2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
the hawk eternal, November 14, 2006
This review is from: The Hawk Eternal (Hawk Queen Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)
Caswallon is a highlands warrior from the Farlain tribe. Skilled with bow and short sword, he's a stealthy hunter and a merciless killer when enemies such as the fearsome aenir threaten the land of his fathers. The aenir enter a new land through a magic portal Which power has faltered over the aeons and no more gate keeper to re-seal it.. A race bent for bloodshed and ruin, they subdue all cities of the newfound realm. As soon as it's done, they turn eyes towards the highlands..
Characters good and bad, in the typical gemmel style, get a thorough description of their personalities you end up
Awed by them all (and ultimately, by their creator). Much research has been done about living in the forest and the book is peppered with details on tracking, making fires Or makeshift weapons. This lends a strong and much appreciated touch of realism to all of Gemmell's stories. Despite the realism of the story's framework, it remains heavily fantastic and supernatural, creating an intensely prosaic chiaroscuro. The sorcery and magic are entrancing, the evil extraordinarily vivid and graphic in its ruthlessness. It is opposed to a counterbalancing force that must at all times prove of a mighty resourcefulness.. the world of Gemmell is of parallel worlds that can interfere with each other through the magic gateways. Time is of no importance in each individual world. What gives it importance is what decisions people make in the worlds they cross. These same people exist in a different parallel world but are making different decisions, leading different lives.. and facing different futures and fates. We're constantly reminded that time is a blind beast we are trying to harness. It takes us wherever we're strong enough to steer it (at least while we're still alive). You'll also discover that gemmell has a knack for anagrams; Morgase, the aenir queen, can be spelled "orgasme" in French (: ,
giving you some help to imagine what this woman must look like, her slim white skinned body sheathed in black satin and lace... fancy a cold shower?...
this is a metaphorical work: the Aenir are us, the human race. we exploit our earth's resources mercilessly and punish the nature which gave us life. whenever a land is depleted of its resources, we move along toward a new land, a typically parasitic behavior.nature (and all creatures/beings who are still connected to Her) will retaliate ruthlessly at her desecrators.
I don't know if david gemmell had a wife or children at the time of his -untimely-passing
But he sure left orphans behind: his heroes and his readers. British fantasy and fantasy literature worldwide, has lost one of its main pillars somewhere in july 2006. he may not be among us anymore, but heroes don't die. Hail!
p.s. i just took a look at the poor ratings this book received... leaves me wondering about the attention span of the reviewers or whether they truly read this book...
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not his best, but still Gemmell, March 25, 2006
This review is from: The Hawk Eternal (Hawk Queen Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)
This one was a bit harder to follow than Iron Hand's Daughter. The first book only touched upon the parallel and alternate timelines, this book wades deep into them. So if you want to follow along and make sense of it, you are going to have to pay attention. Though not as strong as his Drenai works, this novel is typical Gemmell. Great heroes, and even greater battles mixed with a tiny bit of magic and a monster or two. This is some of his earlier work, so if you have been reading them in the order that Del Rey has been putting them out, it may not seem as strong as what you have recently read. That is not the fault of the author, he has continued to grow as a writer. Read Legend first and you will find yourself hooked on Gemmell's work.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Short review, February 23, 2011
This review is from: The Hawk Eternal (Hawk Queen Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)
I have only read a few of Gemmell's books but so far I like his style.
I usually like to start at the beginning of a series but just happened to pickup this book and have enjoyed it alot. I will be looking for more of his books.
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