Echoes of the Fourth Magic (Chronicles of Ynis Aielle) [Mass Market Paperback]

R.A. Salvatore (Author)

Book Description

Series: Chronicles of Ynis Aielle | Publication Date: September 28, 1998

The extraordinary beginning of an epic series brimming with the unbridled action, adventure, and imagination that have made the name R. A. Salvatore synonymous with the best in fantasy!

Jeff "Del" DelGuidice was proud of his assignment to the research submarine The Unicorn. But his mission had barely begun when the vessel was sucked into a mysterious underseas void where time stood still, before propelling it forward, through the centuries. The crew surfaced in a strange, magical world changed forever by nuclear holocaust. Here a race of angelic beings had taken pity on the remnants of humankind, offering a chosen few a precious second chance.

Thus the Isle of Hope was raised from the poisoned seas and set like a jewel in Earth's ravaged crown. But the jewel had a flaw, a dark vein of evil. For a sinister expert of the mystical arts had embraced the forbidden third magic, the most deadly sorcery of all. Only Del could defeat it--a hero sworn to peace and fated to wield the dazzling power of the fourth magic. . .

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The extraordinary beginning of an epic series brimming with the unbridled action, adventure, and imagination that have made the name R. A. Salvatore synonymous with the best in fantasy!

Jeff "Del" DelGuidice was proud of his assignment to the research submarine The Unicorn. But his mission had barely begun when the vessel was sucked into a mysterious underseas void where time stood still, before propelling it forward, through the centuries. The crew surfaced in a strange, magical world changed forever by nuclear holocaust. Here a race of angelic beings had taken pity on the remnants of humankind, offering a chosen few a precious second chance.

Thus the Isle of Hope was raised from the poisoned seas and set like a jewel in Earth's ravaged crown. But the jewel had a flaw, a dark vein of evil. For a sinister expert of the mystical arts had embraced the forbidden third magic, the most deadly sorcery of all. Only Del could defeat it--a hero sworn to peace and fated to wield the dazzling power of the fourth magic. . .

About the Author

R. A. Salvatore was born in Massachusetts in 1959. His first published novel was The Crystal Shard. He has since published more than a dozen novels, including The Demon Spirit, The Demon Awakens, The Halfling's Gem, Sojourn, The Legacy, and Starless Night. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Diane, and their three children.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (September 28, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345421914
• ISBN-13: 978-0345421913
• Product Dimensions: 3.9 x 0.9 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #294,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

R.A. Salvatore has spent so many years winding himself into fantasy worlds that he's still trying to figure out how to unwind. He is the author of more than forty novels and more than a dozen New York Times best sellers, including The Two Swords, which debuted at or near the top of many best seller lists.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First impression, best impression., March 9, 2001

By 

Keith McDonald (Sunderland, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Echoes of the Fourth Magic (Chronicles of Ynis Aielle) (Mass Market Paperback)

As a 15 yr old English literature lover, I stumbled somehow upon this wonderful book, I think attracted to it mainly by its cover. Being an earlier edition, the comical looking cover left me unsure of what to expect. Since I am no lover of naval narrations, the very beginning left me wondering whether to continue, but, boy, I'm so glad I did. I was so thoroughly absorbed by this book, although very short of time, I read it over and over again. Many may argue that it is far-fetched, but I think that, as a first novel, this really is a bold, experimental and raw success, which has worked to great measure. At 17 now, RAS became my favourite author, and I've found the 'Crimson Shadow' series great fun to read, and 'The Dark Elf Trilogy' too, but none grip me like 'Echoes4thMagic'. I was ecstatic to find out there were sequels for the 'Ynis Aielle' series, and hurredly ordered them from the US, over AMAZON, and loving this book like I did, am raring to go with the rest of this. If you want to get started with Salvatore, start with this, it certainly worked for me!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great beginning to a great series, November 5, 2000

By 

SilverMage (Charlotte, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Echoes of the Fourth Magic (Chronicles of Ynis Aielle) (Mass Market Paperback)

Well since most of the reviews I read were downing on the book I thought that I should give my thoughts. I thought it was an awesome book. The way the story starts out right in the middle of the action was a cool twist since alot of books drag out the introduction. Salvatore's explination of the four levels of magic was very interesting. And the magical battle blew me away. All in all it was a very interesting read and i highly recommend it, as well as the rest of the books in the series.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A submarine crew is transported to a post-apocolypic future, August 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Echoes of the Fourth Magic (The Chronicles of Ynis Aielle) (Paperback)

But what future *isn't* post apocolypic these days?

But seriously, this wasn't a bad book. As I understand it, it was actually Salvatore's first written book. (Note, written. The Crystal Shard was his first published novel)

Note that I haven't read this book in about four years, and don't remember it too well.

It is about a submarine crew that is transported, sub and all, to a post world war III time when magic has returned, and much of the world's population has mutated into Goblins and other such happy creatures.

Once at this future, some of the crew splits away from the rest to join with the "dark side" and hijinx ensue.

This wasn't one of my favorite Salvatore books, but I did enjoy it. If nothing else, it's a good one to see where he started.

Incidentally, I understand that this book is being re-released in the near future with a few revisions from the author.