Giants' Dance [Hardcover]

Robert Carter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 3, 2005

A rich and evocative tale set in a mythic 15th century Britain, to rival the work of Bernard Cornwell. In the peaceful village of Nether Norton life goes on as it has for centuries in the Realm, through the coming and going of the Slavers and the arrival of the Sightless Ones and their Chapter Houses. On Loaf Day, as the villagers celebrate gathering in the first of their harvest, Will looks back fondly on the two years since he and his sweetheart Willow circled the fire together, especially the year since their daughter Bethe was born. But despite his good fortune, a feeling of unease is stirring inside him. When he sees an unnatural storm raging on the horizon he knows that his past is coming back to haunt him. Four years ago Will succeeded in cracking the Doomstone in the vault of the Chapter House at Verlamion to bring a bloody battle to its end. It seemed then that the lust for war in men's hearts had been calmed forever. But now Will is no longer certain his success was quite so absolute, and he calls on his old friend and mentor Gwydion, a wizard of deep knowledge and power once called 'Merlyn', for advice. Gwydion suspects his old enemy, the sorcerer Maskull, has escaped from the prison he was banished to when Will cracked the Doomstone. Now Maskull is once again working to hasten a devastating war between King Hal and Duke Richard of Ebor, with the help of the battlestones that litter the landscape inciting hatred in all who draw near. Only Will, whom Gwydion believes to be an incarnation of King Arthur, has the skill to break the power of the battlestones. When Will last left Nether Norton he was an unworldly youth of thirteen. Now he is a husband and father, he has a lot more to lose. But he has a whole Realm to save.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for The Language of Stones: 'Full of charm and the magic of landscape ! an enjoyable read' Amazon 'A compelling tale that fully utilizes its beautifully crafted characters' Dreamwatch 'Carter's prose is smooth, and he has a real feel for the countryside. His plot keeps the pages turning' Starburst 'Just the right mix of magic, mystery and mud ! Images of terrifying supernatural forces are carefully wrought as Carter weaves his spell' Lads Mag

About the Author

Robert Carter was born exactly five hundred years after the first battle of the Wars of the Roses. He was brought up in the Midlands and later on the shores of the Irish Sea where his forebears hail from. He was variously educated in Britain, Australia and the United States, then worked for some years in the Middle East and remote parts of Africa. He travelled widely in the East, before joining the BBC in London in 1982. His interests have included astronomy, pole-arm fighting, canals, collecting armour, steam engines, composing music and enjoying the English countryside, and he has always maintained a keen interest in history. Today he lives in a 'village' that only sounds rural -- Shepherd's Bush.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Harper Collins (May 3, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007169248
• ISBN-13: 978-0007169245
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,425,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Startlingly brillant, October 17, 2005

By 

ilmk "ilmk" (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Giants' Dance (Hardcover)

Carter's sequel to `The Language of Stones' is as stunning as his first. From the eccentrically brilliant quarter turn of the British Isles map to the continuous warping of actual history and names this is one intellectually startling alternative history fantasy novel.
The sequel takes place two years after Willand's apparent destruction of the Doomstone at the Sightless One's monastery. He has retreated to his personal shire where a glee has hidden the village from prying eyes and blessed its people. Having married Willow and bringing up a daughter Bethe, Will finds himself calling on Gwydion one night when he sees a strange light in the sky coming from the village of Little Slaughter. Their resultant investigation and Gywdion's confession that Maskull has returned from enforced exile encourages Will to grow in stature as an assuming and protesting wizard as both he, Gwydion and the new character of Morann spend some time trying to ascertain the depths of Maskull's latest intrigues. Will is now an acknowledged lign and battlestone scryer and his maturity is reflected in the fact he is able to progress matters on his own and now dares to openly question Gwydion whose status as omniscient takes a severe battering in this second novel.
The plot of the sequel steps things up a notch as several battlestones seek to draw the warring factions of the weakly King Hal and his ghastly queen who are driven by the malice of Maskull to hunt down Richard, Duke of Ebor and strip him of all he owns. We are privileged to see one battlestone wreak its havoc on the field of war, another ensnares Will as he fights it in an icy lake, another manipulates him at the climatic battle. In the midst of it all he befriends a ked, discovers his twin brother is the Dark Child, spends much time in disguise as the Maceugh and grows an ever more powerful wizard whilst still not understanding his destiny.
Carter spent much of the first novel creating this superb alternative Britain, aptly showing how word of mouth tellings can subtly warp stories as they are handed down. In this second he delivers an improved story telling performance. The plots are entirely crisp, the characterisation effortless and fifteenth century England lingers in the senses throughout the entire novel as it delivers punch after punch, maturing as his main character does. A simply stunning series is in the making here and you would be well advised to read it.