Legacy (Guardians of the Flame Novels (Raen)) [Hardcover]

Joel Rosenberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2004 | Series: Guardians of the Flame Novels (Raen)

When it all began, it was just supposed to be a game: Seven college students sitting down for an evening of role playing. But a real wizard intervened, and the students found themselves in a world where magic worked-too well-with their only way home the near-mythical Gate Between Worlds. Years later, their earthlike existence now seems like a fading dream. They have fought and tricked their way into positions of power, seeking justice for all and the abolition of slavery But they have also made many powerful and dangerous enemies. And one of these in particular has decided that the time is ripe for eliminating these idealistic troublemakers once and for all...

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Baen (June 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743488296
• ISBN-13: 978-0743488297
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,626,345 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Good for the Newbie, bad for the collector, October 27, 2004

By 

Fumtu (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Legacy (Guardians of the Flame Novels (Raen)) (Hardcover)

Personally, I hate it when an author or a publisher re-prints a book (or in this case 2 books) under a new title.

If you have already read or already own "Heir Apparent" and "The Warrior Lives" don't bother getting this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Before you buy...Start from the begiinning, December 21, 2006

By 

Fresno - See all my reviews

This review is from: Legacy (Guardians of the Flame Novels (Raen)) (Hardcover)

First of all, this book is a combination of two book that are really in the middle of a fantastic series. But to really appreciate the series, you realy REALLY must start from the beginning. The first book is called "The Sleeping Dragon" and may be a bit hard to find new, but it should not be hard to find at any used book store or at the Half site.

The Sleeping Dragon was the first book I ever read start to finish in 3 days. It is not that it is simple or short, but rather it is just exceedingly well written and engrossing. I quite frankly only put it down to sleep or when my eyes needed a break. I would read it rather than watch TV (and I liked TV alot when I read this the first time). Each book after The Sleeping Dragon adds so much to the story and truly builds up the characters and explains a huge amount of what each character is about and how they are related. Plus there are tons of secondary and terciary characters that really fill out the story...Not so many that it is hard to keep track of them...Mr Rosenberg has a knack for making each caharacter (even the non-main characters very memorable, so you wan't be flipping around the book trying to remember what some characters background was).

If I recall correctly the book listed here is about the 6th book in the series and it does mark an interesting turning point in the story, but it would be a great disservice to jump to this book as the enormity of the events will not really make an impact on you unless you know the full background.

Once you get The Sleeping Dragon (first book), the first page or two will list the next few books in the series and they in turn will list the next and so on...So Start with the Sleeping dragon and prepare for an awesome journey of fantasy, action romance, intriugue, sarcasm (you will know whom I am refering to when you read the books!) and a whole lot more.

One of the greatest things about Mr Rosenberg's style is that no character is safe, and you never know what will happen next...there are plenty of characters and action to leep you guessing chapter after chapter. He is really one of the best authors I have ever read and is right up there with Piers Anthony, Terry Brooks, J.R.R.Tolkien, Weis and Hickman (DragonLance), Isaac Asimov (but much more of a fantasy author than Asimov's Sci-Fi stylings) and other great fantasy authors.

I have only reviewed a few books here on Amazon, but I felt compelled to share this wonderful author with others... I have read other series' by Mr Rosenberg and I truly enjoyed them, but I have to say that the Guardians Of The Flame novels (starting with The Sleeping Dragon) are by far my favorite work of his.

If you are looking for a new series to quickly sweep you up into a whole new world, you search is now complete...I cannot recommend this series (and Mr. Rosenberg's works in general) highly enough !! I hope he continues to write for a long, long, time!!

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars delightful combining of two 1980s epic fantasies, June 20, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Legacy (Guardians of the Flame Novels (Raen)) (Hardcover)

"The Heir Apparent". The wizard brought role playing college students Karl, Andrea and five other Earthlings through the Gate Between Worlds. Over time Karl became the Emperor and he and his beloved Andrea had a child Jason while the magnificent seven fought against slavery. The dwarves, elves, humans, and the dragon Ellegon mentor Jason until Ahrmin the Master Slaver apparently kills Karl. Living in the shadows of his heroic parents has inadvertently overwhelmed his self esteem and now he failed in his first battle. To prove his worthiness he believes he must kill his dad's enemy.

"The Warrior Lives". With Karl declared officially dead, Jason takes over throne, but has doubts he can come close to matching the legacy of his renowned father. Still he leads the inner circle of warriors and Ellegon to battle the deadly Slavers Guild. However, he learns that an enigmatic message has been placed on the enemy's dead. Could his father be alive as the note states: "The Warrior Lives!" Jason needs to know the truth.

GUARDIANS OF THE FLAME: LEGACY is the delightful combining of two 1980s epic fantasies that hold up quite well and seem to belong together in one longer saga though both tales can stand alone. The book is a coming of age chronicle starring a delightful hero filled with reservation and uncertainty about living up to the legends of his illustrious parents (kind of like the son of Michael Jordan playing basketball). Though similar in many ways to other epic fantasy tales, Legacy is a fabulous reading experience as the next generation struggles with living up to the bar set by his incredible parents.

Harriet Klausner