Customer Reviews

High Hunt

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i have read this book at least 20 times. i started with david eddings' fantasy books, and when i picked this one, i was completely unprepared for the reality it contains. it is such an amazing stark look at believe characters and their interactions. an absolutly beauitul book!

After completing the entire set of David Eddings' fantasy collection, I began to read "High Hunt." Immediately, the story drew me into it, and I was amazed at the depth of each character and the real-life sense that Eddings gives to the story. Although it was one of Edding's first books, it is one of his best.I am not ashamed to say that I read have this book over and over again, and I have not yet tired of it. I recently read "The Losers", by Eddings, as well, and loved it.

I was introduced to Eddings through the Belgariad, which held my interest because of its excellent character development. High Hunt is lacking in this aspect. I felt that the main character was written as though it was Eddings himself he was writing about. This is the only character that has any substance. The antagonist is the typical one-dimentional unlikable guy for 3/4 of the book, at which point he's actually given some real human characteristics. It was too little-too late for this novel. It may be that this book comes too close to how real human relationships work. As characters of our own human dramas, we tend to fit most casual acquaintences into neat little packages. An unlikable relative, an edgy ex-marine, a prep, a fat guy. High Hunt reads like that. However, as a reader, I expect these characters to be developed. I've got enough 1-dimensional relationships; I don't need to read about them. One positive was that Eddings' humor is evident throughout this book, as it is through his others. There's just not enough depth to High Hunt to make it a winner.

I have had a hardbound copy of this book for years and love to go back and read it periodically. When my wife (under whose name this review appears since we share an account)bought me a Kindle it just seemed natural to include it. I would have rated it higher but the process of converting the text to the Kindle format is not as accurate as I would like to see. There are a great many typographical errors in the Kindle version that don't exist in the written versions. Many seem to be a result of the conversion process not recognizing certain slang words, but there are also many occasions where "the" is translated as "die"...not even close!

Even with the above, it is still a great read; and maybe more so since at one time or another I have met people identical to most of the characters.

Although Eddings will go down as a creator of (many) (very good) fantasy epics, his best work is the little known High Hunt, from his early days as a writer.

High Hunt is contemporary fiction. It tells the story of two brothers in the Pacific Northwest - coming to grips with maturity, masculinity and one another. Both are 'lost souls' in almost every sense of the word - burned out, desperately looking for something upon which to cling. Both attract equally desperate friends and acquaintances - other men (and occasionally women) in search of focus.

The book isn't action-packed - so the occasional reprint/resurrection of this title as FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE EPIC FANTASY SERIES... invariably fails. Anyone expecting flaming swords and legendary duels will certainly end the book disappointed. However, in its calm, insightful way, High Hunt ranks among the best books of the era in painting a picture of the lost, confused modern man. The characters are searching for a definition of masculinity that no longer exists, and have a hard time struggling to find a sense of purpose in its absence.

On a less profound (or pretentious) level, High Hunt is also an engaging story about the struggles and triumphs of a family in the Northwest. Trying to make ends meet, trying to make friends, trying to find a reason to wake up in the morning. Slightly bleak, but ultimately very inspiring.

This is a terrific book, and, although the lack of flaming swords may prove a disappointment to some, those seeking something different will be thoroughly rewarded. (I like flaming swords - I'm just lucky enough to like this too)

David Eddings' first novel, published in 1973, is not at all like his epic fantasies that he later became so respected for. HIGH HUNT is about a young man trying to find purpose and direction in an aimless life. Mostly recounting his experiences with friends and relatives in a junky-seeming Tacoma, WA, the story is told entirely from the narrator's perspective. Interestingly, the only likeable characters are the narrator himself and eventually the girl he falls in love with. The rest of his friends are less developed and by no means likeable. The story is written in a way to build up suspense, almost in a haunting manner, where you feel like the narrator is mostly providing the back-drop for some sort of horrific or unbelievable event. Weirdly though, that event never occurs, and the entire book stays firmly in the mundane, with only a couple of moments of high tension or excitement. In the end, while the telling is gripping, you almost feel like "What was the point?".

The real power of the book comes in the form of insights into the way humans view each other, where we tend to fix acquaintances into certain images or roles by which we judge their behavior and actions. Eddings does a magnificent job of showing all of the secondary characters in HIGH HUNT as seen through the eyes of the narrator. His prejudices and experiences influence the way he views his friends (and enemies) and even himself. As I mentioned, the only likeable characters are the narrator himself and his girlfriend, but you get the distinct impression that the main reason for this is that you're hearing the story from the narrator's perspective. An interesting look into the way we view the world.

One thing, while I found this book very enjoyable, as I think most guys would, I would hesitate to recommend it to a woman. The characters are trashy, lots of focus on sex, guns, and alcohol, and definitely written from a man's perspective, I can't see most girls I know really liking this one.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable novel, with plenty of suspense and drama, but no real surprises or cliff-hangers (unless the lack of a major conflict is the surprise). Recommended for men, not women.

Having read David Edding's other nineteen books, I was very excited when I saw High Hunt in print. I bought it on the spot and delved into it. It was interesting enough, but I found the character interactions were a bit predictable, and seemed a little fake, if not overexaggerated. I must say it was interesting to read my second non-fantasy book by Eddings, but I think he should stick to maces and maidens. But then again, this was his first work, so maybe after reading Polgara I was expecting too much. Worth your time and money, but hardcore Eddings fans may be a little disappointed.

Not a too great book, at least not nearly as good as
"The Malloreon", "Elenium" or "Tamuli" which are all very good books. Very exiting and reads easy!

I'm one of the younger Eddings Fans, actually having read his books from top to bottom (chronically speaking, sort of) for i started with the adventures of Sparhawk before falling in love with Polgara. And now this is my latest discovery and i can only say i am amazed again how intricately Mr. Edding's characters are desinged and yet - they all bear his spiritual genes and marks, if you take my meaning. If this is were it all began, where is he going to lead us in the future ?

Have you seen Deliverence then you must read High Hunt. I started reading it because I was waiting for the last of the Malorean books to be released and was in need of some new eddings. At first I was in shock because it's not fantasy. Then I was surprised. The well rounded plot. A must read for all.