Well, who else is a fan of 'the master of heroic fantasy'?

Personally, I love his work, although it can get overly 'macho' sometimes.

formaly good, but lacks something like spirit...
to much military as well (at least what I have read)
But, that's only my opinion.

I read his first book and thought it was rather good and entertaining. Then I read another, and it was basically exactly the same as the first, then I read a third and it was more or less identical to his two other books. Then I have not really bothered with him. If you have read one you have read them all.

I haven't read any of his stuff, but was seriously looking at the bookstore.

Which should I start with ... Waylander?

*grinds teeth*

http://www.sorcerers.net/Books/index_other.htm

*Hands Tal a mouthpiece to prevent permament dental damage*

So you're saying, "Start with LEGEND"??? :bang:

In my defense; 1) I was asking for help; 2) I never even pretended to be smart!

:good: ;)

All books on SP are listed in order, so yes.

Actually, Gemmell's books aren't published in chronological order. While Legend is an excellent place to start, I'd just as easily recommend starting with "The Early Chronicles of Druss the Legend". Or, if you want to go about it chronologically, begin with the Waylander series (Waylander, In the Realm of the Wolf, Hero in Shadows). No matter which one you start with, though, you're in for a ride. :D

I've read Legend, and yes, that can be thoroughly recommended.

I'm reading the books of the Rigante at the moment. Currently up to the third one, with I think the fourth due out later this year. Again to coin a phrase: "Most enjoyable".

I highly recommend his 'Lion of Macedon' series. Actually, it's only a set of 2 books, detailing the exploits of a spartan warrior and a fictional Alexander the Great.

Gemmell's Rigante series is quite good, though I found the two latest books to be rather weak in terms of character development compared to the first two.

His Drenai series is simply awesome. Druss, Waylander and Skilgannon are great heroes to read about, although the multitude of heroes and heroines he writes about in this fantasy world are interesting as well.

The Waylander series, in my opinion is the best and I would definately say "Hero In The Shadows" is some of his finest work, closely followed by "Winter Warriors".

"Legend" is very enjoyable as well, but I don't like Druss, he's just too perfect ;) .

they're all pretty good, like Joacqin said, they are all similar to each other, but still good.

and Mathetais, don't worry about Tal's teeth, i'm a dental tech ;)

Who is this Skilgannon? I thought I had read pretty much all of his books except a few of the Sipstrassi books and I don't recall him...

Anyway I find Gemmell's books are pretty much the same character wise... For example the Drenai books "Quest for Lost Heroes" and "Winter Warriors" has virtually identical characters. The greatest swordsman, greatest bowman, and a huge giant of a man who nobody really likes (and the same conversation for why his companions like him) and all of them getting on in years...

But anyway, the books are still quite enjoyable to read, especially if you like epic fantasy books with heroes on a quest to stop the end of the world or some such over and over again.

The first two Rigante books are probably the ones I liked best. The characters in them are done better in my opinion and the story seems better. The last two books, especially the last book, where a large let down though. They weren't nearly of the quality of the first too and I almost got the impression he wrote them rather fast just to get them on the shelves.

Okay, I read Legend and loved it. Two questions though;

1) Who is that white-bearded, black armored man on the front cover of the paperback version. Looks like Druss, but he's weilding a SWORD!?!

2) There is a sneak-peak at "King Beyond the Wall" in the back of the paperback version. It didn't sound interesting at all! Does it get better?

1) No idea.

2) Sadly, it doesnt get better. I really liked Legend as well, with its fast paced action and straight forward plot. Regretfully so is Kind Beyond the wall basically the same thing but worse. A new super hero but a super hero nonetheless and the same fight against super impossible odds that the hero of course in some way manages to overcome.

i finished Legend for the second time the other night, and I have to change my opinion of Druss in it. He's not quite as perfect in it as he is in the other books.

I ordered White Wolf (the new david gemmel book) through the library and it arrived yesterday. When I finish, I'll tell you what I think of it.

Skilgannon is the main character in White Wolf. Druss appears in this novel too, lending his 'heroism' to Skilgannon's cause.

Did anybody manage to notice that Druss is a descendant of Waylander's adopted daughter?
That was a fact I just realised recently.

I still prefer his Drenai tales. They're more akin to fantasy than the others.

Shura, I didn't think Druss would be, as Waylander's adopted daughter was a lover to Senta (a slim swordsman from Waylander 2). Their son was also slim but you here no more of him. She married Angel though, and their descendant was Ulric. I don't see where Druss comes from though.

There is something in White Wolf that confuses me
SPOILER
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Garianne carries waylander's crossbow, but Waylander travels to another plane and to die. Unless it is the smaller one he had made for his adopted daughter in Waylander 2 I don't know where she gets it.

In the legend of Deathwalker, Nosta Khan says that Druss is descended from Angel, Miriel's second husband.

Her first son is Ulric's ancestor. Her second son, described as a huge, plain-looking man who was a great warrior, was Druss's ancestor.

Hence, Ulric and Druss are related! Irony, eh?
As for the crossbow thing in Whitewolf, I'm not too sure myself. Maybe I'll have to reread Hero in the Shadows again.

Well, i have read Hero in the Shadows and Waylander (In that order, evn... :rolleyes: and what can I say? Awesome. I like them. I like them a lot. I have an urgent need to get more of these books.... :D

SPOILER
AHA! Found it, Ustarte travelled to the parallel universe Waylander traveled to and retrieved the crossbow and place it in their museum.

[EDIT] lol, Skilgannon has quite a few of Shura's traits. [EDIT]

[ May 30, 2003, 21:09: Message edited by: Morningstar ]

That bothered me greatly at first and I do have to state that the concept of Shura the swordsman was conceived long before White Wolf was even published.

I still think Skilgannon's pretty different though. He's more goody-two-shoes, more heroic, more charismatic, etc. Shura's more of an individualistic fellow.

Besides, Shura the swordsman gets laid A LOT (as in not as all) less than Skilgannon.

Some rambling here, ah well. ;)

Just think Shura ... if you get published people can talk about you the way we talk about Terry Goodkind in relation to Robert Jordan. "Good writing for a theif!" (just kidding ... running away from flashing katanas)

It's okay Mat... You called him a theif, not a thief. :p

Now is it worth buying "White Wolf" in that huge softcover format or should I wait for it to come out in a normal size softcover?

White Wolf is worth a read, but just get it out of your library as it isn't his best work (a lot of repetition from older books).

That's the thing though isn't it: can Gemmell actually produce anything both original and good at this stage? Legend was excellent, as was Knights of Dark Reknown and Dark Moon, but his later stuff is a verging on mediocre. Perhaps if he revisited some of the one-off classics in a pseudo-sequal style he'd come back on form?

I think maybe he was trying to capture some of his former glory by adding Druss and mentioning things (Waylander's crosbow) from former, better books.

@Shura: After reading your newest post in CS, I can see huge differences between Shura and Skilgannon. Only the dual weapon style, the insanity (Which Skilgannon shows little, and seems to disappear later on) are similar. And of course, Shura would easily hammer Skilgannon :D .

[ June 10, 2003, 12:46: Message edited by: Morningstar ]