Echoes of the Great Song [Mass Market Paperback]

David Gemmell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 26, 2002

“A HUMDINGER . . . A MASTERLY TALE TOLD WITH CLARITY AND VERVE.”
–The Times (London)

The Avatars are immortal and live like kings–even though the empire is dying. Their immortality is guaranteed by magic crystals whose influence is now waning, overwhelmed by the sheer power of a great flood and a sudden ice age. But when two moons appear in the sky, and the ruthless armies of the Crystal Queen swarm across the land bringing devastation and terror, the Avatars unite with their subjects to protect their universe.

As the cities face imminent destruction, three heroes emerge. Talaban, a warrior haunted by tragedy; Touchstone, the mystic tribesman seeking his lost love; and Anu, the Holy One, the Builder of Time. And when all seems lost, two others enter the fray: Sofarita, the peasant girl who will inspire a legend, and the madman, Viruk, who will become a god. . . .

Editorial Reviews

Review

“THE BEST FANTASY INSPIRES GENUINE INVOLVEMENT. DAVID GEMMELL’S NOVELS DO JUST THAT.”
–Interzone

“[GEMMELL IS] PROBABLY THE FINEST LIVING WRITER OF HEROIC FANTASY.”
–Time Out London

From the Inside Flap

"A HUMDINGER . . . A MASTERLY TALE TOLD WITH CLARITY AND VERVE."
–The Times (London)

The Avatars are immortal and live like kings–even though the empire is dying. Their immortality is guaranteed by magic crystals whose influence is now waning, overwhelmed by the sheer power of a great flood and a sudden ice age. But when two moons appear in the sky, and the ruthless armies of the Crystal Queen swarm across the land bringing devastation and terror, the Avatars unite with their subjects to protect their universe.

As the cities face imminent destruction, three heroes emerge. Talaban, a warrior haunted by tragedy; Touchstone, the mystic tribesman seeking his lost love; and Anu, the Holy One, the Builder of Time. And when all seems lost, two others enter the fray: Sofarita, the peasant girl who will inspire a legend, and the madman, Viruk, who will become a god. . . .

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (November 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345432320
• ISBN-13: 978-0345432322
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.2 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #302,541 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Gemmell was born in London, England, in the summer of 1948. Expelled from school at sixteen, he became a bouncer, working nightclubs in Soho. Born with a silver tongue, Gemmell rarely needed to bounce customers, relying instead on his gift of gab to talk his way out of trouble. This talent eventually led him to jobs as a freelancer for the London Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror, and the Daily Express. His first novel, Legend, was published in 1984 and has remained in print ever since. He became a full-time writer in 1986. His books consistently top the London Times bestseller list.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Realistic Fantasy, April 11, 2003

By 

Douglas De Bono - Author of No Safe Harbor (Minnetonka, mn United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Echoes of the Great Song (Mass Market Paperback)

This is not your average fantasy that finds a naive, magic filled serving boy to venture off on a quest to save the world from an evil wizard.

Gemmell is a much better writer than that. An immortal race called the Avatars have maintained their grip over the rest of mankind using a technology based on magic crystals. However, a world wide calamity overtakes their empire and for 70 years they struggle maintain their grip, but time and stagnation work against them.

From across the sea comes an evil race called the Almecs who serve the Crystal Queen. Confronted by the people they have enslaved for centuries and an equally lethal enemy, the Avatar Empire struggles to survive.

Like most Gemmell novels his characters are complex, noble, and generally, not very nice. They are real people, and the strength of his books are the people he draws to play across the landscape.

Without giving anything away, there are few happy endings in this book, but there are tremendous portraits of courage and valor.

Douglas De Bono
Author of ROGUE STATE

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars All by itself, November 25, 2005

By 

Ron (Jersey) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Echoes of the Great Song (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a good novel. If you are a regular Gemmell reader it has many of the things that make his novels enjoyable, but it is also a little differant. More intrigue, and certainly one of the most original ideas in all of his books. This is also a pretty dark book and not the happy ending that many expect from a fantasy. This is also a stand alone novel which ended without obvious room for sequels. This is certainly worth a look.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid Gemmell, October 16, 2000

By 

Mike Galer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Echoes of the Great Song (Paperback)

Coming at the end of a mature phase of Gemmell's career, starting in 1996 with the Legend of Deathwalker and including Dark Moon and Winter Warriors, Echoes is probably the weakest of these four novels. However, Gemmell revitalises himself with Sword in the Storm the next year.

The glory of the Avatar civilisation, which once ruled the earth, is now fading and primitive tribes push to topple them. Here Gemmell uses an Atlantis premise, linked to his earlier use of energy crystals (Sipstrassi stones in a new guise, from Wolf in Shadow, Ghost King and others) to paint a picture of a dying race. All the normal Gemmell traits are there, but under the shadow of the excellent Dark Moon and Winter Warriors, it seems curiously lacklustre and even lead characters rather flat. Perhaps this was due to Gemmell re-exploring old themes, something that occasionally holds him back from really top form. A good solid read however, though not his best, you could do a lot worse.