Customer Reviews

Blade of Tyshalle

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BLADE OF TYSHALLE is the sequel to Matthew Stover's excellent HEROES DIE. This is the rare sequel that surpasses the excellence of its predecessor.

I'm not going to go into a long summary of the story, but suffice it to say, BLADE OF TYSHALLE blends Fantasy and Science Fiction into an exemplary piece of speculative fiction. Briefly, Hari Michaelson (aka Caine) is a broken man due to events in HEROES DIE. Overworld where his known as Caine has become a tool of the Studios here on Earth. Overworld is a fantasy-type world populated by ogres, thaumaturges (wizards/sorcerers), elves and the like. Studios send their best actors to Overworld so people can live along their adventures. The nature of these adventures is similar to Virtual Reality, people can pay, like they do for a movie, to watch the actor's adventures as the actors run through their adventures.

What this book is really about is more complex-conflicting personalities on different worlds, supreme characterization, internal dialogue that is genuine, sticking to your beliefs and struggling, inching toward sunlight with every breath-and all that just describes Caine. Hari/Caine fights against himself, his family and the studios trying to ruin his beloved Overworld, home of his adventures and his life. The action is amazing, the characters are some of the most "real" and fleshed out that I have ever read. The supporting characters are just right, there aren't too many and the detail they are given is just right. The `villian' Ma'elKoth is one of the better "villains" in SF today. I give the quotes to villain because at many points through the story, Ma'elKoth does things that you or I would do given the situation, he is a guy you can like, that's what makes him scary. The issues here are not black and white, just like real life.

To sum up, this is an INTENSE read that comes to a completely satisfying conclusion. This book left me winded and smiling after reading it, as if I just spent a few hours working out in the gym. So far, this is the best book I've read this year. Though the book is ended cleanly, you get a sense that Stover may have some more Overworld Tales up his sleeve. I for one would welcome them.

Definitely an author to watch, his other books include the previously mentioned and excellent HEROES DIE as well as IRON DAWN and JERICHO MOON. Also a forthcoming novel in the Star Wars NEW JEDI ORDER series.

After reading "Heroes Die," I was very glad to learn that Stover was writing a sequel. Stover is amazingly good at using the conventions of action, fantasy, and dystopian science fiction while also subtly twisting them in service of his all too believable and recognizable characters. Unlike many authors, he understands that actions have consequences, not all conflicts have good solutions, and nobody can be a hero all the time. He writes great fight scenes, too.

"Blade of Tyshalle" is, in some ways, very similar to "Heroes Die." It focuses on Hari Michaelson, and his alter-ego, Caine, as he fights against impossible odds to save his family from threats on both Earth and Overworld. It includes action, dungeons, desperate last stands, and so on. However, this book spends a lot more time on other characters, including Shanna/Pallas Ril, Hari's wife; Ma'elKoth, who goes by Tan'elKoth for much of the book; Raithe, a young Monastic dedicated to killing Caine; Kollberg, Hari's old nemesis, raised up from his exile to the Labor Pool; and Kris/Deliann, the Changeling Prince of the elves. Also, Earth has become more directly involved with Overworld, to the point of creating an enclave of technology, and later releasing an incurable virus to justify an armed invasion, in the name of "restoring order;" this changes the rules of the game.

The plot is even more intricate than in "Heroes Die," but the story also contains much more social commentary and philosophy. There are many brief, odd, semi-mythic interchapters, which, once you figure out which character corresponds to which mythic figure, provide a handy road map for the rest of the book.

After I finished "Blade of Tyshalle," I wasn't quite sure what I thought of it. I let it sink in for a few days, then reread the book. I knew I liked the action and the characters, and the way the loose ends from the first book, particularly the much-vaunted "black flow" were finally resolved, but I wasn't sure about the philosophy and social theory, or about the balance among the various elements of the book.

I think, finally, that "Blade of Tyshalle" is a very, very good book. It is also, unquestionably, a flawed book, from which several plot and character complications -- and fifty to a hundred pages -- could profitably have been trimmed. But it made me think, it involved me emotionally, it convinced me it was worth the money I paid for it, and it hooked me enough that I have already reread it three times. I definitely recommend both the book, and Stover.

Just make sure you have an open mind, and a strong stomach.

Stover's work has been lampooned as "over-the-top" and "shallow wish-fulfillment violence" by a few self-satisfied snobs who didn't bother to actually read what he was writing. However, *Blade of Tyshalle* contains more deep reflection on the consequences of violence, and on the nature and the extent of personal responsibility for one's actions, than any other novel I've read in the past ten years. I expected to be enthralled (Stover is a past master of narrative mechanics and effective tension-building), but I didn't expect to be quite so moved. *Blade of Tyshalle* is an emotional and intellectual brick to the head, and the heart of it all (as Bob Urell has pointed out elsewhere in this review section) is its skillfully-crafted multi-level duality.

Caine is simultaneously a selfish, vicious, amoral mass-murderer and the freest, noblest, least dishonest character in the story. Stover never loses sight of either aspect of his gritty fantasy Batman; when it looks like Caine is getting a bit too much authorial glad-handing, Stover shows us what a ... he is. When it looks like he's being too much of a ..., some of the twisted nobility is allowed to creep back in. Caine is a construct that Stover alternately tortures, dissects, and celebrates-- only idiots would make the mistake of assuming that Caine is some sort of wishful authorial projection. Caine is Stover's demonstration of how simplistic dualities-- Good vs. Evil, Right vs. Wrong, Order vs. Chaos-- so easily break down when confronted with the complexity that even a single human being displays.

Too many fantasies treat blood, sex, violence, and adventures as something distant from the reader, something so unlikely and improbable that they can be enjoyed abstractly. *Blade of Tyshalle* uses brutality and suffering to move the reader closer to the story, to draw a line between the reader's life and the lives of everyone in the novel.

The true heart of "gritty" fantasy isn't blood and gore, it's the examination of genuine human characters rather than idealized ciphers. That's why *Blade of Tyshalle* hurts so much and excites so deeply.

Two points stuck firmly in my mind, when I read BLADE OF TYSHALLE:
1) It's a stand alone sequel with equal punch compared to it's precursor, HEROES DIE. An unfortunate side effect of epic and multi installment fiction is an original or novel (pardon the pun) idea gets squeezed for every last ounce of mileage. Stover's CAINE novels work in their own dynamic, and you don't have to read one to understand the other. Though I admit skipping HEROES DIE might lessen your experience with BLADE, it won't void it.

2) It's cerebral and faithful to its premise. Stover has his politics, and he's true to himself in his fiction. You may not agree with his world view, but his sincerity transfers to a breathtakingly plausible dual reality that's right on the edge of greatness. Also, and supremely pertinent, this is Literature (with appropriate capitalization and Heavenly choral accompaniment). Read BLADE OF TYSHALLE, finish it, then sit back and think over each element. Everything means something in this book. Dual worlds, dual personalities for every character; this novel is a study of contrasts, and Stover's understanding of the human condition renders BLADE's revelations sublime.
'Properly, we should read for power. Man reading should be man intensely alive. The book should be a ball of light in one's hand.'
-Ezra Pound
Indeed.

Wow! This is quite a book, to say the least. It is extremely rich in substance and provides a skillful blend of the realms of fantasy and science fiction.

I marveled at the many levels of this fine book. At its most basic level, this is an action packed adventure story involving the struggle for supremacy over two worlds and two ways of life: one based on science and one based on the power of magic.

While reading the basic story line (crammed with plenty of intrigue, fighting and excitement to move the plot along), I was also pleased to consider the varied themes presented dealing with such topics as philosophy (Man's role in the universe, fate, destiny, the power of will, the good of the many v. the good of one), religion (how gods are created, how supreme beings wrestle for power in the universe, how deities interact with and shape world events) and relationships (the intimacy created between mortal enemies, the nature and power of friendship, self-discovery). On many occasions, I had to pause in my reading to utter a mental "Hmm" and consider some point being made by the author.

This was my first exposure to this author and I am happy to have discovered his work.

I am very happy I read this book. Like most people (I think), my time and resources are limited and I don't often get the chance to try a new author. I highly recommend this book to others. I consider it one of the best books I have read in the last year.

This is the follow up novel to HEROES DIE. Hari Michelson aka Caine is now an upcaste, physically crippled administrator, who after a betrayal finds all he has worked for all his life stripped away from him. His enemies think he is now of little threat - little do they know, that this is the catalyst that will bring Caine back to life in ways they could never have anticipated.

While this story could be read alone, you'll get the most out of it if you read it after the first book in this short series. This novel is quite different in pacing and content than the previous book. HEROES DIE is more of a straight adventure novel along the lines of a somewhat `traditional adventure' story. BLADE OF TYSHALLE has this aspect, but we get to see more of Hari's caste ridden earth, as well as expanding on many themes only touched upon in the first book and some very interesting new characters are introduced.

However, be warned there are some very graphic and violent scenes in here that may make you winch to read. All told these two Caine stories easily stand out in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy crowd of novels for their richness of characters, fast movement and violence. While normally gratuitous violence in a novel is a real turn off for me, in these books, it does in the end have a point and is not as gratuitous as it first seems. I'm glad I stumbled across these books and this is an author whose work I will keep an eye out for in the future.

Buy this novel if you buy anything of worth this month! Stover is one of those writers who should not be missed. He reminds me of Howard--action, adventure, guts and glory. There's no gain without pain and BOY does he mean it.

I won't synopsize the plot since others will do a much better job, but if you're a fan of action and great characters, BUY THIS BOOK. If you like well developed and unique worlds, BUY THIS BOOK. If you want your action scenes to be real (and I do), then... you get the picture.

I look forward to seeing what new stories this writer will reveal. Unlike some of his contemporaries who overuse purple prose, I think Stover's writing offers atmosphere and reality to the world. I disagree with Harriet (a wonderful reviewer) and her opinion of his writing.

This is not a book for those looking for weak fairy stories or Tolkien rip-offs. This is a wholly unique story with elements of both fantasy and science fiction that will appeal to anyone with an open mind and a taste for drama and action. And did I mention great characters? You may not LIKE Harry, but you sure will sympathize with his situation!

Make no mistake, this is a harsh, relentless book; it is a story full of sharp edges and barbed points that grab and cut and wont let you go. It is an excellent book.

There is no point in trying to describe the plot: it is just too convoluted. It would be like trying to describe the Lord of the Rings as an adventure story. What can be said about it is that it is dark and grim and often gory. It depicts Man's most base instincts and also some of his most noble. It is an intelligent work, written by a man well aware of human nature as well as human aspirations.

Stover doesn't pull punches. There is death in this book: lots of it. There is pain and sadistic brutality. But against this bleak backdrop are acts of heroism in the face of hopelessness.

Buy this book if you like gritty fantasies. Buy it if you like wit and intelligence. Buy it if you don't mind hard language and gruesome, sometimes disgusting scenes.

Finally, as others have noted, this book should be read after reading 'Heroes Die'. Only after reading the first book can this one be fully appreciated.

After reading "Heroes Die" I couldn't wait for Matthew Stover to finish this one. I wasn't dissappointed. "Blade of Tyshalle" is an exciting book filled with Stover's trademark violence and anti-establishment sentiments. However this one is very different from the first; it is far darker (if that's possible)and delves more into the minds of the other characters. The first book was for the most part told from Hari/Caine's point of view; "Blade" gives the reader the chance to see through the eyes of Stover's other characters, as well as Hari Michaelson's tortured vision of the world. Warning: if you're not ready to visualize some pretty horrible imagery don't read this one; however, if you can get past that (it is not gratuitous, but necessary to the story in my opinion)you will learn a lot about yourself, especially if you have a somewhat Libertarian view of the world. You'll also have great time while doing it. I will be reading everything this guy has written, and anxiously await all his future work.

I enjoyed very much the first 'Caine' novel, which left me wanting more! Then suddenly there was more! I found myself strangely hesitant; just how could there be more? The first novel leaves the main character damaged goods. Trepidations, experiences of too many cheats over the years from novels, tv, movies, even comic books. But, there was no cheat!
No cheats. Very refreshing, and a little hard to read, you almost wish the author would have cheated. If he had, then we readers would have been cheated. Everything is as it should have been, the ending is worthwhile in all aspects, and fits the world it takes place in.
Even if most of us are fighting the 'good' fight, I wonder how often we think to ask ourselves if we are fighting the 'right' fight. I could read these two novels again!