Customer Reviews

Highlander(TM): The Path (Highlander (Warner))

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It's not only an excellent book but it also became my favorite Highlander novel.

Path author Rebecca Neason pitted Macleod against a devout Buddhist in a philosophical debate and had Macleod make a decision.

So MacLeod chose to alienate the reincarnation of Buddha in order to save the people of the village from Gupta invaders.

But the Buddhist is right about one thing. Life is precious.

It's a well-witeen, entertaing and inspirational book.

Better than any other Highlander novel, this story brought me into the fold of the Highlander series. The confusion Duncan was feeling felt so much like what was portrayed by Adrian Paul on the screen. And as a historian, I would have to congradulate the author on her research into Buddhism and Tibet. I know from experience how hard it can be to understand either topic, especially the eight-fold path.

The is the best book I have read in the series. It has everything that you have come to expect of Highlander and Duncan MacLeod. It has the action, drama, romance and a great story.

As a student of Tarot (my first of 6 books on the Tarot can be ordered here on Amazon.com - search on Jacqueline Lichtenberg and find NEVER CROSS A PALM WITH SILVER)-- I have studied astrology and various occult disciplines, including some Martial Arts.

There are many things I love about HIGHLANDER the tv show, and Neason has captured most of them in this single novel. More, she's done it without any false moves. She handles the core matters of the spiritual disciplines behind The Art with firm authority -- so you hardly notice they're there.

That is the mark of the highest level craftsmanship in writing. It's what makes for a 'good read' -- and Neason has delivered that.

In addition, she has crafted a novel which embraces my favorite aspects of Duncan's character. Originally, I was attracted to HIGHLANDER because it told the story of a real Action/Adventure Hero who broke all the rules of tv and movies. He maintains committed Relationships with women. Love it. I absolutely love it. Jacqueline Lichtenberg ambrovzeor@aol.com

This was the best of the series so far. You really felt like you visiting Tibet and can learn a lot about their culture. Duncan's character also grows a lot and faces some difficult decisions. Enjoy.

The Highlander franchise has its highs and its lows; the original film, which was brilliant; the sequels, which were mostly not; the television series, which started slow, but became very good by the second season, only to lose its way a bit near the end. And then there is the series of books based on the television series and Duncan MacLeod as opposed to Connor MacLeod from the movies. This series was a very good extension of the television series, giving Duncan an opportunity to flesh out his character.

In "The Path", 1781 finds Duncan weary from war in Europe; he travels east to seak out the current Dalai Lama and to determine if the reincarnation of this ancient soul remembers Duncan from a previous meeting of a previous incarnation. In Tibet, the Highlander finds peace, the love a beautiful woman, and friendship with the Dalai Lama. All is good, but this is the Highlander universe and combat must follow. A maniacal immortal is leading his army straight for peaceful Tibet...and Duncan MacLeod.

Like the rest of the series (I have read the first five titles), this is a very good installment and I can highly recommend it to all Highlander fans...and if you aren't a Highlander fan, give it a read, you might get hooked.

>>>>>>><<<<<<<

A Guide to my Book Rating System:

1 star = The wood pulp would have been better utilized as toilet paper.
2 stars = Don't bother, clean your bathroom instead.
3 stars = Wasn't a waste of time, but it was time wasted.
4 stars = Good book, but not life altering.
5 stars = This book changed my world in at least some small way.

"The Path" sees Duncan MacLeod interacting with the Dalai Lama as he comes to Seacouver for a visit - and in a previous incarnation when Duncan lived in Mongolia. The primary plot line surrounds (obviously) Duncan's need to find inner peace, and how the Dalai Lama assists on many levels. Fans of the series will enjoy the interaction with many familiar "faces" in the course of the tale.

This is a tie-in to the HIGHLANDER tv series.

As the novel opens Duncan MacLeod has been invited by his student Ritchie to hear the Dalai Lama. Ritchie is surprised that Duncan is reluctant to go causing MacLeod to explain that he had traveled to Tibet and met the Lama, in the 18th century and that they had not parted on good terms. The rest of the story is a flashback to this adventure.

The descriptions of Duncan's life in Tibet is beautiful. The descriptions of life in the village and the culture in general bring this distant time and place to life. The characters are engaging and believable. Duncan's conflict with the Dalai Lama is consistent with his character in the series, and the mythology of this series is respected (often a problem with tie-in novels).

For fans this is a welcome addition to the series but those who are unfamiliar with the tv show would definitely be lost.

This novel added so much to the Highlander legend that all true fans really need to read it! Besides, it is very well-written.

TV series fans all know that Duncan MacLeod is very much influenced by oriental arts -- both martial & otherwise -- and this story gives us a lot more background on that aspect of his character. It also features the Dalai Lama, whose portion of the story is very interesting.

As a recent convert to the Highlander subculture, I am enjoying catching up on what others have been enjoying for 10 years. I *did not* however enjoy this book. It was what no book of its genre should be -- boring.