The Cutting Edge (Part 1 of A Handful of Men) [Paperback]

Dave Duncan (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Del Rey (1966)
• ASIN: B000M634B4
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,194,050 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dave Duncan is a prolific writer of fantasy and science fiction, best known for his fantasy series, particularly The Seventh Sword, A Man of His Word, and The King's Blades. He and his wife Janet, his in-house editor and partner for over fifty years, live in Victoria, British Columbia. They have three children and four grandchildren.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The beginning to a classic, February 16, 2001

By 

Alanna Evans (US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cutting Edge (A Handful of Men, Part 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

There are few writers that can create such visually brilliant worlds using words and tapping into the reader's imagination, but Dave Duncan is one of them. "The Cutting Edge" marks the first book in the "A Handful of Men" series, the follow up to the previous "Man of His Word", where Krasengar's genius stableboy Rap tracks across country in search of the missing Princess who should be placed upon the throne as Queen. Along the way he manages to alienate the four Wardens and even defy the Gods themselves.

"The Cutting Edge" reveals what has happened to our characters many years down the line. Rap and Inos happily married with children and rulers of their beloved tiny nation. But it seems that all is not well in the magical ambience as many things Rap had done in the previous series come back to haunt him and throw the entire continent into disarray, not excluding the Wardens! The ex-warden Zinixo who Rap had stripped of sorcery is back from his imprisonment with a legion of magically branded sorcerers as slaves to do his bidding...

Most of the favorites from this first series have returned, including the little Prince Shandie who's now in the seat of power as the Emperor of the Impire! There are many surprises in store for those who have read the "A Man of His Word" series, and many things are revealed that had been left as speculation even as the previous series came to its close. The ingenious magical system is further fleshed out, and Duncan weaves an equally magical story to boot. Those that love their books very character driven with more than just the vague hint of fantasy will be delighted with this as well as the rest of the series.

One word of note: The first 100 pages or so are not quite as action pack or memorable as the rest of this book, or the other three for that matter, but they are necessary in setting up the story and a major player in the series...

Sit back and enjoy this one!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fulfilling, January 3, 2003

By 

Joshua Drake (Angola, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cutting Edge (Handful of Men) (Hardcover)

I picked up book two of this series in hardcover on the sale rack of a local bookstore. After that read I set out to find the complete series in Hardcover.

This first book in the series introduces all of the characters and sets the stage for a conflict that spans another three novels. The author weaves the story line into plausible embodiments of the quotes from great literature that follow many of the chapters. Although this work is high fantasy in the tradition of Tolkien I find Duncan's work easier to read. Further, Duncan posses a unique voice and an imaginative view of magic which distinguish him from other writers who merely rehash hackneyed plots.

A very enjoyable read that more than fulfills its role in inspiring the reader to find out how the whole epic ends.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars My favorite author, poorly spelled, April 22, 2010

By 

Bibliovore (Englewood, CO) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Cutting Edge (Part One of A Handful of Men ) (Paperback)

I have always loved Dave Duncan, and while this is not his best series, I do still enjoy it. I first read it years ago when I borrowed them from the library. I was excited to see a reprint of the series available (Dave Duncan books are so hard to find in used book stores). Unfortunately, this edition is SO poorly edited I almost returned the books. I could not go more than 2 pages without finding a typo, some of them so jarring that I had to stop and think about what the word was supposed to be (someone must have done a Find and Replace on THE to change it to ME, because in book 3 this typo exists no fewer than 25 times).

I guess my review is more a reflection of the general failings of the publishing industry in this day of reliance on spell check. In general, an enjoyable series and a good way to spend a rainy afternoon. Just as long as you don't mind being brought back from your fantasy world to figure out what something was supposed to say.