trilogy titled, The Taladas Trilogy. This new trilogy takes place on Krynn, but on a totally different continent than has been explored before. I for one hope many more novels are written about Taladas.
Fans of Dragonlance will notice fairly early in this book that this is Dragonlance in a whole new way. The gloves are off in Taladas. This world is dark and filled with grit and death. It truly seems like Pierson was given a lot more leeway to do the things he wanted to, in the way he wanted to.
The plot of this book carries over from the first book, Blades of the Tiger. In this book we deal with a converging of two separate plot lines. Barreth trying to find his wife and un-born son, and the `Hooded One' trying to come to power. Both pieces of the plot are flawlessly written. They are succinct, tight, well written, and genuinely entertaining. There are some scenes in this book that I was shocked to see in a Dragonlance book. This novel moves along at a breakneck pace as well. There is very little sitting around and virtually no fluff. Pierson does a marvelous job at describing Taladas without going overboard. Truly a joy to read.
The characters of this book are not the two dimensional ct outs that one has come to expect from Dragonlance novels. Nor are they the ultra powerful, nothing can stop them heroes of some fantasy authors out there today. Each of the characters has self doubt and other problems that they carry throughout the book. The characters are also likeable which allows the reader to invest more energy in wanting them to succeed. There were some truly memorable moments in this book that I can't share because they are spoilers, but these are great characters.
Some middle novels of trilogies are not very well done and obviously just a book to get the reader to the third installment. I didn't feel that was the case with this book. I will say that if you are thinking of reading this book make sure you read the first one first, other wise you will quickly be lost in what is going on and not understanding some of the plot points.
All in all this is a fantastic edition to the Dragonlance universe and one I will continue to read. I only hope that all future Taladas books are allowed the same grittiness that this series has been granted. This is the infusion of story that Dragonlance has needed for the last couple years. Great read!
Better than the first book.......2006-05-15
It is often the case that the second work in a trilogy is the weakest. There are some exceptions to this, of course (obligatory Empire Strikes back reference here), but by and large, the middle book has to bridge a story already started and not finish too much.
My point is that they're often hard to do well.
Luckily, Pierson succeeds admirably with this one. If anything, I enjoyed it more than "Blades". The characters were much more sympathetic and fully developed and it was a heap of fun to see them go through their trials. Well, not quite "fun", but an enjoyable read.
As others have noted, this is a dark book. There are very few light sequences. Instead, the story drives forward and pulls you along with sheer intensity.
Highly recommended: it crushed a cross-Atlantic flight.
Pick it up only if you have no reason to have to put it down.......2006-04-25
If you read my review of the first book of this series, then I will spare you the read. And if you haven't read my first review, then I will paraphrase it all into, "This series is amazing." The happy frollicky little land of Ansalon is far removed from this book and this series. The gloves have truly come off.
This story is one giant race against time. The statue has been taken, evil is about to be unleashed upon an unsuspecting world, and a damsel is in distress. What else do you need for a classic? I started into this one right after finishing the first book finding myself completely unable to stop for a second between. The writing style was great. The amount of detail was incredible and the history was everything I could want. Good to know that it isn't necessary to waste half a book on background information.
I have to say, this book is brutal. If you are used to the happy flower power of the other Dragonlance books, then let that go. This series is truly down into how wars are really won, and how destructive a real villain truly can be.
As I said in my first review, read this book. If you have read the first one then I ask, "What are you even reading this review for? You already know, you feel it pulling at you even now. Stop fighting it and read this book." For those who haven't read the first one yet, don't worry. Buy both of them together and read them both. There will be less suffering that way, especially if the third one is out by then.
What do I truly have to gain by lying to you? READ IT.
Customer Reviews:
Into the Wyrm's Coils.......2002-09-14
If you're looking for the black spiral dancer tribe book, look no further! If you're looking for the wyrm's take on the whole triat "war," look no further. this book has all you could need to begin effectively using black spiral dancers in your chronicle--including gifts and totems. It also has the history of the world--wyrm style--and the thousands of ways it interacts in the modern world. It also discusses the "Triatic" Wyrm--the wyrm's avatars while he's still wrapped in the weaver's webs. Fomori are glossed over in this book, but if you are looking for a source book for them, pick up the new Posessed book or the old Freak Leigons book.
What Book of Wyrm Is.......2002-08-19
The book of the wyrm is an expansion to werewolf the apocalypse. If you need some bad guys for your game (because the main werewolf book does'nt REALLY provide any) or you would like to play as a Black spiral dancer -formerly known as the white howlers- OR you would like to know about the wyrm, banes, fomori(freak legion suggested instead), pentex(subsidiaries: a guide to pentex suggested instead), OR you just want some more "fun stuff" for your game (like mustard gas) then this book is highly recomended. This book is in general about the "bad guys" (but not from the wyrms point of view, which is also in this book)!
A must have for serious ST's.......2001-05-25
I got this book as a suggestion from a friend after I had started werewolf, and said I was planning ot run a campaign. This did not disappoint me. This book has most everything you need in it to make a serious Wyrm chronicle. From various themes to use, such as Horror, Terror, or Splatter, to the nature of teh Wyrm itself.
I mean, after reading this, one can actually feel SORRY for the Wyrm, and as I looked through the various Urge Wyrms, one begins to realize just WHY the Wyrm is doing what it is doing.
It also includes good information the Cosmology of the Wyrm, information on Malfeas, the Umbral knot created by teh Wyrm's struggles, the Maejin Incarna, a mini-BSD tribe book that shows just WHY they fell and just why they are possibly the greatest threat to Gaia. Information on Fomori, Banes, wyrm-fetishes, mOrtal Cults, and other things ae all included.
My only gripe is the Pentex section, whihc played up the "destroying the world for the sake of it" feel a bit too much for my liking. Though the fiction throughout that part of the book made up for it, as it is very interesting and is more of what I will use Pentex for int eh future.
My favourite parts were the Mortal Cults and Aliens. A non-supernatural group serving the Wyrm is a ncie way to be sadistic to players, and the concept of an Alien made my mind start spinning.
If you plan to run a Werewolf campaign, and want the Wyrm as the main antagonist, get this book. It will help you make a great in-depth, serious, and dark game, exactly what Werewolf is about. To boot, there isn't tha tmuch that doens't need to be changed for Revised rules, just a bit of thinking with Spirits, and some BSD Gifts and Rites, but that's it. So enjoy folks...
A World of Evil...........2000-11-28
An excellent book. A must have if you are a ST. First of all, this book describes the cosmology and myth of the Evil One. Next, follows a mind thrilling hoard of details about the Wyrm Things in world of darkness - Banes, Monsters, Fomori, wretched homid cults....And, of course... The Black Spiral Dancers - From their deepest lairs in hellish Malfeas to gifts, rites, totems and fetishes unique to those who no longer call Gaia their Mother. Overall - a superb book, which easily fits into campaign and mind alike (beware!!). If you need that extra touch of corruption - thats what you've been looking for.
Black Spiral DAncers 4 Life.......1999-06-16
The BSD's rock the casbah and all that! None will stand before the colective might of the Wyrm! Buy it now! no no now! u missed it okay 1 2 3 NOW!
Books:
- The Trouble With Physics: The Rise of String Theory, the Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next
- The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality
- The World of the Dark Crystal: The Collector's Edition
- The World Turned Upside Down (Prelude to Glory, 6) (World Turned Upside Down, 6)
- The Writing on the Wall: Why We Must Embrace China as a Partner or Face It as an Enemy
- Timeshare Vacations For Dummies (Dummies Travel)
- Unburnable: A Novel
- Voices from the Fields : Children of Migrant Farmworkers Tell Their Stories
- Walk Two Moons
- Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Vampire : The Masquerade
- Stress Relief & Relaxation Techniques
- Hey Nostradamus!: A Novel
- Heirloom Machine Quilting, 4th Edition: Comprehensive Guide to Hand-Quilting Effects Using Your Sewi
- In the Bunker With Hitler: 23 July 1944 - 29 April 1945
- Manual of Clinical Microbiology
- Linear Algebra and Its Applications
- In The Footsteps of Thoreau: 25 Historic & Nature Walks on Cape Cod
- Henry Ford, the man, the worker, the citizen,
- Modeling Pension Systems
The Gold Falcon (The Silver Wyrm, Book 1)
The Gold Falcon: Book One of The Silver Wyrm
The Fire Dragon (Dragon Mage, Book 3)
The Black Raven (Dragon Mage, Book 2)
Days of Air and Darkness (Deverry)
