Customer Reviews

King Chondos' Ride (Dark Border, Vol. 2)

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There is no trilogy. The Lost Prince and King Chondos' Ride were originally intended as one book. The ending isn't as open as most people seem to think. Go back and read it again, is there really any doubt to the outcome?

"I wrote the ending first," Paul once said, "after reading 'The Defence of Guenevre.' The book was written to lead to the ending."

Paul refers to the poem by William Morris. The Defence of Guenevre" The poem ends with Arthur's courtiers straining to hear an approaching sound:

"Her cheeks grew crimson, as the headlong speed

Of the roan charger drew all men to see

The knight who came was Launcelot in good need."

The deliberate understatement is stronger than any melodrama. Nor is anything more needed. Aside from the fact that Morris could count on his Victorian readers to know that Guenevre would be rescued, the arrival of a champion is enough to complete the poem. In her defence, Guenevre complains that she is unfairly damned because she was given a choice between two mighty lovers. Put on trial by one of those lovers, she is in despair. The coming of Launcelot, the second one, gives her hope.

With that in mind, can there truly be any doubt as to the outcome?

The sequel to the suspenseful "The Lost Prince", this novel is the direct continuation of the story - they are literally one and the same. In a sense, this novel ends on a cliffhanger - you could believe that the story has not been finished and a third book is required. However, there is only one loose end - and that is all that you need to go out and get everything Paul Edwin Zimmer has ever been involved with!

But if you need the sequel (and you will!) you'll need to get your hands on "The Gathering Of Heroes".

While "The Lost Prince" focused more on the events of the twin princes, and slightly on some military leaders, this novel tends to reverse the situation. You still get your heroics in the many different battles fought, lost and won, however I found the war to be slightly less gripping than the escapism of Chondos.

The beauty of these books are the depth. You can read them several times, and always be enamored as much as the first time you read it. One beautiful aspect is that Paul has created situations where conflict arises in places where (under different circumstances) friendship ought to exist.

Istvan (the Archer) Di'Vega, hero of the school of the five swords and Martos, student of Istvan's long and dear friend, are placed in charge of armies that war against each other, both knowing the futility of the situation, both being in total awe of the other, and both knowing that the evil force across the border are unnervingly still - as if they were allowing the war to continue.
But when they finally meet the circumstances are so outrageous that they battle each other for their life.