Customer Reviews

The Dark Tide (Iron Tower Trilogy)

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

I read this book and trilogy a few years ago and could not put it down. Now Dennis L. McKiernan is my favorite author.

You might think from my title that this will be a negative review. My rating for this book says otherwise. Let me first say, that over the past twenty years I have read, and re-read, The Lord of the Rings about seven or eight times. It remains the standard by which I judge all other fantasy. Other reviewers, including myself, have called The Iron Tower Trilogy a The Lord of The Rings cliff-notes. But perhaps a better appellation is, The Lord of The Rings companion. It is not as rich in detail and history as Tolkien's work. Nor is it quite as epic. But the story is every bit as compelling, every bit as gripping, and certainly as worthwhile a read. The language is awkward in places and not as polished. Does McKiernan's work stand on its own, apart from comparisons to The Lord of The Rings? I think so. As with The Lord of The Rings I found myself near tears at certain points and almost laughing aloud at others. Will you like this book? I don't know. But as a Tolkien fan of twenty years I loved it. I prefer to think of the Iron Tower Trilogy as a tribute to the genius of Tolkien; much like Moorcock's Kane of Old Mars was a tribute Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Dennis L. McKiernan's Iron Tower Trilogy deserves a 6 or 7 for fast pacing and plotting, but rates an Absolute Zero for originality. After only the first chapter, it is readily apparent that this trilogy amounts to little more than a half-baked imitation of Tolkien's famous masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings. McKiernan retains many of Tolkien's plot events, fictional places, and characters, changing only the names and select details (though in the case of Gildor, he borrows the name also). Thus the siege of Minas Tirith becomes the siege of Challerain Keep; the Shire becomes the Boskydells; the Hobbits become Warrows; the Orcs and Trolls become Rukhs, Hloks, and Ogrus; The Rohirrim become the Vanadurin; Aragorn becomes Galen; the journey through Moria becomes the journey through Drimmen-deeve (complete with the book's very own simulation Balrog and Watcher in the Water); and Barad-dur becomes The Iron Tower. McKiernan borrows most of Tolkien's plot but abandons Tolkien's themes and theology, while introducing none of his own. To quote the Kirkus Reviews (in commenting on one of McKiernan's later books), "If [McKiernan] ever had an original idea, it isn't apparent here." For the discerning reader, I would suggest reading J.R.R. Tolkien or Ursula K. LeGuin instead. For readers still interested in McKiernan, I would suggest skipping The Iron Tower, as well as the Silver Call (which, unfortunately, is much of the same), and beginning with Dragondoom, which shows far more creativity and originality, both in plot and in theme

Some people slam this as a Tolkein rip off. It certainly apes much of Tolkein, but that is because it was supposed to. McKiernan wrote The Silver Call Duology for the Middle Earth universe. When he could not get the rights, he made some changes, and then wrote this trilogy as a back story. So yes, it is very middle earth, but it is also an entertaining story. If you read McKiernan's later work, you will see that he has grown very much into his own style.

I've been reading Fantasy for years. From Jordan through Erikson, Marco and a ton others. McKeirnan continues to be one of the BEST story tellers. His skills are amazing and in the Iron Tower Trilogy anybody can see what keeps McKeirnan in the top.

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i find it interesting how some readers are more than happy to rip an author and his work apart. no this work is no where close to the work of Tolkin but on the other hand when i first found it back in 1985 i had never heard of Tolkin... in fact i had never even seen this type of work... give that some thought, this series introduced me too a whole new world of writing! and yes from his mention of Tolkin guess what i bought next! this simple set of books opend a whole new world too me and for that alone i am deeply gratefull!

I am giving this book a very liberal 3 star rating because I was quite impressed with it, even though I believe some people will find the prose quality somewhat lacking. I myself found it a bit silly at first, but then I realized something. McKiernan must picture himself, first and foremost, as an entertainer, one who has been forged within the fiery prose of Robert E. Howard, and other wayfarers on story roads of grandeur. I began to buy into his archaic, old-fashioned prose. McKiernan has great drive as a writer, rendering the story at breakneck speed. He surprised me at the beginning of the sequel to this one, for he actually jumps back in time to events occurring offstage during the first book. I haven't seen that done elsewhere. It's a surprisingly good read.

I read this book and trilogy a few years ago and could not put it down. Now Dennis L. McKiernan is my favorite author.

Yes, it's similar to The Lord Of The Rings. Yes - it could have been better written. But I do enjoy reading it when I'm sick in bed [especially in the Autumn & Winter]. It's not too taxing and it's often a lot of fun. I'm not too keen on his other books, but if you enjoy Susan Cooper, Terry Brooks & that sort of writing, and can enjoy a trilogy that is not as literary as the above mentioned, you'll like this little set.

Having read "The Lord of the Rings" as well as "The Iron Tower" it is easy to see the similarities between the two as far as character types and plot goes. But, when comparing the two for sure reading enjoyment "The Iron Tower" wins hands down. LoR drags in a number of places for me. So if you enjoyed LoR, but thought it was slow you will LOVE this series.