King and Emperor (The Hammer and the Cross Book 3) [Import] [Hardcover]

Harry & Holm, John Harrison (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Legend; First edition (1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0099303051
• ISBN-13: 978-0099303053
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,246,916 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Series, Pity about the ending though., February 27, 1999

By 

Michael Akinde ([e-mail]) (Aalborg, Denmark) - See all my reviews

This review is from: King and Emperor (Hammer and the Cross) (Mass Market Paperback)

A pity that this book does not measure up to the rest of the series. Harrison gets obsessed with the "oppressiveness" of Christianity, and the story seems to end up more as a sermon, than a novel. The "Way", while an interesting read in alternate history, becomes increasingly unrealistic as the story progresses - and Shef's portrayal as a Christ figure increasingly obvious.

It's the ending that spoils the story, though. The wrap-up is short - and frankly, quite unrealistic. Harrison gets carried away by his vision of a different dark-ages world, and turns it utopian. Read it, if you read and liked the previous two novels - but don't expect it to measure up to the others.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In a different Universe, November 24, 2000

By 

Maximiliano F Yofre "Maxi" (Buenos Aires, Argentina) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: King and Emperor (Hammer and the Cross) (Mass Market Paperback)

I've enjoyed this third volume of "Hammer & the Cross" saga greatly. First I want to point out how Harrison starts from an universe deeply rooted in early middle ages in the first volume and end in a completely different environment, created by the new facts and actions performed by Shef and his pals.

In "King and Emperor", the human dimension of each character grows and they are confronted with moral and ethical dilemmas. Shef, Svandis, Cwicca, Thorvin, Bruno, Brand and the rest (even the crooked Erkenbert) has to choose between different actions in order to proceed. Still is a novel full of action, adventure and entertainment. In my personal point of view, some aspects of Svandis cuasi Freudian dream explanations are out of context. I don't agree with other reviewers, in their appreciation of an abrupt and rash ending of the novel. The confrontation between Bruno and Shef is well paced and reach a "logical" ending.

The overall background of examining different religious beliefs is provoking, but each reader may extract it's own conclusions without being forced by the author to take sides or accept his points of view.
A great book!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of My Old Favorites, April 4, 2002

By 

A. Holt "holtingar" (Pennsylvania, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: King and Emperor (Hammer and the Cross) (Mass Market Paperback)

I love this trilogy, from the start of book one to the end of book three, the historical aspects are pointed out in a way that fits as part of the story and they don't overthrow the plot, lending the books a very authoritative tone. The Characters are great, (Brand is one of my favorites) and there's plenty of action. What I like best about these books is that Harrison really makes you feel inside the story, the way he handles the characters attitudes towards each other and their surroundings really makes you feel like you're right with them weather it's Anglo-Saxon England, Scandinavia, The Frankish Empire, Muslum Spain or what's left of Rome. As for character development, Harrison has a great way of using the third-person point of view in a way that can convey things unknown to the characters yet at the same time the tone of the narrative is flavored with the particular character's personality, culture and view of their surroundings, helping the reader understand more fully the motives and inhibitions of the people he describes. I read these back in high school and loved them then as much I still do now.