Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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...

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?

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.

I have to admit when I started this book I was upset that it did not delve into his past characters from the Gaudian's series more. By the time chapter two rolled around I was eagerly turning the pages and regretting the fact that I had to work the next day and needed sleep.

What can I say.....Rosenberg has style. His characters are likeable and real. He has a way of turning a phrase that shows his intelligence. Rosenberg comes up with surprises when you need them and his dialogue sizzles.

What more can you ask for?

Another book by Joel Rosenberg please :)

I actually started the series by reading this book (thank you, Andy, for the gift. Good call) and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Summary: Three soldiers are dragged into a political argument and ordered to investigate a minor dispute in the outreaches of the realm, which leads to more than anyone had bargained for.

Pretty good opening concept, although I never read the backs of the books (it ruins the surprise for me). What interested me more than anything else was the pure grittiness of the world that Joel, whom I'm sure doesn't mind being on a first-name basis from me, captured and dropped into my hands. In a land of magic, legends and dragons, one wouldn't expect there to be hardship in simply travelling or even danger in getting a simple drink.
If life were so simple, there wouldn't be much of a story. So the attention to detail, the dangers of everyday life in a world without constant police presence, was impressive.

The characters are hardened veterans, having fought, bled and watched those they've known fall in battle, or even in a street fight. They're honorable without being fanatical about it, exceptionally practical and utterly dedicated to their lord. Joel captures and keeps the societal differences between our world and theirs, and the consistency of it was well done indeed.

The characters are Pirojil, ugly as can be and never is he portrayed otherwise, Durine, large and dangerous and distant, and Kethol, heroic and not too bright but humble. Despite their weaknesses, they are engaging and make for some plausible interaction. It seems obvious that people who have worked together for a long time would know each other, but Joel makes it a point to note some of their conversational short-cuts, and includes some failings among friends that are understandable.

Summary: Great characterizations, a good story and some creative solutions to tricky problems. If you liked Glory Road, Outlaws of Sherwood and/or the Deed of Paksenarrion series, you'll like Not Exactly the Three Musketeers.

I didn't exactly ROFLOL, but there are funny places in the book that at least made me chuckle, and all the rest of the literary requirements (plot, characterization, not overusing cliches, etc.) were there.

I had not read any of the other Guardians of the Flame novels, but that probably made it better for me--I get tired of unedited books that insist on telling *everything*. "The protagonist breathed in and while breathing out noticed the gnat whirring to and fro. Finishing that complete cycle, the protagonist breathed in again." It was nice to think that there was something I didn't know--histories, alliances, hates, stories.

Of course, I now plan to read the rest of those books :)

Another Great book for the Gaurdian of the Flame series. I was a little disipointed it didn't continue with Jason. I would have given 5 stars if the book would of continued with the original characters. Ahira was not even mention and Walter and Ellegon did not have a big enough roll. Yet the book was a good filler until the next book in the series comes out!!!

To the readers who liked the book, but did not read any of the prior books in the series I think you would be diong your self a favor to try and get a hold of the hole set if possible.

This book is a fun read. I started reading the guardians of the Flame series a few years ago and have enjoyed them all.

The book starts off a little slow but has great character developement and by the end you won't want to put it down. In fact you'll be sad that it's over.

This the first time that the leads of the story are neither Othersiders or the son of an Oothersider and it is fun to see things from a different point of view.

Joel Rosenberg returns to my favorite ongoing fantasy world with "Not Exactly the Three Musketeers" It is both a departure and a return for the author. The departure is that the characters that we have read about for seven previous novels are background material in this novel. Previous backround characters are now the focus.

The return is in that the authors incredible flair for heroic fantasy is back. His descriptions of battle and the warriors that fight in it are exemplary. He shows the motivations behind all these "heroes", and that is what truly makes this, and all the Guardians books, wonderfull.

I was a bit disappointed not seeing Ahira, Ricetti or Andrea at all. Walters role, while prevalent was smaller than we have come to expect. None of the lingering questions from previous books were addressed in this novel.

I for one look forward to the next addition to this series. Anyone that wants to chat, comment or speculate with me on the series, please mail to jerric@mediaone.net

I am a Rosenberg fan. I really like the Guardian of the Flame novels even if they are getting a bit (okay a LOT) repetitive. I am also a fan of series, and I like that this one is starting to branch off from the original characters and explore more of the world through the eyes of what were only secondary players in the beginning novels. All of the Guardian books have been solid enjoyable reads, and I recommend them highly to those who enjoy fantasy.



Right before Christmas, out of new books and searching for something to read I came across the first book in the Guardian series and I reread it. Which led me to reread ALL the Rosenberg books again and I take it back. They really aren't repetitive. I am surprised I thought so. They were a very, very enjoyable read even though it was my second time through the entire series. Maybe the first time I read them too fast, who knows? All I can say is that I was wrong. I recomend them even more.