Buy Used
Used - Good See details
$4.28 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Not Exactly the Three Musketeers (Guardians of the Flame/Joel Rosenberg)
 
 
Tell the Publisher!
I'd like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

Not Exactly the Three Musketeers (Guardians of the Flame/Joel Rosenberg) [Hardcover]

Joel Rosenberg (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)


Available from these sellers.


Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Hardcover --  
Paperback --  
Mass Market Paperback --  

Book Description

Guardians of the Flame/Joel Rosenberg February 1999
Set in Joel Rosenberg's bestselling Guardians of the Flame series, Not Exactly the Three Musketeers is a swashbuckling parody of Alexandre Dumas's classic novel. Irreverent? Heck yes, but more fun than a dozen bodice-rippers combined.

Meet the heroes of Castle Cullinane:
Kethol: the pretty fellow, a long and lanky redhead with an easy smile and an easygoing attitude that his clever eyes deny. He is quick with a quip...and quicker with a sword.
Durine: the big man, a head taller than most and twice as wide, built like a barrel, with a loyal heart and hands too thick to use anything more delicate than an ax handle.
Pirojil: the ugly one, his face heavy-jawed, with an eye ridge that would mark him as a Neanderthal only to the most gracious. But looks deceive, and his might be the rarest gift of all.
Athos, Porthos, and Aramis they're not...

What they are is part of the loyal household of the Castle Cullinane, sworn to protect the Cullinane manse...and the sometimes heroic Jason Cullinane, who (some say foolishly) chose to renounce his family's right to the throne.

When our heroes are summoned by the reigning Dowager Empress (who is convinced that Jason's renunciation is merely a ruse to destroy her own aspirations) and are sent on a mission to investigate whether an errant noblewoman is being coerced into an arranged marriage, our heroes know that things are more complicated than they seem. But they have no way of knowing who is friend or foe...or whose hand holds the killing blade. And if they play the wrong card, they won't lose only their lives but will help destroy the house that they have sworn to protect.

With heroic rascals, ladies who perhaps are more in need of a good hiding than rescuing, thoughtful dragons, and would-be kingmakers who are too smart for their own good, Not Exactly the Three Musketeers is a rollicking fantasy adventure that is sure to appeal to Rosenberg's ardent fans...and every fantasy lover.



Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Rosenberg's intrepid retainers of the Castle Cullinane return in this jaunty addition to his popular Guardians of the Flame series. Doughty men-at-arms Pirojil, Durine and Kethol are stuck with the dirty work when sneaky outworlder Walter Slovotsky avoids accepting a commission from the Dowager Empress to investigate claims that Lady Leria Vor'sen is being pressured to marry Lord Miron, the son of ambitious Elanee, baroness of nearby Keranahan. Along the way they're joined by the wizard Erenor, whose arcane powers may be rivaled by his theatrical ability, and whose background is as colorful as those of the Cullinane retainers. Though Lady Leria denies feeling any pressure under the watchful eye of Elanee, the three decide it's best to escort the young woman back to speak directly with the Dowager Empress?a plan that sets in motion a dangerous chain of events, all designed to keep Leria from reaching Cullinane safely. Fortunately Pirojil, Durine and Kethol, ably assisted by Erenor, are equal to the task of protecting Leria under almost any circumstances, given a little help from Slovotsky and Cullinane's dragon, Ellegon. Rosenberg writes his usual competent mix of earthy characters and gritty action, including a surprising climax that will irrevocably change the trio of friends and soldiers.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Picaresque."--Kirkus Reviews

"A rollicking saga of swordmanship and intrigue, spiced up with dragons, damsels, and droll wizards."--SF site
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 315 pages
  • Publisher: Tor Books; 1st edition (February 1999)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312857829
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312857820
  • Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,155,599 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

 

Customer Reviews

22 Reviews
5 star:
 (8)
4 star:
 (7)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (22 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Terrific Companion to the "Guardians of the Flame" Series, March 20, 2000
I really enjoyed this book.This is more of a companion story with less about our first group of heroes than to the previous 6 books in the series .Joel really lets us see the world through the soldiers eyes instead of the gallant heroes in the earlier Guardians of the Flame novels..There is plenty of action and a truly unique comraderie with these 3 guys..They get into trouble,get out of it,and right back in..By the time you get halfway through this book you'll love these misfits.I found myself laughing while reading this book & at some points wanting to cry..Never a dull moment & a must read for any Rosenberg fan,Guardians of the Flame fan,or fantasy lover...
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars WWW: Well Worth the Wait, January 15, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Not Exactly the Three Musketeers (Guardians of the Flame/Joel Rosenberg) (Hardcover)
I skipped work to gobble this one upyesterday and then reread it today.

Rosenberg keeps surprising me with the Guardians of the Flame series. The first books were well-done swashbuckling [sp?] fantasy series, with well-above-average characters, the best damn fight scenes in modern fantasy, and a quirky bloodymindedness that kept me wondering if Karl Cullinane could still be alive.

Then the second series, the two Walter Slovotsky books, turned things inside out and made it all close and personal.

Now, with the (eighth?) latest book in the series, Rosenberg seems to be reinventing heroic fantasy with almost casual ease.

No, they're not exactly the three musketeers. If you want a Dumas pastiche, read Steve Brust's Parfi (sp?) books.

This one is something else, as though Rosenberg is trying to reinvent what Dumas and ERBurroughs and Sabatini were getting at in their time.

My only question for "Jayar" (I caught the cameo appearance by Rosenberg in his own book -- very sneaky, Mr. R!) is:

When's the next one?

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Dumas should have had it so good, February 24, 2000
I'm not sure I buy the notion that Rosenberg's three heroes are intended to reprise Dumas' -- Durine and Pirojil could maybe both lay claim to being Porthos, while Kethol is much more D'Artagnan than Aramis, but none of them parallel terribly well -- but that's more than okay.

What I absolutely love about this one is the interplay between the three characters, much moreso than in the Dumas books. Their three-way partnership, while rarely overtly discussed in the book, is the heart of the story.

It sort of reminded me of a really, really good buddy movie, except that there isn't just one pair of buddies, but three, and half the fun is watching them not quite get along.

A terrific book.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews











Only search this product's reviews



Inside This Book (learn more)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence:
There will be payment for your crimes, foul deceiver. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
imperial proctor, bitter oats, faerie lights, healing draughts, dowager empress, lord warden, mental voice, sword tip
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Walter Slovotsky, Old Emperor, Barony Cullinane, New Pittsburgh, Baroness Elanee, Bren Adahan, Home Guard, Barony Adahan, Castle Cullinane, Jason Cullinane, Lady Doria, House Guard, Karl Cullinane, Lord Miron, Master Sanders, Baron Adahan, Governor Treseen, Last Ride, Master Durine, Beralyn Furnael, Master Pirojil, Barony Keranahan, Lord Moarin, Thomen Furnael, Joel Rosenberg
New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:




What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
 

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums





Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject