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The Other Wind (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 6)

Ursula K. Le Guin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 65 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Not my cup of tea 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

While I really loved the original Earthsea trilogy, both as a kid and as an adult, this book (and "Tehanu") were a bit disappointing. I had a hard time deciding on whether to give this book 3 or 4 stars and in the end went with 3. I can't pick out anything technically wrong with the book, but it failed to draw me in. Despite being relatively short, it took me months to finish this book. Nothing much was really happening, so I didn't feel at all compelled to see what happened (or rather, didn't happen) next.
This novel didn't have a plot so much as a theme, and LeGuin used some familiar and some new characters to explore that theme. If that's the kind of book you like, then you'll probably love "The Other Wind". However, I read fiction (and fantasy in particular) for engaging and thrilling stories. That type of story was lacking here.
I still think LeGuin is very talented, but as she has matured as a writer she now seems to prefer writing a type of book that I do not prefer to read.

Editorial Review:

The sorcerer Alder fears sleep. He dreams of the land of death, of his wife who died young and longs to return to him so much that she kissed him across the low stone wall that separates our world from the Dry Land-where the grass is withered, the stars never move, and lovers pass without knowing each other. The dead are pulling Alder to them at night. Through him they may free themselves and invade Earthsea.

Alder seeks advice from Ged, once Archmage. Ged tells him to go to Tenar, Tehanu, and the young king at Havnor. They are joined by amber-eyed Irian, a fierce dragon able to assume the shape of a woman.

The threat can be confronted only in the Immanent Grove on Roke, the holiest place in the world and there the king, hero, sage, wizard, and dragon make a last stand.

Le Guin combines her magical fantasy with a profoundly human, earthly, humble touch.

The Warlords of Nin (The Dragon King Trilogy, Book 2)

Stephen R. Lawhead

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Darkness and destruction have come to the land.

It has been ten years since Quentin helped Eskevar, the Dragon King, battle the monstrous sorcerer Nimrood.  Since that time, there has been peace in the land of Mensandor.  But everything is about to change.

An urgent message summons Quentin to Castle Askelon.  The king, who is dying, wishes to name the brave young man his successor.  But first, he sends him on an unfathomable mission.

What Quentin and his friend Toli, the Jher horseman, discover is not for the cowardly.  The brightening Wolf Star is an omen of impending evil that might herald the beginning of the end of mankind on earth.  It signifies Nin, a fearsome giant of a man who hopes to add Mensandor to his growing empire.  Along with his merciless warlords, they are the fulfillment of a nightmarish prophecy.

In The Warlords of Nin, the second book in The Dragon King Trilogy, Stephen R. Lawhead continues the mythical saga that began with In the Hall of the Dragon King.

In the Hall of the Dragon King (The Dragon King Trilogy, Book 1)

Stephen R. Lawhead

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The Dragon King Trilogy is on of my favorite series! 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 11 people found this review helpful.

15-years-old acolyte, Quentin is wakened by a commotion in the temple of Ariel one night. A very badly wounded knight had stumbled in to the temple. His name is Ronsard(he is one of my favorite characters) and he has an extremely important message for his Queen Alinea. Ronsard asks if anyone could go and give the message for him. Quentin agrees to go but he can no longer return to the temple. The knight tells him to go to a hermit named Durwin and to give the message without stopping. So, mounted on Ronsard's horse Balder, Quentin rides to Durwin's house. He meets Durwin and also Durwin's friend, Theido. Theido and Quentin rides to Askelon where the Queen was, but they are caught by the crafty coward, Prince Jaspin. The Prince is the King's brother and he wants to have the crown. Quentin escapes and goes to the Queen. The message he gave was that King Eskevar had been captured by the evil necromancer, Nimrood. Then, the Queen, Durwin, and Quentin meets Theido. He had escaped and together they ride to save the King. Quentin learns of a new God, the Most High and he turns away from Ariel and the other gods to worship the true one God. Durwin teaches him more about God on the way.

Can they rescue the King from Nimrood? Can they win the battle with Prince Jaspin's 100,000 men with their 10,000?

This is a wonderful Christian fantasy. The next one, "The Warlords of Nin" is my favorite in the Dragon King Trilogy.

Editorial Review:

A kingdom hangs in the balance...and a young boy answers the call.

Carrying a sealed message from the war-hero Dragon King to the queen, Quentin and his outlaw companion, Theido, plunge headlong into a fantastic odyssey and mystic quest.  Danger lurks everywhere in the brutal terrain, and particularly in the threats from merciless creatures, both human and not-so-human.

While at the castle, the wicked Prince Jaspin schemes to secure the crown for himself, and an evil sorcerer concocts his own monstrous plan.  A plan that Quentin and Theido could never imagine.

In the youth's valiant efforts to save the kingdom and fulfill his unique destiny, he will cross strange and wondrous lands; encounter brave knights, beautiful maidens, and a mysterious hermit; and battle a giant, deadly serpent.

In this first book of the Dragon King Trilogy, Stephen R. Lawhead has deftly woven a timeless epic of war, adventure, fantasy, and political intrigue.

Solaris

Stanislaw Lem

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 88 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Compelling, cerebral science fiction 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Kris Kelvin goes to a space station where strange things have been happening. The planet the station orbits - Solaris - seems to be having a strange influence on the inhabitants of the space station and begins to have an effect of Kelvin.

Solaris explores what it means to be human. This is cerebral sci-fi. Fairly heavy going but worth the effort. The central idea of the novel, which I wont give away here, is awfully compelling and Lem conjures up a wonderful character in Kelvin's lover Rhea.

Solaris has inspired two very different films - Tarkovsky's early 70's effort, which will test your patience, and Soderbergh's recent effort, which is actually very good and retains the spirit of the book.

Editorial Review:

Who's testing whom? When Kris Kelvin arrives at the planet Solaris to study the ocean that covers its surface, he is forced to confront a painful, hitherto unconscious memory embodied in the living physical likeness of a long-dead lover. Others examining the planet, Kelvin learns, are plagued with their own repressed and newly corporeal memories. Scientists speculate that the Solaris ocean may be a massive brain that creates these incarnate memories, its purpose in doing so unknown.
The first of Lem's novels to be published in America and now considered a classic, SOLARIS raises a question: Can we truly understand the universe around us without first understanding what lies within?

To Light a Candle: The Obsidian Trilogy, Book Two (The Obsidian Mountain Trilogy)

Mercedes Lackey, James Mallory

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 34 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Demon Queen Attacks!

 

To his own surprise, young Kellen, once the disappointing son of the great Mage who leads the City’s Mage Council, has become a powerful Knight-Mage.  Valued for his bravery and his skills as both wizard and warrior, Kellen joins the Elves’ war councils.  Yet he cannot convince the City of his birth that it is in terrible danger. 

Kellen’s sister Idalia, a Wild Mage with great healing ability, has pledged her heart to Jermayan, a proud Elven warrior.  Someday Idalia will pay a tragic Price for a world-saving work of Wild Magic, but until then, she will claim any joy life can offer her. 
Jermayan, who has learned much fighting at Kellen’s side and loving the human Idalia, finds that everything changes when he Bonds with a dragon while rescuing the Elf Prince and becomes the first Elven Mage in a thousand years. 
Furious at her enemies’ success with the dragon, the Demon Queen attacks in force.  Light struggles against Dark, like flickering candle flames buried deep in the shadow of Obsidian Mountain. 

The Sword and the Flame (The Dragon King Trilogy, Book 3)

Stephen R. Lawhead

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Mature Quentin & Lawhead "Lite" - not deep, but enjoyable. 4 out of 5 stars.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

"The Sword and the Flame" is the third title in Lawhead's "Dragon King" Trilogy, the series which propelled him to success. Quentin has assumed the throne, with Bria his queen, and is now the father of three children. The kingdom firmly established, he is busy building the King's Temple, a temple dedicated to the Most High. And he is armed with the enchanted sword, "The Shining One", whose "flame was the symbol of the god's presence with the King, and more." (p.94)

But enemies old and new are fiercely opposed to Quentin's overturn of the old gods. The evil necromancer Nimrood returns to collaborate with the defenders of the old gods - the priests at the temple of Ariel, who see the construction of the King's Temple as an inevitable sign of the destruction of their own High Temple. Suddenly, the peace of Quentin's kingdom becomes overshadowed by darkness. A close friend of Quentin is killed, his son kidnapped. Quentin must face open hostility from his enemies, and! even conflict from his own people, and treachery from his own supporters. But worst of all the flame of the sword goes out, and the hopes for the kingdom appear to be extinguished along with it: "One fell thrust and the fire of the white lanthanil blade had been quenched. The awful significance of what had happened struck him like a thunderbolt...the hand of the Most High was removed from him." (p.77-8) Is there any hope for Quentin or his kingdom?

The ensuing struggle makes this book the most emotional of the series. Certainly we are treated to lots of Lawhead excitement and action, one of the highlights being the intrigue and conflict of a castle under seige. But "The Sword and the Flame" doesn't quite have the same blazing glory of battle as the previous volume. It is far more introspective, as it focuses on Quentin's loneliness, his deep, dark and total despair, which nearly extinguishes his faith. "Now there was only darkness. In the space of half a day he had los!t his son, his trusted friend, and - worst of all - the favor of the Most High. His mind reeled at the enormity of his trouble, his heart ached with sorrow, his body throbbed with grief and exhaustion." (p.85) Lawhead treats this subject with raw and gripping emotion, precisely the ability later developed and fine tuned which made the "Pendragon Cycle" so powerful. Perhaps even more compelling than the glory of a kingdom, is the tragedy of a fallen king, who is so distraught that he rejects the Most High (p.166) and tumbles into the depths of despair.

Yet this personal struggle of the king occurs in the context of a great struggle for his kingdom. Does the extinguished flame of the enchanted sword mean that the Most High no longer is to be trusted? The people of the kingdom are convinced that the old gods are humbling their king for having chased after a new god (p.159). Yet in the end, even when the people are ready to lose faith in the Most High, the Most High is fait!hful. "It is not the One who forgets us, but we forget him." (p.199) Quentin must realize that "the flame of true faith can not be kindled on the fuel of the old religion." (p.230) When he renews his faith, the tide turns. The climax of the book is particularly powerful, with scenes reminiscent of the confrontation on Mount Carmel between Elijah the prophet of the Most High and the prophets of Baal.

In many respects, Lawhead's medieval fantasy world is reminiscent of Tolkien's world, although Tolkien's many fantastic creatures are absent. But what is absent in Tolkien is present in Lawhead: the Most High God. It is the strong spiritual vision where the Most High God and faith in God is central that makes Lawhead's books so powerful and so wholesome. Lawhead's "Dragon King" Trilogy paints a picture of spiritual warfare, kings and kingdoms, prophets, dreams and visions, and above all faith in the Most High. It's the picture of a time much like the glorious Old Testament !days of David and Solomon, who with prophets and visionaries fought for the peace of the Kingdom of the Most High in the era before the coming of Christ. Although not as deep or profound as "The Pendragon Cycle", this series of Lawhead "Lite" is still unquestionably a success.

Editorial Review:

Sometimes the greatest evil lies within.

The Dragon King who rules the land of Mensandor is none other than Quentin, whose courage and heroism have slowly transformed him from an orphaned servant into a war hero, respected leader, and a fierce man of faith.

But even the powerful can fall prey to weakness.  The world is turned upside-down when the dark sorcerer Nimrood--long thought dead after a battle with the previous Dragon King--returns with a fearsome plan.  Shattered by the death of a dear and trusted friend, the abduction of his beloved son, and the loss of his enchanted sword, Quentin finds his faith tested like never before.

In The Sword and the Flame, the final volume of Stephen R. Lawhead's captivating Dragon King Trilogy, the fate of the entire world depends on the outcome of this climactic battle between good and evil.

Arthur (The Pendragon Cycle, Book 3)

Stephen R. Lawhead

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 33 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The stunning confusion to the Authurian saga 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

...yawn. Besides, the novel isn't the conclusion- as claimed on the cover, since Mr. Lawhead went on to write a few more...

If you don't mind undeveloped characters, cardboard characters, stupid characters, and mostly stupid plot, you'll love this novel.
Actually, there's not much of a plot at all; just a series of battles where Arthur and his knights battle thousands upon thousands of 'savages' and win every time. I think one battle was against twenty or forty thousand- some silly number considering the time and place, let alone the odds.

So! You have Arthur being crowned- oops- not- just given the title of Duke ala a long dreary preachy Christian ceremony. Then there's a battle, and a battle, and a battle and.... Then another corination ala a long preachy Christian ceremony, then I fell asleep. Another corination where Arthur is made the Grand Mucky Muck of Britian ala Rome and another Christian lecture...I think... and then- wallah! After years of Peace, Arthur ignores Merlin's advice and chooses to march off to save Rome. Somewhere in there Arthur adapts the large red cross as his insignia to show he's a soldier for Christianity.........Anyway, while Arthur's off saving Rome, his Lady and castle, and most of the knights he left back home are attacked, killed, or taken hostage.

The entire story is filled with logic glitches, and Merlin seems so inept-he mostly wanders around moaning over Morgian and the evil Morgian has done. Seems anytime he tries to look into the flames to see the future there's a "fog" where Morgian and other bad guys are concerned. If I was Arthur I'd bump Merlin down the road and hire an advisor who isn't sneaking off to get himself blinded by the same Morgian, or whining because he doesn't know anything and One Must Trust In The Good God. Well, I say: Good God! What a tedious Merlin- and book.

Just one example of questionable story logic: Arthur allowing one of the Irish men to live because the poor fellow explains he's only invading Britian because he was forced to. His family is starving back home and so forth. Arthus feels the man is sincere and allos him to live. Turn a few pages and- hey look at that- the poor fellow is now a King- who sends his daughter along to become Arthur's wife, along with all kinds of treasures, knights, etc.

I have done my best to hang in there because I can usually tolerate the poorest writing if it has to do with Arthurian legend but I won't be reading any more of Mr. Lawhead's novels.

Aside from the lack of a real plot, no major scope to the novel, poor characterization, and poor logic, the prose alone can grate on your nerves; all Mr. Lawhead's characters sound alike but the real kicker is his descriptors with a never ending "and" tossed in- most are redundant -and you'll find them on most every page:

*The sound was wretched and pathetic.
*The day was bright and the wind fresh.
*The barbarians fled howling in despair and anguish.
*The smoke curled black and thick.
*Awed and abashed we gazed upon the wealth we had won.
*It remained sunny and warm, and the long northern day stretched soft and golden before us.
*The winter proved dark and cold.
*Their welcome was genuine and heartfelt.
*She turned on me, livid and spitting.
*The stronghold remained solid and secure.
*The barbarians left a curious reminder of their cruelty and hate.
*The next day dawned fresh and fair.
*That he should appear now upset and angered me.

Geesh, Mr. Lawhead- have you never studied up on showing rather than telling? And having the characters interact with their surroundings? Or filters?

My suggestion is to skip these novels and read Mary Stewart's marvelous Hollow Hills, The Crystal Cave, etc--- just don't purchase the *last* book in her series as it's very disappointing. But the remaining novels are incredible, with a powerful but very human Merlin, fully-fleshed characters, an Arthur and many other characters you will love, marvelous scope and plot, etc. And no preaching!

Editorial Review:

The legends of King Arthur come alive with a Christian world-view in these masterfully told adventures. These new editions contain new maps and other new material.

Essential Iron Man

Stan Lee

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 28 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Classic or Dated? 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This early Iron Man stuff probably needs two reviews to do an honest job. Old-time comic fans will appreciate this collection of these early stories and the introductions of so many classic Iron Man enemies. The 1960s writing is a nice bit of nostalgia, and the art by people like Steve Ditko and Don Heck is very fun to look at.

But to a younger person, perhaps coming to Iron Man from seeing the movie...not so much. The stories and enemies will seem hokey and the "red menace" stuff will lack the meaning it had to people my age who lived through the Cold War.

I love the marvel essentials series, but let's face it...these are pieces of nostalgia. Early marvels were pretty poorly written stuff. Once Stan Lee established the formula of a hero who whined and carped about his personal life all the time, it became formulaic very quickly. These stories fit in that mold, 18 pages of fighting some communist and a few panels of Stark whining about the metal plate on his chest.

If you understand what you are getting this is a great inexpensive way to grab all these early Iron Man comics...but I wouldn't buy it for a kid.

Editorial Review:

Collecting Tales Of Suspence #39-72.

Merlin (The Pendragon Cycle, Book 2)

Stephen R. Lawhead

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 40 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

please give me back my wasted time... 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I spent a MONTH trying to slog through this book. Taliesin wasn't too bad, i liked the new twist on Atlantis, but this book was a constant headache. I fought my way through the first half, then had the person i had borrowed the book from skim through and tell me what the heck happened in the end.

The Second Book in the Pendragon Cycle 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Stephen R. Lawhead is an internationally acclaimed author of mythic history and imaginative fiction. His works include Byzantium and the series The Pendragon Cycle, The Celtic Crusades, and The Song of Albion. Stephen Lawhead has his home in Austria with his wife.

I admire Stephen Lawhead's writing very much. It is quite obvious to the reader that the author loves his subject matter and in his historical novels has diligently researched the material that he uses. Even with Merlin, which can only be described as a fantasy, the way the author sets the scene makes the reader almost believe that they are reading a factual rather than a fiction book.

Having brought the `children' of Atlantis to the shores of Britain in Taliesin, the author now focuses on the mystical figure of Merlin, who in all the other legends is always at the right hand of Arthur. Merlin has a vision of the Kingdom of Summer ruled by the Summer Lord.

Editorial Review:

The legends of King Arthur come alive with a Christian world-view in these masterfully told adventures. These new editions contain new maps and other new material.

Absolute Batman: The Long Halloween

Jeph Loeb

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

One Amazing Book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Very well made book, although it does feel a bit fragile; the pages are beautifully made. The pictures look great and it looks like a great read from the story that inspired Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and The Dark Knight movie. I have yet to read it all, but it is a really good Batman novel so far. Its even got a neat interview with the director himself. Interested in Batman and the Absolute line? You gotta buy this book.

The Long Halloween 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Hmm, i bought the Absolute Hush from Amazon not the Long Halloween but i did read the long halloween and the story is amazing, the second book Dark Victory is a good follow up as well, if you're a batman fan and haven't read this book you should, it almost like not owning your own copy of Blonde on Blonde.

good book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is one of my favorite Batman stories. A must have for any Two-Face fan. Features all the best Batman villians in one story.

Great Read! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is a great Batman story! And the Absolute Batman edition is a great addition (or start) of a Batman collection. Great read and a must have for any Batman fan.