Customer Reviews

Hickory Staff (Gollancz Sf S.)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the first book The Hickory Staff the two authors Robert Scott and Jay Gordon have got their hooks into me and unless they really screw up in the second book, I'm theirs until they've finished. It's not that they've discovered something new under the sun, it's the fact that they've been able to take a familiar theme and give it new life and depth that makes this book, and hopefully the series, such a good read.

It's the standard other world type story, where people from our world accidentally cross over, and find that they have a role to play in preventing a horrible evil from destroying all the worlds. Yep, been there, done that, bought one too many t-shirts and seen the movie in its special tenth anniversary boxed set, would be my reaction too if it wasn't for the fact that the two authors have managed make it seem like no one has ever written this type of story before.

The first thing you'll notice differing from other books of this type is that it diverges from the typical formula almost immediately. Instead of the action building on our world with the main characters sliding into the alternative one, the scene shifts continually between the earth and Eldarn.

The authors give us the details that the characters from earth are going to have to understand when they get to their eventual destination. The situation in Eldarn and the characters we will meet there are as familiar to us from the start as the people in our own world. While Steven Taylor and Mark Jenkins from Idaho Springs Colorado are still the main characters, they are only cogs in the larger story of the ongoing history of Eldarn.

A key element in the success of this book is the strength and variety of the characters. The writers have done a masterful job in creating a diverse group of peoples with a myriad of motivations for why they do what they do. Even spirits and soulless warriors are allowed to show that they have the potential for more than one dimension.

At various times in The Hickory Staff we switch from one group of characters to another. Each time are rewarded with a different perspective of the land and the trials its people have endured.

Robert Scott and recently deceased Jay Gordon have written a tantalizing opening volume to what promises to be an exciting sequence of books. Although there is an underlying threat of action through out the book, it is not dominated by action scenes. The Hickory Staff is far more than just sword and sorcery and this alone would raise it above so many books who attempt the alternate world scenario.

What really sets apart are the range and depth of the characters. We learn about all of them naturally; either through their own eyes, or through others' perceptions of them. You find yourself caring about what happens to these people much more than you would normally in most fiction. The Hickory Staff is a book well worth reading, and what's even better is that you know there's more of the same still to come.

This is the first novel in the The Eldarn Sequence, here is a bit of the story.

We begin in the world of Eldarn where the ruling Royal families are gathering together for peace talks, while the ruling Prince of Rona gives a speech he is struck down by a fatal dark magic, within a few days all the ruling families are dead and open war breaks out between those who are left to take power, what they fail to see is that one dark power now controls the Eldarn world.

It's the late nineteenth and in the city of Idaho Springs Colorado a strange man enters a bank, this man has left behind him many brutal deaths using magic and superhuman strength, in the bank he wishes to open a safe deposit box, in the box he will place the key to another world, a world filled with dark magic and brutal conflict.

Now we come to modern day times, where me meet Steven and Mark who are two friends, one a teacher the other a bank manager,Steven has a curious side and while looking through his banks old records he finds a secret that will bring himself and his friend to a new world, a world of evil, war and dark magic.

This book is a well written, action packed thrill ride with everything a lover of fantasy could ask for, war, magic, assassinations and the fight to make a world a better place.

I liked this story, but only give it 3 stars because I found it frustrating to be constantly switching between characters. Just when you are getting involved on one group of characters' storyline, you would be switched to another. They are all good, but I wish more time was given to each.

None the less, it is an intelligent addition to a field too often regarded as "kids stuff".

This books gets you involved right away and keeps you wanting more..I can't wait for the next one to get here!!

Before reading this book, I had never been a big fan of fantasy fiction. I'd curl my lip to rival any angst-ridden teenager as I slunk past that section of the book store. But this book had me hooked right from the start - it's got everything: wraiths, grettans, Seron, freedom-fighters, magic, betrayal, romance. Buckle your seatbelt and take a deep breath people because this read is one wild ride ...

The Hickory Staff is a well-written, engaging, thoroughly enjoyable book. Sadly, my reading light probably kept my wife awake as I stayed up those extra hours to finish.

The writers do a fabulous job of creating an alternate world that is simultaneously magical and yet human. I especially liked the way these guys develop the 'evil' monsters. Even the best fantasy writers often take the bad guys for granted, never developing them and explaining why they line up behind their evil master. This book does a fascinating job of opening up this area for the reader.

I look forward to the next book in the series.

I just finished this book and I loved the story. It kept me entertained throughout. I found that I carried it to and from work to sneak time to read. The characters are well-developed and real. I feel like I know them and am intrigued about what the next installment holds. Perfect for fans of epic adventure. The only drawback is the time I have to wait for the next book. Highly recommended.

I must start with saying that I usually don't like stories where people from our world are transplanted to an alternate world. In this novel, that didn't bother me so much. Other things did, however.

The authors managed to create some likable main characters, Steven and Mark, but without much depth, and with some traits which were force-fed to the reader at times. They adapt to another world and another language with surprising ease, without any explanation of the fact. They take matters into stride and joke at some really inopportune moments, which made it hard for me to suspend my disbelief.

My main problem was the POV, which sometimes bounced back and forth between 4 or even more characters in one chapter. That made for some seriously restless reading, which was a pity because the plot and pace of this book was solid. That helped me move along, but despite some nice worldbuilding and action, I had difficulty reading all the way until the end. Beware of a little SPOILER: although the authors do not hesitate to kill off their characters, they also brought one back to life. That really did not appeal to me. Tolkien got away with something similar (Gandalf surviving the Balrog), but I couldn't be that forgiving here.

I'm sorry to say that I will not read the sequel.

I tried like hell to like this, but ultimately couldn't get more than about 250 or so pages into it. An interesting world, and a decent plot, are killed outright by just plain poor writing. The dialog is unbelievable with a strong tendency towards long and unnecessary exposition, and the narration is hyperbolic and overly detailed. Like I said, the plot itself had some real potential, and maybe it gets better later on, but I couldn't stick with it to find out.

The Hickory Staff is a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, the basic ideas are pretty good. I like the storyline, overall. However, it's full of the most awful cliches and lazy writing imaginable. Imagine a movie adaption of The Loard of the Rings, but this time directed by John Woo and starring Vin Diesel and you'll be just touching the edges of how cheesy this book gets.

I did a search on Amazon for the authors and one of them seems to be a true crime writer, which would explain the penchant for being constantly overly-melodramatic. (Imagine a Steven King story as told by a 13-year old drama queen.)

The characters are paper-thin. There is no real depth to them and their emotions and reactions are canned responses with all the sophistication of a beer commerical.

This book gets two stars for the ideas and nothing at all for the story-telling itself.