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The First Swords were forged by the gods as pieces in a great game, to be scattered across the world for mortals to fight over. Each of the 12 Swords was infused with a unique, powerful ability: the Sword of Siege could reduce a castle to rubble; Coinspinner would bring its wielder phenomenal luck; Shieldbreaker could best any weapon, even another Sword; Sightblinder would make its wielder appear to others as someone either greatly loved or greatly feared. These three books--the First, Second, and Third Book of Swords, first published in 1983 and 1984 and combined here in one volume--follow the slippery Swords as they pass from hand to hand, from queen to commoner and back again.

This trilogy probably qualifies as a fantasy classic just because it's such a great story. And it's probably so well loved because Saberhagen is such a genius. But what really cements the Swords books in the fantasy canon is simply that they tell a smart, involving story without ever getting bogged down in details. Many current authors, with their endless sequels and flabby plot lines, could learn from Saberhagen's tight pacing. Just as his equally engaging Berserker stories are a must for SF fans, no fantasy reader should miss out on these well-executed (and addictive!) books. --Paul HughesBook Description
Fred Saberhagen's Book of Swords novels have captivated fantasy readers for more than a decade. Here, now available in one volume, are the three books that started it all.For a game the gods have given the world twelve Swords of Power so that they might be amused as the nations battle for their possession. But Vulcan the Smith has had his own little joke: the Swords can kill the gods themselves. What started out as Divine Jest has become all too serious as the gods fight to recover the Swords, and mortals discover that the mantle of power is more delicious and more terrible than anything they could have imagined. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

gag
read several of these, could not finish the omnibus. Awful awful. Husband finished it so he could feel DONE, and "the ending is good." The rest is poorly written with a wandering plot a poorly described action. I was rarely sure what characters' motivations might be, as the characters barely existed.

A good fantasy read
The setting takes place on earth and the Greek gods on high.They decide to play a game with vulcan making twelve swords, each with a special power.The swords are given to humans who are spun in a fantastic plot of world domination and even god killing.At times a bit of megalomania comes in but it is such great read, you won't be disapointed.

A decent read mostly
The first book of swords is the best.It was good and didn't wander too much,Saberhagen just tries to fit too much in and eventually runs the story to the ground.But I repeat Read the first three anyways,they do make for a good read.

great fun!
This book will never be mistaken as great literature, but it sure was a fun read. Lots of nice plot devices, and a unique story idea!

Great Collection
Fred Saberhagen is a master at writing a fast paced, tight story.This trilogy is a fantasy classic and I would recommend it along with the Empire of the East trilogy to anyone.With Gods, magic, and twelve mythical swords, adventure abounds in this story.I would recommend his Lost Swords series as well, which can be picked up in collected editions much like this original tale. ... Read more

Book Description
Fred Saberhagen continues his Berserker Seriesreg;, a chronicle of a war between humanity and the terrifying race of sentient machines bent on death and destruction. Pilot Harry Silver's name is know throughout the galaxy. While he has defeated his share of Berserkers, he has also stolen a powerful weapon from the Space Force, making him a fugitive from the life he once knew. Looking for an adventure Harry agrees to bring a passenger aboard his ship: Lily, a woman who is on a quest to retrieve her husband.It won't be easy, as Lily's husband has joined a secretive religious cult on Maracanda, an almost-planet lodged between a shifting black hole and a neutron star. While the landscape of Maracanda is treacherous, so too, may be the people around Harry Silver. For as the search for Lily's husband deepens, Harry finds himself investigating a larger mystery and looking for missing persons, almost ending up one himself.And, as always, there is the threat of death from above, in the path of a machine whose only intent is to kill. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Very full of surprises
This is the first berserker novel I have read in several years.I found it quite entertaining, largely for the quite extraordinary stellar system, which consists of a black hole, a neutron star "pulsar," and a "habitable body" called Maracanda.This place is NOT a planet, as several characters keep repeating almost as a mantra.

The concept -- for the sake of entertainment at least -- is that the gravitational distortions of massive objects in a tight orbit have created weirdness on the habitable portion of Maracanda.Traveling around or adventuring on Maracanda is quite an experience of time and space dilation.

The characterization is not very deep for the most part, although the protagonist Harry came to life pretty well for me.He is part rogue and part "the last honest man."There's a kind of love linkage in the character of Lily, although the author never really has time or room to build this into too much.Really, Harry's first love is his intelligent ship, the Witch.The ship is actually a better developed character than some of the characters.

As a very "fun read," I give this book pretty good marks.As for quality, I think the author succeeded in creating an imaginary place that is -- ta ta! -- ORIGINAL and that keeps you guessing.

The berserkers are a fun concept -- a bit like the Cylons in Battlestar Galactica or the "replicators" in SG-1.In short, legion of self-replicating robots with the gone-wrong mission imperative of exterminating all life.These are not original, but they make pretty good -- and scary -- villains.Because in the war with the berserkers, it appears mankind is LOSING . . .

If you want a fun read that keeps you turning pages, and some very original ideas spun off of Einstein's relativity and astrophysics -- I think you will like this.It is not "War and Peace" but it is fun -- and good of its kind.

Tedious and meandering
Years ago, Saberhagen published a series of short stories on berserkers which collectively became classics. Since then, his productivity on this idea has slowed. But he recently released this book.

Sadly disappointing compared to his earlier work. Part of the reason may have been that his short stories intrinsically had to have tighter focus. Here, the plot meanders over a zany unearthly landscape. Perhaps Saberhagen was trying to show his ability in fashioning a truly bizarre arena. But it was hard to identify with any of the characters.

Though the main character shows some potential. Akin to the Stainless Steel Rat, Slippy Jim diGriz, in Harry Harrison's novels.

More to the point, people who read Berserker novels want to see descriptions of actions against the Berserkers. Not the tedious shilly shallying of this book.

Saberhagen is capable of far better than this sloppy rendition.

Not the best in the Berserker series
Fred Saberhagen is widely acknowledged as one of science fiction's foremost masters of military science fiction, especially with his acclaimed "Berserker" series. However, "Berserker's Star" is the worst installment I have seen so far, coming across as a poorly written "Star Trek" novel, than another exciting tome in Saberhagen's series. His two protagonists, Harry, the irascible merchant ship captain, and Lily, his passenger, didn't garner much enthusiasm or interest in either character from me. If you are a fan of Saberhagen's work, I would recommend skipping this novel and reading instead, his earlier, critically acclaimed works.

Maracanda was a dangerous place...
An almost-planet, trapped between a black hole and a neutron star, this is the last place youi would think Harry
Silver would end up at.But being on the run from the Space Force makes for an interesting life and, as he is always looking for more adventure, he agrees to take some passengers to this world.
Little did he know he would have to deal with the Space Force, drug smugglers, missing persons and, of course, berserkers.
366 pages, very focused, much better than the last few Berserker books.Still, I would of liked more berserkers.

Saberhagen Coasting
Berserker's Star reads like a first draft and is badly in need of some editing.The plot drags through the first half of the book, and, even when it does pick up, it is convoluted and confused.The characters are not well-developed, and are, on the whole, rather uninteresting.Kul is an exception, but still he gets tedious.With only a brief role, General Pike may have been the best of the bunch.I grew all too tired of them.The story line is interesting, but hardly sufficient to hold this together.Still, I think that there is a great book in here that is fighting to get out, probably at about half the length.I read many of the books in this series years ago, and my recollection is that they were well-paced.It appears that established authors, like Saberhagen, don't feel compelled to really put in the kind of work necessary to create polished jewels, but are content with producing only rough cut stones, and coast on their name.Saberhagen has followed in the footsteps of Roger Zelazny and Tony Hillerman, to name a couple, who have failed to maintain the same level of storytelling as they had in their early works. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

not the best of this series
I am a big fan of Empire of the East and the Sword series. I have read them many times and came across Ardnehs Sword by accident in the book store.

Ardnehs Sword was mediocre. I enjoy reading Saberhagens style and overall enjoyed the book. But what was the point? There was so much more that could have been done with this book that transitioned between Empire and the Sword series...I just don't see what value was added with Ardnehs Sword.

If you are a fan of the series, buy it, enjoy it. But don't set your expectations too high.

Spoiler - honestly it could be summed up in a sentence or two. Rolfs descendent finds leftover technology that creates the Gods out of random humans. That pretty much sums it up.

Crap
I bought this book because I liked Saberhagen's Empire of the East. However, this book could not be more different. I had to check to make sure that it was by the same author, and not some third party spinoff. Imagine if a senile Tolkien made a sequel to The Lord of the Rings that was aimed at ten year old children. This book is like that, but even worse. After reading this I'm now trying to forget as much about this book as possible: do yourself a favor and don't buy it in the first place.

Not as good as Empire of the East, but was good never the less.
Before I read Ardneh's Sword, I read Empire of the East again, about 20 years after I first read Empire.I enjoyed the reread of Empire more than my first read of Ardneh's Sword, but Ardneh's Sword is still a good book even though it does not live up to Empire, which is Saberhagen's best.

The pace of the book's action is good, and Saberhagen is as skilled as ever when it comes to creating good characters that are real to the reader.

I would recommend anyone who has not read either Empire of the East or Ardneh's Sword to read Empire first, then move on to the Sword second.

Out of place in the Empire/Sowrds world
If you are an avid fan of the Empire of the East and the Book of Swords legacy, you will be greatly disappointed in this book. I had just finished rereading the Empire/Swords books when I got this one. I was excited to get this since it had been so many years since The Last Book of Swords (Shieldbreaker) was published.I was hoping this book would give insight into what had occurred between the Empire and Swords periods and maybe it would shed some light on who the Emperor actually is.

After reading it, I was disappointed...so I read it again, thinking I had missed something...I hadn't. The book was just completely out of character from the other series and in reality could have been written by someone else not that familiar with the previous books. The book itself isn't bad, but if you have read the other books, don't expect it to fit in well with those.

I am a little hesitant to get Saberhagens Book of Gods series because I don't want to taint the Empire series, as I hear they may take place in the same universe. If they are anything like Ardnehs Sword, I am sure they will be disappointing as well.

Satisfying
I've said it more often than not; Fred Saberhagen is my favorite author for several reasons. One that came to mind throughout Ardneh's Sword was the way he satisfied me with recurring details from the previous books to foreshadow events in this one. He has a knack for causing me to smile and say "Yes!" Of course no one in the room around me understands my muttered outburst. Mr. Saberhagen, thank you for the wonderful sequel to my favorite series, Empire of the East. That series, in one paper bound volume, was one of only two books I lovingly covered with plastic just after I read it as a young man. ... Read more

Book Description
Long ago, the gods forged Twelve Swords of Power and threw them on the gameboard of life for greedy mortals to scramble over. Too late, the gods learned that they had forged too well; the Swords could kill the gods themselves.Now, ages later, the Swords are back in human hands, as powerful as ever. Vilkata the Dark King returns from exile seeking revenge on those who defeated him. His first goal is the vault in which is enemy Prince Mark has placed the remaining Swords; with these in hand, none can oppose his rule. Only one untested warrior stands in his way: fourteen-year-old Prince Stephen, with Shieldbreaker in hand. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Surprised, not disappointed.
If I hadn't already read this book, I probobly wouldn't after reading all but one of these reviews...then again, that hasn't been all that unusual with the reviews I've seen on Amazon.Almost every review that I've bothered to write has been because I felt the need to counterbalance some very over-the-top reviews; this is definitely a case in point...

Some of the reviewers here claim to have enjoyed the rest of the series which almost made me stop myself from making this statement, but I'll take a chance and make it anyway: If you enjoyed the rest of the series, chances are good that you'll enjoy this book as much or more.The ending was not what I expected but in most of the books that I have enjoyed, the ending was somewhat of a surprise; frankly, I would have been disappointed if Fred HAD done the most obvious thing (whatever that is!).

Is it possible that he wanted to be done with the Swords?Certainly.If that was the reason, I really don't care.It is said that Tchaikovsky's 6th symphony was his way of dealing with his homosexual feelings; when I heard that I gave a little shudder and continued enjoying the music as much as I ever did.Whatever Fred's reason for ending the series the way he did doesn't change the fact that this is a fantastic book by any standard.

As a postscript I should point out that if Fred truly was sick of the world of the swords, explain the recent release of "Ardneh's Sword".This book was truly unnecessary to the series and the questions it answers could have been answered without going to the trouble of adding another 348 pages to the series.

Heavens to Betsy!
Don't read the other reviews of this book and walk away thinking that this series is not worth checking out.I wept when this book ended, but mainly because it ended and I read it long after it was published and thus knew that no other books in the series would be forthcoming.

I was a bit disappointed that Saberhagen felt the need to destroy all the swords at the end of the book.I guess he was getting tired of the setting and wanted to slam, not shut the door.I wish that he had left Coinspinner around at the least..... Ah, but life is filled with tragedy.....

If you enjoy fantasy, you simply MUST read this book.The world is incredibly detailed and it really is a crime that there never was a role playing game developed based on the novels.

I won't go as far as to say that these books are better than the LOTR, but they are comparable.That statement, in it self speaks volumes.

Egads!
I was all set to write a stinging review of the terrible book that killed this great series- but it would just echo what has already been written.And that ending- good grief Fred, what were you smoking???So, I am here just to slam this piece of garbage with 1 star.

Do not read this book!!!
If you enjoyed the rest of the series, stop and don't read this book.Yes, you will be left wondering what happens to the rest of the swords, who is the Emperor, what happens to Mark and the rest, but live with the curiosity.This book goes beyond anticlimactic, it is just awful.The ending and the explanation of the Emperor is so...I can't even find words for how disappointing it is.
I'm left wondering if Saberhagen didn't outgrow the series and quickly wrote Shieldbreaker's story to bring the series to a close so he could move on to other endeavors.I can not believe that he actually thought that this ending would satisfy his readers.

I can not stress enough how thoroughly disappointing and frustrating the ending of this book is.Saberhagen should personally apologize to everyone who read this book

Unsatisfying ending makes a good book mediocre
Most of the book was fine, but the end section was a poor conclusion to the book, and the series. (WARNING! Specific plot details follow!) Just so readers are forewarned, the Emperor is never explained, and he gives a strange quasi-religious statement about himself. Here it is, verbatim: "Some long ago have called me the Sabbath, or the Covenant--Some have called me Wisdom. Some lately have said that I am the Program of Creation."

Has Saberhagen found Christianity, and he's trying to inject it into his fiction? What the heck is he trying to get at, here? Beats me, and the book left me scratching my head and wondering what happened to this gifted writer. ... Read more

Book Description
Long ago, the gods forged Twelve Swords of Power and threw them on the gameboard of life for men to scramble over. But they forged too well; the Swords could kill the gods themselves.Now the great Mindsword reenters the world of men, bringing others' mindless devotion to him who wields it: Prince Murat of Culm, who intends to give it to Princess Kristin of Tasavalta. But first he draws it--and receives worship from his own son, from the princess herself, and from a horrifying "ally."It is up to Prince Mark of Tasavalta: his wife and kingdom, and the world, all may be lost to the Mindsword. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A FUN READ
I WOULD RECOMMEND TO ANYONE TO READ THE COMPLETE SERIES FRED SABERHAGEN WROTE ON THE SWORDS BOOKS. PLAIN AND SIMPLE, FUN READ

Gift
I purchased this book as a gift, and the receipient is very happy with it

Saberhagen gives up on an overarching plot for Lost Swords
The tantalizing hints concerning some sort of overplot for the Lost Swords are here abandoned, as Saberhagen abandons any pretense of writing novels that aren't self-contained.
It's a passing good story, well written and interesting, as per usual Saberhagen, but the slippery slope of events that gets the main plot going is weaker than readers familiar with Mr. Saberhagen have come to expect.The story involves Prince Murat (from the 1st book of Lost swords), and his failed attempt to bring the Mindsword to Princess Kristin as a gesture of friendship.The bad guy is the former Dark King, Vilkata, who we last saw fifteen years earlier, being cast into a snowy mountain abyss by Vulcan, after having lost his eyesight, magic, and wits.

Worth a read
Not the first book in the wonderful Book of Sword series I would suggest,if your alread in the series it keeps the story going. Previous books inthe Lost Book of Swords are better, after reading I got the impression FredSaberhagen was ready to finish off the series. ... Read more

Book Description
In the distant future, society has crumbled. Dark forces now rule the land, keeping all humans under their oppressive thumbs.In the darkness of the shadows and whispered on the winds, there is talk of a rebellion. In the swamps, a small band has formed. Determined to regain their freedom, the rebellion, heavily outnumbered, plans to overthrow an army of thousands . . . with the help of one incredible weapon.It is only a legend, a story left over from the Old World before magic and the wizards came to the land. A weapon of technology. It is the mystical Elephant, and whoever masters it holds the key to freedom, or defeat.One young man, determined to avenge the death of his family, sets out to join the rebellion and find Elephant. What he discovers will change everything. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Empire of the East
Fred Saberhagen is an icon in the world of fantasy and science fiction writing. Some of the first sci-fi I read was his work. His style has evolved since the fist book in this trilogy, the Broken Lands.
The Broken Lands tells the story of Rolf, a farm boy whose family is murdered by the Eastern Empire army that has conquered his homeland. Rolf, while searching for his missing little sister. In his journey he joins the small resistance and gets swept into the search for the Elephant, a mythical beast prophesied to help free them.
The Elephant is part of the Old World. The story revolves around the fact that the world of technology was destroyed and the world of magic arose. The Elephant is a relic of the old world that still works, a nuclear powered tank that has remained hidden in a secure bunker for thousands of years. Apparently, technology from the Old World is far advanced of what we have today.
Rolf and his allies defeat the local Satrap of the East, but in the process, they lose the Elephant and all it's power. The book ends with the resistance preparing for a larger war against the Empire.
This first book has a fast pace, but leaves a lot of the details unexplained. It is a little unbelievable, but the pacing and characters are good, so it is a pleasant read. Luckily the next two books are much better.
In the Black Mountain, the Eastern Empire's local lord is Som the Dead. He is an undead sorcerer that has been given control over the Western lands. In this book, you see just how evil the East is. It is full of political infighting and deceit.
The story is told from Rolf's point of view as well as Chup, a former Satrap of the East who was captured by the resistance in the last book. Rolf and the resistance go up against Som and his demon minion, Zapranoth. In this book you see more of the technology and get a better idea of the fall of the Old World. The characters are much better defined and written. There is plenty of action, which I like.
This story is also about redemption. Chup turns from the path of evil and defects to the Western armies. To be honest, I like Chup's character the best. Chup has an iron code of honor and a blunt honesty that is admirable. He turns out to be the hero that defeats Zapranoth.
In Ardneh's World, we meet the Emperor of the East, an immortal named John Ominor. He has command of the most powerful wizards and demons on the planet. We also meet Ardneh, the Godlike being indirectly supporting the West. This book is the ultimate confrontation between the two.
The power of the east is anchored in the might of the demon Orcus, the most powerful being in existence. The story tells of the creation of magic and demons by the Old World.
There was a great nuclear war in the past. The scientists of the Old World developed a technology against nuclear war that changed the rules of physics. This change caused advanced technology to stop working and brought into being the powers of magic. Orcus was created by a nuclear explosion that went off at the same time that the rules changed. Any act of violence that happened at that exact moment created a demon. The more violent and powerful the act, the more powerful the demon. But the rules of magic were not fixed, and have slowly been sliding back to where science works again.
Which is where Ardneh comes in. Ardneh is a self aware computer designed to reverse the change and allow science to come back into ascendancy. Ardneh is a benevolent being who stands for all that was good from the Old World. He has set his course against the Empire of the East and all the evil that supports it.
Rolf is recruited by Ardneh to assist in the final battle against Orcus and the Eastern Armies. The story ends with the rules being partially reversed and Orcus is turned back into the nuclear explosion that birthed him. But the rules did not totally reverse. They are now equal. Science and magic powers coexist in the New World.
This story is a prequel to Fred's massively successful fantasy series The Books of Swords. It tells the back story of Ardeh and Draffut that figure so much in that series.

Empire of the East
Excellent epic by Saberhagan.Long tale of a post-apocalyptic Earth and how magic and magical beings good and evil, have been loosed upon the Earth.Good read.

No-Frills Fantasy at its Best!
Anytime I get sick of the over-written, under-edited garbage that many publishing houses pass off as fantasy literature these days, I turn to my 1979 Ace Books edition of Empire of the East.

Saberhagen's sparse, fast-paced style may seem harsh to people who grew up with the 90's and new millennium bloated literary vomit of Robert Jordan and his ilk; however, anyone who is willing to step past the "more words = better writing" mindset will be happily surprised by the energy, characterization, plotting, and true sense of proper conclusion that Empire of the East provides.

Empire of the East is a fine example of late 60's, early 70's fantasy: characters grow in direct correlation to their deeds and not through some unappetizing mechanism of video game-like power levels that has become the norm these days; moral and ethical issues are explored through the stories and not through the preachy 40-page socio-political rants made famous by Terry Goodkind; and, best of all, it's a rousing good tale that you can get through in a few days and walk away from deeply satisfied.

I would recommend Empire of the East to anyone, but would also warn that it is not for everyone.Most people who only know fantasy that reads tolerably well when skipping one page in eight will need to develop a taste for books like Empire of the East.Still, it is well worth doing if you are looking for an exceptional book that can be read and re-read once every five or so years over your entire lifetime.

A HORRIBLE BOOK - I CANNOT BELIEVE THE POSITIVE REVIEWS
When I first saw this book in the Fantasy Section of the bookstore, my interest was piqued.Being a relatively fast reader, I tend to look for long, complex books, with memorable characters and good, original plots.After reading the back of the book, I was sure this book fulfilled both counts; it was long, at 512 pages, it was a self-contained trilogy of three shorter books (The Broken Lands, The Black Mountains, and Ardneh's World), but best of all, the plot seemed fascinating.
To summarize, it is about a world at least 50 000 years in the future, after a devastating nuclear near-holocaust has wiped out technology, but introduced a weak form of magic, as well as demons.The evil Empire of the East has conquered the lands of the West, but a bold army of freedom fighters has risen up in revolt.Despite their bravery, they cannot win unless they find Elephant, a legendary creature of great power.Into this steps Rolf, a farmer who lost his entire family to the Empire of the East.Thirsting for revenge, he agrees to find Elephant.He does find it (in reality a tank), and thanks to this, they are able to liberate the West.The next two-thirds of the book chronicle how he helps the West overthrow the East.While doing this, he rescues a Princess and discovers the sentient supercomputer Ardneh, which helps him defeat the Demon Orcus at the cost of its own existence.
Now on to the review!First, the good things.This story had some very memorable characters, ranging from the seductive, yet ultimately evil, Charmain, to the noble, omnicompassionate Draffut, called the Beastlord, not to mention Ardneh itself.Secondly, this story had some very well written scenes; the chapter in which Ardneh describes its origins as a computer designed to ward off a nuclear holocaust is particularly well-crafted.
Now on to the bad things about this book.
Firstly, the plot much too simple for an adult novel.While reading it, one can't help but feel at times that the story reads like the novelization of a B-movie.Movies should have reasonably simple, visual plots, while good novels should have more complex plots.The lack of complex plotting makes this story feel like a movie.The description on the back, which had so enthralled me, turned out to be the description for the first book only, the bare bones of which could have had great potential if handled in the right way.This kind of book would be good for young adults, or adults who don't like overly-complex storylines, but if you're looking for a book with even a moderately complicated plot, avoid this one all costs.
Secondly, the story is simply too clichéd.A literary cliché can actually be very subtle and well-written, if it is written with enough originality.The plot of The Broken Lands, book one of the trilogy, is basically a "get the sword" story, the only difference being the replacement of "the sword" with "Elephant".In Ardneh's World, the final book of the trilogy, Rolf actually rescues and falls in love with a princess!And I always thought Fantasy had moved past such tired "rescue and fall in love with the beautiful princess" clichés!A literary cliché can actually be very subtle and well-written, if it is written with enough originality.Unfortunately, Saberhagen obviously failed to recognize this, as evidenced by the fact that his clichéd plot devices possess little, if any originality
Thirdly, the story was riddled with characters who should have been (more) important, but for some reason weren't.At times, they appeared at random and vanished again, only to reappear again much later, or not at all.For example, at one point, Rolf rescues his long-lost sister, who should have become, if not major, at least a medium character.You would think that this would at least be a major plot development.Well, guess what? Rolf's sister gets only one line at the end of The Black Mountains, after which she and the rescue are never mentioned again!
This leads me to my fourth complaint: the story was very disjointed, almost (in my opinion) too disjointed to be called a trilogy.Not just characters, but entire plotlines which seem important disappear, never to be seen again.eVEN THE "GOOD" elements have been done to death: evil, seductive princess: Check; sentient supercomputer: Check; nucleur holocaust/post apocalypse: Check.wHILE THESE THEMES have been done well elsewhere, they were not well done here.Unfortunately, there is an overlying plot, however tenuous, so one cannot hope to understand it if one reads the last two parts alone.The first part could be read as a stand-alone book, but it's mediocre at best, so it shouldn't be worth the bother.If you are looking for good fantasy novels (something which, contrary to popular belief, is not an oxymoron) look elsewhere.I would recommend A Song of Ice and Fire, by George R. R. Martin, AND The Lion of Macedon, by David Gemmal.As an introduction to fantasy for young adult readers, I highly recommend Goblin Wood and The Farsala Trilogy, both by Hilari Bell, as well as The Bartimaeus Trilogy, by Jonathan Stroud.

Bewildered by the praise!
I bought a used copy of this book and read it because a review by Roger Zelazny compared it to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and called it superior.I don't know what everyone is smoking who praises this book so lavishly, but send me some now!!!There are a number of interesting plot elements, characters, and settings which is why I allowed it two stars.The problem is that the disjointed storyline and plot threads that trickle off to nothing take away from what might have been a great story.By the time I had finished reading the book I was wondering if I had mistakenly purchased a first outline that was meant for a publisher to review.But, alas, the book is the final product. I am not a sci-fi or fantasy snob and read everything from Niven to Piper and Tolkien to Piers Anthony so I think that I have a wide range of reading experience to use in evaluating this book.I would not go so far as to recommend avoiding the book (reference the above mentioned good points) but would warn any potential reader that there is far better Saberhagen out there. It's not often that I feel negatively about a book that I've read but I just feel that the praise of this one led me to an unfulfilled sense of expectation which did not materialize once the story spun out.Good luck. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

An Old Compendium of Shorts
Decades ago, Fred Saberhagen created a universe where humanity and a few other species are at war with a race of machines. Nobody knows too much about the machines except that they are programmed to destroy all life. The supposition is that they were created for an ancient war and that they eventually destroyed their creators. Now they are the problem of the entire galaxy.

This is not one story. Instead, it is a collection of shorter stories. Some are very compelling and some were, to me, a bit tedious. This impression may just be because of the mood I was in while I was reading them. They are all old but very timeless. This was a major series in its time and it is still worthwhile today. It is not my favorite but I have no regrets in having read it. I will probably read all the others as well.

The Best of SF
If you haven't read Fred Saberhagen's stories about the Berserkers, you haven't read some of the best science fiction ever writen.Buy this book--you won't be disappointed!

Can't We All Just Get Along?
Saberhagen's Berserkers have been scaring you pitiful humans for years. Powerful, insensate, planet-sized warships dedicated to wiping out all life everywhere. Now, I come to you as a representative of a powerful machinecivilization to offer you peace. Berserkers are only a myth. We robots areperfectly friendly. There is no need to fear. Hemphill, put down thatblaster! Argh! Help, goodlife! Save me!

How do you fight an enemy that isnt alive?
How dose one kill what isnt alive, how do youhurt somthing thats feels no pain,how do you reason with something that knows only how to kill, how do you survive aginst somthing that has never lost and will never stop?Bersekers is a book about a group machines created millions of years agowith an artifical brain. These brains knew one thing and had one objective,kill all life. They had traveled threw the galexy for hundreds of millionsof years killing all life they came across untill they ran into a smallgroup of life that refused to die, man. This book is made of many shortstories from boath sides of the war. They tell of the berserkes neverending pursuit for the end of life and of the human fight aginst geniside.I liked this book because its diffrent. The good guy doesnt always winbut story stays posotive. In my opinion its one of the best sci-fictionbooks I have ever read.

Brilliant science fiction from a master short story teller..
This compendium contains Saberhagen's tauted Berserker stories chronicled from the perspective of a benign historian of an advanced pacifist race.Individually the stories vary in their expose of humanity's battle againstancient war machines whose sole purpose is the extinction of all life.Theberserkers have spent millenia cutting a swath through the galaxy untilthey finally come upon human occuppied space.Humanity, being the leastevolved race and therefore having retained the barbaric ability to kill andmake war, are, ironically, the only beings capable of defending life.

These stories are almost legendary classics among science fiction andhave bred numerous reincarnations from Star Wars' Death Star to Star Trek'sBorg.From Dr. Who to Babylon 5, these tales have been inspiration to thecurrent generation of science fiction.

Unfortunately, Saberhagen's owntalen's fail when tackling a longer format, and I cannot recommend thesubsequent novels.This book though is pure gold. ... Read more

Book Description
Hercules, the son of Zeus, crushed monsters, giants, and legendary warriors in combat. Until one challenge remains: The harrowing underworld, the place where strength does not matter. Against the greatest monsters that classical literature and Saberhagens imagination could create, Hercules struggles come vividly to life in his fight to the death, against Death itself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A pleasant if not captivating addition to the series
Saberhagen continues his saga of gods from Greek/Roman mythology with this volume written from the first-person perspective of Hercules.

Saberhagen does a nice job of tying together the legend of Hercules with his own story line, although this volume is a little bland compared to the last two, with things going a little too easily, too simply.Hercules character development is a little stilted, and somebody missing from the first two volumes makes an appearance.But Saberhagen's narrative style is quite enjoyable, and I sped through this volume.Recommended if you enjoyed the earlier books, but not a good place to start the series.

The adventures of Hercules
"Arms of Hercules" is the third book in Fred Saberhagan's "Book of the Gods" series; but it is the first one I have read.The book concerns the adventures of young Hercules (who it seems has the physical apperance of Kevin Sorbo; coincidence?Maybe not.) as he travels the known world on a variety of quests at the behest of many gods, mainly Hermes and Apollo.The ultimate goal is to speak to his father, Zeus.But his father wants Hercules' help in fighting a war against the Giants, who posses a weapon that the gods can not even stand againt.

I really enjoyed the book, even though it is the third in a series it is not hard at all to pick up.All the missing pieces are connected for you.The action was fast paced and exciting, and the characters were mostly warm and easy to like; even Death.I also liked that the book was in the first person of Hercules himself, and he sets the record straight on many of the myths and legends surrounding him, including the wrath of Hera, his stay with the Amazons, the real reason he left the Argos expidition, and especially the 12 Labors (the truth behind the stable cleaning incident was especially entertaining).If there was one weak point, it was the Enkidu.He is Hercules's annoying little nephew.But he was gone before he could do any permanant damage.A great book, and I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

a delightful journey
I've enjoyed reading Fred Saberhagen's novels for almost twenty years now. He is very talented, having the ability to breathe life into the worlds which he creates, worlds which become, for all intents and purposes, real, and which many of us would love to live in, no matter the dangers to be found there. Fred's stories always have so much depth to them that they are a delight to read - they are so vivid that they allow you to feel as if you are right there watching the events unfold before your eyes. His new series, Book of the Gods, is highly imaginative and thought-provoking.

The Arms of Hercules is the third novel in this Book of the Gods series, and it differs slightly from the previous two, in that it is more of a first person narrative. Much to the amusement of my editor and friends, I have had a little difficulty with this review. As I read the book, it seemed that the voice which was relating the tales of this incredibly strong son of Zeus was actually that of Kevin Sorbo. Okay, maybe I do watch too much television, or perhaps it is just that there was so much hype surrounding Hercules and Xena. Either way, this is the voice which told the tale.

Fred's Hercules is very different from the character Kevin Sorbo portrayed. This Hercules is younger, and of a much more average build. He is nothing more than a teen when he is sent with his cousin to herd sheep, and his adventures begin. Being the son of an almost completely omnipotent father and a human mother has got to play havoc with one's body and mind, but Hercules seems to deal with it better than most human boys would. He is logical and tries to reason out his emotions where his lineage is concerned, and does quite well.

As is to be expected when there is any tale concerning the legendary Hercules, there are a number of monsters and giants, and other sundry opponents which he must face. Killing is not something which Hercules really enjoys, though, and he would also prefer to remain cloaked in anonymity while his cousin basks in the glory.

This is a subject which has, in my mind, been done to death. However, Fred manages to breathe just enough new life into it that I wasn't bored. I knew what was to come to a certain extent, but there were a few changes of drastic import which added to the adventure. And of course the "god faces," translucent half-masks which imbue the human avatar with that particular god's attributes, are very prominent.

Hercules is mortal, and has no need of one of the "god faces;" however, there is now talk between Daedalus and Haphaestus of attempting to make one. During the course of this story Hercules is brought together with his father, Zeus, and the rest of the immortals as they battle for their very existence against an ancient foe. Not exactly the reason for father-son time that Hercules had desired, but he will still take what time he can get.

I recommend reading this novel, as well as the previous two, The Face of Apollo and Ariadne's Web. It is a delightful journey through classic literature made even more interesting by Fred's prodigious imagination and writing skills.

Review Originally Posted at LinearReflections.com

Not bad
This was actually alot better than the previous one. I read it clear through. Its a good read. And educational too..

Another Solid effort by Mr. Fred Saberhagen
As an avid reader of the genre fantasy, i have come upon the books of Fred Saberhagen. I have read some other books by him like the "Lost Swords" books and "Merlin's Bones".Having read books 1 and 2 of "The book of the Goods" Book three is another interesting and exciting episode in this solid series by Saberhagen. ... Read more

Book Description
Long, long ago, the Gods forged Twelve Swords of Power, each with a unique and deadly quality. They forged too well, for the swords could kill the Gods themselves. Then the swords were lost, scattered across the land; and many are they, both good and evil, who are desperate to find them again.This story is of Farslayer, the sword that can kill from across and entire world. The game is fierce; the prize is the sword. The players are Black Pearl, and enscorcelled mermaid, and Cosmos her treacherous lover; Prince Zoltan and Prince Mark; the evil macrowizard Wood; and an enigmatic woman who arrives astride a griffin... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fourth Book of Swords
This book does not deserve to be in print.It wanders too far from where the story needs to be,I wish I could get a refund for it.

Great Book, Slow Start
I think I've read this whole series, or at least the books I can get my hands on that is.The books are excellent, with well-developed characters and interesting story line.The author uses a system of magic I haven'tseen anywhere else, the universe is based on group belief, if enough peoplebelieve something it's real... as people lose belief it dies... Well Farslayer's story is about 2 feuding families who hate each other so much;they forget what they hate each other for.Far Slayer enters their worldand the two families start killing each other off... There is a Romeo AndJuliet thing going here too... it starts slow, but ends well... I enjoyedit very much... just hang in through the beginning and you'll be glad youdid. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Seance for a Vampire
Not the greatest book in the series.Liked later ones much better.

Sherlock Holmes and Dracula?
Not only do Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, and Rasputin manage to show up in the same novel, but Saberhagen unconvincingly proposes that Holmes and Dracula are cousins. The novel is not tightly constructed enough in some respects for my tastes, and in other places details I would like to have known more about are not explored. The story is told from the perspective of both Dr. Watson and Dracula and switches back and forth. Also, it is easy to guess what happened in the case of the drowned girl (the 'mystery' part of the novel). It shouldn't require the legendary sleuth Sherlock Holmes to figure it out.

A bit farfetched
I really hate to say this, because I've never given anyone less than four stars, but I wasn't really impressed with this book.I found it a bit farfetched that Dracula was related to Holmes, and it added many complicating elements to the story.But overall, it was a decent book, and certainly not the worst I've ever read.I suppose if you're really into vampires and such like that you might be interested, but I don't believe in the supernatural (unless you count God) and I don't think that Holmes would either.

Not Saberhagen's best, but still worthy
I bought this book because I was blown away by his alternative telling of 'Frankenstein' (which appears, tragically, to be out of print.)It didn't live up to my first taste of Saberhagen, and so disappointed me.... but asa representative of the vampire and Holmesian genres, it's an originalentry and a pleasant light read.

Extremely well written
I think that this book was well written and has alot of detail. This author has a very vivid imagination and has used it well. I think that it is material that could be made into movie. I very much enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who like mysteries. The book does move a little slow in the beginning, but it picks up soon enough. ... Read more

Book Description
Kate Southerland has been murdered. But she is not dead. Johnny Southerland has vanished, a severed, bloody finger the only clue.The Southerlands are trapped in a blood-feud older than history. Their enemy is no mortal madman but the undying mistress of evil enchantment, Morgan Le Fay.But the Southerlands are not Morgan's true target. She seeks to do battle with their protector, their defender, the only being who can save these mortals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Reprint of Mr. Saberhagen's fine first vampire tale
In Chicago, the wealthy Southerland family struggles to persuade Police Detective Franzen that something bad has happened to their beloved Kate Southerland.He agrees with them once her corpse is found.Unbeknownst to the family though they descend from Wilhelmina Hacker she is not just dead.

At the same time, someone abducts Kate's younger brother Johnny leaving a bloody finger behind as evidence of foul play.Since CPD failed them with Kate, the family matriarch Clarissa turns to a long time family friend Dr. Emile Corday for assistance.He investigates the murder and the turning of Kate as well as the kidnapping on the assumption they are linked beyond sibling coincidence.He soon concludes that the assailants are using the Harker descendents as pawns in a deadly blood feud over a century old and a continent away with the ultimate target being Dr. Emile Corday.

This is a reprint of Fred Saberhagen's fine first vampire tale with 1980's references like the Pointer Sisters.The story line is action-packed starting off as a mystery that turns into much more especially when Dracula arrives on the scene to protect the Harker brood from an evil sorceress only to realize that there is much more on the agenda.Fans of Mr. Saberhagen's vampire thrillers will appreciate AN OLD FRIEND OF THE FAMILY, which readers know lives up to its title.

Harriet Klausner

A Well-Balanced Treatment
The difficulty of dealing with vampires in fiction is caused by the problem of balancing their near-supernatural powers with the limited ability of humans to deal with them. Saberhagen short-circuits this by changing sides! His favorite vampire uses his abilities to help humans, frequently at his own peril. This book illustrates this without pushing it to extremes, and he allows the poor humans to intervene decisively at critical points. A very good read or re-read!

A Fiend in the Family
I didn't particularly like The Dracula Tapes, but I thought that might have been because it seemed forced; Saberhagen was obliged to stick with the "facts" as written by Bram Stoker, which produced some very silly and unintentionally comical results.

I was sufficiently entertained so as to be drawn to a second novel, hoping that the author might do better when not fettered by the chains of existing narrative.I selected "An Old Friend of the Family" because it is an early book and might still retain something fresh.

I was dead wrong.Writing in 81, Saberhagen makes attempts to modernize his tale of Dracula coming to rescue Mina Harker's descendants but those efforts now seem dated and comical.The entire setup, about Morgan Le Fay and her minions, seems forced.And kidnaping Dracula by whacking him on the head with a wooden stake just seems ridiculous.

This book is the one that pretty much convinced me not to bother with the rest of the series.

Good Vampire story
This was one of my favorite vampire stories that I've read!! Definately recommend to vampire readers.

The best of the series
Dracula comes to modern-day Chicago to rescue the descendants of Mina Harker.The characters are three-dimensional and the story is gripping right up to the end.This is one of my all-time favorite books. ... Read more

Product Description
Those of you who have read THE HOLMES/DRACULA FILE and AN OLD FRIEND OF THE FAMILY now know that Vlad Tepes, known more widely as Count Dracula, is one of nature's noblemen, not the vile monster portrayed by Bram Stoker and his imitators. Perhaps you are now ready for the true story of the events surrounding the Count's first sojourn in England in the Year of Our Lord 1891... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great Collection
I found this book on tape in a library by chance.What a great collection of stories around a horrible idea!Huge, automated killing machines, left over from an ancient war, are destroying life wherever they find it.It's fight or die.

After this book, I read several more of the Berserker series.Unfortunately, none of the characters and few of the interesting plots in this collection made into the later books.

A true history
It happened long ago, in a galaxy far away, perhaps in thisone perhaps in another close by. This is the essence of the berserker wars. It is apity that such a great word as berserk is used in the title of such a ridiculous book. How I stumbled upon this book I know not, but I must have been cursedto find it. I have tried to get rid of it, but it keeps returning. Withit's ridiculous attempts at being some grand story. Having said that, it isquite funny, and the prose in the winged helmet, is heart wrenching

You gotta be berserker to read this book!
We have a copy of Berserker Wars in our college lending library at Yale.Some fool left it there.I know he was a fool because Berserker Wars is the worst book I've ever seen, and anyone who really read it is a nut.I'm not sure if the story's really true like the cover says.If it is true,we're all in for a lot of trouble.The illustrations, however, are goodfor a taking the mickey.

Berserkers forever?
This is what the series is all about. Snapshots of the battle against the machine, a story here, a story from there.A mixture of times and places.A must read for fans.

Worth buying
This is the only berserker book that I have read, and I think it is the best work of science fiction that I have laid my hand on. "The Jester" is easily worth reading the entire book for. ... Read more

Book Description
The Bram Stoker Award-Winning saga continues . . . .Matthew Maule has seen many horrific things in his five hundred years as one of the most powerful vampires in the world. But even his formidable talents cannot predict the unthinkable acts about to occur within his own home.When the vampire Dickon and his human partner appear in the middle of the night frightened for their lives, Matthew offers them protection. They carry with them a small Egyptian statue of great value and many secrets. By morning, Matthew has woken from a mysterious trance to discover that Dickon's human friend has been brutally murdered, the vampire has gone missing, and their statue has been smashed to pieces. Matthew has also made a dangerous new enemy, one who possesses strength even Matthew may be no match for.For the statue is no ordinary artifact, but one of six replicas. However, only one contains a gem in the center, a stone of unimaginable magical power that could spell the end of humanity if it ever fell in the wrong hands.Matthew sets out on a heart-pounding journey to track down the remaining statues before his ancient foe finds them. Racing across the country, the vampire teams up with both the living and the undead, though not all are the allies they pretend to be. Using his wits, he must unearth the answers to a millennia-old mystery in order to prepare himself for a final showdown against the evil stalking him at every turn. Acclaimed fantasy and science fiction author Fred Saberhagen takes readers along for a trek of unbelievable suspense, action, and pure page-turning entertainment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

a quick but enjoyable read
I was able to read _A coldness in the blood_ in one 3.5-hour sitting... it's a bit formulaic, but is more consistently written than some of Saberhagen's other Dracula books, which I feel suffer from bad editing.the story timeline is kept in the modern day without a parallel historical fiction accompanying it.I enjoyed the read immensely; the pace was consistent and the descriptions tight.I think the biggest drawback is that it so persistently refers back to all the prior books in the series that I sometimes felt I was reading a sales pitch.the backreferences are funny, in some cases better written than the books to which he referred.

Crocodile Tears
Fred Saberhagen is a remarkably consistent author.And while he is certainly a prolific author, he rarely pushes a book out too soon just to feed his bank account.Two of the many reasons why an alarming amount of my shelf space is dedicated to his work.For people of my generation, he is most noted for the Berserker series, and for his string of novels about Dracula and his relations with Mina Harker and her descendents.This has been a dry season for vampire lovers, so there was much evil cackling and hand rubbing when I discovered that Saberhagen had finally written a new story.

Matthew Maule (AKA Vlad Tepes AKA Dracula) currently maintains an aerie in Chicago which he uses as his principal residence.His 'nephew,' Andy Keogh is instructing the old vampire in the intricacies of websites when they are interrupted by the sudden appearance of Dickon, the world's most cowardly Nosferatu, and his friend Tamarack.Dickon is convinced that someone is out to kill him.For a change, his convictions seem justified.Dickon's residence has just been firebombed, and he, his friend, and a small white statue have come to beg Maule's protection.Shortly thereafter, Dickon is gone, Tamarck is spectacularly dead, the statue is dust, and neither Maule nor Andy has a clue what hit them.

Dracula is furious that his lair could be invaded and his nephew involved.His investigations reveal that half the world seems to be in pursuit of six Egyptian statues (now down to five), one of which has the Philosopher's Stone in it.Among the pursuers is a reborn crocodile creature named Sobek, whose most irritating trait is that he refuses to take the vampire seriously.With five hidden statues, a dozen or so nefarious hunters, a very angry vampire and a host of his 'breather' friends, this is a classic chase setup, and that is exactly what Saberhagen delivers.

This is not Saberhagen's best, but it is so far ahead of the rest of this year's efforts to make it a grand treat.There is no lack of action, but the characters are a bit thin.The author takes it for granted that we have read enough of the series that we won't need much character development, and so errs on the side of sparseness.Andy, who is new, certainly needs much more time, as does Dolores Flamel, daughter of a mage, who plays an extended part.Even so, Saberhagen's trademark style delivers both depth and complexity while making vampires entirely believable.By all means, take the time to enjoy 'A Coldness in the Blood.'

imaginative, colorful and quirky Dracula tale
He has lived for over five centuries by keeping up with technology so Vlad Tepes better known as Dracula and AKA Matthew Maule asks Andy Keogh to help him design a website.Andy, descended from the bloodline of Mina Harker, agrees to help his "Uncle Matt", whom he thinks is human.While at Uncle Matt's apartment, a nosferatu named Dickon, along with a human, ask for Vlad to help in their quest for learning alchemy.

Someone puts a spell over everyone in the apartment and when Dracula awakens, Dickon is gone, the human is dead, Andy is dazed and an Egyptian statue is smashed.The next day Sobeck, a being once worshipped by the Egyptians as a God, confronts Matthew Maule.He wants the Philosopher's Stone, a magical artifact hidden in one of six small statues smuggled into the country.Dracula declines to help but Andy becomes involved when Dickon asks his dead partner's granddaughter Dolly to assist him.Andy's father and Uncle Matt search for the Philosopher's Stone while trying to keep Andy and Dolly out of danger. Thy also hope to send Sobeck back where he belongs.

It's been six long years since Fred Saberhagen has written a Dracula book but the wait was well worth it.His eighth installment in this series is imaginative, colorful and sometimes even quirky.Dickon is comic relief as a millennium old vampire afraid of his own shadow.The race for the Philosopher's Stone is filled with action and adventure as the protagonists keep running head long into villains coveting the same artifact.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Product Description
Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Vampires ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Holmes-Dracula File
I like Fred Saberhagan's Dracula series, as much as I love his his Merlin series.Theyare great reads and extensions on the original myths. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An unsatisfying vampire novel
I've read many vampire novels, none of them satisfying, this one included. Dracula (or ANY vampire) doesn't appear until over halfway through and the multiple storylines are so confusing to the reader that it all seems pointless. I would definately NOT classify this as horror.

Well-made confusion
Another chapter in the author's Dracula series, though Dracula makes very brief appearances, though it's only when he's on stage that the story's wattage increases. Saberhagen has a fascination with time and its paradoxes, and he works out more of those obsessions here, though the story in the end becomes rather confusing and, to me, inconclusive. Character portraits are nice, but only a few are deep enough to maintain interest. The book also could have used another trip through the editing processor, as in one paragraph Jake is walking around and then in the next paragraph, he stands up and walks around.

If anything, Saberhagen suffers from too many ideas and cramming all of them into one book makes it jam-packed rather than pleasantly dense. When he's restrained (as when Dracula visits England for a fact-finding trip and meets up with Mina) and concentrates on atmosphere, he's very persuasive and satisfying. The last 30 pages or so are a rush job compared to the relatively careful building up of situations in the front of the book. Eh. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Completely Entertaining
As the title suggests this is the complete book of the firstthree sword books. If you are a fantasy fan it is a must read. From the opening epilogue of Vulcan forging the 12 swords, Saberhagen will captivate you to finish the first book and the remaining two. It starts out describing the smith god with somewhat human characteristics and very descriptive action scenes, that take the human condition and forge them into the 12 swords. It starts off as a game of the gods but later turns out to be the architecture of their demise. The development of the key characters is second to none. Saberhagen conveys a deep connection with Mark and Ben even Marks father Jord. I would only say that the laps between the books does leave the read in wonder a little, there is a little of a time lapse, where I think the author could supply us with some more details, but this does not take anything away from the substance of the stories. This compilation sets the stage rather nicely for the books to follow which tell of the exploits of the remaining swords. So sit back and enjoy this carefree read!!

Its been a few years since I've read this but....
... but I did read the entire Book of Swords and the entire follow up The Book of Lost swords.
This review is more in response to a few of the other reviews. The Book of Swords is a fast paced fantasy that plays out a game started by "the gods" for their amusement. There are magicians everywhere good and evil, guilds, kingdoms, battles, and at least one character growing into himself.What more could you want... Oh yes you could want to go around in circles and get a whole lot more in depth so each book would take a couple of weeks instead of a couple of days.
Saberhagen did not need to go anymore in depth for a book at this reading level!
If that isn't enough for you than you probably don't want this series. If you wander what your getting yourself into when you start a series of books than...
This is an excelent choice for someone who is not used to reading very long books but does not like a (good) story to end.This is one story that is broken up into smaller self sufficient stories.If you usually just read one book and your done you will be pleased with this book and may even expand your horizons. You can keep going if you want to but you don't have to if you want to be finished. However, if you are looking for your reading for the next year you would be sourly disappointed.It goes comparativly quickly for a series.
I don't believe this series was ever intended for a college level reader, except perhaps in discusing symolizm (in fact it is full of it my english 102 professor would have a field day).
This is a great book for some one who might be intimidated by a large book with large words.Someone on the 6th or 8th grade level should get through it but anyone who enjoys magic would be able to enjoy as well.I read strictly sci. fi. before I read this series but now I love the longer fantasy stuff. I haven't gone back to short Sci. fi. novels.

This should be required reading
If you like a good fast read, that leaves you wanting more, then this book is for you.Luckily, there are stories that follow that are equally fun.

Under-rated
The book was very good reading material if you just want a story. The characters in the book are a little under-developed but the book still had meaning. If you cast aside the difference of the Roman and Greek names of the gods its a good book. I think the worst part of the book was the ending but i still would recommend it to anyone who just wants to sit down and read a good book without spending an hour analyzing it.

Under-rated
The book was very good reading material if you just want a story. The characters in the book are a little under-developed but the book still had meaning. If you cast aside the difference of the Roman and Greek names of the gods its a good book. I think the worst part of the book was the ending but i still would recommend it to anyone who just wants to sit down and read a good book without spending an hour analyzing it. ... Read more

Product Description
Book contains three stories: Woundhealer's Story, Sightblinder's Story, and Stonecutter's Story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not Free SF Reader
This is an omnibus edition of three books. Woundhealer's Story, Sightbinder's Story and Stonecutter's Story, or the first, second and third books of lost swords.

In general, I found these stories fairly dull. Prince Mark runs around, with the swords ominpresent, seeing what they can do. ... Read more