Customer Reviews (50)

Another solid sequel!
This sequel picked up right where _Talon of the Silver Hawk_ ended. And as Talon of the Silver Hawk, or Tal Hawkins, developed, he became a stronger and more likable character. Some of the hardships he faced could have made this a much darker book, but lucky interventions in the same vein as the last book, kept Tal optimistic and surprisingly upbeat.
I wonder what will happen in the next book, especially considering the fate of the villain....
My favorite scene, though, was the shark/beach scene - such fun, and totally unexpected for a fantasy novel. I do hope that Nakor and other series regulars play a larger role in the next book! The series seems to be winding (or wending, as this seems to be Feist's new favorite word) down, but I remain curious to see where it all goes!

A more focused conclusion to Talon's tale.
This is the second book (after Talon of the Silver Hawk) that closely follows Talon as he further infiltrates himself into Duke Kaspar's inner circle.It is fast-paced, includes more hints of the larger war of good vs. evil, and shows a somewhat less perfect and thus more believable life for Talon.Rather than the nearly novel-length "making of" a super spy that was Talon of the Silver Hawk, this book is more tightly focused, which is a good thing.It is still a less epic tale than most of the others in the various Riftwar series, but serves its part in setting up the next trilogy.

Raymond E. Feist
What can I say?Another awesome Raymond E. Feist book!I'm still working on getting the whole series.When I do finally get it, I will be starting from the beginning and reading everything in order.The entire series from Magician:Apprentice to the end of the series is captivating!GET IT!You won't regret it!

King of Fantasy!
For well over 20-some-odd years now Raymond E. Feisthas been one of the top fantasy writers that has stayed consistent in giving us readers solid fantasy epics.

And in the 2nd volume of the Conclave of Shadows trilogy he once again proves he can still propel readers into high adventure in a fantasy realm fraught with danger and intrigue and excellent and impressive characters of both Good and Evil...and something in between.

A must read for fantasy readers, as well as historical readers.

Satisfying sequal to Talon
Even more so than Talon, King of the Foxes kept me entertained and turning the pages.Tal deepens and becomes a more complex character.The overall driving forces of the story begin to flesh out (I came to Talon a new Feist reader lacking the background of previous books.)Tal has a clearer enemy, more focused objective.The magic and behind the scenes good/evil struggle are more developed make more sense in King than they did in Talon, though still could have been left out without much change to the plot and action.This book departs from the good-guy-always-prevails predictability of Talon; a good thing.

Very readable prose and a well paced plot make for an enjoyable read. ... Read more

Product Description

New York Times bestselling author Raymond E. Feist returns us now to a place of unparalleled wonders--a sprawling kingdom coveted by enemies on all sides; a bustling center of commerce and magic, vibrantly alive and eternally in conflict. This is Midkemia, where great heroes are bred, and its glorious center...

Krondor

Prince Arutha--newly returned from battle--is concerned about a rash of unexplained assassinations that plagues his capital city. And so he commissions his most trusted agent, Squire James--formerly the thief known as "Jimmy the Hand"--to discover the source of the deadly epidemic. The answers seem to lie far beneath the streets in the dank depths of Krondor, where a terrible war rages in secret between two rival criminal gangs: those who call themselves "Mockers" and others in the thrall of a mysterious being known as "The Crawler." But the deeper the Squire delves, the closer he gets to the true nature of the horror that has left untold dead in its wake. And unless James can prevent one last, unthinkable slaying, the nightmare forces of corruption and deceit will destroy his liege and reduce his beloved Krondor to ruins.

James and Arutha, both classic feel-good-fantasy heroes--the type of guys with a twinkle in their eye who seem virtually indestructible--eventually track their enemies down to a deserted Keshian fortress, facing assorted assassins, demons, and evil priests in the process. Not the most imaginative or compelling fantasy around, but The Assassins is still a fun romp for fans of the Krondor band. --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Customer Reviews (56)

Much stronger than the first!
What an ominous ending!! I liked this middle book even more than the first book! It was a lot more exciting! Jimmy the Hand is a wonderful creation and William is quite likable as well. Not to mention the surprise cameo of my favorite character, Amos Trask! The plot unfolded more creatively and in a much more exciting manner than the first book and I am interested to see how everything will be solved in the third part - though, really, this book did not seem to connect to _Krondor, The Betrayal_ as much as I would have expected, but perhaps the third volume will link everything together.

GREAT BOOK
Wonderful to read the work that was part of a computer game too. Well done by the author as usual.

Weak series for Feist, but the best of the three
Although I was first drawn into Feist's work through the Betrayal at Krondor video game in the mid-90s, I now recognize that the Riftwar Legacy is a very weak series by Feist's normal standards. If you were a fan of the game or if you are just a Riftwar junkie, you will enjoy revisiting old characters. Although Assassins is the best of the three (and the only one not based on a video game), it lacks the quality and epic nature of the Riftwar series itself. Do yourself a favor and read the Magician books, Silverthorn, and A Darkness at Sethanon before you read Krondor the Assassins. If you fall in love with Midkemia, then consider this book a fun little romp that is worth reading. Still, it's near bottom of the barrel by Feist's normally high standards.

A Shadow of Itself

I like Jimmy the Hand and Prince Arutha, which is why I at least liked reading Assasins. However, the first two books on this series have the feel of a video game, which they are adapted from. The story moves from situation to situation and I never really got caught up in the story. By the end, I was just reading because I enjoy when Jimmy is on the page. I've been a fan since Magician, but everything since then has not measured up to that debut effort.

Raymond - please - stop now.
Feist was once one of the very best authors in modern fantasy. The "Riftwar Saga" trilogy is a wonderful series, with well crafted plots, engaging and well defined characters, and textured and engaging world. I loved it. I've read those books countless times, and enjoyed them thoroughly.

However, after "A Darkness at Sethanon", everything went downhill ("Rise of a Merchant Prince" was appalling) and I gave up on Feist altogether. I picked up "Krondor: the Assassins" at a second hand bookstore the other day, and for a brief moment, thought that he may have regained some of his long lost craft. The story starts out entertainingly enough, with some interesting new-ish characters, a mildly intriguing premise, and a hint of the Krondor we got to know in "Silverthorn" and "Darkness"...but then its like he palms the book off to a 10-year old, and we're off to a fortress in the desert full of ninjas, evil priests and a demon. The writing descends to a horrific mish-mash of breathless "and then he....and then he..." dribble and pointless, derivative dialog - even sinking so low as to use the tired "I hate it when they do that!" and "Now I'm really mad!" lines.

Characters we know and love from earlier books are unrecognizable, flat caricatures of themselves, the plot goes nowhere, the only interesting story lines are forgotten, and the only relief I have is knowing that because I bought the book second hand, Feist won't be profiting from causing me this much pain.

It almost pains me to write like this about the author of the Riftwar books...but he put this junk out there, and so he's fair game, in my book. I'm giving this two stars, only because I want somewhere to go in future if i find a book so bad that when it opens, it shoots poison darts into your eyes.

Ray, please, PLEASE stop. ... Read more

Product Description

In Midkemia, there are no easy roads . . .

Customer Reviews (45)

Murder in LaMut
Though the story was ok, I found the ending less than ethical and morally wrong.Not the best of Raymond E. Feist's best works.

Nice read but not Feist
Not a bad story and adds to the world of Midkemia, but this is definitely not Feist. Ties into the legend by having guest appearance of Fantus, Kulgan's Firedrake. So, if you want a break from Feist, I'd recommend, but if you are expecting Feist, you'll be disappointed.

This one is a let down
I have read nearly all of Feist's books and this series was the only one I had to really work at to try and get through.In the end I was very disappointed in this book.It was really really boring throughout and only got ok towards the end. Don't let this review stop you from reading his other work.I have really enjoyed most of his books up to this set.

A Refreshing View of the Feist Series
This book is better than the third book in the Legends of Riftwar Series, but not quite as good as the first.It is an interesting take on the murder mystery where all the suspects are stranded at a remote location by a storm.The reason I say that is because the protagonist is actually broken up into three characters, who each represents facets of the usual protagonist in such stories.Just because the apparent motivation for the murder is pointless if you've read the Riftwar series doesn't make the story pointless.It just illustrates what happens to people in real life.The authors have good descriptions of real cold weather (obviously one of them lived somewhere cold at one point).There are some characters I found memorable, like the leader of the three mercs, the Swordmaster and the murder victims.The cons were there were too many minor characters (like the nobles and the rangers, for example) to keep track of.That aided the murder mystery part of the story,but made the rest of it kind of confusing.

Waste of time
I love Feist's books.I have read almost everyone so far.But this book was an extreme let down.There is almost no action, too many characters that you don't know anything about prior to this (and have no desire to learn more about), and doesn't get into the story until half way through the book.I haven't even finished reading it and don't think I will. If you enjoy Feist stories, do not stupe to the level required to enjoy this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Adapted from the novel by New York Times best-selling author Raymond E. Feist, Magician: Apprentice is an exhilarating ride through a rich fantasy world that is hailed by fans and critics alike as "second only to The Lord of the Rings."The journey from Crydee to Krondor is wrought with peril, and an ambush by the dark elves known as the Moredhel has decimated Duke Borric's company of men. With the help of the Dwarven Chief Dolgan, what remains of the party must travel through the mines of Mac Mordian Cadal to find a new path to their destination. But the mines are anything but safe, and Tomas will discover something in them that will change his own path forever! Collects Magician Apprentice #7-12. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent Story, Excellent Graphic Novel
Many people have read Magician Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist.Everyone interpreted the characters differently because we all have different points of reference for the descriptions used for the characters.The artist excellently depicted the characters and attitudes along with the atmosphere for the book.Only problem ... I wanted MORE!And ended up digging out my own book of Magician Apprentice to reread it once again.

great rendition of 1/3 of 1/2 of a great book!Very cool, get it!and get volume1 too, and vol3 when it comes out later! yeah!
I, like many people, skipped buying the comics for this.It's just too cool and too convenient to have them all bound together into a single book.

1/3 of 1/2 of Magician?huh?
- Magician is a book, it's a great book, along the lines of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, but far more accessible, but just as epic, if not more so, and much more detailed.I highly highly recommend reading it if you haven't.
- Magician Apprentice, is 1/2 of Magician, and is released as a paperback book of it's own.
- This book, Magician Apprentice Volume 2 (the graphic novel by the Dabel brothers and published by Marvel), is 1/3 of Magician Apprentice.


What's the book about? (no spoilers):
Well, this volume 2 continues the story of pug and thomas, and their travels across midkemia to warn the prince of krondor and rally his support against the coming invasion from the otherworldly Tsurani army.The story begins at castle crydee with a troop of soldiers leaving for a winter journey across midkemia through danger ridden forests. This is a story of magic, adventure, coming of age, and danger.It's a dashing bold adventure about magic, fighting, exploration, court intrigue, and you need to know about it. :)


Art:
The art is certainly improved, and holds up really well in this volume. In Volume 1, they changed artists 1/2 way through, and the art kind of changes abruptly and degraded in quality, but then gets better and better. In Volume 2, the art is good, and you wont think anything of it if you had seen the 1st volume.It appears to be the same artist, but he's really got his style down and it's great.And everyone will think so. The coloring is full color (shaded with gradients), glossy pages, it's quality stuff for your eyes to behold.

Story:
The story has been adapted to the comic style really well.It's been a while, maybe 8 years since I last read the book Magician (and I've read it maybe 3 times total), and it really makes sense and I think does not lose anything from the books (it tells the story, and shows you the details in the pictures). The artists do a great job framing the scenes, and you can really tell they read the book and worked hard to match up concepts in the books in the imagery. The images tell the story as much as the word bubbles do.A lot of thought was put into this.

Quality:
The book feels great, hard cover, about the size of a comic book, but thicker, since there's 6 (episode 7-12) in there... The pages are full color, and beautifully colored with the full spectrum with smooth gradients.Much attention to detail has been put into this book.

Convenience:
It's great to have 6 comics bound together into one book. I am not a comic fan, and I really don't like buying all the thin little books.It's too annoying for me.I would prefer all 18 bound in an uber book.But 3 volumes is fine by me, I can do that... And all 18 might be a little unwieldy to hold anyway, it would make for a heavy book... So I like it this way, just fine, in 3 volumes. Thank marvel for pulling the 6 comics together into a single book. :)


While you're all waiting for Volume 3, go read Magician, the book.It seriously rocks. ... Read more

Product Description
Pug and Tomas are two kitchen boys who dream of being heroes one day in the medieval fantasy world of Midkemia. But as the boys start on the path to manhood and begin their apprenticeships to their respective masters, they one day stumble upon a strange shipwreck and learn that invaders from a strange and distant world have found a way to invade Midkemia through portals known as "rifts" and are preparing for a full scale assault. As Tomas learns to be a soldier and Pug studies the path of a magician, both boys find themselves growing into the heroes they had hoped to become - but growing apart as the effects of the Riftwar change both of their lives forever. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Again the same complaint
Feists novels all are very amazing reads and I couldn't wait to see the adaptation into a graphic novel. I was very impressed with the beginning chapters. The pictures were very well drawn with vivid color and detail. As I have read all of Feists books, the artists depiction of the characters seemed dead-on and actually showed growth as the pages turned. Chapters 4-6 on the other hand made the main characters seem almost as children with much less detail and color. Even the characters expressions seemed less confident, and age progression was way off following the story line. Reading the second half was very disappointing as far as the drawings went. Overall very worth purchasing if only for the first half. Hopefully as these graphic novels continue, the better artist will take over!

Graphic SF Reader
A Marvel adaptation of what appears to be part of the first book, which was split in half in the USA it seems, and only half of that, to start with. So, going to be an expensive way to get the whole story.

Other than that, it is pretty well done, and especially the firedrake, Fantus, very cool.

One major art problem is that there is a shift from the first half to the second. Whereas Pug and Tomas at the start are shown aging slightly as they move into later teenagerhood, the second half style changes them to look more like they are 10 or so again at times, and shorter, too, compared to the long, skinny slim hipped pillow look given to everyone by the first artist.

Great Story, Jarring Art change 1/2 way through...
The story is great, if you've read the original book Magician:Apprentice, you will like these books a lot! (seriously, a lot, you should buy it!).However, the bad news: One huge annoyance/surprise.chapter 1-3 has a different artist than chapter 4-6. What's worse, you can really really tell - the ch4-6 artist didn't copy the ch1-3 artist's style.They completely dumped the very stylized look of Carline for example!They used much thicker pens!(so sad).This makes for a very jarring experience when you turn the page and discover you do not recognize the characters anymore.The ch 4-6 art is less detailed:has thicker lines, and because of this everything looks more bubbly, and with less detail colored in, looks like hazy watercolor with thick pens drawn over top. The sophisticated styling of the characters are completely lost in ch4-6. All that said. The story is great, and if you get used to (or overlook) the ch4-6 art style, you'll really love this book.the art style in ch1-3 is great, very sophisticated, very detailed, very stylized, for example, borric and carline look amazing (of course they're all totally watered down in ch4-6, no more style, looks like a kids quickly drawn anime, not as bad as dragonball z, but..). it's a tragedy they didn't keep the same artist all the way through. let's hope they get him back for the remaining books, or that magically the 1st artist redoes/finishes the art in this book. I removed 1 star for the art change and inability to match the art style. But the book is really cool, and I love seeing the world of magician and the riftwar at last.

first attempt
This was really really good. This was my first trial run with a graphic novel outside of Marvel/DC/Image etc. I was really impressed with the character development and pacing of this story. Love the dynamic of the 2 main characters being so different but so alike. Pug- the magician and his best friend Thomas the brute soldier type. No doubt these two are going to compliment eachother when they start fighting enemies. Can't read to purchase vol.2 when it becomes available.

Great book, good graphic novel
Feist wrote an excellent book with "Magician Apprentice" and the graphic novel truly brought it to life for me in a way I have not imagined when I first read the novel in text. My only gripe about this rendition is the variation in artistic styles from chapter to chapter in the graphic novel. Other than that it was well worth the second read. ... Read more

Product Description
Mara, a young, untested Ruling Lady of Kelewan, is called upon to lead her people in a heroic struggle for survival. But first she must rally an army of rebel warriors, form a pact with the alien cho-ja and marry the son of a hated enemy. An epic tale of adventure and intrigue by two of the most talented writers in the field today. HC: Doubleday. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (77)

Shogun II. This is an incredible series
In his Rift Wars novels, Feist included a world based on medival Japan, right out of Shogun.

In this series, we have a marvellous Shogun-like story of adventure and political intrigue, that's absolutely breath-taking.

If you liked the Original Shogun, then you'll find this series to be just as fascinating a read. That it's placed in a science-fantasy setting is but an insignificant detail. The authors could just as well have set this very same story in 17th century historical Japan!

Better Than I Expected!!
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. In the Riftwar Saga, the Tsurani sections are not among my favorites, so the thought of a whole trilogy set on Kelewan, making only brief mentions of Midkemia, did not overly excite me. But, I ended up really enjoying this book! Though Feist has strong female characters in the Riftwar Sagam they are not main characters by any stretch of the imagination, so this book with Mara, the Ruling Lady of Acoma, as its focal point was a great addition to the series as a whole!
The digital version that I read, unfortunately, was laden with typos. Since _A Darkness at Sethanon_ was pretty heavily rife with typos as well, I am curious over if the print version suffers from these errors as well. If so, I am very curious about the hiring standards of Bantam editors in the 1980s!
But not even the errors detracted from the excitement of a new book in the land of high politics, honour and warfare that Feist created in Kelewan. An interesting complimentary storyline, I am curious to see what heights Mara will achieve in the remaining two books of the trilogy.

Unbalanced
I have read and enjoyed Feist's novels ever since I was in high school.Though he borrows many elements from Tolkein's high fantasy approach, his Riftwar Saga remains one of my favorite fantasy series. That said, I am disappointed with this first installment of the so-called Kelewan trilogy.Though I do not claim to know for sure, I think that Feist had a minor role in the writing of this novel, for the style and subject is very different from any of the Feist books I have previously read. To be sure this story is exclusively set in Kelewan; the same Kelewan where Pug ends up in midway through Magician. Yet do not let the fact that the story is set in the world of the Tsuranuanni fool you, for there is very little fantasy and magic in this novel, indeed the fantasy elements are few and far between.When fantasy does appear it is presented in an awkward manner, such as the sudden introduction of the Cho-Ja or the deus ex machina role of the Great Ones in solving issues that the writers seem to be unable to resolve through the course of the plot.

Though I can enjoy a good novel regardless of the genre, the problem with Daughter of the Empire (DotE), is that once the original shock of false advertisement has subsided (about 250 pages in, I had figured out that this was not likely to be a fantasy novel) the rest of the story is not all that good. It is basically a survival/revenge story of a young girl in a male dominated society where she is seemingly hounded by enemies on all sides.Despite the fact that this seems like a good starting point, the truth is that Mara is not really all that harassed by her enemies, I mean over the course of 400 pages there may 3 or 4 real action sequences while the rest of the time is spend on describing her life and daily struggles in managing an estate or dealing with a boorish husband.All this told from a single perspective, since Mara is almost exclusively the only character viewpoint, makes for dull reading.

The premise behind the Tsuranuanni world is based on a medieval Japanese-like society, and I must admit that the attention to detail and thoroughness by which the customs and the Acoma estate are described closely matches the historical facts, but since I have already read Clavell's masterpiece Shogun, DotE does not impress as much as it should on this regard. To end on a good note, the story despite its tedious pace, has some very interesting characters, such as Arakasi, Tecuma of the Anasati and Teani, who add some much needed flavor to a mainly prototypical starring cast. All in all, I hope for a better continuation of this series, with hopefully more of an even collaboration between the two writers and theirs styles.

GREAT BOOK
This is probably one of my favorite series of books by the author. I was so wrapped up in the reading, which did pull emotions when read.

Stick out the challenge and be rewarded
I'll just review one aspect of this trilogy.I read Feist's four prior books, including Magician, and found myself strongly preferring the Europe-like Midkemian world over the Japan-like Kelewan world in which the Empire Trilogy is based.I wanted to read Feist's books in order that he wrote them, so I decided to next attempt to bear through the Empire books.

Boy am I glad I did.I now count the final book of the trilogy, Mistress of the Empire, one of my two all-time favorite fantasy novels.The Magician series, as much as I loved them, now seems almost amateurish by comparison.The Empire story is carefully crafted, the characters vary from two-dimensional to fully three-dimensional, and the end of the trilogy is exhilarating.

However, reading the trilogy was not always easy.I developed a love/hate relationship with the main character, Mara.There were times when I thought her a cruel monster and other times when I thought her a saint.There were at least two occasions where I got so angry with her, thinking her ugly, that I considered not bothering to finish the series.

But now I know that this is all by design.Mara is struggling with the culture she lives in.The first book, Daughter of the Empire, shows Mara as a person of that culture with some inclination to question it.The second book, Servant of the Empire, shows Mara coming to understand her culture and finding herself at odds with it.The final book, Mistress of the Empire, shows Mara in a final struggle with her culture, a struggle that starts out intensely personal but which later engulfs the entire Empire.

So don't you put those books down!Keep reading!Love Mara at times, hate her at times.It is as it should be.You won't experience the euphoria of the ending with out it; and because of it, you might just count Mistress of the Empire one of your all-time favorite books. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

It is a fantasy favorate for all
At first as I was reading I wasn't sure if his books were all that great, but then just as in the wheel of time you become part of the story.It made me want to read more and more till there was nothing left. Anyone whoenjoys fantasy will love his books.

Raymond Feist creates a world you would love to live in.
As usual Feist is spellbinding!A few more years of this and he'll be up there with Tolkien and Martin and Donaldson.Feist creates characters with a passion and understanding that is rare in todays fantasy world.Also heenables you to put yourself in his world and not want to leave.I do thinkhe should involve the elves more in his stories for they would instill thetmielessness it's lacking.That's not criticisim just an opinion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

Oh, what a wonderful conclusion!
This third and final volume of the Empire trilogy unfolded into one of the most exciting stories. Despite my initial reservations after finishing _Servant of the Empire_ and reading of Mara's resounding victory over the Minwanabi family, right from the first chapter a new villain made its presence known. In fact, the plot fell into one tangle after another - there were no shortage of enemies like I had mistakenly predicted. Despite this also being a rather wordy book, it felt fast. In fact, even after the satisfying ending, I would love to read more of Mara's story.
Vastly exceeding my expectations, I am curious to see how this trilogy will interact with the series as a whole. The richly detailed world came brilliantly to life here, and the strong heroine was a welcome addition to Feist's predominantly male canon of characters.

Shogun II. This is an incredible series
In his Rift Wars novels, Feist included a world based on medival Japan, right out of Shogun.

In this series, we have a marvellous Shogun-like story of adventure and political intrigue, that's absolutely breath-taking.

If you liked the Original Shogun, then you'll find this series to be just as fascinating a read. That it's placed in a science-fantasy setting is but an insignificant detail. The authors could just as well have set this very same story in 17th century historical Japan!

A great work of fiction
Married to a man who is her soul mate, supported by the Emperor himself, Mara of the Acoma felt that it was finally time to relax. How wrong she was! The High Council was disbanded, but the Game of Council goes on. There are those scheming to return all power to where it was held before the rise of Mara, and some of those are awesome in their power. If she is to protect her life, and the lives of those she loves, she must scheme the greatest of schemes, and fight the greatest of enemies on all of Kelewan!

I have been a big fan of Raymond Feist for many years now, and still remember when this book first came out. Unlike the other books of the trilogy, magic finally becomes an integral part of the story. It's another great book with a fascinating story, set in a wonderfully different milieu, having intrigue and suspense at the very heart of it.

If you interesting in a great work of fiction, one that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then this is the book for you. I loved this book - I have read it a number of times, and it still gets better. I can't recommend this book enough.

GREAT BOOK
As always a great book in this series and very very hard to put it down.

Not Free SF Reader
Once again a target.


Mara, now a woman of power and influence again finds herself under attack once more. Her family, in the form of her more vulnerable children are targets.

This involves a lot of work for her spymaster, and provokes a greater conflict within Tsurani society, with Mara on one side and the magic wielding Great Ones and the Emperor and more conservative elements on one side, in a battle for control.


2.5 out of 5 ... Read more

Product Description

Jimmy the Hand, boy thief of Krondor, lived in the shadows of the city. The sewers were his byways and a flea-ridden, rat-infested cellar his home. Although gifted beyond his peers, he was still but a nimble street urchin, a pickpocket with potential. Until the day he met Prince Arutha.

Customer Reviews (12)

Not his best work
I have read nearly all ofFeist's books and this series was the only one I had to really work at to get through the entire series and was disapointed in the end.Looking forward to starting the next Saga, when available.

Enjoyable Adventure in Midkemia
Ok, so it's not an epic multi-volume tale like other Feist efforts. But it is definitely a highly entertaining story about one of the most endearing characters in the world of Midkemia, in his formative, yet still impressive years.

I felt the writing style was very easy to read and you can easily get immersed in the story.

If Feist (and friends) wrote another 20 books of Midkemian tales of this quality, I would read every one of them. I enjoy this world so much I can't get enough of it. There are millions of untold stories in Midkemia. Keep 'em coming.

GREAT BOOK
A truly great book which will keep you on the edge most of the reading.

Feist and Stirling Fan...
But really nothing new or exciting here. I finished it, but I kept wanting to give it up. Sorry guys. Not sure what happened but it just wasn't there this time.

lackluster effort
I will put as much energy in this review as Mr. Feist put in writing this novel.

Mechanical and poorly written.Don't waste your time or money on this novel.
... Read more

Product Description
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Once he was an orphan called Pug, apprenticed to a sorcerer of the enchanted land of Midkemia. Then he was captured and enslaved by the Tsurani, a strange, warlike race of invaders from another world.There, in the exotic Empire of Kelewan, he earned a ne ... Read more

Customer Reviews (353)

A Fantastic Book by a Young Author that Stands the Test of Time
This is the first book in a series that any modern day fantasy reader or gamer will love. It is the book that sets you off on your adventure to the world of Midkemia. I have recommended this book to hundreds of people over the years. But please, will someone make an audio version of the early books for those who cannot or will not make the first attempt into this series? A kindle version of the earlier books would be awesome too. I will never, ever get rid of my first edition copies, but not everyone had the chance to find out about this author at an early stage in his career. I highly recommend this book. It is challenging reading for younger readers, so I would wait until high school, but on the other hand - it is great to be challenged.

not a compelling read and defineetely not a page turner
I cannot fathom why the book went wrong for me. Initially, it seemed like it had all the makings of a fascinating read. The writing was excellent, the characters were not bad, the descriptions ... descriptive and the book was page turning. But after the first one third of the book, the story gets too slow. There is a little character development but most of it seems pointless. As a reader I could not grow to love any of the characters, which I believe is the most important aspect of a fantasy novel. The story of the main character stops abruptly mid way thought the book and then you start reading about the side characters who never meant much to begin with. I just lost focus and kept waiting for parts where the book would become more exciting but it never happened. The author introduces some romance but it is very flaky and feels stupid. There is none of the grandiose I associate with a fantasy novel and the book's ending if anything left me disappointed.

Tired plot, but gripping story
As everyone has said here before, you won't find anything new or original in the plot line. But what the novel lacks in plot it more than makes up for in story. It definitely keeps you captivated from page one up until about 100 pages from the end. And that's probably the biggest downfall of the book, the last, rather boring, 100 pages of the novel. The author pretty much abandons the main character, along with Tomas, and sets up an absurd 100 pages of the defense of Crydee. And those final 100 pages can be summed up as, Crydee wins, the enemy is tough and Pug no longer has to worry about the princesses' affections. In other words, the last 100 pages should have been trimmed to 40 pages and if you skipped them entirely I wouldn't blame you at all.

Aside from that shortcoming I did enjoy the rest of the novel and do look forward to finishing the series.

A "wicked good" romp.
Another second copy in my library -- and I love it as much or more than the first time.

What A Wonderful Series!!
Oh, it's been a long time since I read this series - ten years at least, I think! I do recall bits and pieces of the story, but for the most part, this is like reading a whole new series of books! Very well-written and peopled with interesting and likable characters, I am really looking forward to reading this entire series and catching up on the books that have been published since I last read these. All in all this was a wonderful and intriguing start to the series, set in a detailed new world. ... Read more

Product Description
Long recovered from the ravages of the Riftwar,the land and people of the kingdom of the Islesthrive. Nicholas, the youngest son of Prince Arutha,is intelligent and gifted but vastlyinexperienced. In hopes of hardening him, his father sends himand his irreverent squire, Harry, to live atRustic Castle Crydee to learn of life beyond the hallsof privilege. But within weeks of Nicholas andHarry's arrival, Crydee is viciously attacked byunknown assailants, resulting in murder, massivedestruction, and the abduction of two young noblewomen.The raiders have come from a pirate haven and areno ordinary foe ... but an enemy connected to darkmagical forces that threaten the lands Nicholaswill someday rule -- if he survives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (57)

My favorite in the series!
Well, I think that this book has been my favorite of the entire series so far! Adventure on the high seas, intrigue in yet another foreign land... and all with Amos Trask and Nakor, the orange-eating trickster in the forefront!! The only one sadly absent was Jimmy the Hand! Once again, through masterful plotting and lovable characters, Feist crafted an exciting read. A wonderful addition to the series - and with more strong female characters like Brisa, which really rounded out and completed the story to a much stronger whole than many of his other books. One of the fullest novels so far, I am very excited to continue on with the series that so far just keeps getting better and better!

Great
Out of all of Raymond E. Feist's novels, I believe this is the best.

GREAT BOOK
Once again Mr. Feist kept me on the edge of my chair with a very entertaining novel. If you like his work this is a must have/read book.

fantasy
If you enjoy a good fantasy story, then you will for sure enjoy this one.

very good read
Having read the magician books and the riftwar saga, I decided to check out Feist's Prince of Blood and then the King's Buccaneer.They were both exceptional in my opinion; some of my favorite Feist books so far.Buccaneer stands alone very well, and I think it would make a great read even if you're totally new to Feist's work.Of course lots of the characters have been around a while in other Feist books, but the story really revolves around a newer character from the Feist world (not sure how many books after this one he plays a major part in though).It's a satisfying, fast-paced story about a young prince coming into adulthood.And while some aspects of the main (and other) character's growth seemed a little bit contrived (i.e. it seemed a little like the prince transformed suddenly from a shy boy unsure of himself, to a confident, capable adult overnight), they were all fleshed out well enough that you genuinely cared about them early into the story.If you've enjoyed any of Feist's books in the past, you'll probably enjoy this book.You'll probably like it even if you're unfamiliar with Feist or his characters; especially if you like fantasy/quest/sea-voyage types of stories. ... Read more

Product Description
Pug and Tomas are two kitchen boys in the castle of Crydee with big dreams of being soldiers. But when choosing day arrives and Pug fails to be chosen by the swordmaster as an apprentice along with Tomas, he finds himself instead under the tutelage of Kulgan, a master magician. Kulgan instructs Pug in the arts of the mystical path of magic and discovers that the boy has an amazing talent - provided that he can work his way past an unusual mental block that is holding back his true power. Things, however, are about to change forever when Pug and Tomas stumble across the shipwreck of a vessel bearing an army from another world - strange, olive-skinned men with armor and weaponry made of sharpened wood and hide, preparing to invade the world of Midkemia through a series of rifts in time and space in search of metal. The kingdom must be warned, for a war is about to begin. And Pug and Tomas will play their own unique role in the unfolding events - one will become a master who will make both worlds tremble at his power, and the other will become something almost otherworldly, one who can command even the dragons as his servants. The Riftwar begins here! Collects Magician Apprentice #1-6. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Average version of a classic
I think the novel Magician is one of the best examples of modern Fantasy - a classic. So seeing this trade paperback graphic novel version I was compelled to have a read. Now, I'm in my late 40's so have moved on a little from graphic novels (yes, yes I know they are not just for kids) but still think they can provide an interesting alternative vision of a book (David Gemmell's being a good case in point).
Here we have a graphic novel that is very true to the original story, but (as other reviewers have pointed out) the artwork changes half way through and we move from tall and lean figures to child-like almost manga types. The quality and enjoyment drops as soon as the artwork changes -a real shame.
So readable but a real opportunity lost maybe worth re-reading the novel again instead!

Magician Apprentice Vol 1
Magician is my favorite book, so of course I HAD to have this!It follows the story very well, doesnt look like they've change anything to fit the adaption better.The first half of the books artwork was absolutely amazing, and very detailed, the second half however is completely different art and looks to me like it was rushed and is low quality work (compared to the first half anyway) and that's why I rated it 4/5.Other than that, I was just as into the story as if I were reading the actual book.A MUST have for any Feist fan!

Good Adaptation
Magician: Apprentice is a great novel, and this publication brings a portion of the book to the comic format. The story is, of course, wonderful. Some parts were abbreviated, cut or changed due to the new format, but, with one exception, that is to be expected. The exception is that the conflict that propels the whole book, the Riftwar itself, was abbreviated to the extreme (in both volumes one and two.) The comic doesn't seem to convey the full sense of why the main characters are doing what they do.
The art for the first three issues is really amazing and almost on par with the spectacular art found in "The Hedge Knight" graphic novel. I wrote "almost on par" because sometimes the characters' eyes look a little odd; almost like they're undead. Still, I'm nitpicking, as the art for issues 1-3 is really good. They changed art teams for issues 4-6, and I was not very keen on the new look. I may be in the minority, though, as they kept the new art team for Magician's Apprentice: Volume Two. I guess it's just a matter of personal taste.

A great surprise
I remember playing the computer game by Sierra 'Betrayel at Krondor' when i was a little kid.Halfway through reading this book it dawned on me that this trade is based in the same universe as that game. Also there is a huge series of novels taking place in this universe written by Raymond Feist.The story sets up a really great plot to follow. The adventure basically starts off with pug and Thomas young kids, being picked for a trade. Through the tale they grow a bit (not much age wise) and the book ends with them getting sent off on a mission to warn others of an oncoming threat.The hero of the tale (the magician's apprentice of the title) is a young boy named Pug. Obviously, in these kinds of stories he turns out to be a better magician then the first impressions people had on him.He's no super mage by the end of this trade by any means, but still an apprentice learning his craft.Which is good, since they don't try to tell too much of a story in such a short amount of space.Having not read any of the novels that this book is based on I can't really compare and contrast, however this story as a comic is a wonderful read and certainly worth the money spent.And if you're thinking this is some sort of cheesy harry potter esque tale, you can breathe a sigh of relief as this is aimed at a much more mature audience. The artwork and style fits the story perfectly, and the word play is also well written. None of the cheesy middle age style speak that tends to dumb down and take away from the story, that some other comics written for this time period have a tendency to do.5 stars from me

Magician Apprentice Volume 1
An absolutely terrific publication. If you've read Raymond Feist novels and a comic enthusiast from "way back" you will be enthralled and surprisingly pleased with this book. The illustrations are first rate . Don't leave it lying around until you've finished reading it otherwise you'll lose it to other avid readers! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (68)

New Section in a Solid Epic Series
Though a bit slow to start, this turned out to be a very exciting book. And while Erik and Roo are not quite as likable as some of Feist's other characters, there were other new characters, like Miranda, that made up for the lack. And the reappearance of some old favorites, like Nakor, helped the book along as well. Starting a new saga with some fresh mysteries and plots, the strands are begging to be tied up in the next books, and it is very tempting to stay up even later and keep reading this series.
It is a bit difficult to review an epic series like this, because even if you don't love a single book, you know how necessary they are for later books...

Replacement copy
This book is the second copy of "Dark Queen."I wore the first one out.This is a captivating story, reuniting many of Feist's characters from previous stories, all in the ever-expanding Midkemia.Great Book!!

Another history lesson on Midkemia
I purchased this book on its original release date, dying to return to Midkemia and old friends there, and to make new ones. And was glad I did. I first read Fiest's Apprentice series at 17, and read it over and over until this novel came out, beginning another chronical of this colorful fantasy world. Sometimes when an author writes more than one series based on the same place, you end up disappointed because the new characters are not the old, because things have changed, or whatever. This did not happen tome with Raymond Fiest. With Shadow, he intoduces you to new characters you love just as much as the old, in a new continent on the familiar world, so you are still feeling like an explorer of Midkemia, not screaming "how can this be! itwould never have happened in the other books!" It was a welcomed new adventure. Must admit I briefly cried at the very brief mention of Prince Arutha's passing.....but loved it, and imagined how the older generation characters would have liked and been proud of those who picked up the crusade to keep theirworld safe. I loved the new twists, the new races and religions created. Colorful, wonderful, exciting. Even had I not already been in love with Midkemia andthe inhabitants, Shadow totally stood on its own feet and left me waiting with much impatience for the second installment.

Not for children or even teenagers
This book is quite well-written. However, after reading the Riftwar Saga I was expecting a more traditional fantasy book, readable by children and teenagers. Imagine my shock when reading quite graphical depictions of sadistic children killings, sadistic and gang rapes, ritual killings, and when the main character is starting his sex life by buying a hooker and feeling good afterwards. At some point, I was saying to myself that this is good reading for young military guys. :)

GREAT BOOK
This serious was especially good. It was hard trying to guess how or where the twists and turns would occur. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (87)

The best book of the series yet, very very good!
The lead up to this book in Silverthorn was a bit plodding and slow, but this novel pulls out all the stops and easily tops any other novel in the series. Some might claim the storyline to be a little too fantastic, but it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. There's not a lot to say except that this ties everything up wonderfully and is a must read. I will say there was little in the way of a post showdown, everyone is happy ending, but I think any future outcome for the characters was happy by comparison to the alternative.

Dramatic and expansive conclusion to the Riftwar Saga
This was my second time reading this finale of the much-loved Riftwar Saga, and I have to say that I enjoyed it more this time than the first.It might just be due to lower expectations, but I think it may be partly attributable to slightly higher maturity and broader views on my part.Where before I was looking for action, action, action (which is still plentiful here), now I tend to enjoy the subtle character building and philosophical space-time explorations found here.

The scope of the story in A DARKNESS AT SETHANON is expanded massively when compared to its predecessor, Silverthorn, getting back to the more completely epic feel of Magician.Inter-planetary travel, history of the Chaos Wars and the Dragon Lords, and even time travel, are interspersed with your more commonplace swords and arrow, siege warfare, and politics.This book also brings back many of the greatest characters from the first book of the trilogy, including Pug, Tomas, Macros, and even Black Guy.While some reviewers have complained that the parts with Pug and Tomas, both of whom seem superhuman and unstoppable, were overblown, unrealistic, and unexplained, I'd counter by pointing out that you really do need such powerful protagonists to battle against an enemy like 'The Enemy'.As far as not explaining how the magic works, that is something that we should expect from Feist by now.You just have to accept it as it comes and not look for detailed explanations.

All in all, this book has it all.Emotionally connected characters like Arutha, Martin, and Jimmy (and unfortunately Locky), as well as the realm expanding adventures of Pug and Tomas.Highly recommended.

My least favorite of the series
I loved the first 3 books in the series and was looking forward to see how it all ended. I was not too impressed. This book wasn't a bad book but it wasn't a great book either. Maybe I expected too much from it. The part that bothered me the most was the parts with Pug & Tomas in them. I usually loved reading about these two characters but in this book it seemed too forced. Any time anything serious happened either Pug or Tomas could just magically fix it. There was no explaining and not a lot of trying. It reminded me of listening to kids play and when one child made up something imaginary that the other child couldn't get out of all the sudden the other child had this special magical power that worked. Then the kids would go on to the next thing and that would be solved by special magical powers as well. Don't get me wrong... I love magic! In the first 3 books Feist made magic believable. In this book it just seemed like he used magic to get them out of situations because he couldn't think of anything else. It wasn't even really explained it just happened. That being said the book also didn't captivate me like the first three. It took me almost 2 months to read. That is a long time for me and a 430 page book. Still I would recommend it if you have read the first 3. Just don't expect it to be as great or better.

I enjoyed this conclusion quite a bit!
All of my favorite characters from the series were present and the plot took one exciting turn after another! Truly wonderful! It was a lot of fun to read, but I must admit that there was a plethora of minor editing errors, typos mainly. I was quite shocked. I know that new editions have been released since this 1994 edition of mine, so I do hope that they were corrected! Other than that, a fun read - I hope these wonderful characters continue to appear in the remainder of the books set in this richly detailed land!

Good Conclusion to the Riftwar Saga...With Some Gripes.
After reading the first three books of the Riftwar Saga (Magician I & II, Silverthorn) the tale written by fantasy author Raymond E. Feist is to the absolute delight of the reader.Raymond can definitely cast a spell with his adventure of good vs. evil.The final book continues this tradition and is by far one of the most action based of the series.Once finished you will be satisfied with its contents and its conclusion of the saga, but along the way I felt there were certain elements that pulled me out of the adventure.Overall, the best part about this particular book was the total control by Feist to write epic battle scenes and give life to characters that you thought long gone.

The best part about this book is the storyline between Arutha, Jimmy and Martin.Their quest to challenge Murmaddamus head on leads to one of the Saga's best story lines.A thrilling adventure that takes the reader to far away lands and epic battles that mimic the brilliance of Tolkien's own.These passages of the story include many twists and turns, and the writing is fresh and written in a very lively manner.At these times the book is a real page turner.However, as much as these parts are brilliant, the real problem, in my opinion, is the other side of the story between Pug and Thomas.Here I think Feist stretches his imagination to provide incredible worlds, but the explanation of these worlds and how Pug's incantation and magic use to get them there is written clumsily.At times I felt Feist was reaching too much and some of these paragraphs felt dull and amateurish.They really took me out of that sense of wonder.While they weren't exactly broken in their telling of a story, the descriptions used didn't help much.

But what really saves this book is the conclusion to the story.By the third act, you trust Feist to really deliver an amazing ending.The book does make some of the main characters of the beginning minor players by the end, and overall it creates a struggle more about a nation, than just one central character.But this is alright by me, as the way he put words to page really enthrall the reader to finish through the book.

Overall, this is a satisfactory ending to a great fantasy series.Recommend it wholly. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (46)

Kindle version is sub-par
This is not a review of the novel itself, but rather the Kindle version.

I have an old, ragtag paperback version of this novel from ~15 years ago.It's one of my favorite novels as a child so I decided to rebuy the Kindle version.

Unfortunately starting from location 202 in the Kindle version the entire novel is italicized with the exception of random words.

Perhaps this is just a minor issue for most readers and most likely the publisher's fault in converting the novel into Kindle's format, but I find it frustrating to read the entire novel italicized.

Less epic than others in the series, but still a great book.
While somewhat of a side-story to the main sequence of Feist's Midkemia-based books, PRINCE OF THE BLOOD is nonetheless a great book, full of all the things that keep readers coming back to Feist time and again.Great characters lead the list, but this book also has an intriguing plot, lots of action, and a wonderful (and new) setting to explore.The book picks up 20 years after the close of A Darkness at Sethanon, with Arutha's twin sons, Borric and Erland, having grown into typical adventure-seeking young men.As a diplomatic gesture, these future rulers of the realm are sent as envoys to the Empire of Kesh, where they are to participate in the ceremonies given for the 75th birthday of the Empress of Kesh herself.Needless to say, they quickly become entangled in Keshian politics and other serious matters, and soon learn to be careful what they wish for.

Besides Borric and Erland, who are both believable and fun to read about, this book is full of other great characters, both old and new.Jimmy the Hand and Gamina, from previous books play a significant role, and we meet Suli Abul, Nakor the Blue Rider, a mercenary named (?), and a few very exciting Keshian ladies.As usual for Feist novels, this one is really driven by the characters, as he does such a good job of developing them over time, but also of making them interesting and enjoyable to read about.

While more mundane than most of the Riftwar Saga (with very little magic and more politics), PRINCE OF THE BLOOD actually reminded me a little of Magician: Apprentice, as it is really a story about two young people coming of age.Instead of Pug and Tomas, we have Borric and Erland, who are great fun to read about as they mature through the course of this book.Exploring the land of Great Kesh is also lots of fun, as Feist continues to expand his cash-cow of a fantasy setting.

While less epic than some of his other works, this is still a very enjoyable book.Recommended.

AWEOMSE
I LOVE Raymond Feist and I am a huge fan of his riftwar series. This books starts his kronder's son's series and man does it start out well. This book starts out a tad slow, as does his other books, but it is packed with fun and tons of humor. If you don't like political books then this isnt for you. It is very much mystery, who killed who, who's lying, and who's committing treason against the empire. I highly recommend this book as it is a great add to the riftwar series, and if you loved the riftwar series and you loved characters like arutha, jummy the hand, and locklier, then you'll love this book.

Oh, I loved this book!
While I didn't remember all of the details of the plot, from reading it a long time ago, once again, it was Feist's wonderfully entertaining characters that stayed with me - Nakor and his oranges, in particular. I had a lot of fun re-reading this book and while Kesh has a lot of similarities to the Tsurani, there were unique enough characteristics to make this lush world detailed. A great deal of fun to read, this is definitely one of the highlights of the series.

GREAT BOOK
It is a Raymond E. Feist novel, what can I say other than it is a great book to read. ... Read more

Product Description
Original essays on J.R.R. Tolkien from bestselling fantasy writers George R.R. Martin, Orson Scott Card, Terry Pratchett, Harry Turtledove, and many more. To tie in with the release of the first blockbuster film in New Line Cinemas Lord of the Rings trilogy, Meditations on Middle-Earth presents a collection of insightful, original essays by todays top fantasy and science fiction authors on the importance of The Lord of the Rings to their lives and their work. Additional bestselling and award-winning authors include: Raymong E. Feist, Ursula Le Guin, Gene Wolfe, Charles de Lint, Poul Anderson, and more! Also included is stunning original art by John Howe, the worlds foremost Tolkien illustrator, who is working closely with director Peter Jackson on the upcoming films. This blockbuster book is an absolute must-have for Tolkien fans.Amazon.com Review
If you remember where you were when you first read The Hobbit or the Lord of the Rings trilogy, then this collection of essays by some of fantasy and science fiction's most popular authors is worth a look.J.R.R. Tolkien's impact on fantastic fiction--and its writers--is explored in contributions that range from intensely personal expressions of the power and beauty of Tolkien's work to more analytical examinations of his style, language, and influences.

Standouts include Michael Swanwick's thoughtful and powerful meditation on heroism and consequences; Ursula K. Le Guin's analysis of narrative rhythm and language in the trilogy; Terri Windling's moving reflection on an escape from abuse fueled by the power of fairy tales; and Douglas A. Anderson's examination of the critical response to Tolkien's work.

This is an uneven collection, with a couple of downright clunkers, but it should appeal to Tolkien aficionados who are interested in the master's influence on those working in the field today. --Roz Genessee ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

splendid anthology
I love anthologies where I read *every single* item..I bought this originally for the essay by Diane Duane, one of my favourite authors.I was pleasantly surprised to find I liked every single essay, even the ones with conflicting points of view, even the one by Poul Anderson..(although I did find that one the dryest).That said, these are all by professional authors, so the disease that so often blights academic collections, i.e. wonderful ideas completely killed by inedible prose, is not present.The subjects of the essays vary greatly; there are lots of personal recollections of reading Tolkien for the first time, Esther Friesner talks about how hot people with pointed ears are, Orson Scott Card talks about critical approaches to Tolkien (and it's *fun*!), Ursula K Le Guin talks about rhythmic pattern in Tolkien's prose.There are essays by: Raymond Feist, Poul Anderson, Michael Swanwick (another funny one!), Esther Friesner, Harry Turtledove, Terry Pratchett, Robin Hobb, Ursula Le Guin, Diane Duane, Douglas Anderson, Orson Scott Card, Charles de Lint, Lisa Goldstein, Glenn Hurdling (interviewing the Hildiebrant brothers), and Terri Windling, along with two introductions by Karen Haber and George R R Martin (they had to get the author with the most similar name to J R R Tolkien..).Anyway, if you like the fiction of any of these, you'll probably like the essays.

Interesting for reasons beyond Tolkien
This book was clearly published with the expectation that it'd ride the wave of publicityfor the LOTR movies, and perhaps it did. With the movies all on DVD now, maybe it seems less relevant than it once did. As other reviewers have mentioned, the essays in this book vary quite a bit in quality, and they approach the "What Lord of the Rings Means" question from different angles.

However, I think the book is worth reading -- once -- for a slightly different reason than Tolkien or LOTR. If you like Tolkien but aren't fanatical about the subject (not *all* of us feel the need to re-read the trilogy once a year), you may still enjoy many of these essays because you can hear how your favorite authors think, the unique way in which they were influenced by what they read... the author's own voice, in other words, rather than the stories they tell.

I kept imagining that I was attending a panel about "what LOTR meant to me" at an SF convention, and that many of the authors had interesting things to say. If you take the book from that viewpoint, you'll probably enjoy it. And if you're a writer yourself, you should definitely grab a copy.

For instance, Robin Hobb writes about being blown away by Tolkien's ability to create the setting in a novel. ("True setting is far more than descriptive passages about birch trees in winter, or picturesque villages. Tolkien's setting invoked a time and a place that was as familiar as home to me, yet unfolded the wonders and dangers of all that I had always suspected was just beyond the next hill.") Hobb's novels are masterworks of setting, so you see both the influence on the developing writer, and the reason for their impact.

Similarly, Ursula LeGuin sees the books in terms of word rhythms;Charles deLint writes about the impact of the Fairy Story (in the larger, romantic sense). This book gives you a unique view into the minds of the authors you may admire.

It also, alas, shows that not all of them are as skilled at writing an essay as they are with fiction. Esther Freisner does a damned good job (funny, too), but a few of the others wander around aimlessly, forgetting to make a point. Again, it's rather like a panel at an SF Con.

You shouldn't feel compelled to acquire a copy of this book, but don't pass it by, either. Good library fodder, or perhaps a read-and-pass-on book.

An almost-perfect celebration of Tolkien
Mostly good, this collection did have some serious downfalls. For the positives first, in general this was a great celebration of Tolkien's enduring effect on the fantasy field, and of his works. Most of the contributers to this wanted to share their experiances and debts to Tolkien's works, but a few seemed just as happy to grab their own fame out of this enterpriese. An essay-by-essay review in the order that they appear...

George R.R. Martin: Unfortunatly stuck with the intro, Martin discusses Tolkienesque and epic fantasy, the latter being his main style. Engaging and interesting, and much too short.

Raymond E. Fiest: So-so essay, entertaining but not overly informative or interesting.

Poul Anderson: I remember nothing of this one save that it was the only essay that I couldn't finish...and it wasn't even that long.

Michael Swanwick: My memory of this one is sketchy as well, but a wonderfully tied-together essay that was much more united than many of these, and inspiring. A new author to me, this essay impressed me with his style and appriciation and understanding of Tolkien's works.

Esther M. Friesner: Not very on-topic, but it made me laugh...different style, but good enough.

Harry Turtledove: Never did get the point he was trying to make, I don't think he did either. Rambling and random, but not boring at least.

Terry Pratchett: Pratchett was a bit condesencing (or more than a bit) in his essay, and it appeared to me that he came into the deal just to help sell the book with his popular name. No insights in this, and his lack of passion for Tolkien is apparent.

Robin Hobb: A refreshingly fluid essay, sharing her personal experiances and thoughts about the books. Loved this one, and I agreed with her on almost everything she said. Respectful of Tolkien in the way that I am...not forceful, but deeply passionate in a quiter way.

Ursula K LeGuin: Took me awhile to finish this one, but left me with a much better understanding of Tolkien's styles in prose. If you're shooting for new but not radical ideas and thoughts, this is worth the price of the book!

Diane Duane: More of a personal experiance essay, okay and entertianing enough, but not much substance.

Douglas A. Anderson: He said some things I didn't agree with, but his essay was excellent and informative, while being engaging. A nice history of Tolkien both personal and historical, nicely done.

Orson Scott Card: A bit rambling, but, though some of his ideas were questionable for me, very good. Card once again demostrates his understanding of the genre and its history and mechanics, conveying this in his usual intimate, sometimes sarcastic, fast-moving and informative fashion that I love so much.

Lisa Goldstien: Never heard of her, but a nice essay on why Tolkien was so different, important, and nessecary to our world.

Charles De Lint: I feel that he has seriously mis-interpretted certain bits of the book, seeing it as a bit too allegorical, and only grasping the points of it that he wants to understand. Poltically correct, this essay started good and went bad.

Hildebrant brothers: Can't say enough bad about them. They did this just for their own publicity, and I got very, very tired of hearing about how wonderful they were, and how perfect their interpretations were, and how much fun it is to illustrate...bleh. They are arrogant, concieted, and condecending, trying to compare themselves to Tolkien, and getting all upset over the lack of feminism in the books. Good for Tolkien, I say! I'm a woman, it doesn't bug me, and I don't need a bunch of guys looking out for my best intrests. I can do that myself! Burn this conversation, folks. It was awful.

Terri Windling: Nice conclusion to the book, inspiring and hopeful, and very touching. A bit feministic for my tastes, but a true tribute to Tolkien.

Overall, nice essays in general. If you're wondering, buy it. It's good light reading. But if you're looking for a serious academic study of Tolkien, buy Tom Shippey's "J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century" instead.

Brings out my own memories
This book really brought back some great memories. And not really in the vein of Tolkien amazingly enough. ( I am a major FAN of Tolkien). No, I was shockedthat when reading these essays I was quickly thrown back into my teenage years where I would read nothing but sci-fi/fantasy. I had almost forgotten how most of these authors had written in a basic, easy to read style that appealed to a young lad caught up in an adventurous, romantic mind set. I read these books as if I were love starved housewife needing my "Fabio on the cover" fix.
The good news is that I eventually outgrew this fixation, learning to read books that weren't written in under a month. But this book made me want to read some of their newer works, and, (gasp), reread some of them.
But seriously, this book is well worth the read. Some of the authors aren't all that great at writing non-fiction, (or even fiction for that matter), but it is nice to see them rahpsodizing about Tolkien. It is is also very nice to see John Howe's sketches scattered throughout, and his artwork on the cover was one of my favorite pictures long before I ever heard his name. He is an excellent artist, and I am so glad they used him as a conceptual designer on the LOTR' movies.
I give here a brief review of half the essays.
Karen Haber- Even though she was the editor of this book, her preface wasn't anything to write home about. Okay, I'll say it. It was DUMB.
George R.R. Martin- Martin, being stuck with the introduction, gives a short, concise read of what fantasy is and how Tolkien changed it. Well written and likable.
Michael Stanwick- I have never had the pleasure of reading Mr. Stanwick, but this gives me the desire to. He relates his experiences reading LOTR, gives a very nice piece on some of the dynamics of the characters, and talks of Tolkien's thoughts on allegory. He then finishes with a wonderfully heartwarming rendition of him reading the books to his young son, and how much more Sam's last words "Well, I'm back." meant to him then.
Esther Friesner- This essay was just plain funny. That is all I really remember. She didn't seem to have much to convey, but she did make me laugh.
Terry Pratchett- In true Brittish style, Pratchett brings real comic relief to this book. Just reading a short work as this brings to mind Monty Python, Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and his very own Discworld. This time he jumps headlong into the question" why is LOTR's still considered a cult classic, when it is the most popular book of the twentieth century?".He answers this in a way that would make Terry Gilliam or John Cleese proud to have written, showing how Mona Lisa and Pride and Prejudice fit into the equation. Bravo.
Ursula K. LeGuin- This was probably the best written of the bunch. Bypassing the "this is how I was first introduced to Tolkien's work" that pervades this book, Ursula gives a nice review of how Tolkien wrote his prose almost in a poetic metre. Taking one chapter of the fellowship, she shows how the different beats of action all corelate into a masterful work. Wish I had wrote it.
Orson Scott Card- The first page or two was alright, but after that it quickly detiorated into a study of "serious" vs. "escapist", that lost me in almost every paragraph. While making a few interesting points, it seemed mostly like he was just writing at random, and then forgot to put it into a cohesive format. All I can say is that Card should stick to writing fiction.
Hildebrandt Brothers- Before I write anything else, let me say this. I have never liked the brothers art. Sorry, but my bias will probably show in this one. Personally, I don't think that this should have been included in the book. Why not have John Howe or Alan Lee write something instead of this (rather lame) interview. Mostly they just banter back and forth about how skilled they are, talking about all their various projects, and occasionally thanking Tolkien for giving them the source material that made them famous. Pass.
Terri Windling- More so than all the others, this essay truly moved me. It recalled the wondefully romantic (in the classical sense of the word) thoughts, ideas, and feelings that I have always ascoiated with Tolkien, Indeed all fantasy in general. Interestingly enough, it wasn't the LOTR's that made her feel this way, But Tolkien's excellent lecture "On Fairy Stories", a beautiful work on the role of fantasy in the adult life. She also makes some great points about how Disney has changed the way we look at fairy tales, making them something just for children. Placing this essay at the end of the book definatly makes it feel as if they left the one of best for last.

Should you read this book? If you are a fan of tolkien, and don't mind a little light-hearted writing about him, then yes. If however you just happen to like a particular contributer, then you should probably shy away from this one.

Insightful collection of essays
MEDITATIONS ON MIDDLE EARTH is a collection of essays focusing on J.R.R. Tolkien's works, especially the Middle Earth saga.Some of the more renowned fantasy authors of today evaluate the series that made fantasy a household name.Surprisingly, though everyone agrees that Professor Tolkien opened up the genre to the middle class, not all of the contributors are fans of the actual novels.Insightful and entertaining, each essay is well written with the writer's particular spin.However, this anthology will be loved by those readers analyzing the various cultures in a way that cultural anthropologists would envy or by those fans who cherish Beowulf, which Tolkien felt is the forefather of the genre.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more