Customer Reviews:
Weakest of the Drizzt Series.......2007-09-04
This series was perhaps the weakest of all R.A. Savatore's Drizzt adventures. I was excited to see a return to the Trilogy format that appeared to be centered around a common theme. Unfortunately the 3 books turned out to be a long and boring tale that did not evolve well over the series and ultimately did not resolve with the conclusion of the 3rd book. R.A. Salvatore's new book due out this Sept. could very well be book 4 of this series and not warrant a "Transitions" title as it appears to continue right where the previous book left off with no major advancements in the characters or story line. I also feel as if R.A. Salvatore's heart is elsewhere since the passion for his most famous character seems to have faded into an ongoing marketing push for Wizards than any real progression in story line.
If you take a look at the first two trilogies you can feel the danger and excitement of inventive and out of this world dangers that the heroes get exposed to. They have fought much more dangerous enemies than a bunch of orcs and yet it seems that they get their butts handed to them in this book so many times it makes you feel like they have lost their edge. Its almost as if the heroes are in their senior years and the challenges they face are watered down and boring.
Its time for Drizzt to evolve beyond Ice Wind Dale and the team that tags along with him from book to book. Its time for this hero to really shine and reach his full potential. Stop the re-hashing of old story lines and love affairs gone wrong between Wulfgar and Drizzt. Its almost teenish in its description.
Get darker. Get richer. Get more imaginative with these characters.
Salvatore at his best .......2007-07-13
Okay i have brought all the seperate book sets, wanting to have every book of the series seperatly, but when I received this series its was the one collectors book. i was mad didnt want but i read it anyway, and i must tell you that I'm glad that I did get the coolectors book. This series IS the best ever. You have so much going on with the fighting and such but you still feel every hit, you smell every smell, you see the fine detail of Drizzt's weapons through the detail in which these books were written, If you claim to be a fan you must buy this series NOW.
Three books in one.......2007-07-04
The Hunter's Blades Collector's Edition consist of all three books of this series, Thousand Orcs, Lone Drow and Two Swords. I enjoyed the series quite a bit although I was bit surprised by the end of the third book. This series contained the best and worst of R.A. Salvatore's writing and they are kind of mixed up from book to book, chapter to chapter and story line to story line.
The main characters are the stars here and even although they all have near death experiences, that is close to the end they get. However, Salvatore killed off secondary characters like the wave of black plague or something as everyone who is anyone likable in the series died off. That I thought was his weaker side where he wiped out hordes of under deveoped secondary characters. On the positive side, his writing is still smooth, the story flowed well and his books are never boring to read. It could be possible that his main characters are so well entrenched that the author find it impossible to kill any of them off.
The series ends with more questions then answers. The final solution is not yet available and even after three books, this may only be the first of several series regarding Forgotten Realms.
wow.......2007-05-29
I am thourghly impressed by Mr. Salvatores work I just hope this isn't the end of Drizzt and co. Its a series that grows on you and i would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the forgotten realms.
DRIZZT!!!!!!!.......2007-05-19
In this book Drizzt finds he can't escape the "hunter" inside, in fact, it is good that it's there at times. He also gets involved with another woman, an elf, and it makes him a LOT more "human". There are more than the usual share of bad guys, a few surprises and some parts where you want to scream at him that his friends AREN'T dead!!! There should be more, to continue the thread at the end of the book, and I can hardly wait!
Amazon.com
Some books are like revelations, they open the spirit to unimaginable possibilities. The Chalice and the Blade is one of those magnificent key books that can transform us and...initiate fundamental changes in the world. With the most passionate eloquence, Riane Eisler proves that the dream of peace is not an impossible utopia. -- Isabelle Allende, author of The House of the Spirits
Book Description
The phenomenal bestseller, with more than 500,000 copies sold worldwide, now with a new epilogue from the author--The Chalice and the Blade has inspired a generation of women and men to envision a truly egalitarian society by exploring the legacy of the peaceful, goddess-worshipping cultures from our prehistoric past.
Customer Reviews:
Dumbest Book Ever Written.......2007-05-20
This is the weirdest, dumbest book I've ever read. It's a pity that a lot of college professors are using this doorstop as a textbook in their classes. What a crock. This book is the scholarly and intellectual equivalent of R.L Stine's Goosebumps series. If this book were food, it would probably be something like stewed okra. I would've rated this with no stars but, interestingly enough, Amazon doesn't seem to think that authors are capable of writing completely and utterly unredeeming books.
A Vivogenic Template for Human Beings .......2007-05-13
The Chalice and the Blade ranks in the top ten paradigm shaking books of the Late, Great Twen-Cen. Those continuing to puzzle over where we went wrong, as a species, will be well served by this outstanding scholarship.
When women were equal.......2007-01-14
"The Chalice and The Blade" is a wonderful book about the history of peaceful civilizations who worshiped the goddess and warring civilizations who worshiped male gods. Eisler's theory is that there was a global shift from egalitarian to patriarchal societies. Eisler shows how women were degraded to pawns controlled by men, and that without women as equals, men turned to violence. This book is a must read for anyone interested in women's history.
More timely now than ever!.......2007-01-12
This book answers these questions, "Where did humans go wrong?" "Why are we so cruel and allowing of cruelty?" and "Why does the majority of our world not value women, their work, their ideas?" I liked this book so much - after reading it I bought 10 more copies to hand out to friends because it is soooo encouraging. It does show us a different way of living is possible and humans use to live that way. NOTE: Since reading this book I have seen history channel explore the remains of the culture's Eisler talks about. BUT history channel only focused on the buildings being far advanced over Rome's. The program NEVER TALKED ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED THERE. Eisler talks about the people. And women were valued to those people. ALSO, huge media figures are now mentioning that society needs fundamental change. Eisler identifies where that change lies. In 'Conservatives without Conscience' Dean explores basic beliefs, attitudes and prejudices and how those are incorporated into our society and dialogue. Eisler's book goes straight to the heart of where those authoritarian beliefs, attitudes and prejudices come from, what we look like without them and how we can get back to living without them.
Nerissa Oden
Other Options for the Human Race.......2006-02-14
It was wonderful and freeing to read this book. Even if there were some oversimplifications, how liberating to have other possible explanations of and options for human history! This book has inspired me to question and reexamine beliefs and attitudes that are so ubiquitous in our society that it's hard to even know that we hold them, let alone question them. I'll always be grateful to Ms. Eisler for helping me find greater freedom in all aspects of my life.
Book Description
The sequel to Into the Looking Glass. William Weaver, PhD. and SEAL Chief Adams are back and Bill got himself a ship! The former SSBN Nebraska has been converted, using mostly garage mechanics and baling wire, into a warp ship ready to go "out there." But as everyone knows, the people who really are going to bear the brunt are the poor Security guys, Force Recon Marines who are kept in the dark and fed manure all day. That is until they land on an alien planet, get partially wiped out and then load back up again. Ranging in topics from the best gun to kill armored space monsters to particle physics to cosmology to health and beauty tips, Vorpal Blade is a return to the "good old days" of SF when the science problems were intractable and the beasts were ugly. The monkeys are out in the space lanes and ready to rock. As soon as they get another roll of duct tape.
Customer Reviews:
"Science" Fiction.......2007-10-04
Ringo and Taylor have put the Science back in Sci-fi. Reminiscent of the heady days of Heinlein and Azmov this exciting romp through interstellar space makes you wonder not 'if' it will happen, but when. With a great cast of characters and a universe of aliens as diverse as reality, how can you go wrong. Buy it, read it and enjoy.
Afterword.......2007-10-02
John Ringo writes in the Afterword of Vorpal Blade "I rarely look at reviews on Amazon. I have no patience for reading slush and less for Amazon reviews" I don't understand a writer who isn't interested in what his readers think, after all we buy his books. Mr. Ringo latest venture into the Looking Glass Universe is poorly done with too much discussion on how things work instead of action. I find the combination of John Ringo and Travis S. Taylor creates an uneven and not very interesting story. Mr. Ringo has always been one of my favorite authors but I will no longer buy books where he co-authors with a relatively unknown writer.
Hard Science or Bust.......2007-09-21
I really enjoyed Through the Looking Glass. Great premise, great writing, and wonderful plot and characters. This sequel was not so well written, not so well plotted, and lost a lot in the telling. I'll take more time reading through the next book before buying. Love Ringo, and read all his stuff with Weber, but this was not one of his finer efforts.
Ringo & Taylor bring back old school sci-fi!.......2007-09-13
John Ringo and Travis Taylor team up again to bring out a sequel to Ringo's 2005 Sci-Fi/action novel Into the Looking Glass. Thanks to the events in the first book the door has been opened for space exploration on a new scale as faster than light travel is now possible. So in order to scout out the neighborhood and protect against possible invasion by the alien Dreen, the humans and their allies cobble together their first faster than light spaceship: the Vorpal Blade.
The Ship was a former U.S. Navy nuclear missile submarine and now through alien technology, human ingenuity, and a lot of duct tape and bailing wire it is ready for its maiden voyage. Familiar characters Dr. William Weaver and SEAL Chief Adams are joined by a mixed bag of scientists, naval personnel and force recon marines (now the space marines). Their mission takes them to a number of different worlds and through encounters with aliens both friendly and hostile.
The book is a return to a more classic feel for sci-fi, with real monsters, aliens and strange worlds. Ringo's ability to write engaging military and small unit action stories combines well with Taylor's "techy" side, to give the reader a combination of action, adventure and science based-science fiction. The book especially shines in that it doesn't just depend on the monsters and aliens for tension. The very nature of travel on the first faster than light ship provide intense and often amusing segments to the book. The crew must deal with everything from gravity issues, to possibilities of space viruses to, the question of where in space is the best place to get a drink of water and more. All of this handled with a mix of ingenuity, luck and elbow grease.
As is the case with many of his works, real life rocket scientist Taylor brings the scientific side of the story to life for the readers. Concepts and theories are explained as they are encountered and this gives not only a realistic feel to the whole experience, but it also makes the reader feel a bit smarter for having read it. Ringo also brings his touch to the story with great attention to the details of the military aspects of the book. He helps cover everything from the practical (what kind of gun is best for killing armored aliens) to the political (which branch of the military will ultimately be responsible for the space program) with a lot of insight and humor.
Over all Vorpal Blade is an exciting, fun book to read. The story is fast paced enough to keep the reader going while at the same time not skipping many of the little details. Ringo and Taylor work well together and their combined work plays well to both of their strengths. Of course Vorpal Blade leaves a number of loose ends, but regular readers of the pair know that the prolific Ringo often crafts stories that require more than one volume to be told. That being said, Vorpal Blade works well as a stand alone book, but it leaves the door open for more adventures to come. Pick up a copy of John Ringo and Travis S. Taylor's Vorpal Blade by today and please keep your hands inside the vehicle until the ride comes to a complete stop!
Mish Mash.......2007-09-11
This is the probably the worst science fiction book I have ever read. I have been reading science fiction since 1953. This is just a bunch of stupid, obscure quantum physics factoids thrown togther in the guise of a science fiction novel. It stinks. Don't waste your money. I have read most of Ringo's novels and series. I have noticed they are getting worse and worse with each new one. Maybe it is time for a change of occupation.
Average customer rating:
- Elementary Reading
- Excellent first novel for Sakey!
- Nolt that good
- this is an amazingly good first book
- Brilliant debut... I loved this book!
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The Blade Itself: A Novel
Marcus Sakey
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0312360312
Release Date: 2007-01-09 |
Book Description
Danny Carter thought he was safe in his new lifeuntil his old one came looking for him. In the working-class Irish neighborhood of Chicago where he grew up, you were only as strong as the reputation you built. Danny and his best friend Evan built theirs robbing pawn shops and liquor stores, living the reckless lives that their blue-collar parents had strived so hard to avoid for them.
Customer Reviews:
Elementary Reading.......2007-08-11
I read one to two books a week. This book was one of the worst written and most predicable in terms of plot development/result that I have read in several years.
I picked up the book at an airport in a rush primarily based on the endorsement of Lee Child on the front of the book. As a result I will probably stop reading Lee Child's books also.
Do authors who "endorse/lend their names" to books actually read them or depend on staff or do so solely based on the money they are paid?
Excellent first novel for Sakey!.......2007-07-05
Good tension-packed tale about a career small-time criminal (Danny) that can't seem to leave the life. He finally makes the decision to leave when is partner (Evan) goes overboard, breaking their protocol and getting violent during a simple burglary. Danny gets away as Evan is caught. Danny vows to go straight and does while Evan goes to prison for several years.
Danny starts a new life as a construction manager living with his girlfriend. Little does Danny know that Evan was let out of prison early. Also, prison has hardened Evan to the point where he doles out violence without any thought. Evan comes back looking for Danny expecting that they would resume their criminal partnership. He approaches Danny but Danny lets him know that he has left the "life" and wants to continue on the straight path. Danny offers Evan a job in construction. Evan just flat out refuses and tells Danny that you never leave the life.
This is not the end of it as Evan has sinister plans in mind and he forces Danny to help him kidnap the son of Danny's boss. Danny is in a very delicate situation because he can't tell his girlfriend anything, he can't go to the police because Evan will turn him in from his participation in their last job and he does not want a violent confrontation with Evan because besides being his childhood friend, Evan is now pretty scary.
The tension mounts as Danny learns that there is not rational way of dealing with Evan and that he better face up to his own past life and deal with Evan before he loses his girlfriend and innocents are harmed.
Nolt that good.......2007-07-01
I think the author needs to go back to charachter developement 101. Talk about flat, one diamential character. NO ONE is all black or all white - except in this book! The main protagionest, Danny, speaks like a college grad, not an uneducated recovering crook. Evan is so unrementingly evil, he is unbelievable. The plot makes no sense in spots, too much coincidence. Back to plotting 101, too! I wound up skipping the second half of the book because it was very obvious how it would end. Yup, I was right. Yes the descriptions of Chicago were good - the El train does rattle - but it makes other noises too! I hope this author will take his time and develope his next novel a bit more. I won't know 'cause I won't waste the time on him again - ever.
this is an amazingly good first book.......2007-06-29
Sakey's book is riveting. I wasn't expecting the great thumping tension that builds up page by page and slowly turns this novel into one that you just cant stop reading.
This is a story of two childhood friends, Evan and Danny. They grew up in a rough neighborhood of Chicago, spending their days planning small heists. Evan goes berserk, lands himself in prison, and Danny goes legit. Thats where the book starts after a brief introduction. Evan is out of jail and Danny is a fairly successful construction worker. I dont want to give away much of the plot, but let me just say that Sakey never misses a beat. This book is taught. One of the best of this genre I have come across.
As I was reading the Blade Itself, I kept thinking of Harlan Coben's books. This here is much better. I admire Coben and his writing, but he has never had such an edge. This book is light years ahead of just about any other writer I can think of except for the rare genre book by Lehane or McCarthy.
If you like Mystery Suspense thrillers, this is almost as good as it gets. You have to keep in mind that it fits the mold of a genre book, so dont expect to be reading Updike or Stegner. Regardless, I highly suggest that you just take a chance and try The Blade Itself.
Brilliant debut... I loved this book!.......2007-06-19
I'd been reading about this book since sometime last fall after I happened upon The Outfit Collective, a blog for a group of Chicago crime writers. Marcus Sakey had the honor of writing the group's first post, despite being the noob in the bunch.
THE BLADE ITSELF is Sakey's first published novel. My words for him? Thank you.
Thank you so very much for raising the bar so very high for the rest of us.
This book rocked.
Book Description
- Blade server systems and virtualization are key building blocks for Next Generation Enterprise Data centers
- Blades offer modular, pre-wired, ultra high-density servers (up to 10x traditional servers) with shared components (power, cooling, switches) – reducing complexity and cost, and improving flexibility, availability, manageability, and maintainability
- Virtualization enables consolidation of physical servers by allowing many virtual servers to run concurrently on one physical server – improving system utilization, reducing the total number of physical servers, reducing costs, and increasing flexibility
- This is the first book covering these complementary technologies and how, together, they provide a strong foundation for the future
- It examines the history, architectures, features, examples, and user case studies of blade systems and virtualization, and offers guidance and considerations for how to evaluate and implement solutions
Customer Reviews:
Excellent for Beginners .......2007-07-23
I found the book to be an excellent source of information on various virtualization topics - hardware, software and vendors. It provides introductory information for those trying to better understand the concepts of virtualization and blade hardware. In addition, there are comprehensive chapters - Assessing Your Needs, System Software Considerations and Differentiating & Selecting, all of which are useful for those trying to evaluate their virtualization options.
I have recommended individual chapters to others such as the chapters on Benefits of Blades & Virtualization and Power & Cooling.
Finally, the case studies are very useful in assessing how other companies (perhaps like yours) have deployed virtualization.
Excellent as a reference source.
Belongs on Every Virtualization Bookshelf.......2007-07-19
This book is a great complement to the multitude of virtualization books out there (my own included). Hardware design and sizing for virtualization is critical in all virtualization migration projects and this book does a great job examining all of the available blade solutions and architectures at your disposal. The authors also provide granular analysis of all major vendor solutions (HP, IBM, Dell, Egenera, etc.). Coverage of clustering and virtualization software is also included.
The scope of the book is vast (blades, virtualization software, power and cooling, management -- to name a few topics), so it's unfair to expect every detail of every topic to emerge in the text (the book would be 10,000 pages if it did). But if you want a book that connects all of the dots in the modern data center, then this book is for you. With coverage of all data center technologies and the vendors that provide them, this book is sure to accelerate the preparation and architectural work needed in any virtualization migration project.
~Chris Wolf
Relevant for Investors Too!.......2007-06-26
Blade Servers and Virtualization: Transforming Enterprise Computing While Cutting Costs is a great read on a complex subject. Virtualization is taking the information technology world by storm. For investors, the question is where to invest besides the pending/probable VMware IPO? This book has answers! And they are in clear english prose. No technobabble, no sidetracks down dark ratholes.
The first 2/3 of the book is an excellent technology bible. It clearly explains the why and how of virtualization technology and relationships with it and other technologies. The last 1/3 presents case studies and examines a wide range of suppliers. This was particularly valuable as the case studies explained the economics of Virtualization and why customers are willing to spend money on it. Investor ought consider starting with the case studies, shifting to the technology and finishing with the vendors.
Asks and Answers All the Right Questions.......2007-03-29
We knew we were running out of space and power in our data center, and a blade environment might be the solution. But how do you even begin amassing the information to make the right decisions to solve our dilemma? I consider this book necessary reading for anyone considering the plunge into blade technology. Not only did it address my questions and concerns, it introduced me to potential problems and solutions I hadn't even considered! Now I feel confident that I have a valuable tool to aid me throughout the design and implementation stages of our conversion from stand-alone servers running at 5% utilization to blade chassis running multiple virtual servers at 50% utilization. The authors clearly know and address the benefits and pitfalls of this relatively new technology. I especially enjoyed the case studies. They allowed me to see what difficulties other companies in similar situations faced, and how they solved their problems. If there is another book out there that details these issues in a vendor non-specific format, I haven't found it.
Book Description
In her much-anticipated new novel, the New York Times bestselling author of the Outlander saga brings back one of her most compelling characters: Lord John Grey—soldier, gentleman, and no mean hand with a blade. Here Diana Gabaldon brilliantly weaves together the strands of Lord John’s secret and public lives—a shattering family mystery, a love affair with potentially disastrous consequences, and a war that stretches from the Old World to the New. . . .
In 1758, in the heart of the Seven Years’ War, Britain fights by the side of Prussia in the Rhineland. For Lord John and his titled brother Hal, the battlefield will be a welcome respite from the torturous mystery that burns poisonously in their family’s history. Seventeen years earlier, Lord John’s late father, the Duke of Pardloe, was found dead, a pistol in his hand and accusations of his role as a Jacobite agent staining forever a family’s honor.
Now unlaid ghosts from the past are stirring. Lord John’s brother has mysteriously received a page of their late father’s missing diary. Someone is taunting the Grey family with secrets from the grave, but Hal, with secrets of his own, refuses to pursue the matter and orders his brother to do likewise. Frustrated, John turns to a man who has been both his prisoner and his confessor: the Scottish Jacobite James Fraser.
Fraser can tell many secrets—and withhold many others. But war, a forbidden affair, and Fraser’s own secrets will complicate Lord John’s quest. Until James Fraser yields the missing piece of an astounding puzzle—and Lord John, caught between his courage and his conscience, must decide whether his family’s honor is worth his life.
Customer Reviews:
A book with limited appeal.......2007-10-04
I am an original Outlander Series fan and felt that with this offering of Lord John that I might have missed something. Maybe I need to go back and read Snow and Ashes. I did not enjoying this book and think it might have limited appeal. I do not find Lord John that much of an interesting character as to have his own book. I also found it necessary to push myself to read it.
A Huge Disapointment.......2007-10-04
First of all let me say, That I Loved Diana's "Outlander" series. But this book lacked the excitement and the adventures I thought it would have.Not a page turner ,more of a sleeper
Gay-themed historical mystery.......2007-10-03
London in 1757 is a place and time during which Lord John Grey, a nobleman and an army officer, could get executed for being gay. He risks his life in this book, unraveling an old scandal that blackened his family name. One or two brief sex scenes. A good book. Full-length review available at Obsidian Bookshelf website (see my Amazon profile for URL).
Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade.......2007-10-03
Total letdown, I just can't get past all of the gay intimacy, now I know how the homosexual population must cringe everytime they read/see a hetero love scene. Gabaldon has been until now my favorite author but this was a complete disappointment. I guess the writing was great and all that, but the "had Percy's a** twice" type sentiments (yes, that's a direct quote) really put me off.
A Swashbuckling Tale.......2007-10-02
Lord John is my favorite secondary character in the Outlander series, and here we finally get to meet him with his family, his military career, and his very personal love life. I already knew him as an honorable gentleman, courageous yet surprisingly kind and he does not disappoint in this book. It was interesting to learn of the mystery surrounding his father's death. DG provides her usual fascinating historical details that bring the action to life, from battle scenes to dachshunds. True, the gay love scenes were more than I wanted to know, but, realistically, they do form a part of Lord John's life and, as such, are very much true to his personna. The glimpses of Jamie Frasier and the tension between the two men provide an insight into their very complicated relationship. I enjoyed the book very much and highly recommend it.
Book Description
Many years have passed since Queen Thirrin and her allies defended the Icemark against a brutal invasion. But now General Bellorum is back, along with his bloodthirsty spawn, twin sons even more vicious than him. Thirrin and Oskan also have a family: two girls and three boys. But darkness lurks within the House of Lindenshield: Medea, the couple's cold-hearted, fifteen-year-old daughter, who's just coming into her magical powers, may be the downfall of the kingdom. It's up to her brother, Charlemagne, crippled by polio as a child, to return from exile and rescue the land he loves.
Customer Reviews:
Loved this book too...spoilers at end of Review!.......2007-06-03
First of all, I loved this book. I loved the first one too, but there's always something about the underdog, the "weakling" finding the strength he didn't even know he had, that appeals to me enormously. And however much I like Thirrin, a weakling she is not. She may have had the disadvantage as a nation fighting the Empire in the first novel, but she was nowhere remotely close to being weak.
I've grown especially fond of children's books lately, between Harry Potter, the Artemis Fowl Series, The SpiderWick Chronicles, the trilogy of The Golden Compass (can't remember the collection's name), Garth Nix's series about the days of the week, and a whole host of others, I troll the young adult shelves almost exclusively. Seeing as I am 21 years old, I get a few odd looks. :)
SPOILERS, for those who haven't read this, are below....WARNING!!! SPOILERS!!!!!!!!
But was I the only one who read the whole book waiting impatiently for Madea to fry? And I freely admit that I felt no sympathy whatsoever when it finally happened. I was extremely satisfied when she finally realized just how much she had underestimated her father ("In your face, witch!" might have been going through my mind...haha!). And I completely appreciated the fact that he still didn't give her any mercy, for she deserved none.
Sharley's Blade.......2007-06-02
The youngest son of Queen Thirren and her husband, the warlock, Oskan, is named Charlemagne. He is called Sharley. Despite his warrior's name, Sharley was stricken with polio in his childhood and walks with a
limp. He is incapable of wielding the heavy weapons or of controlling the massive war horses of their frozen kingdom, Icemark. His hale and hearty twin brothers are fond of him but they are totally embroiled in training.
to be warriors. Of his two older sisters, Cressida loves him, but she is also busy training to fight. His other sister Medea, the one who has inherited magical powers from their father, is eaten up with jealousy because of the attention given to Charlemagne from his birth. The only person who is really helpful to Sharley is the old family tutor, who arrived from a hot kingdom in the south long ago - and stayed. When Icemark's defeated nemesis, Bellorum, regains strength, he and his two sons intend to crush Icemark forever. Sharley is sent with Maggie, his tutor, and many refugees on ships to live safely in the south until the war is over.
Greatly humiliated by his weaknesses, he is befriended by the sultan's son, Mekhmet, and is taught to fight in the lighter ways of desert warriors. With a wonderfully appealing protagonist, magical creatures, and one battle after another, this book will appeal to readers who loved the "Redwall" series when they were younger. With a complex, action-filled
plot, this hefty read is totally absorbing.
The Blade of Fire was AMAZING!!!!!.......2007-05-23
The Book The Blade of Fire is a wonderful book. I enjoyed the way the author described the characters so human like that you almost wanted to tell the character something bad is going to happen to you. I would give this book a five out of five. The main cahracter is Prince Charlemagne and his emotions make the book much more realistic. It gives the book more structure and you can almost imagine how you would feel in this situation.
I love this series!.......2007-05-15
This is a world I want to be in -- an amazing saga that pulls you in -- and once you're read it, it stays with you forever.
blade of fire: the icemark chronicles.......2007-05-14
i enjoyed the book. at times i had to put it down,because of the graffic images that come to mind.i most likely would never go and see it as a movie. it would be too intense for me.the story line was good. how they over come the odds against them and the most unlikely were there best hope.
Average customer rating:
- A dark time for the Companions of the Hall
- The trashiest of Fantasy Pulp
- Not the greatest in the series
- The Lone Drow Review by Kyle B.
- Reveiw on The Lone Drow
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The Lone Drow (Forgotten Realms: Hunters Blades Trilogy)
R. A. Salvatore
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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The Thousand Orcs (Forgotten Realms: The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book 1)
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The Two Swords (The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book 3)
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The Two Swords (Forgotten Realms: Hunters Blades Trilogy)
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Promise of the Witch-King (Forgotten Realms: The Sellswords, Book 2)
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The Cleric Quintet Collector's Edition
ASIN: 0786932287
Release Date: 2004-06-01 |
Book Description
The latest New York Times best-seller from R.A. Salvatore is now in paperback!
The Lone Drow is yet another top release from premiere Forgotten Realms author R.A. Salvatore. This mass market reprint focuses primarily on his signature character, Drizzt Do'Urden, who has been the subject of most of Salvatore's best-selling Forgotten Realms titles. This title includes a sample chapter from the author's next hardcover, The Two Swords.
Customer Reviews:
A dark time for the Companions of the Hall.......2007-08-21
This book picks up where 'The Thousand Orcs' left off, with the dwarves falling back to Keeper's Dale outside Mithril Hall and Drizzt believing that all of his friends were killed. During his broken-hearted rampages against the orcs, Drizzt encounters Tarathiel and Innovindil, who help bring him back to sanity and then aid him in disrupting the greenskin army. Some characters from Mirabar, introduced in the first book, were further developed here, particularly Torgar Hammerstriker, Shoudra Stargleam, and Nanfoodle. The orc king, Obould Many-Arrows, through blessings from his god and increased support from his kin, becomes a worthy foe for the powerful Companions.
The most attractive thing about this book was the emotional turmoil experienced by all of the characters. Drizzt in particular has a rough time of it, reverting back to the Hunter and struggling with his belief that his friends are dead. Regis, Wulfgar, and Catie-Brie don't know where Drizzt is and are watching Bruenor slowly die. Regis is faced with the responsibility of being Steward of Mithril Hall, being expected to make the right decisions in its defense against the orcs. And everybody is in very desperate straights as the orc horde just continues to grow and there doesn't seem any way the people of the North can hold back the tide.
It is interesting to me that so many people seem to hate Salvatore's recent Drizzt books.. You should know what to expect when you read them, so if you haven't liked the last few, you probably won't like this one (even though I thought it was one of his best). I look forward to reading the last of the trilogy.
The trashiest of Fantasy Pulp.......2007-08-02
RA Salvatore's writing is very pedestrian in style and seems more like a play by play commentary of some D&D game than anything resembling a novel. This book is only recommended for 14 year old fanboys who judge a book's quality by the numbers of magic items carried by the heroes. By itself it is entertaining, but for the well read reader you'd have to wonder why you spent the time reading this when there are so many better books out there.
Not the greatest in the series.......2007-07-27
Im a long time reader of this series, so ive gotten acustomed to Salvatore's style. I thought this trilogy was one of the weaker of the series. However, if you read the series pick it up. It's still worth it. It'll quench that Drizzit addiction one tends to aquire.
The Lone Drow Review by Kyle B........2007-02-28
The Lone Drow
By R.A.Salvatore
I really enjoyed this book. This book is about a wondering elf. He is trying to look for a land of unknown kings. This elf's name is Drizzt. He learns that there is a war of races and kingship. After he travels to the land of the mountains, He meets the king battleaxe. Then they decide to have Drizzt to the land of demons. On the way to the land of the demons he meets up with his old friend. Then they start to talk and then they both realize they are heading the same way. Then on the way they both start to remember that when they new each other back then they like each other and still do. Traveling further on their quest they get attacked by unknown creatures. Then after that they start to travel again. Then they both split up and Drizzt starts to look for the item of the demons. Then he gets there and starts to battle for his life like any other time.
Reveiw on The Lone Drow .......2006-11-06
As the second book in the series, The Lone Drow is between good and average. The good part is that it continues where the Thousand Orcs left off. The down side is that there isn't many gripping parts with the main character in them. This book should not be read by New Readers!
Average customer rating:
- It is what it is
- Predictable Prose
- Awful book - don't bother
- A return to the world of the Forgotten Realms
- Captivating
|
The Thousand Orcs (Forgotten Realms: The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book 1)
R. A. Salvatore
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Promise of the Witch-King (Forgotten Realms: The Sellswords, Book 2)
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Paths of Darkness, Collector's Edition (Forgotten Realms)
ASIN: 0786929804
Release Date: 2003-07-01 |
Amazon.com
The Thousand Orcs opens a new trilogy starring R.A. Salvatore's popular dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden and his loyal friends Wulfgar, Catti-Brie, Bruenor, and Regis. The band returns from Icewind Dale in the company of the dwarves of Mithril Hall, who are escorting King Bruenor back to reluctantly assume his throne. But, as always, old enemies and new emerge from the shadows to threaten our heroes. Emboldened by a dark alliance with the deadly frost giants, an orcish horde is massing quietly, waiting with uncharacteristic patience to move against dwarves, elves, and humans alike. Meanwhile, Bruenor, sensing that his adventures will come to an end once he takes the throne, coaxes his friends back onto the road, all the while unaware of the powerful forces gathering strength by the roadside.
Salvatore is obviously in his comfort zone with his favorite characters, and fans of the series will no doubt enjoy another bloody romp into danger with Drizzt and company. He even throws in a few mind-blowing surprises for the faithful. However, newcomers to the Forgotten Realms shouldn't start here, as familiarity with Salvatore's brave companions is a necessity despite Salvatore's attempt to provide a skeletal backstory for the uninitiated. Start with The Icewind Dale Trilogy and get to know the gang. --Jeremy Pugh
Book Description
The latest New York Times best-seller from R.A. Salvatore, now in paperback!
The Thousand Orcs is yet another top release from premiere
Forgotten Realms author R.A. Salvatore. This mass market reprint focuses primarily on his signature character, Drizzt Doourden, who has been the subject of most of Salvatore's best-selling titles for Wizards of the Coast, Inc. This title includes a sample chapter from the author's next hardcover, The Lone Drow.
One Dark Elf.
Two Enchanted Blades.
One Unknown Enemy.
And a Horde of Invaders.
When a blood-thirsty band of orcs led by an as-yet-unseen enemy comes rampaging out of the Spine of the World, it lays waste to everything in its path. Dark elf ranger Drizzt Do’Urden and his most trusted friends find themselves in the path of destruction. As blades slash and feet trample, even the heroes may not survive a desperate stand.
Customer Reviews:
It is what it is.......2007-08-03
I'm surprised by all of the 1- and 2-star reviews for this book. You should know what to expect when you pick up one of RAS's FR novels. If you're looking for high-brow literary masterpieces, stay away. If you're looking for quick, easy, and fun adventure with characters you know and love, this is for you. In my opinion, 'The Thousand Orcs' is no better or worse than the close to twenty other FR novels by Salvatore, and while it shouldn't be considered on the par with the best fantasy out there, it is what it is. Even though I know there are many other books that would outshine these books (and not near enough time to read them all), I still find myself coming back time and again for a little adventure with Drizzt and Co.
'The Thousand Orcs' picks up right where 'Sea of Swords' left off. The companions are reunited (with the addition of Delly Curtie and baby Colsen), and Bruenor and the gang are setting off for Mithril Hall where Bruenor will take up the kingship. Unbeknownst to them, a powerful leader has emerged in the orc tribes of the Spine of the World, uniting the orcs and allying with a band of frost giants and renegade drow. As Drizzt and Co. travel to Mithril Hall they encounter many signs of heavy orc activity and decide to patrol the region and warn its inhabitants of the danger. They also make a stop at Mirabar, a rival of Mithril Hall, to stir up trouble and remind Mirabar's dwarves of their heritage. I'm sure that story will progress further in the rest of the trilogy. The Bouldershoulder brothers play a prominent role in this book, as they go through some pretty random-seeming adventures on their way to witness the coronation of King Bruenor. The whole book comes down to a desperate situation with the Companions being trapped in the town of Shallows during a siege of overwhelming strength. The final battle takes up the majority of the second half of the book and is quite intense.
This book didn't really do too much to further the overall storyline of Drizzt and friends, except for getting Bruenor closer to accepting his role as King of Mithril Hall. The relationship between Drizzt and Catie-Brie is getting rather old and moving nowhere, Regis has had some sort of epiphany about his role in life, and Wulfgar has essentially returned to his old self but with more maturity.
So, if you like the previous Drizzt novels, you'll probably like this one too. Don't let the cover fool you however, this one isn't any darker or more mature (other than using the word 'bitch' a couple of times) than the others.
Predictable Prose.......2007-08-02
RA Salvatore's writing is very pedestrian in style and seems more like a play by play commentary of some D&D game than anything resembling a novel. This book is only recommended for 14 year old fanboys who judge a book's quality by the numbers of magic items carried by the heroes.
Awful book - don't bother.......2007-07-29
I read a lot of d&d novels back in the 1990s when I was a teenager and didn't know any better. I remember Salvatore being one of my favorites. Before reading The Thousand Orcs, I hadn't read anything of his in probably 10 years or more. When I picked it up, I knew I would be getting a trashy fantasy novel. I just didn't realize HOW trashy a fantasy novel it would turn out to be.
To sum up my reaction: Salvatore's prose in this book is incredibly heavy-handed, repeatedly bombarding us with explicitly-spelled out details that we, as the reader, should already know because he's already told us, as if we were three years old, many times before.
This book also drags along incredibly slowly. Most of its 300+ pages is spent assuring us that Drizzt and co are old friends and yet, despite supposedly knowing each other better than they know the backs of their own hands, they still stumble awkwardly through their dialogue as if they had only just met moments before.
Nothing very exciting really happens in this book. It comes across as more of a disgustingly bloated prologue than a novel in its own right.
The worst parts of the book involve the bumbling and annoying Bouldershoulder brothers, originally from Salvatore's other FR series. He appears to be attempting to mesh his two series together but it fails miserably. And enough with the awful stereotypical "old-timey/country bumpkin" dwarf accents already!
In closing, it is quite clear that Salvatore, like JK Rowling, no longer has an editor. The Thousand Orcs could very easily have been edited down to a short story, if not a handful of chapters. Perhaps the entire trilogy could have been shortened to just one book. I haven't read the other two in the series, and I'm not sure I want to ...
That's all from me.
A return to the world of the Forgotten Realms.......2007-04-11
R.A. Salvatore brings us back to the world of the Forgotten Realms, the story brings us back to the life of Drizzt Do'Urden a renegade Dark Elf that has turned his back on his evil heritage and walks the path of a hero.
The Orc king Obould Many Arrows has bounced back from his previous defeat at the hands of the Dwarves. Under the manipulation of the Drow (Dark Elves), Obould has allied with the Queen of the Frost Giants, Gerti. They have started mounting small scale raids against the Dwarves, killing several small bands.
At the same time Bruenor, the new Dwarven King of Mithral Hall, is travelling home with Drizzt and his heroic companions. They stop by the rival city of Mirabar and are rebuffed by the human leaders. This is an affront to Mirabar's Dwarven population and sows the seed of rebellion which will lead to further strife.
King Bruenor continues his travels home, to find the last two survivors of the Orcs raid on a dwarven trade caravan. Bruenor quickly gives them shelter and orders an all out search for the raiding Orcs. The battle that insues is very one sided, even with the Orc's Giant allies.
Queen Gerti orders that the killers of her Giant kin must be destroyed, a command that leads to the momentous events of the climax. The Orc King leads his people in an overwhelming attack against the Dwarven host.
The Dwarves are eventually driven to the small human outpost of Shallows. Shallows is ruled by a wizard who has built its walls high and strong, but they were not designed to take on an army of Orcs and Giants. The battle brings Elves, Dwarves, and Men together to defend Shallows from the forces of evil.
The story and characters are well written. Even though it is the first book in the trilogy, the characters have a long background in the other books that the author has written in this world, so I would not recommend reading this book out of order with the rest. It is a fast, gritty and entrancing tale of swords, sorcery and intrigue. The action and adventure is very good. For fans of the fantasy genre it is a must read.
Captivating.......2007-02-05
As always I was captivated by R. A. Salvatore's excellent writing. He did a great job at bringing into play new characters and merged them well into the lives of the already well-known characters I love.
Average customer rating:
- Shallow Writing for Shallow Readers
- Drizzt Still Has It, Mostly
- Great
- Reveiw for last book in Hunter's Blade Trilogy.
- Absolutely Tantalizing
|
The Two Swords (The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book 3)
R. A. Salvatore
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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The Thousand Orcs (Forgotten Realms: The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book 1)
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Promise of the Witch-King (Forgotten Realms: The Sellswords, Book 2)
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Servant of the Shard (Forgotten Realms: The Sellswords, Book 1)
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Paths of Darkness, Collector's Edition (Forgotten Realms)
ASIN: 0786937904
Release Date: 2005-08-30 |
Book Description
Paperback version of the #4 New York Times best-selling hardcover.
This title is the third and final book in the latest trilogy from R.A. Salvatore, which once again features his popular dark elf character Drizzt Do’Urden™. The hardcover release of this title had the highest debut ever on The New York Times best seller list for a Salvatore title with Wizards of the Coast at #4. The title stayed in the top twenty for five weeks. Both of the previous titles in the series were also New York Times best sellers upon hardcover release, and the first title, The Thousand Orcs, hit the list upon mass-market release as well.
Customer Reviews:
Shallow Writing for Shallow Readers.......2007-08-02
RA Salvatore's writing is very pedestrian in style and seems more like a play by play commentary of some D&D game than anything resembling a novel. This book is only recommended for 14 year old fanboys who judge a book's quality by the numbers of magic items carried by the heroes.
Drizzt Still Has It, Mostly.......2006-12-31
The protagonist certainly lives a tortured life: wanting to be part of life topside but the target of bigotry that effectively excludes him for the most part. This is what makes his few close friends even more valuable, which is why I dropped one star. His companions seemed a bit plastic and two-dimensional at times. I hope that the author is not getting tired of this world and these characters, and can rejuvenate them a bit in future offerings.
Great.......2006-11-15
The lastest one in a great number of book on Drizzt,and surprising enough I'm not tired of him yet! I read this one almost overnight, every entertaining.
Reveiw for last book in Hunter's Blade Trilogy........2006-11-06
As this is the last book the the Hunter's Blade Trilogy, and the story of Drizzt Do'Urden, this book lives up to what it's supposed to be: gripping, dramatic, and full of action. This book is all good because it ends how all good fantasy books should end: evil guy dies, and they all live happily ever after.
Absolutely Tantalizing.......2006-11-04
R.A. Salvatore has outdone himself. I couldn't put the book down. I continue now to read the new books coming out of the story of Drizzt, Artemis, and the rest. I almost hope that the story of Drizzt and the others does not end!
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Legacy of the Drow Collector's Edition (Forgotten Realms: Legacy of the Drow)
The Icewind Dale Trilogy Collector's Edition (A Forgotten Realms(r) Omnibus)
The Dark Elf Trilogy, Collector's Edition (Homeland, Exile, Sojourn)
